Baikal Smart Travel — travel smartly!

Baikal Smart Travel

Your Baikal Journey

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.

Traveler’s Notes

Discover Baikal in the team of experienced guide!

Baikal Guide Tours

Enjoy the Baikal Nature from the ship!

Ferry Tours

Irkutsk Touristic

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

Irkutsk Touristic

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

Public Transport

More about Baikal

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!

Local Culture

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!

Baikal Tourist Routes

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.

Olkhon Island

Great Baikal Trail

Circum-Baikal Railway

Warm Lakes

Cherskiy Peak

Olkhinskoe Plateau

Traveler’s Note: the Baikal knowledge base

Every year thousands of tourists visit the Pearl of Siberia. However, Baikal is so huge! Tourists need about two weeks to say they really have visited Baikal… So many of our guests ask us a question: where should we start from?

Usually people visit the Lake to enjoy its nature and Baikal offers a lot of options to spend your vacation on fresh air!

You can have a nap on the Lake’s beach or conquer the mountains peaks! Forest trails, walking along the shore, ferry routes, caves, capes, Circum-Baikal Railway and much more! And beside that — rich traditions of local people culture and their tasty cuisine!

So, what’s the first point you need pay an attention to? We are here to tell you about it!

Traveler’s Note: the Baikal knowledge base

Usually people visit the Lake to enjoy its nature and Baikal offers a lot of options to spend your vacation on fresh air!

So, what’s the first point you need pay an attention to? We are here to tell you about it!

Traveler’s Note: the Baikal knowledge base

Usually people visit the Lake to enjoy its nature and Baikal offers a lot of options to spend your vacation on fresh air!

So, what’s the first point you need pay an attention to? We are here to tell you about it!

«Железный пояс Байкала»

В этом туре мы посетим Листвянку и совершим небольшой поход по Кругобайкальской железной дороге.

Дни проведения: суббота
Стоимость: 2000 рублей с человека
Продолжительность: около 10 часов

Иркутск

8:00-9:00 — мы заедем за вами на автомобиле

14:00-14:50

Листвянка

9:00-10:00 — Поездка на корабле на КБЖД

17:00-17:20

КБЖД

10:00-17:00 — Прогулка по железной дороге с посещением тоннелей и поддерживающих стенок, обед на природе.
17:00 — возвращение в Листвянку

1. Where and when tourists usually go on Baikal?

Calendar

The summer tourist season lasts from May till September.
At winter time Baikal waits for guests in February and March. It is the best time to see the famous Baikal Ice.
April — the month of floating of ice.
From October to January there is a strong cold wind on Baikal. It’s not the best time for visit.

Infrastructure

The high developed tourist infrastructure is on the Baikal west, with Irkutsk as its center.
The eastern shore of the Lake is more inaccessible, the infrastructure here is less developed.
It is more convenient to explore the east of Lake Baikal from the city of Ulan-Ude.

Routes

Tourist cities are cities and towns of Lake Baikal that are interesting to visit.
Tourist trails — walking routes (mainly forest and mountain) of varying complexity and accessibility.
We have noted the all tourist routes on the map below.

2. Traditions and Culture

Baikal Natives

The history of Baikal it is the history of its people. On your journey, you will hear beautiful and sometimes frightening legends from the folklore of local residents — the Buryats.

Religion

The Buryat people living on the west shore of Baikal believe in Shamanism. The east shore is a part where the main religion of local people is Buddhism.

Cuisine

Dishes of local cuisine are delicious! Like in others cold regions of the world, in Siberia we prefer meat meals.

3. The stuff you need on Baikal

Weather

The average temperature in winter is 15-25 degrees below zero.

In summer, temperatures in Irkutsk fluctuate around 25 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 from the wind.

Wild Animals

It is very unlikely that you will meet a wild animal on the hiking trails where a lot of people go back and there.

However, it would be better to play it safe and put a flare or a device that emits a loud, scaring sound signal in your backpack.

Inventory

For leisurely walking around the city, bring your enthusiasm and desire to learn something new.

It’s another matter if your goal is to conquer mountain peaks and spend many hours hiking through forests. In this case, we advise you to bring sturdy shoes and clothes with long sleeves.

1. Where and when tourists usually go on Baikal?

Calendar

The summer tourist season lasts from May till September.
At winter time Baikal waits for guests in February and March. It is the best time to see the famous Baikal Ice.
April — the month of floating of ice.
From October to January there is a strong cold wind on Baikal. It’s not the best time for visit.

Infrastructure

The high developed tourist infrastructure is on the Baikal west, with Irkutsk as its center.
The eastern shore of the Lake is more inaccessible, the infrastructure here is less developed.
It is more convenient to explore the east of Lake Baikal from the city of Ulan-Ude.

Routes

Tourist cities are cities and towns of Lake Baikal that are interesting to visit.
Tourist trails — walking routes (mainly forest and mountain) of varying complexity and accessibility.
We have noted the all tourist routes on the map below

2. Traditions and Culture

Baikal Natives

The history of Baikal it is the history of its people. On your journey, you will hear beautiful and sometimes frightening legends from the folklore of local residents — the Buryats.

Religion

The Buryat people living on the west shore of Baikal believe in Shamanism. The east shore is a part where the main religion of local people is Buddhism.

Cuisine

Dishes of local cuisine are delicious! Like in others cold regions of the world, in Siberia we prefer meat meals.

3. The stuff you need on Baikal

Weather

The average temperature in winter is 15-25 degrees below zero.

Wild Animals

It is very unlikely that you will meet a wild animal on the hiking trails where a lot of people go back and there.

However, it would be better to play it safe and put a flare or a device that emits a loud, scaring sound signal in your backpack.

Inventory

For leisurely walking around the city, bring your enthusiasm and desire to learn something new.

It’s another matter if your goal is to conquer mountain peaks and spend many hours hiking through forests. In this case, we advise you to bring sturdy shoes and clothes with long sleeves.

1. Where and when tourists usually go on Baikal?

Calendar

The summer tourist season lasts from May till September.
At winter time Baikal waits for guests in February and March. It is the best time to see the famous Baikal Ice.
April — the month of floating of ice
From October to January there is a strong cold wind on Baikal. It’s not the best time for visit.

Infrastructure

The high developed tourist infrastructure is on the Baikal west, with Irkutsk as its center
The eastern shore of the Lake is more inaccessible, the infrastructure here is less developed.
It is more convenient to explore the east of Lake Baikal from the city of Ulan-Ude.

Routes

Tourist cities are cities and towns of Lake Baikal that are interesting to visit.
Tourist trails — walking routes (mainly forest and mountain) of varying complexity and accessibility.
We have noted the all tourist routes on the map below

2. Traditions and Culture

Baikal Natives

The history of Baikal it is the history of its people. On your journey, you will hear beautiful and sometimes frightening legends from the folklore of local residents — the Buryats.

Religion

The Buryat people living on the west shore of Baikal believe in Shamanism. The east shore is a part where the main religion of local people is Buddhism.

Cuisine

Dishes of local cuisine are delicious! Like in others cold regions of the world, in Siberia we prefer meat meals.

3. The stuff you need on Baikal

Weather

The average temperature in winter is 15-25 degrees below zero.

Wild Animals

It is very unlikely that you will meet a wild animal on the hiking trails where a lot of people go back and there.

However, it would be better to play it safe and put a flare or a device that emits a loud, scaring sound signal in your backpack.

Inventory

For leisurely walking around the city, bring your enthusiasm and desire to learn something new.

It’s another matter if your goal is to conquer mountain peaks and spend many hours hiking through forests. In this case, we advise you to bring sturdy shoes and clothes with long sleeves.

Baikal Tourist Map

For your convenience, we have divided the destinations into two parts — tourist cities (blue icons) and hiking trails (green icons).
Hover your cursor over the icon of a tourist route or city to open a short description. Click on the link below the map to read an article about the route or city.