Baikal

Legendary lake

Lake Baikal is the largest freshwater lake by volume in the world, containing 22–23% of the world’s fresh surface water with 23,615.39 km3 (5,670 cu mi) of fresh water.

The word “Baikal” comes from the Turkic language and originally means “a wealthy lake”. It is wealthy indeed, as with its 1,640 meters depth it is the deepest and largest lake on our planet. It is also one of the cleanest ones as its transparent water is richly saturated with oxygen.

Moreover Baikal is also the most ancient lake on the planet — its age is estimated at 25 million years. At the same time it is one of those rare spots on the earth where nature has still remained genuine and untouched. There are more than 2,600 animal species and 1 thousand plants, 85% of which exist only at Baikal.

Location

in the southern Siberia, between Irkutsk Oblast to the northwest and the Buryat Republic to the southeast.

Big cities of Baikal district: Severobaikalsk, Baikalsk, Ust-Bargusiz, Ulan-Ude, Irkursk, Angarsk, Listvyanka Village

How to get there by plane

The planes fly to the main cities of both provinces – Irkutsk (6 hours from Moscow) and Ulan-Ude (7 hours from Moscow). These are the only two cities close to Baikal which are accessible by plane.

There are regular flights from major Russian cities to Irkutsk or Ulan-Ude.

And by train

The most interesting way to get to Lake Baikal is by Trans-Siberian Railway. Thus having on the route many other sites of great-great Russia and very often having Lake Baikal is the main highlight of Trans-Siberian journey. The Trans-Siberian train stops at three places near Lake Baikal: Irkutsk, Slyudyanka and Ulan-Ude.

Best time to visit

Baikal Lake is beautiful all year around. The best season of visit depends on what you would like to see and to do.

For foreign travelers we recommend summer: June 15-August 15. It is the warmest period at the shores of Baikal with sunny and nice weather, good for trekking tours, and wildlife watching.

Main Highlights:

• Olkhon Isalnd: The heart of the lake is the island of Olkhon, glorified in many legends. It is the largest of the lake’s 30 islands and it contains 143 unique archeological objects – graves, remains of ancient settlements, ruins, shaman worship monuments and many others. According to the local people it is in the famous Burkhan cape (Shamanka) on Olkhon where the powerful spirit of the lake lives. In the past only shamans were allowed to enter its sacred cave.
• There are a few settlements and five villages on Olkhon Island: Yalga, Malomorets, Kharantsi, Ulan-Khushin, and Khuzhir – the biggest village and the administrative capital of Olkhon.
• Listvyanka: A small settlement one hour away from Irkutsk. It is the perfect place to get acquainted with Lake Baikal and try out various tourist activities on Lake Baikal. Listvyanka is the most comfortable tourist spot in that region, as it offers a variety of hotels, restaurants and tourist activities and the village is usually crowded with people coming from all over the world. For those who search for a comfortable stay with a possibility of meeting people and having well-organized tourist activities, Listvyanka is the perfect destination.
• The open-air Museum of wooden architecture in Talzy which is located in a picturesque forest on the bank of Angara river, 47 km from Irkutsk and 23 km from Lake Baikal. It represents settlements of the local Baikal people — Evenks, Russians, Buryats — and gives an overview of the traditional life style in Siberia in the 17-19th centuries.
• Circum-Baikal Railway is one of the most interesting tourist activities on Lake Baikal. 84 km of a picturesque track along Lake Baikal lies from Slyudyanka to Port Baikal. It offers incredibly beautiful views on Lake Baikal as well as an unforgettable 5-hour long journey. Circum-Baikal Railway is one of the most picturesque railway tracks in the world and an absolute must see on Lake Baikal.
• The old “Baikal railroad” — a unique memorial to engineering art from the beginning of the 20th century, which all 39 tunnels were built without machines. The rail goes through the rocks along the Southern shore of Baikal. It is called “the golden buckle of the Transsib’s steel belt of Russia”.
• Ivolginsky Datsan is the Buddhist centre of Russia. Its well-preserved temple is among the best historical samples of Buddhist architecture in Russia.
• Remains from the ancient civilizations: graves, old settlements, ancient stone carvings, ruins of stone walls, and monuments which are several thousand years old.
• Khoboy Crag is located opposite the widest part of Baikal (79,8 km). There’s a special site (a small platform) that was used for meditation and performing “tailagans” – gatherings of shamans. From the cape one can often see Baikal nerpas – the world’s only fresh-water seals and the lake’s only aquatic animals.
• The wooden and stone Russian architecture monuments in Irkutsk, including historic Orthodox churches.

Possible activities

Adventure tourism in summer:

• Trekking, hiking and biking
• Kayaking, white water rafting and fishing (on the River Kitoi in the Sayan Mountains)
• Jeep-safaris

Winter activities (when Lake Baikal is frozen)

Ice fishing, snowmobiling, and ice-biking (using bikes fitted with special tyres)

The Baikal Dog Sledding (in Listvyanka): dogsled rides through the winter forest.

Hike across the ice from the mainland to Olkhon Island, enterprising locals set up yurts on the ice, so that hikers can break up the 20km trek mid-way.

Banya, Omul, and Vodka. For an unforgettable experience of Siberia it is essential to visit a Banya (bathing house) in one of a village close to Lake Baikal, e.g. in Tanchoi, to have a smoked Omul thereafter, and drink a shot of Vodka.

Exploring the lake’s numerous islands with hidden grottoes and frozen caves

Great Trans-Siberian Journey

The world’s greatest railway journey, the Trans-Siberian Railway runs from Moscow over the Urals, across the magnificent Russian steppes and alongside the shores of the world’s largest freshwater lake Baikal. You will cover 9,000 km, passing through 8 time zones and 80 towns and cities As well as Moscow, you will also stop at Yekaterinburg — where the Romanovs were executed — Kazan, with its beautiful Kremlin, the ‘Paris of Siberia’ at Irkutsk and Ulan Ude, capital of the Buryat Republic.

Example of the Itinerary

In Moscow: taking a train to start the Trans Siberian Journey. Overnight on board.

Arriving at Kazan Railway Station in the morning. City Sightseeing tour and visit to Kazan Kremlin. As the capital city of the Republic of Tatarstan, Kazan is a glorious city that represents Russia’s Tsarist past. With complex palaces, towering churches, and a thriving cultural scene, Kazan is a city with incredible beauty and heart. Overnight on board.

Train arrives in Yekaterinburg railway station Afterbrteakfast on boards you will have a City Tour dedicated to the Last Days of Last Russian Tsar. You will see the Church on Blood erected to commemorate a tragic historical event. In the afternoon you will visit the memorial built at the boundary of two continents (the Europe and Asia). Overnight on board.

Arrival in Novosibirsk,. Enjoy our guided city tour around the biggest city in Siberia. In the afternoon we offer you an excursion to the open air museum of railway machinery with an extensive exposition of the railroad history. Overnight and next day is on board.

Train arrives at Irkutsk railway station. You will have a tour to the historical city center including a visit to the Decembrist House and the “wooden lace” house, also called the “House of Europe”. Excursion to the Ethnographical museum Taltsy located on the bank of the Angara river. Overnight on board.

Arrival in port Baikal. Take a boat to Listvyanka observation point with beautiful view on the southern part of the lake and the source of the Angara River. Then visit Baikal Museum and local fish and souvenir market. Overnight on board.

Arrival in Ulan Ude. The program includes a visit to local Datsan, prominent Buddhist Monastery and centre of Buddhism in Russia. On the way to Mongolia, our train crosses the Russian border at Naushki and the Mongolian border at Sukhe Bator and joins the Trans- Mongolian Mainline. All passport and customs control formalities are done on board the train. Overnight on board. Bator

Arrival in Ulan Bator, the capital of Mongolia. In the morning transfer to Terelj National Park (70 km). Disassembling and setting up a smaller Mongolian ger. Admire the sunset and bright shining night stars in the wide steppe. Accommodation in Gers.

In the morning a visit to a nomadic family to learn the authentic lifestyle of Mongolian nomads and try traditional dairy food. Then transfer to Ulan Bator and guided tour around the city. Overnight on board.

In the morning arrival at the Mongolian border village of Zamyn-Uud and the Chinese border town of Erlian. All passport and customs control formalities take place on board the train. In the afternoon the train goes via the Gobi Desert famous for its spacious territory. Overnight on board.

In the morning arrival in Beijing, the capital of China, a city of ancient history and culture, unique architectural monuments and modern dynamic life. Full day guided city tour. Accommodation at hotel.

In the morning excursion to the Great Wall and next visit to the Summer Palace. Accommodation at Beijing hotel.

The end of an unforgettable journey through Russia, Mongolia, and China. Check out from your hotel by 12:00 pm. Transfer to the airport/railway station.