Most westerners recoil when you mention Siberia - the perception is of retraining camps for dissidents and very cold weather. 

The reality in southern Siberia is in fact a warm dry summer making the area a playground for sailing, kayaking, sub-aqua diving, hiking, hill walking, rock climbing, trekking and many other adventure activities and tours. In winter the temperature around the lake is much higher than you would think and with lower levels of snow, you can safely go dog sledding, ice sailing, ice climbing, a snow-shoe hike and cross country skiing.

Central to the area is Lake Baikal, the world's largest and deepest lake, which holds 1/5th of the world's fresh water. The lake is also thought to be the oldest lake at about 30 million years and over time it has turned from salt water to fresh. For sub-aqua divers there is very good visibility for seeing over 1500 endemic aquatic species in the lake including freshwater seals.

Mountain based activities are well provided for in southern Siberia by the Sayany range and the Altay Mountains, both to the west of Lake Baikal. The Altay (or Altai / Alti) are glaciated and has many high peaks with Belukha reaching 4503 metres. Adorned with deep forests, lakes, rivers and high plateau the area is home to bears, moose, snow leopard and ibex.

The Sayany are lower, but the two ranges (East & West) have some great peaks, the highest being Mount Mongun-Taiga at 3970m in the West Sayany range.

The culture across southern Siberia is rich too with many ethnic groups such as the Evenk, who are the indigenous people of the Siberian taiga (forest) and the Buryat people, who are descendants of the Mongolian invaders. West of lake Baikal are the Khakassiyans and the Tuva people. 

Muir's Tours provides opportunities to live with families in these communities so that over 3 or 4 days you can get to know their ways quite well.

A selection of our trips in Siberia :-

This trek on the Katunsky ridge provides great views to the wonderful lakes along the Multa river, as well as the canyon of Kucherla river and to Kucherlinski lake. The Kucherla river is one of the most beautiful with its milky blue water. One side of the Kucherla gorge is forest-steppe with larch and stone ridges, while cedars and firs cover the other side. Higher along the route, there are cedar forests and alpine meadows. A of snow-capped peaks (3000 meters) surrounds Kucherlinskoe lake and are reflected in its quiet water. From the passes we have extensive panoramas of the Katunsky Ridge and ice-covered Belukha Mountain.

Price Indication per person GB£ / US$: GB£920 - GB£11700 / $1700 - $2000

16 days plus travelling time -

Hard (Intermediate) trekking - Itinerary

Demanding Trekking - Itinerary

Trekking - Kamchatka - the Rim of Fire

Wildlife viewing & hiking trip on the Pacific Rim of Fire, on the unique Kamchatka peninsula.  The area has about 190 volcanoes, some of which are active, as well as more than 200 mineral springs. We will be trekking in an area that is home to the largest brown bears in Siberia, magnificent sea eagles and six species of salmon. In summer and autumn, the fast running Kamchatka river is boiling with salmon moving to their spawning grounds.

Price Indication per person GB£ / US$: GB£1100 - GB£1400 / US$1990 - US$2400

15 days plus travelling time - Moderate grading

Itinerary

The Shumak Valley - East Sayany Mountains - Buryatia
Join us on a horse ride or trek into the Shumak Valley - for great mountain scenery, restful and curative mineral springs and sunshine. Yes, sunshine - this is Siberia, but did you not know that the sun shines more in southern Siberia than it does in the Mediterranean.

Price Indication per person GB£ / US$: £840 - £1000 / $1260 - $1520

15 days plus travelling time - Moderate grading

Itinerary

9 nights / 10 days in a remote area of Southern Siberia, close to the Mongolian border.

Price Indication per person GB£ / US$: £485 - £640 / $750 - $989

Itinerary

Coming soon details about more adventures in Southern Siberia