Olkhon Island
The largest island in Lake Baikal, with steppe hills, sandy bays and a sacred rock cape.
About
Olkhon feels different from the forested shores of the mainland: bare golden hills, wind-bent pines and long beaches. The main village, Khuzhir, is a straggle of guesthouses and sandy streets with a laid-back backpacker feel.
The best-known spot is Shamanka rock, a cape with two cliffs jutting into the water, long held sacred by local Buryat people. Dirt tracks lead to the northern cape of Khoboy for sweeping views.
Bring layers; the wind off the water can be strong.
History
The island is the centre of Buryat shamanic tradition on the lake. It lies within the Baikal World Heritage property and has grown as a travel destination since the 1990s. Buryat clans have lived on and around the island for centuries, and many of its sacred places and names date from that time. In the Soviet period the main economy was fishing, with a fish cannery in the village of Khuzhir. Tourism grew rapidly after the 1990s.
UNESCO World Heritage: Inscribed 1996.