Baikal Tourist Information

If you love nature, Baikal lake is the perfect place for your travel! Here you’ll see the real Siberian forest and crystal clear water of the biggest lake in the world.
In the past thousand years, the lake has developed its ecosystem – here live plants and animals, which you will not find anywhere else in the world.
Baikal is a fascinating place for tourists traveling to see wildlife, but it is also famous for unique nature sights. You will be amazed by their beauty and ancient legends from times nobody remembers.

So, if you want to see something you’ve never seen before — welcome to Baikal!

Остров Ольхон

Shaman-Rock on the Olkhon island, the symbol of Baikal

23.620 m³ — Baikal is the largest
freshwater reservoir in the world

Baikal tourist attractions

We divided Baikal tourist attractions into two parts: Baikal tourist routes are the first, and Baikal tourist cities are the second.

Scroll down to learn more about Baikal tourist routes and cities.

First, click a route title to read a short description. Then, a green button below opens a page with an article about the route. The text gives you complete info about the walking trail, its sights, photos, and so on.

Baikal tourist map

53 species of plants can be
seen only in the Baikal region

Baikal tourist routes

In addition to many organized events, tourists can always enjoy the local beauty on its own. So what is your perfect Baikal travel?

  • Spend a calm evening on the shore or go deep at the Baikal forest for a few days?
  • Just walk and enjoy the surrounding nature or conquer the Baikal mountains?
  • Make Baikal cruise on the ship or dive in the clear and insanely cold water of the lake?

Your choice is up to you, and our articles will help you make the right decision!

Baikal tourist routes map

800 species of animals
live only in the Baikal area

Baikal tourist cities

Some of the cities around the lake are very popular among tourists. Each of them has its unique peculiarity.
The nearest big city is Irkutsk, where foreign guests will find all services: hotels, hostels, walking routes around the city, and much more. In addition to Irkutsk, we recommend visiting other cities around the lake.
For example, in Slyudyanka, guests can visit Cherskiy Peak, a mountain with the lake in the heart’s shape on its top! No wonder it is a favorite meeting place for all lovers!
Be sure to make a travel to Khuzhir on Olkhon Island, and you will understand why the locals call it “the heart of Baikal.”
In 20 km away from the lake is the special touristic place, village Taltsy with its old houses built in the 18th and 19th centuries! It is a real open-air museum!

There are short descriptions of Baikal cities below. If you want to learn more about the city’s sights and activities, click the button “read more.”

Baikal tourist cities map

25 — 30 millions of years
is the Baikal Lake age

Baikal Map

We are proud to present you the Map of Baikal. Here we marked all the locations of main tourist points, like cities and routes.
The map is free. Downloading as a ZIP file. The last refreshing was on 03.04.2023

Baikal tourist map

The Buryats are local residents of Lake Baikal
who have lived here for hundreds of years.

Baikal Weather

In winter

The average temperature in winter is 15-25 degrees below zero. In the coldest winter months, the air temperature can drop to -40 and even lower! On average, it lasts for one or two weeks. In any case, we advise you always to dress as warmly as possible. Otherwise, the cold wind of Baikal will immediately remind you that you are in Siberia!

In summer

Summer on Baikal is full of warm and sunny days! As a rule, the temperature at the lake is slightly lower than in Irkutsk and fluctuates around 20-30 degrees Celsius. However, do not forget that you are in Siberia! Even on the hottest day, it is better to take a light jacket with you to protect against the wind.

Baikal Lake

Pearl of Siberia

Baikal Tourist Information

If you love nature, Baikal lake is the perfect place for your travel! Here you’ll see the real Siberian forest and crystal clear water of the biggest lake in the world.
In the past thousand years, the lake has developed its ecosystem – here live plants and animals, which you will not find anywhere else in the world.
Baikal is a fascinating place for tourists traveling to see wildlife, but it is also famous for unique nature sights. You will be amazed by their beauty and ancient legends from times nobody remembers.
So, if you want to see something you’ve never seen before — welcome to Baikal!

Остров Ольхон

Shaman-Rock on the Olkhon island, the symbol of Baikal

Baikal tourist attractions

We divided Baikal tourist attractions into two parts: Baikal tourist routes are the first, and Baikal tourist cities are the second.

Scroll down to learn more about Baikal tourist routes and cities.

First, click a route title to read a short description. Then, a green button below opens a page with an article about the route. The text gives you complete info about the walking trail, its sights, photos, and so on.

Baikal tourist map

Baikal tourist routes

In addition to many organized events, tourists can always enjoy the local beauty on its own. So what is your perfect Baikal travel?

  • Spend a calm evening on the shore or go deep at the Baikal forest for a few days?
  • Just walk and enjoy the surrounding nature or conquer the Baikal mountains?
  • Make Baikal cruise on the ship or dive in the clear and insanely cold water of the lake?

Your choice is up to you, and our articles will help you make the right decision!

Baikal tourist routes map

One of the most popular tourist routes on Baikal. The path goes along the lakeshore, sometimes running up and downhill. Although there are five main points on the trail, it is pretty challenging to get all of them. Therefore, we described the easiest and the shortest part of the Great Baikal Trail in our topic.

It is maybe the most beautiful railroad in Siberia! This route is a bit difficult for a foot trip. Still, the mix of the unique architecture of the 19th century and Baikal Nature beauty deserves your attention!

The Pearl of Baikal is full of Nature sights! This place has a great history, and every cape, cave, stone, or tree keeps a mystery from ancient legends…

Enjoy the magic Nature of Southern Baikal! Relict Forest, Waterfalls, and Warm Lakes! Thanks to the mild climate, people call this place the Siberian Jungle.

Not far from Slyudyanka city is Cherskiy Peak. We can’t say this challenging route is an easy one, but there is a unique prize waiting for you on the top — the lake in the shape of a heart!

A straightforward route locating not far from Irkutsk. Plateau is famous because of skalnik — remains of rocks. A good choice for one day trip.

Baikal tourist cities

Some of the cities around the lake are very popular among tourists. Each of them has its unique peculiarity.

The nearest big city is Irkutsk, where foreign guests will find all services: hotels, hostels, walking routes around the city, and much more. In addition to Irkutsk, we recommend visiting other cities around the lake.
For example, in Slyudyanka, guests can visit Cherskiy Peak, a mountain with the lake in the heart’s shape on its top! No wonder it is a favorite meeting place for all lovers!
Be sure to make a travel to Khuzhir on Olkhon Island, and you will understand why the locals call it “the heart of Baikal.”
In 20 km away from the lake is the special touristic place, village Taltsy with its old houses built in the 18th and 19th centuries! It is a real open-air museum!

There are short descriptions of Baikal cities below. If you want to learn more about the city’s sights and activities, click the button “read more.”

Baikal tourist cities map

Irkutsk was built in 1661, so it has a great history and beautiful architecture of the past centuries. It is the most prominent tourist city in the Lake area. People call Irkutsk “the Gate of Baikal.”
The city is a starting point for many tourist routes. From here, tourists begin discovering Baikal.

This open-air museum is an excellent place to learn about the Siberian peoples’ architecture. Authentic wooden houses will show you how peasants lived in the 18th-19th century. Moreover, here you can visit an original Shaman hut! In short, you can make the travel in time!

It is the closest to Irkutsk tourist village on Baikal. It takes just 50 minutes to reach Listvyanka. This place is famous for Fish Market, Nerpinarium, Baikal Arboretum, and the museum of Baikal.
Please, read how to reach Listvyanka in our text.

The village lies in the Tunka valley right near the Sayan Mountain ridge. It means you will have a fantastic view of the mountains!
Here you can conquer the Peak of Love, visit a small waterfall of the Kyngarga river, walk through the Forest of Tears and improve your health in the Arshan hot springs.

The small capital of the Olkhon island. Route buses drive tourists in Khuzhir as the biggest village on the Island.
So from this village starts your new travel of discovering the Island. Here tourists can rent a bicycle, stay in a private hotel in the local people’s houses and use different tourist services. Be sure to visit Khuzhir sights as Shaman Rock, 13 Columns of Serge, and a local museum.
Read more about Khuzhir sights in the separate text.

The small town Slyudyanka is interesting for tourists, where the route to Cherskiy Peak begins. Also, Slyudyanka’s land is rich in minerals and gems, so the local minerals museum seems to have the most extensive mineral exhibition in the whole of Siberia.

The central city of the Buryat Republic was founded in 1666. It is famous for beautiful Buddhist temples, old-fashioned architecture, and perfect Buryat cuisine restaurants. Learn more about the city’s sights in our text.
By the way, not far from Ulan-Ude is Ivoginskiy Datsan, where tourists can see a true miracle — Dashi Dorzho Itigelov!

The main ski resort on Baikal. “Sobolinaya mountain” resort attracts many tourists each year.
Also, Baikalsk is located near the route to Warm Lakes. Therefore, the city is a good place for preparing for a journey.

Baikal Map

We are proud to present you the Map of Baikal. Here we marked all the locations of main tourist points, like cities and routes.

The map is free. Downloading as a ZIP file. The last refreshing was on 03.04.2023

Baikal tourist map

Baikal Weather

In winter

The average temperature in winter is 15-25 degrees below zero. In the coldest winter months, the air temperature can drop to -40 and even lower! On average, it lasts for one or two weeks. In any case, we advise you always to dress as warmly as possible. Otherwise, the cold wind of Baikal will immediately remind you that you are in Siberia!

In summer

Summer on Baikal is full of warm and sunny days! As a rule, the temperature at the lake is slightly lower than in Irkutsk and fluctuates around 20-30 degrees Celsius. However, do not forget that you are in Siberia! Even on the hottest day, it is better to take a light jacket with you to protect against the wind.