Irkutsk Oblast: Exploring Northern Olkhon Island

Olkhon is 77km long so there is plenty to explore. The central part has nice beaches and sand dunes, but then the island gradually rises to spectacular cliffs and capes. Attractions along the way include Cape Kharantsy – with two landforms jutting out into Baikal waters, Cape Sagan-Hushun aka Three Brothers – with three white cliffs rising out of the water (the legend says that the father turned them into stone as some punishment – a lot of this going on in Buryat legends), Peschanaya bay – where a GUlAG fishing village used to be, Shunte-Levuy cape – with views toward the endless blue of Baikal on the eastern side, and Uzur Bay – where you can access a beautiful stony beach. Of coarse, the biggest attraction is Cape Khoboy, but that’s in the next post.