Description

This ultimate adrenaline-filled adventure is aimed at experienced rafters who would appreciate a chance to surmount the mighty Siberian river. Its rapid current leaves no time to think the arising challenges over, and you cover the 300-km rafting route almost in one breath. The Orkha-Bom Canyon alone challenges you with 11 rapids of Class 4-5! Whitewater thrills are interspersed with hearty picnics in picturesque settings, angling for Lenok, grayling or even the legendary Taimen on some prolific spots, and overnights serenaded by the sounds of water rushing over rocks.

The stunning vistas of the awesome Eastern Sayan peaks and lava fields, cozy and scenic campsites with curious open-air museums and excellent angling this is the magnificent Sayan Oka!

Highlights

* Day 1
Transfer by bus from Irkutsk to the rafting start point (approx. 500 km). A stop for lunch at a roadside cafe (for extra charge). En route you will stop at the so-called Obo Buryat sacred places, to worship the local deities and spirits. In the evening you will arrive at the campsite, set up tents and prepare the rafting gear for the trip. Dinner cooked on the campfire, overnight in tents.

* Day 2
After breakfast you will receive safety instructions and launch your catamaran-style rafts. The itinerary begins with a relatively calm stretch. Here a large left tributary the Zhom-Bolok flows into the Oka, and 100 m. from the mouth you will see a dramatic 20-meter waterfall. During this day you will train the teamwork and maneuvering to get ready for the storied Orkha-Bom Canyon. Stop at the campsite. Dinner cooked on the campfire, overnight in tents.

* Day 3
After breakfast you will continue the way to the Orkha-Bom. Here the river falls into numerous branches, some of which are impassable. At the Canyon's entrance all the branches merge into one stream. The Orkha-Bom stretches for 60 km. It is here that the main river's obstructions totaling 100 are concentrated, 11 of them being rated Class 4 and 5. The upper part of the Canyon is more challenging, although there are no continuous rapids, and one of the banks is gently sloping. Stop over next to the Three Geologists Rapid. Setting up tents, time at leisure. Dinner cooked on the campfire and overnight in tents.

* Day 4
Today you will splash through more whitewater struggling with the rapids: the Three Geologists (Class 4), God, Save Us - 1 (Class 5), Kalandarishvilli (Class 5), the most powerful rapid Okinsky with the waves averaging 3 m. in calm water, and 6 m. when it is rough (Class 5), and the Buryatsky (Class 5). To ensure your safety while coming over the Okinsky Rapid we will use shore-based rescuers. Shortly after the Buryatsky Rapid, you will have a stopover on the left bank, at a campsite visited by nearly all rafters on this itinerary. This is an amazing tourist museum created and constantly replenished by travelers from all over the world. After a spectacular excursion and hearty picnic back to the river canyon! The next rapids awaiting you are God, Save Us 2 (Class 5), Ary-Burye 1.5 km long, Bezymyanny (Nameless, Class 5), and Khorogolsky-1 (Class 5). Right after todays last rapid stop on a cozy campsite on the left bank. Dinner cooked on the campfire and overnight in tents.

* Day 5
A well-deserved full day at leisure! Sunbathing, angling, hiking and just relaxing amongst the spectacular wilderness. Breakfast, lunch and dinner in the camp; overnight in tents.

* Day 6
After breakfast some more rapids to struggle with: Khorogolsky-2 (Class 5), Melnitsa (Mill, Class 5) and Centrifuge (Class 5). As for obstructions, here they are mostly water piles formed by water masses lashing against the canyon walls with hydraulics and waves of 2 m., depending on the water level. During floods, rocky parts are easy to deal with, while the pressure waves at the canyon walls become dangerous. The Canyon ends at the confluence of three rivers: the Oka, Khoito-Oka and Urdu-Oka. Here you will stop for overnight. Time at leisure on the beach, dinner and overnight in tents.

* Day 7
Today you will raft a stretch, which is much calmer than the previous ones. However, there will be some beats with large pressure waves at the canyon walls, mostly at the river's bends. On the calm stretches you will have to paddle diligently, to keep to the schedule. After lunch at one of the reaches, you will head to a local hunters hut with a convenient campsite on the left bank. Setting up tents, dinner and overnight. Optionally for extra charge banya (Russian steambath) at the hunter's.

* Day 8
Today is the final rafting day. After early breakfast you will start on quite a tiresome trip on calm water to Verkhneokinsky settlement. Stopover for lunch. In the evening you reach the settlement easily recognized by numerous boats moored to the left bank. Verkhneokinsky is located not far from the river. Here you will deflate the rafts, set up tents and have farewell dinner by the bonfire.

* Day 9
Breakfast. Transfer by bus to Irkutsk (350 km). A stop for lunch at a roadside cafe (for extra charge).

Travel Types

• Eco Tours
• Photography
• Camping
• Rafting
• Nature Tours

Cost in US$:

1,050

Program Fees Include:

- meals: full board except for Day 1 (dinner only) and Day 9 (breakfast only)
- rent of rafting and camping gear;
- bilingual guides services;
- transfers as per itinerary;
- insurance against accidents and tick-borne encephalitis.

This Program is open to

Worldwide Participants.

Participants Travel

in Groups

Typically Participants Work

in Groups of 6

Green Express Travel Company's Mission Statement

The key idea of Green Express activities is sustainable development of Baikal region (that brings no harm to the environment) and promoting wonders of Baikal worldwide.

Year Founded

2001