Olkhon Gate Strait & MRS Ferry
Ольхонские Ворота
The narrowest strait between Olkhon Island and the mainland, and the ferry crossing everyone must take to reach the island; the cliffs and lake surface on both shores make up the first view of the island.
Olkhon Gate is the strait separating the southern tip of Olkhon Island from the mainland. It is about 1–2 km wide and is where the Small Sea meets the main lake. On the mainland side, the Sakhyurta (MRS) dock runs free car ferries, a crossing of about 15 minutes. In peak summer the queue can last several hours. In winter, once the ice is thick enough, an ice road opens and vehicles drive straight onto the island. During freeze-up and thaw periods, only hovercraft can cross. The nearby Kobylya Golova cliffs are a convenient viewpoint along the way.
Opening hours
Ferry about 08:00–24:00 (extra sailings in peak season; check on site)
Nearby sights
- Ogoy Island
- Tazheran Steppe
- Lake Shara-Nur (Olkhon)
- Maloye More (Small Sea) Ice
- Revyakin Museum of Local Lore
- Khuzhir
- Olkhon Island & Shaman Rock
- Saraisky Beach