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.
It's expensive for Russian citizens
Over the phone to a correspondent of Realnoe Vremya, a consultant from the tour operator “My Baikal” said that most tourists fly from Moscow, St. Petersburg, Novosibirsk, Khabarovsk, and Crimea.
Among foreigners, the primacy is occupied by the Chinese, Koreans, Germans and French. A popular week-long tour costs 40 thousand rubles. — Holidays on Lake Baikal are very expensive. For this money you can buy a trip abroad along with a flight. It’s expensive for Russian citizens, but for foreigners, after the ruble collapsed, it became cheaper. That’s why we have a lot of Chinese, Koreans, Thais are gradually starting to come, the Germans love Baikal. Prices are high because the infrastructure is not developed. We have no roads or sewerage. Business exists not thanks to the state, but in spite of it, because there is no investment from the state,” said a consultant for the My Baikal tour operator.
According to her, on the most popular resort island, Olkhon Island, there is not even a good pier, and the road was built only a few years ago.
Although tourists have chosen only four months to relax on Lake Baikal, travel companies claim that there is something to do on the lake at other times of the year. Photo vk.com/planetabaikal
How to get to Baikal
To get to Baikal, they usually fly or arrive by train to Irkutsk or Ulan-Ude. And from these cities they go to small villages on the lake shore.
By plane
The cheapest tickets to Irkutsk from Krasnoyarsk and Chita are from 2800 rubles one way. And the most expensive flight is from Khabarovsk and Vladivostok - from 15,000 rubles and only with transfers.
Fewer planes fly to Ulan-Ude and tickets there usually cost 2-3 thousand more than to Irkutsk.
If you live in Moscow, you are in luck: there are more options for direct flights from different airlines. But the flight is long - almost 6 hours, both to Irkutsk and Ulan-Ude.
- Moscow - Irkutsk. Prices for one-way tickets start from 3,500 rubles. The cheapest way is to fly Pobeda or S7 without luggage. The cheapest tickets with luggage (up to 10 kilograms) are from Ural Airlines - from 4,000 rubles.
- Moscow - Ulan-Ude. It is most profitable to fly Smartavia - tickets from 6,000 rubles, without luggage, but with hand luggage up to 10 kilograms.
Look for plane tickets on aggregator sites that collect information from all available airlines. This way you will definitely be able to choose the most profitable and convenient flight.
Don't leave your ticket purchases until the last day in anticipation of discounts. The cheapest ones will most likely be sold out and you will have to pay almost twice as much. It is worth buying at least 5-7 days before the trip.
Please note that on holidays, such as New Year or May weekend, tickets are more expensive. If you don’t want to overpay, you should arrive a little earlier.
By train
Trains "Moscow - Irkutsk" depart every day from Yaroslavsky station. It's a long trip, 3 days and 16 hours. And tickets are more expensive than plane tickets: reserved seat from 4,500 rubles, compartment from 9,000 rubles.
A train ticket to Ulan-Ude costs about the same. It takes a little longer - almost 4 days.
By personal car
Those who live near Baikal can get there by car. It will be more profitable than by plane or train, although the journey will be longer.
The beauty of traveling to Baikal by private car is that you don’t have to go through Irkutsk or Ulan-Ude, you can go straight to one of the coastal villages. But it is unlikely to suit those who live far away. For example, from Moscow you will have to travel 4 days, and this does not take into account stops for lunch and sleep.
On the other hand, you can plan an exciting trip and travel halfway across the country. On the way, stop in Nizhny Novgorod, Kazan, Chelyabinsk, Omsk and Novosibirsk.
We fly by plane
The fastest way to get to Baikal is by plane. Along the coast of the lake there are two large cities where flights arrive from Moscow - Irkutsk and Ulan-Ude.
The duration of the flight by plane is 5.5 - 6 hours. The average cost of a flight is from 9,000 rubles. The ticket price may vary depending on the season, time of purchase and air carrier. The most profitable flights are from December to March. The high season lasts from July to September. At this time, the cost of an air ticket may increase to 14,000 rubles.
If you are traveling to Baikal with the aim of visiting the Small Sea, Arshan, Listvyanka, Olkhon Island, then it is best to take a ticket to Irkutsk. The city is located closest to these attractions.
On the Ulan-Ude side, the tourist infrastructure is not so well developed, so a vacation here is more suitable for an independent holiday. You can visit local wild places, such as Enkhaluk.
In winter, hot springs located near Severobaikalsk are especially popular. Unfortunately, there are no direct flights to the city. You can get here by rail.
Once you have reached one of the major cities, you still have to travel about 70 km to the lake itself. For this purpose, you can use tourist buses or rent a car.
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- Taltsy
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Auto excursions
5 days 4 nights
from 38900 rub.
Season: winter, spring
Upcoming dates:
- 16 February – 20 February
- February 23 – February 27
- March 1 – March 5
- March 5 – March 9
- March 9 – March 13
- March 16 – March 20
- 27 Jan – 31 Jan
- 7 February – 11 February
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Hot ice of Baikal
An active journey for the elite, for the secrets of the mysterious western coast of Lake Baikal...
- Listvyanka
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6 days 5 nights
from 98,000 rub.
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Upcoming dates:
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- February 28 – March 5
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- March 14 – March 19
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from 39,000 rub.
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- Listvyanka
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from 54900 rub.
Season: winter, spring
Upcoming dates:
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- March 16 – March 19
- 18 Feb – 21 Feb
- 27 Feb – 2 March
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This trip is perfect for those who dream of meeting winter Baikal and love…
- Buguldeyka
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5 days 4 nights
from 42000 rub.
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- Taltsy
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- Ogoy Island
- Olkhon
- Rock Shaman
- Circum-Baikal Railway
- Arshan
Listvyanka
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Fishing
7 days 6 nights
from 60,000 rub.
Season: winter, spring
Upcoming dates:
- December 19 – December 25
- December 26 – January 1
- January 2 – January 8
- January 9 – January 15
- January 16 – January 22
- January 23 – January 29
- January 30 – February 5
- February 6 – February 12
- February 16 – February 22
- February 20 – February 26
- February 23 – March 1
- February 27 – March 5
- March 6 – March 12
- March 13 – March 19
- March 20 – March 26
- March 27 – Apr 2
- April 3 – April 9
- April 10 – April 16
- April 17 – April 23
- April 24 – April 30
- May 1 – May 7
- May 8 – May 14
- May 15 – May 21
- May 22 – May 28
- May 29 – June 4
- June 5 – June 11
- June 12 – June 18
- June 19 – June 25
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- 5 Dec – 11 Dec
- 12 Dec – 18 Dec
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- Listvyanka
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6 days 5 nights
from 43400 rub.
Season: winter, spring
Upcoming dates:
- March 06 – March 11
- March 15 – March 20
- March 20 – March 25
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- 15 Feb – 20 Feb
- 22 Feb – 27 Feb
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Magic Ice of Olkhon 2022
A compact tour that includes comfortable accommodation in comfortable rooms,…
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from 37900 rub.
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Upcoming dates:
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It's time for a real journey! On this tour you will see kilometers of crystal clear…
- Listvyanka
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5 days 4 nights
from 74900 rub.
Season: winter, spring
Upcoming dates:
- February 22 – February 26
- February 23 – February 27
- February 26 – March 2
- March 2 – March 6
- March 5 – March 9
- March 6 – March 10
- March 7 – March 11
- March 8 – March 12
- March 11 – March 15
- March 18 – March 22
- 18 Feb – 22 Feb
- 20 Feb – 24 Feb
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On this tour you will immerse yourself in the magic of winter Baikal and see the most beautiful places on…
- Listvyanka
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4 days 3 nights
from 70300 rub.
Season: winter, spring
Upcoming dates:
- February 21 – February 24
- February 28 – March 3
- March 7 – March 10
- March 14 – March 17
- March 21 - March 24
- March 28 – March 31
- —
- 7 Feb – 10 Feb
- 14 Feb – 17 Feb
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The charm of Olkhon. Winter 2022
Great economy tour! You will have five amazing days on winter Baikal. You will experience…
- Small Sea
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5 days 4 nights
from 29900 rub.
Season: winter, spring
Upcoming dates:
- February 4 – February 8
- February 11 – February 15
- February 20 – February 24
- February 25 – March 1
- March 5 – March 9
- March 13 – March 17
- March 17 – March 21
- —
- 3 Jan – 7 Jan
- 28 Jan - 1 Feb
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