Baikal Smart Travel — travel smartly!

Baikal Smart Travel — travel smartly!
Baikal Smart Travel

When it’s better to visit Baikal? Where should I go on Baikal? What kind of stuff I need to take with?
Learn about how your Baikal first steps must look like on the «Traveler’s Notes» page.

Discover Baikal in the team of experienced guide!

Enjoy the Baikal Nature from the ship!

Sights, touristic areas and the Irkutsk map! Learn everything you need about touristic capital of Baikal!

Here we tell how tourists can use Irkutsk public transport to reach the most popular Baikal sights

Here you will learn about housing rentals, entertaiments and tourist routes on Baikal Lake. Don’t forget to download our Baikal Map — the best assistant in your travel!

The history and legends of Baikal are kept by its native people — the Buryats. On this page we tell you about their rich culture, ancient religion and delicious cuisine!

We have made for you a list of the most interesting cities of Lake Baikal for tourists. Each the city is the one small page from the giant book of Siberian culture and history, so try to visit as many towns as possible!

This is how you can get our way of life and make your travel unforgettable!

If you like to spend your free time outside, we strongly recommend you to visit Baikal touristic routes to feel the power and beauty of Baikal Nature.

Read our topics to learn how visit Baikal touristic routes by yourself.

Great Baikal Trail

The most popular and challenging route on Baikal

Popularity

Difficulty

Availability

Great Baikal Trail

The most popular and challenging route on Baikal

Popularity

Difficulty

Availability

The most popular and challenging route on Baikal

Great Baikal Trail

The Great Baikal Trail consists of six points:

Listvyanka — Bolshie Koty — Kadilnaya Pad’ — Bolshoe Goloustnoe — Peschanaya Bay — Buguldeyka.

The way from the first to the last point takes few days. The further you move away from Listvyanka, the fewer fellow travelers you will meet. It’s no wonder, experienced tourists only can pass the whole Trail. Usually tourists choose the first two parts of the Great Baikal trail, so we will look at them closer.

Usually, travelers don’t mark Kadilnaya Pad’ as the trail point, so we will tell you about the Listvyanka — Bolshie Koty — Bolshoe Goloustnoe route

Popularity

Difficulty

Availability

The Great Baikal Trail consists of six points:

Listvyanka — Bolshie Koty — Kadilnaya Pad’ — Bolshoe Goloustnoe — Peschanaya Bay — Buguldeyka.

The way from the first to the last point takes few days. The further you move away from Listvyanka, the fewer fellow travelers you will meet. It’s no wonder, experienced tourists only can pass the whole Trail. Usually tourists choose the first two parts of the Great Baikal trail, so we will look at them closer.

Usually, travelers don’t mark Kadilnaya Pad’ as the trail point, so we will tell you about the Listvyanka — Bolshie Koty — Bolshoe Goloustnoe route

On the trail

Great Baikal trail facts:

  • The route length is about 175 km
  • Great Baikal trail is a volunteer project to develop Baikal lake tourism
  • The trail is a part of Pribaikalskiy National Park
  • Construction of the Great Baikal trail started in 2004

The trail runs along hills

The Great Baikal Trail consists of six points:

Listvyanka — Bolshie Koty — Kadilnaya Pad’ — Bolshoe Goloustnoe — Peschanaya Bay — Buguldeyka.

The way from the first to the last point takes few days. The further you move away from Listvyanka, the fewer fellow travelers you will meet. It’s no wonder, experienced tourists only can pass the whole Trail. Usually tourists choose the first two parts of the Great Baikal trail, so we will look at them closer.

Usually, travelers don’t mark Kadilnaya Pad’ as the trail point, so we will tell you about the Listvyanka — Bolshie Koty — Bolshoe Goloustnoe route

On the trail

Great Baikal trail facts:

  • The route length is about 175 km
  • Great Baikal trail is a volunteer project to develop Baikal lake tourism
  • The trail is a part of Pribaikalskiy National Park
  • Construction of the Great Baikal trail started in 2004

The trail runs along hills

Большая Байкальская Тропа

On the trail

Great Baikal trail facts:

    • The route length is about 175 km
    • Great Baikal trail is a volunteer project to develop Baikal lake tourism
    • The trail is a part of Pribaikalskiy National Park
    • Construction of the Great Baikal trail started in 2004
Большая Байкальская Тропа

The trail runs along hills

Great Baikal trail routes

So, there are two popular routes of the Great Baikal trail:

  1. Listvyanka — Bolshie Koty
  2. Listvyanka — Bolshie Koty — Bolshoe Goloustnoe

Let’s start from the first option.

Click to see the Great Baikal Trail on the map

Baikal Tourist Map

Listvyanka — Bolshie Koty

So, let’s talk about the route Listvyanka — Bolshie Koty. It would help if you found Gudina street. This street leads to the starting point of the Great Baikal Trail. The Gudina street connects to a central road, right between Nerpinarium and Fishmarket. There is a big poster with inscription «Большая Байкальская Тропа» (Great Baikal Trail in Russian). We are sure you can’t pass by.

Gudina street. The pointer is on the right

Then, all you need is to go straight. After leaving Gudina street, you will come to a forest. There you’ll see a tiny building. It is the Irkutsk Tourism Department registration point. Great Baikal Trail is a part of Baikal National Reserve. So, you commit yourself not to litter or light a fire in the wrong places throughout your journey. First, you need to tell an officer your name and when you plan to come back. Then pay about 300 rubles as a fee.

Registration point

After the payment your travel has begun!

In general, the route Listvyanka to Bolshie Koty isn’t challenging. At the first 40 minutes of the way, you’ll have to go uphill. It is a comparatively tricky part of the way. The further will be easier.

A short ascent

What else? Sometimes the path is apart for two tracks. Don’t worry; they both will make one path again later.

Beautiful views from the track

Pointers are everywhere

There are some cozy places for rest

The route between Listvyanka and Bolshie Koty is about 25 km long. Our team have passed this distance in six hours.

Baikal flowers along the trail

The trail will lead you to Baikal shore for several times

In Bolshie Koty

After coming to Bolshie Koty you will need a ferry transport to get back to Listvyanka. There are two ways to find a ship:

  1. Ask local people for service
  2. Book a ticket in Eastern-Siberian Inland Navigation Company

Bolshie Koty residents use to help tourists. However, the price for service can be very different. Normally it costs about 500 roubles, but once we were asked to pay three thousand rubles for a one-way trip!
Obviously, this is a very unreliable option.

The second way is to buy tickets on the website of Eastern-Siberian Inland Navigation Company

It is pretty easy to do, we put a link on the right.

Here is the Eastern-Siberian
inland navigation company link.

Unfortunately, on the Russian language only

A view from the trail

Ship comes to Bolshie Koty pier according to a schedule. All you need is just to be near the pier in time, then show your ticket to an officer. It’s enough to show the downloaded ticket in your smartphone. After 20 minutes you will be in Listvyanka.

Bolshie Koty isn’t a big village

Bolshie Koty pier

If you want more you can walk further 25 km from Bolshie Koty to Bolshoe Goloustnoe.

Listvyanka — Bolshie Koty — Bolshoe Goloustnoe

Some tourists overnight in Bolshie Koty and then go to Bolshoe Goloustnoe. It’s 25 kilometers more. The way from Bolshie Koty to Bolshoe Goloustnoe has the same comlexity as the first part of the route.
In Bolshoe Goloustnoe tourists can keep going through the Great Baikal trail or come back to Irkutsk by route buses.
The road takes three hours. We recommend to buy tickets in advance.

So what can we say in conclusion?

The Great Baikal Trail is a perfect place to admire the wildlife. You will see mountain tops on the horizon, unique Baikal forest and crystall clear water of the lake. At the same time, the route is very accessible and simple.

Have a good travel!

Great Baikal trail routes

So, there are two popular routes of the Great Baikal trail:

  1. Listvyanka — Bolshie Koty
  2. Listvyanka — Bolshie Koty — Bolshoe Goloustnoe

Let’s start from the first option.

Click to see the Great Baikal Trail on the map

Baikal Tourist Map

Listvyanka — Bolshie Koty

So, let’s talk about the route Listvyanka — Bolshie Koty. It would help if you found Gudina street. This street leads to the starting point of the Great Baikal Trail. The Gudina street connects to a central road, right between Nerpinarium and Fishmarket. There is a big poster with inscription «Большая Байкальская Тропа» (Great Baikal Trail in Russian). We are sure you can’t pass by.

Gudina street. The pointer is on the right

Then, all you need is to go straight. After leaving Gudina street, you will come to a forest. There you’ll see a tiny building. It is the Irkutsk Tourism Department registration point. Great Baikal Trail is a part of Baikal National Reserve. So, you commit yourself not to litter or light a fire in the wrong places throughout your journey. First, you need to tell an officer your name and when you plan to come back. Then pay about 300 rubles as a fee.

Registration point

After the payment your travel has begun!

In general, the route Listvyanka to Bolshie Koty isn’t challenging. At the first 40 minutes of the way, you’ll have to go uphill. It is a comparatively tricky part of the way. The further will be easier.

A short ascent

What else? Sometimes the path is apart for two tracks. Don’t worry; they both will make one path again later.

Beautiful views from the track

Pointers are everywhere

There are some cozy places for rest

The route between Listvyanka and Bolshie Koty is about 25 km long. Our team have passed this distance in six hours.

Baikal flowers along the trail

The trail will lead you to Baikal shore for several times

In Bolshie Koty

After coming to Bolshie Koty you will need a ferry transport to get back to Listvyanka. There are two ways to find a ship:

  1. Ask local people for service
  2. Book a ticket in Eastern-Siberian Inland Navigation Company

Bolshie Koty residents use to help tourists. However, the price for service can be very different. Normally it costs about 500 roubles, but once we were asked to pay three thousand rubles for a one-way trip!
Obviously, this is a very unreliable option.

The second way is to buy tickets on the website of Eastern-Siberian Inland Navigation Company

It is pretty easy to do, we put a link on the right.

Here is the Eastern-Siberian
inland navigation company link.

Unfortunately, on the Russian language only

A view from the trail

Ship comes to Bolshie Koty pier according to a schedule. All you need is just to be near the pier in time, then show your ticket to an officer. It’s enough to show the downloaded ticket in your smartphone. After 20 minutes you will be in Listvyanka.

Bolshie Koty isn’t a big village

Bolshie Koty pier

If you want more you can walk further 25 km from Bolshie Koty to Bolshoe Goloustnoe.

Listvyanka — Bolshie Koty — Bolshoe Goloustnoe

Some tourists overnight in Bolshie Koty and then go to Bolshoe Goloustnoe. It’s 25 kilometers more. The way from Bolshie Koty to Bolshoe Goloustnoe has the same comlexity as the first part of the route.
In Bolshoe Goloustnoe tourists can keep going through the Great Baikal trail or come back to Irkutsk by route buses.
The road takes three hours. We recommend to buy tickets in advance.

So what can we say in conclusion?

The Great Baikal Trail is a perfect place to admire the wildlife. You will see mountain tops on the horizon, unique Baikal forest and crystal clear water of the lake. At the same time, the route is very accessible and simple.

Have a good travel!

Great Baikal trail routes

So, there are two popular ways of the Great Baikal trail:

  1. Listvyanka — Bolshie Koty
  2. Listvyanka — Bolshie Koty — Bolshoe Goloustnoe

Let’s start from the first option.

Listvyanka — Bolshie Koty

So, let’s talk about the route Listvyanka — Bolshie Koty. It would help if you found Gudina street. This street leads to the starting point of the Great Baikal Trail. The Gudina street connects to a central road, right between Nerpinarium and Fishmarket. There is a big poster with inscription «Большая Байкальская Тропа» (Great Baikal Trail in Russian). We are sure you can’t pass by.

Большая Байкальская Тропа

Gudina street. The pointer is on the right

Then, all you need is to go straight. After leaving Gudina street, you will come to a forest. There you’ll see a tiny building. It is the Irkutsk Tourism Department registration point. Great Baikal Trail is a part of Baikal National Reserve. So, you commit yourself not to litter or light a fire in the wrong places throughout your journey. First, you need to tell an officer your name and when you plan to come back. Then pay 300 rubles as a fee.

Great Baikal Trail

Registration point

After the payment your travel has begun!

In general, the route Listvyanka to Bolshie Koty isn’t challenging. At the first 40 minutes of the way, you’ll have to go uphill. It is a comparatively tricky part of the way. The further will be easier.

Great Baikal Trail

A short ascent

What else? Sometimes the path is apart for two tracks. Don’t worry; they both will make one path again later.

Большая Байкальская Тропа

Beautiful views from the track

Great Baikal Trail

Pointers are everywhere

Большая Байкальская Тропа

There are some cosy places for rest

The route between Listvyanka and Bolshie Koty is about 25 km long. Our team have passed this distance in six hours.

Great Baikal Trail

Baikal flowers along the trail

Great Baikal Trail

The trail will lead you to Baikal shore for several times

In Bolshie Koty

After coming to Bolshie Koty you will need a ferry transport to get back to Listvyanka. There are two ways to find a ship:

Ask local people for service
Book a ticket in Eastern-Siberian Inland Navigation Company
Bolshie Koty residents use to help tourists. However, the price for service can be very different. Normally it costs about 500 roubles, but once we were asked to pay three thousand rubles for a one-way trip!
Obviously, this is a very unreliable option.

The second way is to buy tickets on the website of Eastern-Siberian Inland Navigation Company

It is pretty easy to do, we put a link on the right.

Great Baikal Trail

A view from the trail

Ship comes to Bolshie Koty pier according to a schedule. All you need is just to be near the pier in time, then show your ticket to an officer. It’s enough to show the downloaded ticket in your smartphone. After 20 minutes you will be in Listvyanka.

Here is the Eastern-Siberian
inland navigation company link.

Unfortunately, on the Russian language only

Большая Байкальская Тропа

Bolshie Koty isn’t a big village

Great Baikal Trail

Bolshie Koty pier

If you want more you can walk further 25 km from Bolshie Koty to Bolshoe Goloustnoe.

Listvyanka — Bolshie Koty — Bolshoe Goloustnoe

Some tourists overnight in Bolshie Koty and then go to Bolshoe Goloustnoe. It’s 25 kilometers more. The way from Bolshie Koty to Bolshoe Goloustnoe has the same comlexity as the first part of the route.
In Bolshoe Goloustnoe tourists can keep going through the Great Baikal trail or come back to Irkutsk by route buses.
The road takes three hours. We recommend to buy tickets in advance.

So what can we say in conclusion?

The Great Baikal Trail is a perfect place to admire the wildlife. You will see mountain tops on the horizon, unique Baikal forest and crystal clear water of the lake. At the same time, the route is very accessible and simple.

Have a good travel!

How to get to the Great Baikal trail

The Great Baikal trail starts in Listvyanka. So you need to know how to reach this village. Listvyanka is 60 km from Irkutsk, the road won’t take much time.

Car trip takes about 50 minutes.
If you are travel in a big company, go by taxi will be a good option for you. You will have to pay about 2000 rubles.
The most popular way is to go by minibuses that take off every 20 minutes from Central Market and Bus Station. You can find these places on our Irkutsk Map. The price of a minibus ticket is 150 rubles; the road takes 50 minutes.
Another way is to go by ferry on the Angara River. It is not cheap; however, we can organize the Baikal ferry trip for you. Read more details on the «Baikal ferry routes» page.

How to get to the Great Baikal trail

The Great Baikal trail starts in Listvyanka. So you need to know how to reach this village. Listvyanka is 60 km from Irkutsk, the road won’t take much time.

Car trip takes about 50 minutes.
If you are travel in a big company, go by taxi will be a good option for you. You will have to pay about 2000 rubles.
The most popular way is to go by minibuses that take off every 20 minutes from Central Market and Bus Station. You can find these places on our Irkutsk Map. The price of a minibus ticket is 150 rubles; the road takes 50 minutes.
Another way is to go by ferry on the Angara River. It is not cheap; however, we can organize the Baikal ferry trip for you. Read more details on the «Baikal ferry routes» page.

How to get to the Great Baikal trail

The Great Baikal trail starts in Listvyanka. So you need to know how to reach this village. Listvyanka is 60 km from Irkutsk, the road won’t take much time.

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