Lake Baikal & Irkutsk, Siberia, Russia travel guide, Siberia tourism & vacations, Siberia travel vlog, Local people & culture in Siberia
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Irkutsk: Gateway to Lake Baikal
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The de facto capital of eastern Siberia, Irkutsk is by far the most popular stop on the Trans-Siberian Railway between Moscow and all points east. The main reason to stop in Irkutsk is to visit beautiful Lake Baikal, spending at least one night by the shore of Lake Baikal, either in the main township of Listvyanka (70km from Irkutsk) or the more traditional Siberian village of Bolshoe Goloustnoe (110km from Irkutsk), or strike out further and spend a couple of days exploring Olkhon Island.

Apart from the lake, it is worth spending at least a couple of hours exploring the city of Irkutsk for the beautiful traditional wooden architecture. An overnight offers a chance to enjoy a city tour and a dinner at one of the many restaurants in town. With extra time, visit one of the Decemberists museums and learn more about this important junction of the Trans-Siberian.

In recent years Irkutsk has seen something of a tourist boom, spawning a municipally funded information center, detailed city maps planted at strategic points and a handful of freshly conceived museums, as well as the popular 130th District (130 Kvartal) project, an entire neighbourhood given over to typical Siberian timber buildings housing new restaurants, bars, cafes and the odd museum. The lovely Marussia Hotel located there is our favourite.


Lake Baikal: The Pearl of Siberia
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Lake Baikal is the world’s largest freshwater lake by volume (7th largest by surface area), also one of the oldest lakes, and, at a depth of one mile, it is the deepest lake on the planet. The lake holds approximately 20% of earth’s fresh water, and its rich biodiversity is home to around 1,000 species of plants and a diverse marine life of up to 2,500 animals, 80% of which are endemic to the region. Lake Baikal was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1996.

Listvyanka
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Listvyanka is located 70km from Irkutsk and is the main township on the shore of Lake Baikal, making it an ideal stop for visitors with time only for one or two days by the lake. The village sits is found where the Angara River flows from the lake and begins its long journey, its close proximity to Irkutsk making it a popular destination for locals and tourists alike.

The village is reasonably picturesque, though it lacks the more spectacular ecology and scenery of Olkhon Island or the more tranquil setting at Bolshoue Goloustnoe, visitors will still take delight in the many wooden homes with their colorful window frames and picket fences and vibrant flowering gardens.

The small port provides the opportunity for visitors to enjoy a short boat cruise on the lake. Ferries also connect Listvyanka to Port Baikal on the opposite bank of the Angara River, where visitors pick up the Circum-Baikal train that traces a scenic journey along the shoreline to Slyudyanka.

There is plenty of interest in Listvyanka to keep visitors busy for two days. A small market sells local crafts and is a good place to pick up some tasty local omul fish for a picnic lunch on the lake shore. A trip to Listvyanka should certainly include a visit to the Limnological Museum, which provides a very good overview of the flora, fauna endemic to Lake Baikal.

There are good hiking trails in the forested hills and along the cliffs overlooking the lake, though it definitely helps to arrange a guided hike as the trails can be hard to find and the hiking is moderately difficult in parts. In winter, the focus shifts from hiking to cross-country skiing, snowmobiling or dog-sledging. There are a number of good restaurants for visitors to enjoy the local cuisine and relax after a day exploring the area.


Bolshoe Goloustnoe
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Bolshoe Goloustnoe (BG) is a traditional village on the shore of the lake, located 110km from Irkutsk in the Pribaikalsky National Park. Originally settled in the late 17th century, and built in the classic wooden style, BG is great if you are looking for a quieter, and an authentic local Siberian experience removed from the more tourist-friendly Listvyanka.

Our local partners host visitors in a comfortable guesthouse, rather than the former homestay set-up, which adds to the privacy while still offering the intimate chance to experience a small traditional Siberian village. Being a more traditional village, there is little in the way of shops of tourist restaurants, and less English spoken.

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