Lake Baikal Conservation

Irkutsk Oblast, Russia

$995.00

 

The Experience

Journey to the Great Baikal Lake found in Russia and become a part of an amazing team and worthwhile cause at our Baikal Ecotourism Development Program!

Lake Baikal is a rift lake found in Russia and is known to be the largest fresh water lake by volume in the entire world! Not only being the largest; it is also the deepest, clearest and oldest lake known in history. Lake Baikal takes the spot of the seventh largest lake in the world by surface area. Apart from how huge the lake is, this picturesque and unique destination is home to a variety of species of flora and fauna, many of which exist nowhere else in the world. It is also considered home to the native Buryat people! 
Becoming a volunteer and working along an amazing team, it is important to note that the project’s main goal is to develop ecotourism and the cultivation of a socially responsible society through the aid garnered from local and International volunteers & Educational Projects. It was designed with the main focus on building the very first system of environmentally sensitive trails in all of Russia. They also strive towards raising awareness and/or ecological education through various workshops and programs. Be blown away by this unique opportunity and gain the satisfaction that comes from working in a great environment with an amazing team! Join us now on this adventure of a lifetime! 

This Is Why

  • Unique opportunity of working along with local and international volunteers!
  • Assist with the daily activities.
  • Expand your knowledge on Ecotourism.
  • Great opportunity to explore Lake Baikal and all it has to offer!

 
 
Project Details
  • Key Start Dates
    Year round (summer, winter, fall; winter is okay, if you take warm clothes)
  • Package Prices

    03 Days: $995.00 US, 10 Days: $1495, 14 Days: $1995
  • Volunteer duration
    3 Days, 10 Days or 14 Days
  • Average Work hours
    On a 14-days project, you will be required to volunteer for 6 hours a day, 5 days a week. Weekends are free and applicants can use this time to visit local attractions, do some hiking, diving, etc! On a 10-days project there is only one day-off and days-off do not have to happen on weekends.
  • Number of Volunteers
    4-20 volunteers
  • Volunteer accommodation
    Available
  • Housing Type
    Camping Tents (- in summer; cabins/guest-houses in winter; tents/cabins – in fall)
  • Internet Access
    Unavailable (hello digital detox)
  • Who Are They Looking For?
    Love and passion of the outdoors is a priority. You should not be fussy, picky or hypersensitive about cleaning or getting dirty. We will not tolerate smoking, alcohol or the use of drugs. Please remember that you are a guest, therefore, respecting the rules is essential

Fast Facts: Russia

Where? Siberia, Russia

Country Size: 1,100,000 km2 
6,602,000 sq mi

Population density? 8.4/km2

Country Famous for? Amazing and unique Culture and Cuisine, breathtaking architecture, Moscow, Vodka and Lake Baikal!

When to visit: All year round! (Summer is high-season and is mostly recommended however it’s short. Many people enjoy coming in non-season. And one cannot see beautiful Baikal fall forest or picturesque Baikal ice in summer.)

  • What's Included
    • Placement
      Lake Baikal Conservation
    • Accommodation
      Since Volunteers will be involved in projects along Lake Baikal in the Taiga forest, they will be spending their 3/10/14-days  camping. The Project will provide camping and cooking gears.
    • Meals
      Meals are included; the project provides that however, the volunteers will take turns at cooking and washing dishes.
    • Airport Pick up

      All participants will need to fly to Irkutsk Airport where you will be met by the project’s transport team. (Technologies make travelling easy – volunteers arrive on their own and come to the beginning of the project. They will stay in the project’s hostel, this is where all the projects start).
    •  
    • Ongoing service
      If there are any problems with your volunteer project we are always there to help you and mediate between yourself and the organization.
    • Tours
      Through FRONTEERING you have the possibility to book tours in Russia after you have finished your volunteer project.
    • 24/7 Emergency contact
      If there are any problems during you stay in Russia, you can reach us at any time to assist you.

    What's not included: Flights and Insurance

    Package Price:
    03 Days: $995.00 US
    10 Days: $1495.00 US
    14 Days: $1995.00 US

  • RESPONSIBILITIES

    Volunteers play a vital role at the Baikal Ecotourism Development Program assisting with the daily activities. Your responsibilities will include but not limited to:

    • Assist in building small bridges, information stands and other small pieces of infrastructure for the trails.
    • Assist in building new sections of the trail and maintaining previous sections.
    • Provide assistance with art projects and educational activities with the local communities to raise awareness and teach about ecotourism and the environment.
    •  
  • Requirements, Guidelines & Policies
    • Required to commit to a minimum of 3 Days.
    • NO SMOKING is allowed on the property.
    • Strong work ethics are required: reliable, responsible, honest, good sense of humor, dependable, physically and mentally fit.
    • Age: 18+
    • Should be passionate about the outdoors and camping.
    • Must be prepared to leave your comfort zone and be comfortable around non English speaking volunteers but in case, there's a translator closeby.
    • Must read and agree to abide by guidelines and ethics
    • Good communication skills
    • Friendly and don’t mind getting dirty
    • Must be able to work independently and with others. Must be able to listen to and follow instructions as well.
  • Volunteer Benefits
    • Great opportunity to expand your knowledge on Ecotourism and Sustainable Development through voluntary work.
    • Interact with volunteers from all parts of the world!
    • Have amazing opportunities to explore Lake Baikal and Russia with all it has to offer!
  • Fast Facts
    • Project location
      Siberia, Russia
    • Area Famous For
      Wildlife watching, Lake Baikal, Unique culture & cuisine, amazing outdoor activities, nature!
    • When to visit
      All year round!
    • Wildlife viewing
      Great opportunity to view wildlife around Lake Baikal and the Taiga Forest!
      • Itinerary & Details
        Day 1 - Arrive in Irkutsk, Ulan-Ude or Severobaikalsk, Russia (Depending on the project you’ll be placed at); 
        You will arrive at the Airport, where you may be met and transferred to the project. If no one meets you there, take it upon yourself to get to the hostel on your own. Instructions on how to get there will be provided! 
        For 3/10/14 days – Volunteer at the Lake Baikal Conservation Program!
        For the coming days, you will have a great time working alongside an amazing team and participating in the daily activities.
        Your last day - you will fly back home or take the opportunity to travel through Russia. Our staff will gladly help you to book any tours to see more of this great country. 
      • Accommodation

        Since most of the projects will be taking place alongside Lake Biakal, you will be spending most of your nights camping. Not to worry, all camping gears and cooking sets will be provided by the project (take your sleeping bag and sleeping pad for camping; cabins sleeping doesn’t require them).

        Things to bring from home

        • Trousers that are suitable for working. Make sure your clothes are allowed to get dirty. Sleeping bag and pad. A checklist will be provided just after you send us your flight details.
        • A pair of sturdy, enclosed shoes. Leather shoes (boots) are recommended
        • Raincoat and sun block. Towels and basic toiletries.

        Meals

         

        Meals will be provided by the project however, volunteers will take turn at cooking and washing the dishes.

        Location

        This project is based in the Siberian Region Irkutsk, Russia where you have great opportunities to experience a truly different way of life, culture and tradition while making friends and awesome memories along the way! 

Volunteering With the GBT project was one of the best introductions to Russia I could have ever asked for. The Siberian wilderness is absolutely breath-taking and majestic. I greatly enjoyed getting to know the other volunteers; it was a great opportunity to improve my Russian skills. We all became friends and I will miss this place and the people I worked with.

Steve from Britain

I was searching informations about trekking trails around the Baikal, and I quickly found this website which lead me to this awesome project. I saw detailed informations about the trails they built during other projects, but also that they had a project in Olkhon island begining soon. This was the perfect timing for me in every ways and they accepted me so I just jumped on the train! I would recomend anyone who intends to volunteer at this project to be well-equiped for the cold, except if they come in the middle of the summer. This project began in end of august and the nights were already quite cold! (around 0ºC). Also it's really helpful to have some skills in russian langage : to be able to read words (which means to learn the cyrillic alphabet, which is not so hard) and to pronounce some of them!

Natasha from France

My dream was to travel to the Baikal. I found various volunteering programs in Russia but in places I already knew (Saint-Petersburg, Crimea, Kamtchatka...). Then I discovered the GBT on the internet and this project on Olkhon island: it was perfectly suitable for me, according to my dreams and schedule. My expectations were different, in my mind I expected more different landscapes. I already knew it would be quite similar concerning the weather and the towns, but finally the nature is not so different either. Nevertheless in the west Russia we don't have such beautiful places like the Baikal and the Olkhon island. I would recomend to new volunteers who would like to participat at this project to go in summer camps because you will have the possibility to swim in the Baikal without freezing! Also read carefully the recomendations on the website, they are quite complete: I did it and I had everything I needed. At last it can be good to have some experience in camping, it will make it easier for you!

Dasha from Moscow

 

 

 

 

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