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!
This volunteer program is especially suitable for:
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! The focus of this program is Environmental conservation through sustainable eco-tourism. You will volunteer alongside international volunteers and amazing local staff to help set up sustainable responsible eco-tourism to support the local communities as well as to safe guard this amazing habitat for future generations.
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 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!
There are no specific skills or equipment needed for this project. However do be prepared for cold weather even in the summer months. We do require you to have Strong work ethics and be: reliable, responsible, honest, good sense of humor, dependable, physically and mentally fit.
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.
Each trail-building project is two weeks long (Some are shorter). At the project camp, volunteers sleep in tents and prepare meals together over a central campfire. During the workday, volunteers might clear the way for a new trail, improve an existing trail, or build a campground or other structure, making sure that each trail is clean and up to standards. Each project description (below) includes specific tasks listed in detail.
During the interim weekend and on other free days of a project, volunteers might enjoy hikes, or trips to local sites and museums. These outings, and the projects themselves, are led by our crew leaders. Our leaders are trained in the design and construction of trails and the creation of backcountry campsites. Each group also will have a translator, a project staff person who not only ensures that the Russian and international volunteers can enjoy each other’s conversations, but is also responsible for the project’s cultural and entertainment programs. The two official languages on our projects are English and Russian.
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.