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Irkutsk:
Trips to Baikal Lake
For
many travelers Irkutsk is a staring point for explorations of Lake
Baikal. The closest place, where you can see Baikal is Listvyanka
settlement, which is 65 km from Irkutsk, and you can get
there by bus (1.5 hours) or car (1 hour). Listvyanka is quite a
touristic village: there are hotels for any budget and taste, cafes
and restaurants, and you can make good walks there. Some travelers
even prefer to stay there instead of Irkutsk, and go to Irkutsk
in the daytime (especially that the bus is only $2 one way).
Alternatively, it is possible to take any Trans-Siberian train from
Irkutsk towards East (China), and stop in Slyudyanka,
which is less than 3 hours by train from Irkutsk. Slyudyanka is
not as touristic as Listvyanka, there's only one hotel outside of
the village, but it is a start of the Circum-Baikal railway.
So, if you arrive there early in the morning, you can take Circum-Baikal
train, come to Port Baikal (last stop) late in the evening, take
a ferry to Listvyanka (about 15 mins), and get into a hotel. However,
for this journey it is recommended to have a tent, because who knows
what will happen on the way?
If you have three or more days, you should definitely visit Olkhon
island — a beautiful land of steppes and sandy beaches.
It is about 250 km away, and a 5-hour journey by car (7-8 hours
by bus), but is well worth every bump on the road.
Finally, Irkutsk is not only about Baikal. The great Sayan mountains
are very close, and if you have time, it would be a shame not to
go there for a few days. The most popular destination is Arshan
settlement, which is located just at the beginning on the
mountain range. There are a lot of accommodation options (homestays
and camps) in the village, and opportunities for taking tours in
the mountains.
To read more about these destinations, follow the links below to
our Baikal Lake guide Destinations section:
| Listvyanka
Settlement: |
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What is It: A settlement on Baikal lake,
very close to Irkutsk and Circum-Baikal, quite touristic.
You can rent a bike, or make some trekking walks.
How to Get There: 60 km from Irkutsk by car or by
bus (~$3-$15), or via Circum Baikal (then - ferry form Port
Baikal - 5 mins).
Pros: Easily accessible from Irkutsk, Baikal is just
next to it, many good, comfortable, and very inexpensive hotels,
nice restaurants, fish market;
Contras: As it is quite touristic, the place is not
very "sincere", and there are a lot of people in
high season. However, if you walk a few hours away, you will
be able to enjoy the nature;
[See the Listvyanka
Guide]
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| Olkhon
Island: |
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What is It: Beautiful island near the warmest
bay of Baikal Lake, with meditative and relaxing views, picturesque
walks, and friendly people. It is also a local center of Shamanism.
Great for trekking, biking, sailing, and fishing.
How to Get There: 250 km from Irkutsk by car or by
bus (~5-7 hours, $10 by bus, $100 by car).
Pros: Marvelous landscape, sunny and warm climate,
sandy beaches, comfortable living conditions (felt-yurt camps
or staying in b&b with locals), local food (especially
fish), and much more.
Contras: May be hard to get to (local buses are always
booked), if you come there, you will want to stay :-);
[See the Okhon
Island Guide]
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| Circum-Baikal
Railway: |
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What is It: A very picturesque railway along
the Southern Baikal shore, built about a century ago.
How to Get There: 60 km from Irkutsk by car or by
bus to Listvyanka, then - ferry (5 mins). Or by any Trans-Siberian
train to Slyudyanka (1 hour after Irkutsk).
Pros: Beautiful views, great for trekking and camping,
Baikal Lake just next, meeting Russian backpackers, villages
along the way;
Contras: Not easy to find a place to stay, so most
people just go the whole railway by train, meeting Russian
backpackers may take too much time, snakes, train may be too
crowdy;
[See the Circum-Baikal
Guide]
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| Arshan
— Sayan Mountains: |
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What is It: Arshan is a village at the place
where Sayan mountains start. There are thermal springs, and
a lot of good trekking walks (one - to Shumak springs on top
of the mountains). Quite touristic, but only the village.
Go 1 km away - and there's noone. Great for rafting.
How to Get There: Any Trans-Siberian train to Slyudyanka
- then a bus (3 hours) to Arshan. Also, daily buses from/to
Irkutsk and Ulan-Ude.
Pros: Mountains, rivers, good trekking walks, good
infrastructure (but for Russian-speaking only), yoga and meditation
camp, opportunity to get aquainted with locals.
Contras: Not as close as other places, but easy to
get to by transport, many people in Summer, nobody speaking
English.
[See the Arshan
Guide]
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