Baikal

Welcome to Baikal, the deepest lake in the world. This jewel of Eastern Siberia is the largest source of fresh water and a home for numerous animals and plants including some endemic species. Lake Baikal has a lot of secluded bays with sandy beaches and picturesque stilted pine trees.

Be sure to visit the famous Olkhon island and take pictures of its recognizable Shaman Rock which is considered to be one of most sacred objects for Shamanist people. Another must-see object are the Ushkan’y Islands where you can see the largest rookery of cute Baikal seals.

For those who are interested in ethnographic tourism Baikal provides a great opportunity to know a lot interesting things about local Buryat culture or visit a village of Russian Old Believers who find here a refuge from religious persecutions many centuries ago. And the best photos of splendid landscapes are guarantied for travellers who buy a full day excursion along the Circum-Baikal Railway aboard a retro train.

There are two main ways to get to Baikal. Most people arrive to the airport of Irkutsk which is the gate to the northern part of the lake with well known resorts of Listvyanka and Olkhon. But you can also choose the airport of Ulan Ude and explore the Republic of Buryatia, one of three regions of Russian Federation where Buddism is the dominant religion.

During summer months there is an option to book a cruise along Lake Baikal. And those who arrive here in the late spring will be rewarded with a truly unique experience of jeep tour along the ice of the frozen lake.