Krestovskiy cape is the most interesting and beautiful areas of Lake Baikal. This place gives you the perfect chance to feel the magnificent beauty of the Baikal, see the life style of native Buryat people and admire the famous Baikal. It can hardly be likened to a simple lake. And how can it be otherwise? The world's oldest at more than 25 million years old, 636 km long Lake Baikal is known for its depth and the purity of its waters. Indigenous peoples have not deceived by calling it the Sacred Sea. One of the most impressive experiences is a touch to distinctive culture of Buryats, descendants of the great Genghis Khan.

The Krestovskiy Cape at the mid part of the western shore of Baikal is only 4 hours drive away from Irkutsk, and despite of the easy access saved its pristine nature, magnetic beauty and unique character. The cape is well seen many kilometers away, so since long ago and nowadays there is a lighthouse on the pebble beach of Baikal. The view from the top of the nearby hill in good weather lets one observe about 140 km of the lake's surface south to north and 60 km away misty mountains of the Buryat land on the other side. The rocky hills of the cape, its deep grassy valleys, dotted pines and endless sea make you feeling as in the times of ancient nomadic culture of Mongols. And in fact, close to Krestovsky Cape it is located the famous Sagan Zaba cliff rock paintings. The white marble cliff Sagan – Zaba stands out among the gray rocks. It has an ancient rock iconostasis with dancing shamans, deer and swans. This ancient shaman shrine is one of the main sacred places at Baikal. Roughly one or two thousand years old, preburyat culture hunters, animals, geese and strange figures are clearly visible on the white rock.

Protected as a Pribaikalskiy National Park territory, for many years there is nothing but a small farm on the shore of the great lake there. The owners, a family of locals Anatoly and Adel, move to Krestovskiy many years ago for untouched nature and solitude. Once, when getting older, they tried to leave to the town and life with their children in comfort, but have to come back soon, missing their magic place too much. Now they go out fishing, take care of few cows and host tourists seldom visiting their small farm. Krestovskiy Cape is really away from civilization.

One more attraction is an old quarry where millstones for watermills were produced. Some of those millstones of 1.5 m in diameter and about 80 cm thick are still lying on the shore of the Baikal.

Kurykanskaya castle, which remains on Dain-Khoshun mount of Krestovskiy cape, dates back to the 6-11 centuries. It is hard to see the remains of the castle at once. In the past there was a lookout post where by means of fire smoke there was a sign which meant soon enemy attack. This castle is the most complicated construction among others remained from that time. Stone walls reached 3.5 meters high and embraced the top of the mountain from all the sides. The total length is 150 meters. Remains of lookout tower were found here. There is a marvelous panoramic view to far distances till the area of Goloustnoye village at the south and till Olkhon Island to the north. The country we have today was built on these walls. Hopefully, you look on them with new eyes and in a new light. Those walls are beacons from Russian national ancestors, sending a message and a reminder into the future.

Lake Baikal is a real celebration of diversity. The lake is adorned with the picturesque shores. It is rich in flora and fauna, two thirds of the animals are endemic. Moreover the Baikal itself also changes. Each season gives a whole new face. People, who live near the Baikal, have real passion for it. Come and share their feelings!