[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":142},["ShallowReactive",2],{"journey:baikal-seal-pups-on-spring-ice":3,"journeys:related:baikal-seal-pups-on-spring-ice:3":113},{"slug":4,"status":5,"title":6,"subtitle":7,"excerpt":7,"seasons":8,"cover":10,"about":14,"params":17,"days":45,"stays":102,"seo":111},"baikal-seal-pups-on-spring-ice","published","Baikal Seal Pups on Spring Ice","A spring wildlife journey across Lake Baikal to Olkhon",[9],"spring",{"src":11,"mobile":12,"alt":13},"\u002Fimages\u002Fjourneys\u002Fbaikal-seal-pups-on-spring-ice\u002Fcover.jpg","\u002Fimages\u002Fjourneys\u002Fbaikal-seal-pups-on-spring-ice\u002Fcover-mobile.jpg","White Baikal seal pup lying in the snow on the lake ice",{"paragraphs":15},[16],"BBT created this late-March journey around the period when Baikal seals and their pups may be observed on the lake ice. The route reserves two long hovercraft days for reaching suitable areas and choosing stops according to ice conditions and animal activity. A dedicated visit to the Irkutsk seal centre provides an introduction before the expedition, while three nights on Olkhon allow for a quieter banya day between the wildlife programme and the return to Irkutsk.",[18,21,24,27,30,33,36,39,42],{"label":19,"value":20},"Season","29 March–3 April · year to confirm",{"label":22,"value":23},"Duration","6 days \u002F 5 nights",{"label":25,"value":26},"Format","Private travel · Group size to confirm",{"label":28,"value":29},"Route","Irkutsk → Listvyanka → Olkhon → Tazherany → Irkutsk",{"label":31,"value":32},"Airports","Irkutsk \u002F Irkutsk",{"label":34,"value":35},"Rhythm","Two long ice days; one quieter island day",{"label":37,"value":38},"Physical activity","Extended hovercraft passages and outdoor stops",{"label":40,"value":41},"Best suited to","Wildlife-focused guests comfortable with changeable spring ice conditions",{"label":43,"value":44},"Est. price per person","$14,800",[46,55,67,76,85,94],{"title":47,"text":48,"experience":49,"arrangements":50,"images":51},"An Introduction to the Nerpa","The first encounter with Baikal seals takes place in Irkutsk before the group heads onto the lake.","Irkutsk seal centre presentation and a separate behind-the-scenes encounter arranged for the group.","Private airport transfer; History Hotel accommodation in a 64 m² Family Connect suite; free time afterward.",[52],{"src":53,"alt":54},"\u002Fimages\u002Fjourneys\u002Fbaikal-seal-pups-on-spring-ice\u002Fday-1\u002F1.jpg","Baikal seals being fed in a pool at a seal research centre",{"title":56,"text":57,"experience":58,"arrangements":59,"images":60},"Searching the Spring Ice","A long hovercraft crossing makes time for the team to follow evidence of seals on the lake.","Irkutsk–Listvyanka transfer, then approximately 250 kilometres by hovercraft towards Olkhon; stops selected using actual ice conditions and signs of wildlife.","Private vehicle and hovercraft; allowance for observation stops beyond the roughly four hours of travelling time.",[61,64],{"src":62,"alt":63},"\u002Fimages\u002Fjourneys\u002Fbaikal-seal-pups-on-spring-ice\u002Fday-2\u002F1.jpg","Travellers with binoculars and a telephoto lens watching the spring ice from the shore",{"src":65,"alt":66},"\u002Fimages\u002Fjourneys\u002Fbaikal-seal-pups-on-spring-ice\u002Fday-2\u002F2.jpg","Hovercraft on the clear cracked ice of Lake Baikal",{"title":68,"text":69,"experience":70,"arrangements":71,"images":72},"The Deep-Lake Search","The programme turns toward Baikal’s deepest waters for a second dedicated day of seal and pup observation.","Hovercraft journey towards the lake’s deepest region, approximately two hours one way before observation stops.","Specialist choice of safe ice stops and respectful viewing distance; free time after returning to Olkhon.",[73],{"src":74,"alt":75},"\u002Fimages\u002Fjourneys\u002Fbaikal-seal-pups-on-spring-ice\u002Fday-3\u002F1.jpg","Baikal seal and her white pup resting on the spring ice",{"title":77,"text":78,"experience":79,"arrangements":80,"images":81},"Banya and a Slower Day","After two long days on the ice, the programme deliberately leaves space to recover.","Free morning, shoreline walk or rest; Russian banya overlooking Baikal with guided steaming and a hot tub.","Professional bath masters adjust intensity to guests’ preferences and wellbeing.",[82],{"src":83,"alt":84},"\u002Fimages\u002Fjourneys\u002Fbaikal-seal-pups-on-spring-ice\u002Fday-4\u002F1.jpg","Towels and a birch broom on a wooden bench of a banya by the lake",{"title":86,"text":87,"experience":88,"arrangements":89,"images":90},"Tazherany and the Mainland","The return through the rocky Tazherany landscape adds one more open-air Baikal setting before Irkutsk.","Hovercraft to the mainland; off-road route through Tazherany viewpoints and an outdoor picnic.","Road transfer to History Hotel for the final night in the same Family Connect suite category.",[91],{"src":92,"alt":93},"\u002Fimages\u002Fjourneys\u002Fbaikal-seal-pups-on-spring-ice\u002Fday-5\u002F1.jpg","Picnic table on a rocky cliff above the frozen lake, with travellers in the distance",{"title":95,"text":96,"experience":97,"images":98},"Departure from Irkutsk","Breakfast and private airport transfer conclude the spring journey.","Private transfer to Irkutsk Airport.",[99],{"src":100,"alt":101},"\u002Fimages\u002Fjourneys\u002Fbaikal-seal-pups-on-spring-ice\u002Fday-6\u002F1.jpg","Driver loading suitcases into a black minivan on a snowy city street",[103,107],{"name":104,"description":105,"nights":106},"History Hotel","Two-room suite accommodation after arrival and before departure.",2,{"name":108,"description":109,"nights":110},"Port Olkhon","Three nights on the island between the principal wildlife outings and the return through Tazherany.",3,{"description":112},"BBT created this late-March journey around the period when Baikal seals and their pups may be observed on the lake ice.",[114,124,133],{"slug":115,"status":5,"title":116,"excerpt":117,"seasons":118,"cover":120,"maxGuests":-1,"dates":-1},"ice-fishing-across-northern-baikal","Ice Fishing Across Northern Baikal","A winter expedition from southern ice to northern thermal waters",[119,9],"winter",{"src":121,"mobile":122,"alt":123},"\u002Fimages\u002Fjourneys\u002Fice-fishing-across-northern-baikal\u002Fcover.jpg","\u002Fimages\u002Fjourneys\u002Fice-fishing-across-northern-baikal\u002Fcover-mobile.jpg","Three anglers ice fishing on Lake Baikal below snow-covered mountains",{"slug":125,"status":5,"title":126,"excerpt":127,"seasons":128,"cover":129,"maxGuests":-1,"dates":-1},"baikal-between-ice-and-open-water","Baikal Between Ice and Open Water","A spring holiday journey with seals, Olkhon and kayaking",[9],{"src":130,"mobile":131,"alt":132},"\u002Fimages\u002Fjourneys\u002Fbaikal-between-ice-and-open-water\u002Fcover.jpg","\u002Fimages\u002Fjourneys\u002Fbaikal-between-ice-and-open-water\u002Fcover-mobile.jpg","Baikal seal on drifting spring ice below snow-capped mountains",{"slug":134,"status":5,"title":135,"excerpt":136,"seasons":137,"cover":138,"maxGuests":-1,"dates":-1},"primorye-waiting-for-the-amur-leopard","Primorye: Waiting for the Amur Leopard","A winter stay inside the forests of the Russian Far East",[119,9],{"src":139,"mobile":140,"alt":141},"\u002Fimages\u002Fjourneys\u002Fprimorye-waiting-for-the-amur-leopard\u002Fcover.jpg","\u002Fimages\u002Fjourneys\u002Fprimorye-waiting-for-the-amur-leopard\u002Fcover-mobile.jpg","Amur leopard standing on a snowy rock in a winter forest",1793255422161]