When planning your route to Lake Baikal, take into account where you are going. There are three large cities around Lake Baikal - Ulan-Ude, Irkutsk and Severobaikalsk.
It is these cities that can be reached by train or plane. Each of them has its own attractions and beautiful places - if you are going to a specific place, see which major city is closest to it and read our tips for a specific city.
If you are traveling with children, do not miss the article-guide to family vacation spots from a real practitioner, a mother who has been taking her child to Baikal for years.
What kind of worthwhile places are there on Lake Baikal and how to get to each specific one - read here, and if you are going to Irkutsk, be sure to read the article about its interesting places and about the sights of Olkhon Island.
It’s not enough just to get to Baikal – you also need to competently organize the process of visiting interesting places and natural attractions. Without a car, most of them will be inaccessible to you, and even with a car you won’t be able to drive everywhere. Therefore, the most correct tactic for visiting Baikal is to participate in an organized tour. This way you are guaranteed to get to the most worthwhile places and not miss anything important. And you will only have to get to Irkutsk, which can easily be done by train or plane. We recommend looking for tours in the Alem-Tour company https://www.alem-tour.ru/baikal/ - a large selection of routes, reasonable prices and good reviews from those who have already gone.
So, they get to the Small Sea and Olkhon from Irkutsk, to Arshan and the Circum-Baikal Railway - from Irkutsk and Ulan-Ude. Ust-Barguzin, Maksimikha and Cape Svyatoy Nose - buses go here from Ulan-Ude. And the wildest places - Lake Frolikha, Dzelinda, Khakusy - are located in the vicinity of Severobaikalsk (material for those who are planning a trip to the savages).
We have discussed in detail the options for how to get to Baikal and the cities around it by train or by plane:
Skyscanner technology
Lake Baikal, called the Russian Sea, is located in the center of Asia at the southern border of Russia - more than 5,500 km separates it from Moscow. The lake stretches for 620 km along the border of the Irkutsk region with the Republic of Buryatia. The Baikal region is connected to the rest of the country by air and rail. The federal highway M55 "Baikal" is part of the Asian highway route AN6 and continues the highway M53 "Siberia" to the east. To get to Baikal from Moscow, you need to come to one of the large cities located in close proximity to the lake, Irkutsk, Ulan-Ude and Severobaikalsk, and then continue the journey.
For tourists planning to visit the sights of Southern Baikal - Listvyanka, Slyudyanka, the Circum-Baikal Railway, Arshan, Baikalsk, as well as Maloe More and Olkhon, it is more convenient to come to Irkutsk and from there get to their destinations. For those who choose to visit the East Coast, for example, Chivyrkuisky Bay and the Barguzin Valley, it is more profitable to travel through Ulan-Ude. The city of Severobaikalsk is chosen by those who want to visit the hot springs of Khakusy, Goudzhekit, Dzelinda, hear the singing dunes of Turali or go skiing in Davan.
Where is Baikal
Baikal is located in Eastern Siberia, between the Irkutsk region and the Republic of Buryatia. The lake stretches for 636 kilometers, and the length of the coastline is more than 2000 kilometers. You will find it on the map at coordinates 53.405332, 107.673058.
There are 2 large cities near Lake Baikal: on one side Irkutsk (72 km from the coast), on the other - Ulan-Ude (170 km). Each of them has an airport and a railway station.
There are many villages and small towns scattered on the shores of Lake Baikal. They have tourist centers, hotels, and houses that locals rent out.
- Irkutsk region - Listvyanka, Kultuk, Slyudyanka, Utulik, Baikalsk, Solzan, Bolshoye Goloustnoye, Buguldeika, Onguren, Zama, Sarma, Sakhyurta, Khargino.
- Kabansky district - Vydrino, Tankhoi, Klyuevka, Babushkin, Posolskoye, Oymur, Sukhaya.
- Pribaikalsky district - Gremyachinsk, Turka, Goryachinsk.
- Barguzinsky district - Ust-Barguzin, Maksimikha, Monakhovo, Katun, Kurbulik.
- Severo-Baikalsky district - Severobaikalsk, Nizhneangarsk, Baikalskoye, Davsha.
By plane
From Moscow to Baikal you can fly to two airports. On the western side of the lake is the Irkutsk International Airport (60 km from Baikal), and on the eastern side is the Baikal International Airport in the city of Ulan-Ude (75 km from Baikal).
Air and Ural Airlines fly from Moscow Domodedovo Airport to Irkutsk, and Aeroflot from Sheremetyevo. Flights to Baikal Airport (Ulan-Ude) are operated only from Domodedovo by Ural Airlines and Globus. In any case, the flight will take at least 6 hours.
Airplanes fly from Irkutsk and Ulan-Ude to Severobaikalsk (Nizhneangarsk airport) three times a week. Travel time is about 1.5 hours. The flight between Irkutsk and Ulan-Ude will last 40 minutes.
Irkutsk airport is located 6 km from the city center. There are taxis, minibuses, buses No. 3, 42, 43, 80, 90 and trolleybuses No. 4, 6 (travel time 20-30 minutes) to the city. Further travel around Lake Baikal can be continued by road, rail or water transport from the bus station, the Raketa pier or the railway station of Irkutsk.
How to get to Baikal from Moscow
A description of all the ways to get to Lake Baikal from Moscow using various types of transport and a comparison of their pros and cons. After reading the article, you will be able to choose the best option for yourself.
Where is Lake Baikal located?
Lake Baikal is located in the Eastern Siberia region, on the border of the Irkutsk region and the Republic of Buryatia. The path from Moscow to Lake Baikal is shown by the line on the map below.
By plane from Moscow to Baikal
- Departure airport : Moscow Domodedovo; Moscow Sheremetyevo; Moscow Vnukovo
- Arrival airport : Baikal Airport of Ulan-Ude, Irkutsk Airport
- Travel time : 5 hours 45 minutes
- Flight cost : air tickets Moscow – Irkutsk from 7,000 rubles round trip; air tickets Moscow – Ulan-Ude from 8,000 rubles roundtrip
- Airlines operating direct flights to this route : S7, Pobeda, Utair, Aeroflot, North Wind, Ural Airlines, Smartavia
An airplane is the fastest, most convenient and comfortable option to get to Lake Baikal from Moscow. In this case, you do not need to think through travel logistics, but only buy an air ticket and arrive at one of the Moscow airports at the time of departure. Direct flights to Irkutsk and Ulan-Ude without intermediate stops are operated daily from all airports in the capital. This travel option is suitable for tourists who want to save time and get to Baikal in the shortest possible time.
By train from Moscow to Baikal
- Name of departure station : Yaroslavsky station, Kazansky station (Moscow)
- Name of arrival station : Irkutsk Passazhirsky, Ulan-Ude Passazhirsky
- Travel time : from 3 days 20 hours to 4 days 1 hour
- Direct train : yes
- Ticket price : from 7900 rub. in reserved seat, from 8900 rub. in a one way compartment
- Buy train tickets to Baikal on the website Tutu.ru
A trip to Lake Baikal from Moscow by train will cost twice as much as by plane. In addition, you will spend about 4 days on the road. The train in the direction from Moscow to Lake Baikal is chosen by tourists who have free time and a long vacation. Direct trains Rossiya 002E and 082I depart daily from Moscow stations, traveling non-stop to Irkutsk and Ulan-Ude. Arrival is possible in any of these cities, depending on the starting point of your route along Lake Baikal. Along the train route you will pass through many million-plus cities in Russia located on the Trans-Siberian Railway. The best prices for train tickets are in the autumn-spring period.
Baikal also has its own section of railway - the Circum-Baikal Railway or Circum-Baikal Railway. This refers to the Slyudyanka II – Baikal branch line, 89 km long. There are currently 4 stations on the line. This railway attracts tourists with an abundance of natural attractions and unique wooden buildings along its route.
By car from Moscow to Baikal
A trip to Baikal from Moscow is a real road trip, for which you need to prepare both morally and financially. After all, even the simplest route will take you at least 15–20 days.
It will take you 4–5 days to travel to Lake Baikal from Moscow by car. This is if you drive horses. With a more measured pace of driving with stops, the travel time will be 6 days. Travel expenses are typical: nights in hotels, food, fuel, possible car breakdowns.
Reviews about the road to Baikal, and what you need to consider:
- The quality of the road to Lake Baikal has become decent, only sometimes there are road repairs and reverse traffic.
- Allow extra time for your route.
- Don't skimp on tires!
- Bring only approved shoes for both hiking and taxiing.
- It is better to drive a car with a high seating position and 4WD.
Road trips in Russia are becoming increasingly popular, and on Lake Baikal you will meet tourists from all over Russia: Perm, Novosibirsk, Vladivostok, Rostov! This means that such a trip will be suitable for any experienced traveler who properly prepares for such auto races.
To do this, you will find our article useful: “Preparing for a long road trip.” You may also find our other articles on Baikal and travel arrangements useful.
Tours to Lake Baikal from Moscow
Most independent tourists who have visited Baikal lament that without a guide and without a competent approach, you will lose a lot of time, will not learn interesting facts about the history of Baikal and will not see its hidden corners. Therefore, consider traveling to Lake Baikal as part of a group.
We have selected for you the most popular tours for different budgets, for different levels of tourists and for any time of year.
- Ice expanses of Lake Baikal. Ice skating and excursions
- Pearls of Siberia: Krasnoyarsk, Podkamennaya Tunguska, Baikal and Buryatia
- To the shores of Lake Baikal. Excursion tour for the whole family with a simple, rich program for a week
- Around Lake Baikal in jeeps and off-road vehicles - a 9-day winter tour with dog sledding and fishing.
Thus, the fastest, cheapest and most convenient option to get to Baikal is by plane. The most measured and atmospheric is the train. The most flexible and adaptable option to suit your needs and budget - by private car or as part of a guided tour.
By train
Trains to Irkutsk and Ulan-Ude depart from Yaroslavsky Station in Moscow. All trains heading to Ulan-Ude also pass through Irkutsk. Travel time to Irkutsk is 3.5 days, and to Ulan-Ude almost 4. The approximate ticket price is from 4,500 RUB. Prices on the page are for February 2022.
There is only one direct train from Moscow to Severobaykalsk from Kazansky Station. The journey will take more than 3.5 days, the estimated cost of a ticket is from 5,000 RUB. You can also get from Ulan-Ude to Severobaikalsk via Irkutsk by train. Travel time is 1.5 days.
The fastest way to travel by rail from Irkutsk to Ulan-Ude is 6.5 hours on the Novosibirsk - Vladivostok train, and the cheapest option is a trip on the Irkutsk - Naushki train.
Irkutsk railway station is located about 2 km from the city center, you can get there by taxi, minibuses and trams.
We're going by car
Those who like to travel by car will have to cover about 5,200 km from Moscow to Irkutsk. Such a trip has its pros and cons. Among the disadvantages, I note the large expenses for gasoline and a long journey.
The minimum travel time will be about a week. Provided that you drive about 800 km a day. But if you plan to visit other cities along the way to admire the local attractions, the duration of the trip will increase significantly. On the way to Baikal you will pass through cities such as Kazan, Chelyabinsk, Omsk. These are highways M-7 and M-53.
One of the advantages of traveling by car is the ease of movement. After all, you can independently get to the shore of the lake and see the local beauty. Just keep in mind that there is no road to the most famous place - Sandy Bay.
Be sure to take a map with you on your trip, as the navigator will not work properly on all sections of the road. A spare tire is also necessary for such long distances. In addition, there will be difficult sections of the road, for example, in the area of the village of Kultuk.
How to get from Irkutsk by bus or minibus?
Now let’s look at ways to get there by minibuses and buses. First of all, it’s worth mentioning the bus station, the flight schedule for which is constantly changing, so I won’t rush to post it on my blog, but I advise you to write down the phone number 500-366, they recently launched an online bus station website. rf. Not far from the bus station, literally a hundred meters away, there are minibuses where private operators will take you to any place.
I indicated another place where you can take a minibus to Baikalsk, Khuzhir, Listvyanka on the city map. Here, dozens of minibuses stand in the parking lot and wait for customers; as soon as the minibus is filled, they immediately leave. I recommend booking seats on minibuses in advance; to do this, you need to get a phone number from the drivers or book a departure date on the spot.
Now you know how to get to Baikal from different cities and how to navigate in Irkutsk, in which directions to go on vacation to the coast of the cleanest and deepest lake in the world, by the way, I was recently in Baikalsk and saw a seal for the first time, but while I was taking out my camera, the seal left I sunk to the bottom and never swam out again, it’s a shame, but the impression of what I saw remains to this day.
Book a cheap flight
Personally, I always use the same airline ticket booking service all the time, I have never used other services, since I always find the right option here, and I advise you not to run around and look for the cheapest options, while you are looking for this one the option will go away.
To book plane tickets to Irkutsk, I recommend using only two really working search databases; be sure to search using two options, so the chance of finding a good air ticket option doubles:
- Search for air tickets through aviasales
About Baikal
The flora and fauna living along the shores of the lake are rich and diverse. Many native animals (about 80%) are found nowhere else on the planet. The waters of the lake contain a large amount of valuable fish, such as sturgeon and grayling, burbot and omul. The Baikal region is home to about 80 species of mammals, including: deer, roe deer, musk deer, moose, mountain goats, foxes, lynxes, wild boars, wolverines, marmots, hares, chipmunks, bears, wolves.
Lake Baikal
About two hundred species of birds nest on the coast and islands of the great lake. These are ducks, geese, swans, cormorants, waders, herons, loons, 7 species of eagles and many others. Hundreds of streams and rivers flow into the lake, but only one flows out - the Angara. In the cold season, the lake is covered with ice, transparent, clean, cut with many cracks. Baikal ice is an excellent backdrop for spectacular photos. Baikal is surrounded on different sides by picturesque mountain ranges and hills.
Parting words for tourists
For a successful trip to Lake Baikal, which will leave an indelible impression, using any of the above types of transport, you need to plan everything in advance. We advise you to correctly calculate travel and rest times, transfers and stops.
We recommend taking warm clothes with you on the road, since Baikal is characterized by temperature changes, a first aid kit, and cash, because when traveling through small towns and villages there may not be a terminal or ATM nearby.
We hope that your holiday will be flawless and full of impressions!
What attracts Baikal?
Many shamans consider Lake Baikal to be a sacred and mystical place. Having been here, you will plunge headlong into the atmosphere of the life of the local people, you will be able to see the traditions of the Baikal region, get acquainted with shamans and rituals.
Many Russians dream of seeing this wonder of the World, but one of the reasons why the trip to Baikal is being organized is the long journey to Siberia. The distance from Moscow to Baikal is about 5500 km, and from St. Petersburg about 6000 km, so the route must be planned in advance, since the road does not promise to be fast.
How to get to Listvyanka?
You can get to Listvnyaki from Irkutsk by your own car, bus or minibus. The distance from the center to the village is 67 km. You can take a minibus or bus from the Central Market or the bus station, as we have already mentioned in more detail above.
The Baikal highway, leading to the destination, is constantly being reconstructed and the route is expanding, the first 25 km of the road are of excellent quality, then there is asphalt with cracks and filled holes, there are places with cameras. Travel time is approximately 1 hour. The cost of travel by minibus is 150 rubles, the bus is cheaper.
