Sayan Oka Rafting & Lake Baikal Tour
Date: July 27 - Aug 11, 2012
Duration: 16 Days
Activity: Class III/IV Rafting + Fishing
Meet: Irkutsk, Russian Federation
Price: $3900
2013 Upper Bashkaus River
Date: July 26 - Aug 10, 2013
Duration: 16 Days
Activity: Class IV/V Rafting
Meet: Barnaul, Russian Federation
Price: $4400
A trip to Siberia had been the dream of a few ECHO guides and guests for years. Many of us had the opportunity to sit around a fire on the Middle Fork of the Salmon and listen to Vlad tell stories of the beautiful rivers and untouched wilderness in his native Russia. In 2011, this dream became a reality when Zach and Vlad took an American-Italian-Russian group to the Tuva Republic in the heart of Siberia.
During our trip to the Kaa-Khem River we experienced true wilderness (read trip report). We laid around the fire (some of us even slept near it), ate fish and delicious Russian foods, picked berries and mushrooms in the taiga (forest), enjoyed a traditional Siberian sauna and, of course, ran some big water rapids. This trip was named 2011 Trip of the Year by Outside Magazine and a Tour of a Lifetime by National Geographic.
We received wonderful responses from participants of this trip and in 2012, we will return to lead an ECHO expedition on the Sayan (Sayanskaya) Oka River in the Sayan Mountains in southern Siberia.
The Sayan Oka
We’ll drive from Irkutsk, one of the oldest Siberian cities, to the river along the western shore of the famous Lake Baikal, before heading west along the Mongolian border. On the drive, we'll see some of the highest peaks of Sayan including Munku-Sardyk, waterfalls, and mountain lakes.
For two days we will raft through ancient volcanic lava fields before entering the most beautiful part of Sayan Oka – the famous Orkho-Bom Gorge. Here the river runs through a steep canyon covered in dense forests (taiga) of Siberian cedar, pine, and birch. There are about 60 rapids locked in the gorge and vertical rock walls are almost at each river turn. The gorge has many beautiful campsites with sandy beaches and great fishing.
Our late July launch will take advantage of the region’s short summer season where we can expect cool evenings and highs between 70 and 75 degrees during the day. We'll spend a few days after our trip visiting the amazing Lake Baikal, known as the "Galapagos of Asia."
Our Expedition Leader
Vlad is a legendary ECHO guide who is remembered by guests for his
charming Russian accent, his expertise in the paddle boat, and his
knowledge of and appreciation for the natural world. Before coming
to the States, Vlad was an expedition leader in the USSR who literally
wrote the book (Rivers
of an Unknown Land) on rafting in Siberia. His vast river-running
experience, great sense of humor, and knowledge of Siberian rivers
makes our trips to Siberia that much more incredible.
