Baikal with ice: whether warm weather on the lake will scare away tourists
Due to warm weather, the ice cover on Lake Baikal will form later than usual this year. The ice may be thinner than usual. In the meantime, rescuers ask to refrain from going to the ice areas of the region outside the organized crossings. However, tourists are not in a hurry to cancel reservations, assured "Izvestia" in services. Demand for recreation on the lake remains at the level of last year, although prices for tickets and accommodation have increased by a third or more. Most people plan a trip to Baikal in advance and choose non-refundable tickets, so canceling a trip is fraught with big financial losses for them, experts said.
When Baikal will freeze
Despite the problems with ice formation on Baikal, this destination is among the five most popular among tourists for February-March this year, "Izvestia" was told in booking services.
In mid-January, the lake was not yet completely covered with ice, follows from the data of the Federal State Institution "Baikal Search and Rescue Squadron of the Russian Emergencies Ministry".
"A difficult situation remains on Baikal, there is no talk of ice formation yet. On bays and bays zaberegi (strips of ice cover, fringing the shores. - Ed.), but even there the ice cover is unstable, - stated in the Telegram-channel of the detachment. - In the north, the ice is observed at a distance of 5-7 km, the middle of Baikal is open, floating. On the Small Sea (part of Lake Baikal in its middle part. - Ed.) in the area of the ferry crossing open water. From the side of Olkhon Island there is ice at intervals, the rest is water. In the south, ice formation is not expected in the near future.
On January 11, a car fell through the ice in the delta of the Selenga River, which flows into Lake Baikal, reported the Ministry of Emergency Situations. Fortunately, there were no casualties. Two men, taken by rescuers to the shore, did not need medical assistance.
"The departure of cars on the ice of Baikal and its tributaries is extremely dangerous. Crossing is allowed only on organized ice crossings in compliance with safety measures", - reminded in the agency.
It remains to wait for February and hope for strong frosts, added the Ministry of Emergency Situations.
On average, Baikal completely freezes in the first decade of January, noted the center "Fobos". The reason for the delay in this season they called warmer weather than usual. Thus, in Irkutsk 2024 became the third in the list of the warmest in the history of observations since 1873. November was warmer than the climatic norm by four degrees, and December - by three degrees.
The latest date of ice formation on Baikal in "Phobos" called February 2. This year the lake may be covered with ice in the last five days of January, they predict. Specialists noted that the ice may be thinner and less durable than usual.
The ice cover will form on Baikal seven to ten days later than usual dates, Alexander Shuvalov, head of the Meteo forecasting center, told Izvestia. Usually, according to him, it happens in the middle of January.
- Certainly, due to the warm winter the terms are shifted, but the ice will stand up, - he assured.
How tourists react
Accommodations near Baikal in February-March account for about 5% of all bookings in Russia, services told Izvestia. Despite the problems with ice, so far the demand remains at the level of last year, assured in the company "Ostrovok".
Irkutsk region has become more popular with tourists than a year earlier, added in the service of hotel search and booking from 2GIS "Othello". If in February-March 2024 it was on the ninth place, now it is in the top five in the number of bookings.
Baikal is located on the border of the Irkutsk Region and the Republic of Buryatia. Over the year, the average cost of a night's stay in these regions has increased by 33%, Othello calculated. Now you can stay in the Irkutsk region for an average of Br5.8 thousand. And in Buryatia - for Br4.6 thousand. The highest average cost of one night in the village of Huzhir - in February-March 2025 it is Br10.2 thousand.
Airline tickets to these destinations have also increased in price by an average of 35% over the year, added product director of "Kupibilet" Andrei Maslak. According to him, this is explained by the growth in demand and inflation, such as the increase in prices for jet fuel.
Organized tours have gone up in price by about 15% over the year, said the head of the Russian travel booking service Turslet, which is part of Sletat.ru.
- The cost of a four-day trip to Baikal for one person starts from 32.4 thousand rubles, including accommodation, meals according to the program and excursions, - she explained. - At the same time, tickets are paid separately and are not included in the price of the tour.
Clients do not cancel tours, and the volume of reservations remains at the level of last year, she assured.
- There is ice on Baikal, but not everywhere. According to tour operators, if the ice will take longer than usual to form to the necessary thickness, tourists will travel by hivus - hovercrafts," she said.
The Ozon Travel service also confirmed to Izvestia that there is no outflow of bookings in the regions near Baikal.
What tourists will do at Baikal
As a rule, many people plan a trip to Baikal long before the start of the trip.
- We bought tickets and booked accommodation there for the beginning of February in October last year, - shared Muscovite Lyubov. - Of course, we plan to go.
At the same time, the vast majority of tourists choose non-refundable air tickets, so they will lose money if they decide not to fly, said Alexan Mkrtchyan, vice-president of the Alliance of Travel Agencies of Russia.
- There is a problem with accommodation in Baikal, so hotels often require prepayment, which is not returned when canceled. So everyone who decides not to go, will lose money on the spot, - he said.
People in this case will simply adjust the program of their stay there, the expert believes.
- There are, of course, skating tours on Baikal, but they are few, they occupy about one and a half percent. Therefore, in general, the tourism industry near the lake will not feel the lack of ice, - believes Alexan Mkrtchyan.
As a rule, tourists do not cross the lake from shore to shore, added guide Boris Kulagin.
- Judging by photos and videos from the site, no one is panicking. Many bays have already frozen, even skaters are skating near the shore," he emphasized.
In February Baikal attracts tourists and other winter entertainment, added in Ozon Travel. Thus, ski tourism is developing in the region, sports fans appreciate the special Siberian snow and skiing with a view of Baikal. You can also go dog sledding or swim in hot springs. You can also try local cuisine - sagudai, smoked omul, Buryat buusa.
In the villages on the lake shore there are many expositions open for tourists, for example, the interactive Baikal Museum, the Museum of Wooden Architecture and Arboretum in Listvyanka or the Baikal Astrophysical Observatory, where excursions and master classes from astronomers with the opportunity to observe the starry sky are held, added in the service "Ostrovok".
Переведено сервисом «Яндекс Переводчик»
