Budget vacation on Baikal in the summer. Where to stay on Baikal

There are many beautiful places for recreation in Russia. We have already discussed on our forum, and one of the most unforgettable is the rest on Lake Baikal. However, every year it becomes more and more difficult to find good recreation centers on Baikal: a lot of people, expensive, and housing does not meet expectations. But we will help you find the best! In order for the vacation to be 100% successful, we have compiled list of the best recreation centers on Baikal according to the reviews of tourists and the ratio of price and quality: there are very inexpensive camp sites, and wonderful hotels for the most demanding taste.

1. "At Lake Baikal" - inexpensive and comfortable rest on Lake Baikal

"At Lake Baikal" - inexpensive vacation on Baikal

This recreation center on Lake Baikal is a hidden gem. For those who like a great inexpensive vacation. Usually they stop here passing through, and then regret that they did not stop longer. Clean air, a cozy house with the smell of wood, friendly hosts who will help organize your vacation. There is everything you need for cooking, on the street there is a gazebo and a barbecue area, a sauna. In summer, small pool. Wonderful place for a relaxing holiday away from the hustle and bustle of the city.
See reviews, photos and prices

Peschanaya Bay - Baikal Riviera

If you go by car, then the closest to the Bay is the village of Bolshoye Goloustnoye, where you can get there by car and get a rest. And already from here you can get to Peschanaya Bay in two ways: by boat in 1.5 hours or by making hiking along the beautiful coast of Lake Baikal (37 km).

In winter, Baikal is no less interesting than in summer. And for those who love outdoor activities, there are even unusual ones.

2. Tourist base "Dauria" in Listvyanka

Listvyanka is a popular and expensive place, so you need to book inexpensive options in advance. The recreation center "Dauria" is suitable for those who prefer comfort at a reasonable price. There are well-appointed houses, cozy rooms, a beautiful well-groomed area with barbecue pavilions.
See photos, reviews and prices.

3. "Inhabited Island", Listvyanka - an inexpensive recreation center on Lake Baikal

« Inhabited Island» - an inexpensive tourist center on Lake Baikal

A tourist complex with a sauna, a common guest area and a kitchen where you can cook - this is very convenient, because. eating in a cafe in Listvyanka is expensive, but here you can cook everything yourself. A grocery store is nearby.
Low prices for a very comfortable stay.
See reviews, photos and prices.

4. Tourist base Baikal Khan, Listvyanka - with European comfort

New recreation center in Listvyanka

The recreation center "Baikal Khan" is located in the village of Listvyanka, on the shores of Lake Baikal. It is easy to get here from Irkutsk, so even foreign tourists like to stay here. The rooms have a beautiful view. It offers a comfortable sun terrace, barbecue facilities and private parking on site. You can rent a car at the hotel or rent a bicycle free of charge. The area is popular with horseback riders.
See reviews and prices

The Small Sea is one of the most popular holiday destinations on Lake Baikal: the water in the bay is warming up, the beaches are sandy, and it is convenient to swim. If you want to ride around the beautiful places of Lake Baikal and learn something new, take excursions with local guides:

5. Tourist base "Eldorado" - rest on Lake Baikal, on the Small Sea

The cozy recreation center "Eldorado" is located right by the lake, there are private beach and sauna.
See reviews and prices

6. Boyarsky Dvor Andreevsky - a recreation center on Lake Baikal (Small Sea) with meals

Boyarsky Dvor Andreevsky - recreation center on Lake Baikal (Small Sea)

In the cozy tourist complex "Boyarsky Dvor Andreevsky" you can rent not only a room, but also a whole cottage for a large family or company. It is convenient that there are rooms where breakfasts, lunches and dinners are already included in the price, all that remains is to relax and not worry about food! Well-groomed territory with flowers and evening illumination. There is also a sauna and a spa center where they do good massages and body wraps.
See reviews and prices

Olkhon, Saraisky beach

I can’t even believe that there are such beaches on Baikal:

Best Places accommodation near Sarai beach:

7. Residence "PHILOXENIA" - one of the best on Olkhon

8. Guest House Resurrection on Olkhon, Baikal (next to Saraisky beach)

Another recreation center on Olkhon with a convenient location - just a 5-minute walk from Cape Burkhan - the pearl of Olkhon. Cozy homely atmosphere, as well as its own cafe, where they cook delicious food. Here you will definitely feel like the most welcome guest.
Read all reviews and check prices Some rooms offer mountain or river views. For guests - a Russian bath and delicious homemade food. Here you can have a great rest from the bustle of the city: play tennis, go fishing or rent bicycles, and in winter - skis. And what a wonderful smell of cedar! Hotel on Lake Baikal

Inexpensive hotel on Lake Baikal in the village of Sukhaya (from Ulan-Ude). There is a bath for guests. A children's playground, barbecue facilities and free private parking are available on site.
See prices and reviews

11. Inexpensive recreation center “Guest House Pyatnitsa”

The recreation center "Friday" is one of the favorite options for tourists in Baikalsk in terms of price and quality. For those who prefer outdoor activities and are not very picky about comfort.

Guest House Pyatnitsa is located in Utulik, near Slyudyanka. There is a sauna, a bathhouse, free parking and a variety of excursions. The camp site consists of 2 cottages, 1 of which has a fireplace, and the other has a sauna. Bathrooms are shared. There is also a shared kitchen and barbecue facilities.
Things to do? In summer - rafting and catamaran rides. In winter, snowmobiling. Sobolinaya Mountain Ski Resort is a 5-minute drive away. Transfers are available upon request.

Thousands of years ago, the restless crust of the Earth formed a fault, and the glaciers that followed it filled it with crystal clear water. This is how the lake-sea was formed, the most deep lake in the world, up to two thousand meters deep and reaching 80 km at its widest point.

Baikal is considered the most ancient lake on the planet, and this is confirmed not only by its geological features: the indentation of the shores, the age of rock formations, and depth. The antiquity of the lake is felt by the traveler in the special impression that it makes: its calm and serene beauty, covering the horizon, the abundance of mysterious places, decorated with ethnic shamanic color.

Petroglyphs have been preserved on the rocks near Lake Baikal - rock painting of our distant ancestors, cult rocks rise in the waters of the lake, where magical rituals and rituals were and are being carried out, incomprehensible to modern civilized man but always interesting to him.

The waters of Lake Baikal are a separate mystery. The fact is that the age of the lake and its crystal clearness do not fit with each other at all. Usually, lakes silt up, turn into swamps already in 10-15 thousand years, and Baikal not only does not grow shallow, but also contains clean water which you can safely drink.

IN good weather The bottom of Lake Baikal can be seen through the forty-meter water column! The transparency of the lake is used by diving enthusiasts: they get a rare opportunity to see the endemic undersea world lakes with my own eyes.

Swimming in the lake without special even in June and July, only seasoned people can swim in a suit: the water temperature rarely rises above 16 degrees.

The changing colors of Baikal waters are known: from deep blue to emerald green, from cornflower blue to lilac.

Shaman rock on Olkhon island.

Who is waiting for Baikal and where to go?

Around Baikal there are many opportunities to relax and gain impressions: you can go on a taiga hike, raft down the Irkut River, relax on the sandy shores of the Siberian Riviera, conquer the most high point Eastern Siberia - Mount Munku-Sardyk.

Walking along the shores and surroundings, you will get acquainted with the local flora and fauna: well-fed ground squirrels run out from under your feet, flocks of birds soar at your approach, the heavy splash of a huge fish breaks the primordial silence ...

For nature lovers, Baikal is not just a pearl and a diamond, it is an opportunity to be alone with this marvelous exhibit of the planet without excessive fuss and voices of civilization.

Cultural and historical tourism is keenly interested in the ethnic characteristics of the peoples inhabiting Baikal and, in particular, in the preserved echoes of shamanic culture.

Where is it cheap and varied to relax on Lake Baikal? These are the places:

• Listvyanka village;
• Olkhon Island;
• The villages of Kultuk and Utulik;
• Baikalsk;
• Warm lakes.

Road

The closest to the described resorts of Baikal is the city with an airport and a railway station - Irkutsk.

Airplane: Moscow - Irkutsk from 21,000 rubles. there and back. Fly 6 hours. There are no direct flights from St. Petersburg to Irkutsk, only a transfer in Moscow. The cost of a ticket with a transfer from 21,000 rubles, travel time 9 - 13 hours

Train: Moscow - Irkutsk reserved seat, cost 3,800 rubles. one way. Drive ~83 hours (more than 3 days). There are no direct trains from St. Petersburg either, you will have to change trains in Moscow, the price is the same.

Settlement of Listvyanka

Not so long ago, the village became famous for the fact that it was here that the Olympic torch was immersed in the water of Lake Baikal. The place was not chosen by chance - Listvyanka has long and firmly occupied the top most visited places among tourists going on vacation with accommodation, and not savages.

Inexpensive hiking tours are organized here along the paths and rocks along the Baikal coast, but you can also walk on your own without spending 300 rubles. for the guide's stories.

The famous fish market is located here, where it is very cheap (from 80 rubles per tail and from 150 rubles per kilogram), you can buy Baikal omul and grayling dried, hot and cold smoked, lightly salted.

Without the taste of this fish - Baikal is not Baikal!

In the market, you can actively bargain and bring down the price.

There is a nerpinarium in the village - this is the habitat of Baikal seals, amazingly smart, cute and funny animals with whom you can chat, say hello, shake flippers and even stroke.

The cost of a ticket to the nerpinary: 250 rubles. per child, 350 per adult.

Excursions along the shore of Lake Baikal and around Lake Baikal on the water will cost from 800 rubles. (30 minutes boat ride along the coast) up to 2500 rubles. (1.5 hours on the surface of Lake Baikal). During the tour, you will be shown the Shaman Stone and legends about it: from the legend about the daughter of Baikal, Angara, who fell in love with the Yenisei, to the story of how liars were tested with a stone, sending them to spend the night on this pebble.

Housing in Listvyanka is not the cheapest on the coast, but you can find private guest houses where you can live from 1000 rubles. per day, and even with a delicious homemade breakfast and in some - with dinner:

Guest house "Malina". Listvyanka village.

• Manor of Nikita Bencharov;
• Manor Demidov;
• Fedorov yard;
• Manor Daryana;
• Chalet Listvyanka;
• Baikal Home.

A taxi from Irkutsk will cost about 2000 rubles.

Buses run regularly from the central market of Irkutsk and from the bus station. Price 120 rubles.

In addition to the bus, Listvyanka can be reached by steamboat - it runs three times a day, from the Rocket pier at 8:45, 12:30, 14:45, the cost is 400 rubles, an hour is on the way.

Olkhon Island

The best place to travel savages. Take a tent and everything you need - the rest will be unforgettable. This is the most big Island Baikal, where the Buryats now live, and the first settlers appeared on the island back in the Paleolithic, leaving behind rock paintings, ancient sites, burial grounds and places of worship - there are about 150 archaeological and historical objects on the island.

Olkhon Island is gentle on one side and mountainous on the other. Coniferous forests are interspersed with plains and rocky elevations, while all around, as far as the eye can see, the sacred expanse of the lake spreads.

Botanical and geological monuments are represented by:

• White marble cape Sagan-Khushun;
• Shaman cape;
• Cape Kobylya Golova;
• Relic spruce forest of Zhima mountain.

The Baikal seal used to bask in the sun on the shores of the island, but now its population has declined sharply, as has the population of the famous bald eagles. But still there are still other birds and animals, a total of three hundred different species, which can be found in wild nature islands. Among them there are no dangerous for humans - break the parking lot boldly!

Natural arch at Cape Khoboy

If you like comfort and coziness, then you should stay at camp sites and campsites, where rooms cost from 900 rubles. per day:

• Camp site "Solnechnaya";
• Recreation center "Olkhon";
• Recreation center "Lada";
• Yurt-camping "Melody of Olkhon" (from 400 rubles per day in the summer).

How to get to the island:

• bus Irkutsk - Khuzhir, which departs from the bus station at 8:00 am, the cost is 600 rubles. on the way 6.5 hours. (plus ferry);
• private taxis - 800 - 900 rubles. (plus ferry);
• the steamer "Barguzin", which runs to Khuzhir on Mondays (in the summer also on Wednesdays), travels 9 hours. The cost is 3,800 rubles;
• boat "Kometa", goes to Zagli Bay (near the ferry crossing). To the village of Khuzhir will have to get extra. transport. It goes on Fridays (also on Tuesdays in the summer). On the way 5.5 hours, the cost is 3200 rubles.

The villages of Kultuk and Utulik

Kultuk and Utulik - picturesque villages on the southern coast of Lake Baikal. It is quiet here, very beautiful, there are many hospitable camp sites that entertain tourists in various ways: they offer boating and catamaran rides; fishing.

After traveling to the village of Kultuk along the mountain serpentine, there is an opportunity to spend the night at a disco, have a drink at a bar.

From afar, the villages look unsightly, but their location allows tourists to admire the landscapes of Baikal without interference (the Shaman Cape is visible from Kultuk), relax in nature, spend time communicating with the silent spirits of the lake.

Due to the southern location at the end of summer, the water in the area of ​​​​the villages warms up to 16-19 degrees, and you can swim. If not, just sunbathe on the banks.

Kultuk

Many excursions are offered: on foot, water and horseback. Typically, these offers can be found on the territories of tourist centers and recreation centers, where you can stay cheaply, paying as little as 700 rubles. per day.

• Guest house "Baikal Bears";
• Recreation center "Baikal";
• Guest house "Fedorov Dvor";
• Turbaza "Strawberry".

Rest in them: these are baths on a juniper steam and a steam of wild rosemary, smoked omul by the fire, night fishing, sports entertainment and a lot of opportunities to communicate with the wildlife of Baikal.

How to get to the village of Kultuk:

• by train that runs from Irkutsk three times a day at 9:28, 17:36 and 18:46, on weekends at 10:10, the journey takes 3 hours, the cost is ~150 rubles. Go to the stop "Devil's Mountain" or "Pervomayskaya";
• by bus, route Irkutsk - Slyudyanka No. 543. Price 130 rubles.

Road to Utulik village:

• by bus from the Irkutsk bus station (Irkutsk-Baikalsk 150 rubles);
• by train or bus from Baikalsk.

Baikalsk: ski resort

This is the center winter holiday on Baikal, a city located right on the lake. In winter, skiers and snowboarders come here. They are attracted Sable Mountain, where in relatively warm Baikal winters there is a thick snow cover.

Mountain acquired special meaning among the ski resorts. Long winter season with abundance sunny days, amazingly beautiful landscapes set people in a particularly friendly way. Here everyone quickly gets acquainted, communicates and spends time gathering in large companies.

The slopes of the mountain are suitable for extreme skiing, and for skiing for children and beginners.

There are few attractions in Baikalsk itself, so the whole life of tourists is concentrated on Sobolinaya Gora. But even in summer there is something to see here - there is a summer cable car, sending travelers to admire Baikal and mountains from a height of almost a kilometer.

Try the famous Baikal strawberry: in summer, the markets are littered with this sweet, fragrant berry, which is quite inexpensive, from 100 rubles. per kilogram. In winter, you have the opportunity to hear the crackling of ice breaking on Baikal: the roar is comparable to the roar of an exploding shell.

Accommodation prices are affordable and varied: from 600 rubles. per day in the private sector and from 1000 rubles. in hotels:

• Hotel "Home";
• Hotel "Priboy".

Recommendation: big company or a family with children can be accommodated in the wooden town "Rus", where a cottage house costs from 6,000 rubles. per day. It offers a delightful Russian bath and Finnish sauna.

How to get there:

by train from Irkutsk, runs once a day at 17:36, 4 hours on the way;

can also be reached by train long distance from Irkutsk or immediately buy a ticket to Baikalsk from Moscow - 4000 rubles. for reserved seat, 90 hours on the road.

Warm lakes

There are four of them: Swan, Dead, Emerald and Lake-Fairy Tale. These are lakes branching off from Baikal, which can be reached on foot along small tributaries in half an hour. There are dense forests, wonderful views and a hospitable hostel. They fish on the lakes, enjoy the silence, make night fires and live as if there had never been a gap between man and nature. When approaching the Warm Lakes, do not forget to visit the Black Poplar - it is about four hundred years old.

The lakes are really warm - in the summer you can swim here, and if you started fishing, then don’t take it on dead lake- the water here is saturated with sulfur, and there are no fish, but swimming in this lake strengthens the immune system. Most fish lake- Emerald. When frozen in winter, it becomes dark green, sparkling with a precious stone.

Slyudyansky district, Skazka lake.

The shore of the Fairy Tale Lake is decorated with a fairy tale hut, and its landscapes really resemble an illustration for a book. Swan Lake was once home to many swans, but now they have left these places, and the reasons for their exodus are unknown.

Prices for accommodation in a house near the Warm Lakes range from 700 rubles. per day at the camp site "Warm Lakes" of the same name.

Stop here to swim, catch pike, perch and grayling, marvel at the endless beauties of Baikal nature!

How to get there:

by public city transport from Irkutsk. The cost is about 80 rubles.

Four main ways to save money:

1. Book a tour and accommodation in advance: forty to fifty days before the trip. This will reduce its cost by 15-30%.
2. The cheapest season to visit Baikal is March-May and the end of August. These are the seasons in which you will save 50% of the cost of living, and spend them almost alone with the greatest lake peace.
3. Go on a trip with a big group. Comfortable houses with a sauna, a barbecue area and fishing equipment cost from 4600-5000 per day, i.e. a company of six or more people will pay only 1000 rubles. per day or less.
4. Bring a minimum package of groceries with you: meals in hotels are usually one-time meals (breakfast), and groceries are expensive - a basket per person starts from 700 rubles. in a day.

Everyone is used to the fact that a vacation on Lake Baikal is either expensive or very expensive. I will tell you how you can save a lot or even at all, relax on the Holy Sea almost for free.

In any case, I’ll share my life hack on how I managed to rent a comfortable camp site on the shores of Lake Baikal for 5 rubles for 5 days, while saving as much as 14 thousand rubles on a summer vacation! I'll tell you, suddenly it will come in handy for you?

So, 5 ways to save money on holidays on Lake Baikal in 2018/2019:

Organize your vacation on your own, and most importantly, buy tickets and book hotels on Baikal in advance:

I never cease to be surprised that "our people" for some reason go to Baikal on a package tour and look for ready-made tours here.

Perhaps, by analogy with Turkey and Egypt, they think that it will be cheaper this way? But alas, there are no charters and other “all-inclusive” on Baikal and are not expected in the near future. The level of service here is not the same and you should not go here at all.

One of the main items of expenditure on a trip to Baikal will be the purchase of tickets. So it’s definitely better to buy them in advance, there are almost no “last-minute tickets” to Irkutsk during the season.

Buy the cheapest tickets to Baikal (from Moscow to Irkutsk and back)

And I also recommend subscribing to a bot with abnormally cheap tickets, which will help you quickly respond and buy the cheapest tickets not only to Baikal, but also to other destinations you love. A very useful thing. gave an example of how it works

Buy train tickets

At the same time, the organizers group tours, do not hesitate to sell the same tickets, campsites and other services for "package tourists" on Baikal with an extra charge such as their conscience allows them to do. And she rarely limits them. For interest, you can compare how much the trip costs from official organizers, and for how much they will offer you tourism agencies on Baikal.

Maybe these tourists are afraid that they will come to the Siberian jungle, where, after getting off the plane, they will certainly get lost, where the natives do not understand a word of Russian, and where it is dangerous to move around without a guide? In some ways, of course, they are right, and getting lost on Baikal is easy, especially if you go to some wild places. Or maybe they expect that the guide will be able to tell them about the beauty of Lake Baikal better than their own eyes? I'm just guessing.

In general, tourist Baikal is now a rather civilized place, and people who come here on their own should not have any difficulties.

It is best to plan your vacation on Lake Baikal in advance and book a hotel or a place at a camp site, including. Buying "last-minute" tickets for a plane to Irkutsk in the summer at the last moment is from the category of unlikely luck.

And as practice shows in high season it is impossible to find places in hotels, tourist centers and campsites even at the most shabby and even expensive ones on Baikal. But if you are not too pretentious about comfort and agree on "conveniences in the yard", rent a room from the locals. Many even like this "exotic".

In addition, this option will be the most affordable. For example, a room in a village house on Olkhon costs about 600 rubles per person per day. But I'm not too well versed in this type of travel, because. I myself have never rented anything from private owners.

If you want to book tourist centers and hotels on Lake Baikal, you can use the popular website booking.com, the private housing website Airbnb .com, or compare prices on the website - a search engine using hotellook hotel booking systems - where there is booking, agoda and other popular booking services.
Listvyanka hotels on the map:

The flow of tourists on Lake Baikal is only growing and growing at a rapid pace, and the number of hotels and camp sites on Lake Baikal, of course, is also growing, but it does not keep up with such a rapid pace. So keep that in mind. And plan your vacation on Baikal in advance. Well, either prepare to spend a little more money on vacation, or lose as a service.

Go to the "unpopular" Baikal or go not in the peak season

The peak of the season on Baikal is July-August, the time when they try to come here and those who go to to the holy sea, and local residents who every summer have a rest on Baikal - they go here both on vacation and just for the weekend.

Can you imagine how many people there are and what is happening at this time on the Baikal beaches, in hotels and with ticket prices? That's right, horror!

And all because many people want to combine a holiday on Lake Baikal and a holiday at sea. In July, August you can swim on Lake Baikal and in general it is no worse here than on Black Sea resorts. But in my opinion, it’s still cold enough for swimming (although I’m not an indicator, I manage to freeze in Thailand 8)

By the way, the beach season on Lake Baikal is a relative concept, even at the height of summer at night there can be quite significant frosts. And sudden Baikal winds can suddenly change the weather from hot and sunny to dank and rainy.

But in autumn it is quite warm and beautiful here. Anyway, lately. So the velvet season on Baikal is no less pleasant than summer itself. Some swim here even until October. Well, about the advantages of winter Baikal, I probably already buzzed my ears in my blog?)))

So, if you decide for yourself when it is better to come to Baikal, you should not limit yourself to only these two summer months. In addition to late autumn and early winter, when it becomes brutally cold here and late spring-early summer, when dangerous ticks begin to operate on Lake Baikal, it is always beautiful and interesting here, and you can find activities and entertainment for almost every taste.

But if you really want to come to Baikal in July or August, go! Just choose not the most popular points for tourists for the main deployment, which include Olkhon or Listvyanka. There is no crowding at all in the summer, especially on weekends, this pleasure, in my opinion, is doubtful.

Bolshoe Goloustnoye, Polovinnaya station on the Circum-Baikal, Bolshie Koty, Buguldeika, Kultuk, Slyudyanka - all this is also Baikal! The places here are no less beautiful, and the water is no less transparent. 8) And there are camp sites here too. True, tourists go there much less often. But the prices at local camp sites will be lower. The savings will come to fruition. And the impressions of the rest will not be worse.

Go "savage" or to Baikal with tents

In the summer, tourists go to Lake Baikal also because at this time you can rest for free, that is, in your own tent! (Free, unless you count the price of the tent itself, of course).

Take part in Turbazar auctions

And finally, for the sake of which perhaps you started reading this text.))) How did I manage to save 14 thousand and go to Baikal for 5 days for 5 rubles for two, and even to a well-maintained hostel?

Site "Turbazar"- the only site I know of that organizes auctions for hostels and hotels in Russia, including offers for Baikal.

The main proof that this is not a “filkin’s letter” and everything is fair here is a screenshot of my epic victory.

But, as they say in such cases, there are nuances.

I have already complained about the auction illiteracy of the population in my own, and here all the same problems.

The starting price of any lot at Turbazar is 1 ruble! So the people, no, in order to play the game with minimum stakes, they take it and immediately start beating “for thousands of rubles”, as a result, it comes to the point that the prices for some tours come out almost more expensive than theirs. common price or at least comparable. Well, what's the point? Thus, people themselves, with their own hands, spoil the whole buzz from the auction. It's much nicer when you get something expensive for next to nothing, isn't it?

But as you can see, sometimes it turns out to win an auction at Turbazar for a penny. In my case, for such a price, the tour was won the second time, at the last moment, right on the eve of the upcoming trip.

When the last winner of the auction, realizing that he had set too high a price, refused to pay for the same tour, they re-bid again. Naturally, there was absolutely nothing left before the trip, so I didn’t have many competitors. So, that's how I won, and I wish you the same.)))

After all, there is nothing better than spontaneous travel, especially when they cost almost nothing 8)

Here, in principle, are all the secrets that I know about how you can save money on a vacation on Lake Baikal and go there almost for free. I hope this information will be useful for you to save money on your vacation and finally see Baikal with your own eyes. After all, he is definitely worth it!

Tell us what are your plans for this summer? Where are you planning to go for your summer vacation? 8)

21.09.18 96 339 48

And don't go broke

I have been living on Lake Baikal for 24 years.

Vladimir Matkhanov

lives on Baikal

In this article I will tell you where to relax on Lake Baikal, what to see here, how to plan a route and how much it will all cost.

When to go

In winter, they have fun ice fishing, ice skating or husky sledding. To understand how steep ice and space winter landscapes we have, see, for example, advertisement for Armani perfume, which was filmed on Olkhon Island.

There are more tourists in summer than in other seasons. In addition to relaxing on the beach and boating, you can go to the mountains. But the climate is not easy, and the warm holiday season lasts only two months: from mid-June to mid-August. If you come in May or early June, it will still be cool and windy.

Until mid-April, Baikal is covered with ice, it is windy in autumn, so there are much fewer tourists at this time of the year. Local businessmen are in a hurry to complete the construction of cafes and houses, to set up stalls for the summer season. If you like relaxing holiday without parties and large crowds, come at this time.

Where exactly to go

Baikal separates two regions: the Irkutsk region and Buryatia. I advise you to visit the Irkutsk side first, and if you want to relax in extreme conditions in a tent, rush to Buryatia. Infrastructure and services on the Irkutsk side are better developed, there are more cafes, housing and entertainment. The Irkutsk side also benefits from the fact that there is Olkhon Island - the main thing tourist place on Baikal. To see the Irkutsk side of Baikal, you need to come to Irkutsk.

11 000 R

there is a plane ticket to Irkutsk and back

The Buryat side is good with protected areas, for example, the Barguzinsky Reserve and a sandy deserted bay. There is also Chivyrkuisky Bay. I myself have not been there, but, according to the fishermen, there the best fishing on Baikal.

Of course, the locals will say that there are other places on Baikal where you can relax: Goryachinsk, Gremyachinsk, Zuun Khagun, Enkhaluk and others. But I feel uncomfortable to rest there because of the garbage around and poor service. I do not pretend to be a super guide to Baikal, who knows everything in general - I give advice from personal experience.

How to get to Baikal from Irkutsk

It takes 5 hours 40 minutes to fly to Irkutsk from Moscow. If you buy a ticket in advance, then you can fly with Pobeda for about 11,000 R round trip. In summer, prices can be a little higher because there are many tourists.

I met many tourists who traveled around Russia or the world by car or on a motorcycle and stopped by Baikal on the way.

Arriving in Irkutsk, you need to do three things.

Find a place to sleep. Most likely, after a long flight, you will want to relax. There are a lot of hostels and hotels in the city, so it is easy to find accommodation for the night. The average cost of a hostel is 500 R, a hotel or apartment is 2000 R per day.

Find out if you need a car. Leading to Baikal federal highways, but in some places the asphalt turns into a continuous gravel road, potholes and bumps. Therefore, the ideal option for trips around the lake is a crossover like the Nissan X-Trail. You can rent a car or swim to the desired point on motor ships and ferries.

Buy products. On Baikal itself, products in any store are 1.5-2 times more expensive due to transport costs and the flow of tourists. I recommend spending an hour or two and stocking up on snacks in a regular supermarket. This will definitely save you several thousand rubles.

Be sure to buy sunscreen and mosquito repellent.

Listvyanka

The most accessible place on Lake Baikal and just an hour's drive from Irkutsk. It is enough to spend 3-4 hours there: during this time you will have time to see everything and buy fish at the fish market.

In addition to the car, you can get there by minibus or by boat from Irkutsk. The minibus departs from the central market of Irkutsk, the ticket costs 110 R. Motor ships go from the pier "Rocket" in the Solnechny microdistrict. It takes exactly an hour to sail from the Rocket to Listvyanka, the ticket costs 450 R.

There are stalls everywhere in Listvyanka, a cramped embankment, and the beach is narrow and rocky. I don’t really like it there, but people come there to buy fish at the fish market, take a photo from the Chersky Stone, visit the Great Baikal Trail and the seal garden.

At the fish market they try Baikal grayling and golomyanka. On average, the price for one tail is 200 R. But you won’t be able to eat the famous omul: from October 1, 2017, catching omul is officially prohibited.

View from the Chersky Stone- This Observation deck at an altitude of 700 m, where you can do beautiful pictures against the backdrop of Baikal. You can get to the site on foot in 30-40 minutes or by chair lift for 250 R per person.

In nerpinaria seals live - cute seals that entertain tourists with acrobatic numbers. I myself have not been there, because the idea of ​​nerpinaria is not close to me, but someone likes it. There is another seal in Irkutsk, and on Olkhon you can see seals in their natural habitat. The entrance to the nerpinary in Listvyanka costs 550 R, and in Irkutsk - 350 R.

Great Baikal trail is a project whose participants equip their own tourist routes along Baikal, in the mountains and forests. One of these trails starts in Listvyanka and ends in the village of Bolshie Koty. You can walk 25 km along the trail in 6-8 hours, average physical fitness is enough for this. In my experience, the climb takes 7 hours with halts and swims.

I advise you to buy a ticket for a boat after the trail in order to quickly get to Listvyanka or Irkutsk. The trail is very exhausting, so after such a walk it is most pleasant to ride on the water and get home faster.

Olkhon Island

Olkhon is a place that gives a complete picture of the diversity of Baikal nature. If you are going to Baikal, you should definitely visit here.

The area of ​​Olkhon is 730 km², it has rocks, mountains, deserts, forests, sandy and stone beaches. I advise you to spend a week on Olkhon to relax and visit everything interesting places around.

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How to get there. The island can be reached by car, minibus or by water. It takes about 4.5 hours by car and minibus, but you still have to queue for the ferry.

The minibus costs from 500 R. Another 150 R is asked to pay extra for luggage. Minibuses on the route Irkutsk - Olkhon run every day at 9, 14 and 17 hours, the fare is 800 R already with luggage.

The main problem is the queue for the ferry. You can stand in it for 10-12 hours, especially if you go in the summer and on weekends.

After getting off the ferry to the island, you need to drive another 40 km along the gravel road to Khuzhir. This is the main village on Olkhon. Here are all the main cafes, shops, hotels and guest houses.

The motor ship "Kometa" also goes from Irkutsk to Olkhon. Swim on it for 5 hours. "Comet" is more expensive - 3500 R per person. But you don’t have to stand in line for the ferry and you can enjoy the views of Lake Baikal all the way.

"Kometa" takes tourists to Olkhon for 3500 rubles. Photo: "East-Siberian river shipping company"

Housing, food and transportation

Where to live. There are more and more housing on Olkhon every year. There are many tourists, so there are options for every budget. If you want to live outdoors in a tent and a sleeping bag, you can easily find a place on the shore.

If you stay in guest houses or hotels, I recommend booking in advance: it’s cheaper and guaranteed to be where to spend the night.

One of the best local hotels according to the Booking rating is Baikal View, it was shown in the Eagle and Tails program. It is located near Khuzhir. All hotel rooms are one-story multi-colored houses with excellent views of the beach, they cost from 5000 R per night.

What to try. There are many cafes on the island with European or national Buryat cuisine. Be sure to try Buryat national dishes- buuzy, bukhleor and nogoon sai. Buuzas are similar to khinkali but are made with a hole in the top and resemble a small yurt. They are taken with their hands, bite the edge and drink the juice, and then eat it.

Several buuz, salad, soup and tea will cost 350 rubles.

What to ride. The main form of transport on the island is "loaves". locals choose them because parts are cheap. And the loaf is more maneuverable than any sedan and can accommodate 8 people.

All excursions around the island are carried out on such machines. If you don’t have your own car, you can get from Khuzhir to the ferry crossing on a loaf for 300-500 rubles.

What to see on Olkhon

There are many on the island beautiful places worth visiting. Here are three of my favorites.

Cape Burkhan, aka Shaman rock, and Serge prayer posts. This is the main attraction and the most recognizable place on Baikal. Since ancient times, shamanists have lived here, and still part of the population worships spirits and nature.

Burkhan is located in Khuzhir. It can be reached on foot from the hotel. In the evenings, locals and tourists gather there. Remember that for local Buddhists and shamanists, this is a holy place where you need to behave decently.

Locals believe that this place energizes and spirits live here. Near the rock there are prayer posts Serge - from the Buryat "tethering post", which symbolize the tree of life. Special scarves “hadaki” or “chii morina” are tied to the Serge.

There is a whole ritual for hanging chii morin. You need to know in the year of which animal you were born - this determines the color of the scarf and on which side of the world it needs to be hung.

Cape Khoboy - from the Buryat "fang". This is extreme north point Olkhon, famous for its rocks and caves. Sometimes at the top of the cape, due to the complex optical combination of water and clouds, mirages appear. When you stand on the edge during fog, dawn or sunset, long human silhouettes appear on the horizon - this is your own reflection.

The cape is located 40 km from Khuzhir, so it will not be possible to reach it on foot. The road to this place is very bumpy, so low-slung cars will not fit. We got to the cape in a Subaru Forester and lost the bumper, hitting a bump.

In summer, excursions are carried here on water on boats and on land on loaves. The road to the cape by car takes 3-4 hours. In summer there is a chance to see seals basking on the rocks and swimming at the bottom of the cliff. If you book a boat tour, you can see the silhouette of a woman in the rock from the water. According to legend, the gods cursed the envious and greedy girl and chained her to stone.

In winter, people often drive up to the cape over the ice on the same loaves. There are strong winds that blow snow from Lake Baikal, so the ice on the surface of the lake is transparent and thick. Often people go skating here. The tour costs 1000-1500 rubles and lasts all day. The price usually includes lunch outdoors: fish soup, bread and a glass of vodka. Ordinary locals are taken on such excursions - for them this is the main source of income.

Ogoy Island - from the Buryat "anhydrous". This is no longer Olkhon, but another island nearby. It is famous for its Buddhist stupa - this is such a prayer place. According to legend, if you go around this stupa 8 times clockwise and make a wish, it will surely come true. Tourists collect stone pyramids here and make wishes.

Excursions are carried here in the summer on boats, and in winter on loaves. The program includes visits to caves and grottoes on other small islands. The tour costs 1500 rubles and lasts 5-6 hours.

In addition to excursions, I advise you to walk around the island without any program. You can rent a bike and ride. If you want something more extreme, you can rent a quad bike or even a paraglider.

I think that Olkhon should be enough in terms of impressions on Baikal. The rest of the nature of the lake will be similar to everything that you will see on Olkhon. But if this is still not enough for you, I advise you to go to the Buryat side of Baikal.

Circum-Baikal Railway

If you like the romance of trains, then I advise you to ride along the Circum-Baikal Railway, the Circum-Baikal Railway. This route will take you 100 km of the Baikal coast from Slyudyanka to the port of Baikal. Excursions on the Circum-Baikal are carried out on a retro train. The package "ferry + bus + train" costs about 4000 R.

You can get from Irkutsk to the Slyudyanka-1 station on your own by train or bus, and then by train "Matanya" pass the Circum-Baikal Railway for 150 rubles and sail to Irkutsk or Listvyanka by ferry.

Drive along the Circum-Baikal Railway on your own:

• get from Irkutsk to Slyudyanka-1 station - 200 R;
• train "Matanya" - 150 R;
• ferry - 450-900 R;
• snack - 200 R;
• total - 1000 R.

You can take a tour for 3000-4000 R.

Buryat side - Barguzinsky Bay

You can get to the bay by car from Irkutsk in 10-11 hours, without stopping in Ulan-Ude. The road is relatively flat, there is something to see: around the highway there is a dense forest, plains and Baikal is visible. As far as I know, there are no boat tours here.

Most of the road is paved, but the last 50-100 km closer to the bay is gravel. On the way, you can stop in Gremyachinsk, where the special economic zone is located. To be honest, I don’t know what is economically special about it, but a lot of money was invested here to build a lighthouse and an embankment.

Further along the way will be Goryachinsk, where the Soviet-era resort is located, but there is not much to do there. After Goryachinsk, on the road to the bay there will be the main village - Ust-Barguzin. There are no shops on the shores of the bay, so stock up on everything you need in advance so as not to return. Be sure to have a first aid kit ready for emergencies.

At the entrance to the territory of the Barguzinsky Reserve, a ticket is issued indicating the day of arrival. You need to save the coupon so that later they count how many days you were in the territory. Every day costs 50 rubles per person. If you don’t have a coupon when checking, you will be fined.

50 R

worth a day in the Barguzinsky Reserve

Then you drive through the reserve. There will be small lakes along the way - drive further, this is not it. Baikal you will not confuse with anything in this area. Arriving at the coast, choose a better place on the spit and put up a tent. If you go to the Holy Nose, then set up camp closer to the mountain.

The local weather is not very different from the weather from Irkutsk. But to be safe, it is still worth looking at the forecast. It is often inaccurate, for example, I was in the bay for 4 days and the forecast promised showers. But it was sunny at the place all this time, and I got burned.

The ascent route is trodden mountain paths, there are no stairs here. The ascent takes 4-5 hours, and the descent takes 3-4 hours, and for this you will need physical fitness, endurance and, of course, water. If the water runs out, then there will be snow along the way - even in summer. The snow here is clean, you can melt it and quench your thirst with the resulting water.

This place doesn't really need a guide. My friends and I came here for the first time and sorted it out on the spot. If anything, other tourists will tell you where to go to climb the Holy Nose.

If it’s easier for you to go with knowledgeable people, then guys from the Great Baikal Trail organization lead groups here on real hikes. The hike will take two weeks and will cost 10,000 rubles per person.

10 000 R

it is worth going on a hike with the organization "Great Baikal Trail"

Remember

1. On Baikal it is often cooler than warm. Warm clothes come in handy even in summer.
2. Bathing water is cold, but there are bays where it is warmer.
3. The hot season lasts from mid-June to mid-August.
4. Baikal water is fresh. The farther from the coast, the clearer the water.
5. In summer, mosquito repellent and sun protection are a must. In winter it is cold here and the sun reflects off the snow - sunglasses come in handy.
6. Lake Baikal is beautiful at any time of the year. But in autumn and spring there are fewer tourists.

For everyone who dreams of seeing the largest freshwater lake of the world: a detailed guide about holidays on Lake Baikal in the summer of 2019. How to get there, resorts, beaches and recreation centers. Prices for housing, food, excursions and entertainment. How much does a trip to Baikal cost? Tips and reviews of tourists.

When is the best time to visit Lake Baikal?

In the Baikal and Transbaikalia, they rest all year round. In winter - from January to March, fans come here skiing, ice fishing, lovers of snowmobiling, ice skating and dog sledding.

Most tourists come to the lake during the warm season. IN May It's still spring on Baikal. Snowdrops sprout on the forest edges, the hills are enveloped in the lilac color of wild rosemary. In the Barguzinsky Reserve, bears come ashore, and you can watch them from the water.

Listvyanka in spring (Photo © Martha de Jong-Lantink / flickr.com)

Many people like to rest on Lake Baikal in summer, especially in June when there is not yet a large concentration of tourists. At the beginning of summer, the weather is changeable. During the day, the air warms up to +15…+23°С, cool winds blow from the lake, and at night the thermometer drops to +5…+9°С. In the north of Baikal, ice floes still float in some places. The water is cold + 8 ... + 12 ° С, so almost no one bathes.

The tourist season peaks at July And august. During the day +22…+30°С. The swimming season lasts only a month - from mid-July to mid-August. Water warms up to +15…+20°С, and in shallow bays the lake is quite warm +21…+23°С.

Sunrise on Lake Baikal (Photo © seseg_h / flickr.com / Licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0)

In terms of the number of sunny days, summer Baikal is compared with Sochi. There is indeed a lot of sun, but it is completely different. Even at a temperature of + 25 ° C, a cold wind can blow from the lake at any moment, and you have to warm yourself.

In the second half of August it becomes cooler. The Velvet season pleases with calm, calm sunny weather, an abundance of mushrooms and berries. Air temperature +12…+16°С. Colorful Baikal autumn is the dream of all photography lovers! The heat ends quickly - by the end of September. Then comes the long off-season. The lake is stormy and it starts to rain.

Tunnel on Baikal, early autumn (Photo © E Nemtsov / flickr.com)

How to get there

The route of the entrance depends on the place from which you plan to start your journey on the lake. There are three starting points. From Irkutsk convenient to explore the south and west coast, from Severobaikalsk - northern part of Baikal, and from Ulan-Ude - east coast.

Planes fly to Irkutsk and Ulan-Ude. A direct flight from Moscow and St. Petersburg takes 5-6 hours. Muscovites can travel by train to Irkutsk, Ulan-Ude and Severo-Baikalsk, while residents northern capital only to Irkutsk. The road turns out to be long - 3.5-4 days.

Enkhaluk, Baikal (Photo © unsplash.com / @katgo_83)

Map of places where to rest on Baikal

Where to relax on Lake Baikal in summer 2019

The huge lake is surrounded by picturesque mountain and forest landscapes. The shores are sandy and pebble beaches, hot springs, powerful taiga massifs and beautiful rocky ridges. There are a lot of resorts - we tell you where to relax on Lake Baikal in the summer of 2019.

Listvyanka. A large settlement on the southwestern coast is conveniently located - it is only an hour's drive from Irkutsk. In summer, the climate near the source of the Angara River resembles Black Sea coast Caucasus. Listvyanka is famous for its good infrastructure. People come here to see the Baikal Limnological Museum, visit the astrophysical observatory and the sealarium. The resort is popular with parents with children and is used as a starting point for traveling around Baikal.

Beach in Listvyanka (Photo © by sth. / flickr.com)

Slyudyanka. A small town in the west of the lake is famous for its mineralogical museum and the fact that the Circum-Baikal Railway (CBRR) begins here. Popular from Slyudyanka hiking trails to the peak of Chersky and to the Tunkinskaya valley.

Chersky Peak: The territory between the Podkamennaya, Bezymyanny and Slyudyanka rivers (Photo © wikimedia.ru / Dukvink)

Arshan. The mountain climatic and mud treatment resort is located to the east of Lake Baikal, in the beautiful Tunkinskaya valley. Several thousand people visit the village every year. It is believed that mineral water cures many diseases, and clean air and hiking in the mountains help to restore health and get a charge of vivacity.

View of Arshan (Photo © vk.com/tunkatravel)

Olkhon. The island between the Small Sea and the main water area is considered one of the most beautiful places on the lake. Olkhon is included in the Baikal National Park. People come here to live among virgin nature, see the Shaman rock and get acquainted with the spiritual traditions of the Buryats.

Rock Shamanka on Olkhon (Photo © xantype / pixabay.com)

Small Sea. Popular places recreation on Baikal are between west coast and Olkhon. Tourists are attracted by small bays with cozy beaches, beautiful coastal landscapes and good fishing.

Bad weather on the Small Sea (Photo © wikimedia.ru / Elena Parfenova)

Baikalsk. Most Southern City Irkutsk region is known for modern ski resort"Sable Mountain". However, it is interesting not only in winter. There are beaches in Baikalsk. Tourists go hiking along the spurs of Khamar-Daban, ride catamarans and take boat trips.

Beach in Baikalsk (Photo © wikimedia.ru / SAKRI)

Severobaikalsk. The city in the north of Lake Baikal cannot be called a full-fledged resort. It is used as a starting point for Baikal routes. There are many attractions in the vicinity of Severobaikalsk. These are thermal springs Goudzhekit and Kotelnikovsky, warm Slyudyansky lakes and Cape Ludar, where sites of an ancient man were discovered.

Beach in the city of Severobaikalsk (Photo © wikimedia.ru / Yakovlev Roman Olegovich)

East Coast. Unlike the mountainous western shore, the eastern part of Baikal is flatter. The shallow coast warms up more. Sandy beaches and taiga are included in the territory of the Zabaikalsky National Park. Where is the best place to relax on Lake Baikal? Tourists like to stay in Gremyachinsk, Goryachinsk, Maksimikha, Enkhaluk, in the Barguzinsky and Chivyrkuisky bays.

Seagulls in the Chivyrkuisky Bay (Photo © wikimedia.ru / Rubinbot)

Goryachinsk. The village is located 175 km from Ulan-Ude. It was founded in the 18th century, and today it is considered a popular balneological center. Goryachinsk attracts with its mild microclimate, thermal springs, spacious sandy beaches and good health resort infrastructure. Health paths are laid in the taiga forest near the village.

Beach in Goryachinsk (Photo © Viatores / flickr.com)

Prices for holidays on Lake Baikal: how much does housing cost

Tourists stay in sanatoriums, recreation centers, guest houses, hotels and private owners. Many live in tents.

Modern and comfortable housing is expensive, so the prices for holidays on Lake Baikal in the summer of 2019 are high. Options cheaper than 2000 rubles are usually very simple rooms with old furniture, no air conditioning and no internet connection.

To save money, rent housing in the private sector. A one-room apartment costs 1500-1600 rubles. For a company of friends or families with children, it is convenient to rent a separate cottage for 4000-6000 rubles per day.

In July and August, the demand for accommodation is high, so book your favorite options in advance.

Prices for holidays on Lake Baikal in the summer of 2019:

Type	Price (₽)	Example
Guest House	1600-2500	Argo Listvyanka
Recreation center	1600-3500	"Solar"
Sanatorium	from 3500	"Electra"
Hotel 3*	from 3000	"White Sable"
luxury hotel	from 5000	Cottage "Rus"

View of Baikal from the Da-Shi Hotel (Photo © booking.com / Da-Shi Hotel)

The best recreation centers on Baikal

Baikal infrastructure is developing. Every year, new camp sites appear on the shores of the lake and hotel complexes. We will talk about popular bases and hotels that have good feedback tourists and reasonable prices.

Daryana Club. The recreation center in Khuzhir is located 500 meters from the lake. If you are looking for where to stay for a vacation on Lake Baikal in the summer of 2019, this is a good option. Guests note the green area, neat houses, delicious food and friendly staff. The main disadvantages are the conveniences in the yard and unstable Wi-Fi. Prices for Double Room start from 3200 rubles. Half board is included in the rate.

Triple room at the recreation center "Daryana Club" (Photo © roomguru.com / Recreation center "Daryana Club")

Chara. If you are planning a vacation on Lake Baikal in the summer of 2019, take a closer look at the recreation center with food and lodges near the lake shore. On the Small Sea, in the village of Sakhayurta, you can stay at a camp site with a bathhouse, a swimming pool, a cinema hall and billiards. Tourists cook their own food or go to the dining room. Tours and walking tours are organized for them. A double economy room costs 2200 rubles, and a comfortable house - from 5300 rubles.

Dining room on the territory of the complex (Photo © roomguru.com / Chara Hotel)

Dauria. Positive reviews are left about a small hotel in Listvyanka. Vacationers like wooden houses and cozy rooms with a separate bathroom and kitchen. Guests can use the shuttle service to Irkutsk and go on excursions. Double occupancy costs from 3000 rubles.

The territory of the hotel (Photo © booking.com / Guest House Dauria)

Touristic Complex Sagaan Morin. On the east coast, in Enkhaluk, guests are received in a tourist complex with 30 rooms. On the territory there are picturesque flower gardens and a swimming pool. A double room with a bath costs from 3700 rubles.

Room in the complex (Photo © booking.com / Touristic Complex Sagaan Morin)

Inn Oasis. On Olkhon, in the village of Khuzhir, tourists are offered cozy rooms at a recreation center with a swimming pool, playgrounds and self-service laundry. This is one of the places where you can have an inexpensive vacation on Lake Baikal in the summer of 2019. If you love cycling, rent a bike and explore the island on your own. Prices for a double room start from 1800 rubles.

The territory of the recreation center (Photo © booking.com / Inn Oasis)
Cottages at the recreation center (Photo © booking.com / Inn Oasis)

Food prices on Baikal

A trip to Baikal is liked by lovers gastronomic tourism. Try large Buryat poza dumplings, zagudai fish salad, hearty bukhler lamb chowder, sharbin lamb flatbreads, green tea with milk and fragrant tea from Baikal herbs.

During a holiday on Lake Baikal, you will have to spend a decent amount of money on food - the prices on the lake are higher than in Irkutsk or Ulan-Ude. The average check in a budget cafe is 350-450 rubles. For this money you will be offered a main course, an appetizer and tea. Dinner in a restaurant for one costs from 1000 rubles. The menu includes salad, soup or cabbage soup, cutlet with potatoes, tea or coffee.

Here are the prices for food in cafes and restaurants of Listvyanka:

• vegetable salad - 180-200 rubles;
• pilaf - from 200 rubles;
• borscht - 160 rubles;
• poses, 1 pc. - 70 rubles.

Poses (buuzy) (Photo © vk.com/budubuuzy)

Many tourists eat at recreation centers or cook their own meals. There are supermarkets in Irkutsk and Ulan-Ude. In the stores of Listvyanka or Olkhon, everything is 20-25% more expensive.

Here are the prices for products that you can buy on the coast:

• bread - 37 rubles;
• fresh fish, 1 kg - 250-300 rubles;
• sausage, 1 kg - from 220 rubles;
• pork stew - 150 rubles;
• potatoes, 1 kg - 25 rubles;
• noodles - 48 rubles.

with the famous Baikal omul it's not easy now. Since October 2017, commercial catch has been completely limited on the lake. It is also impossible to trade popular fish in shops and markets. Local residents can only catch omul for personal use, but they are not allowed to sell the catch.

Points of sale where they sell omul are illegal. Tourists are often offered peled similar to omul under the guise of a valuable fish. To discourage poachers, we recommend that you refrain from buying the delicacy.

Omul for personal use (Photo © wikimedia.ru / 3dman_eu)

Transport on Baikal

Buses run from Irkutsk and fixed-route taxis. A ticket to Listvyanka costs 100 rubles, to Olkhon - 600-1000 rubles, to Slyudyanka - 180 rubles, and to Baikalsk - 300 rubles. The ferry to Olkhon operates from the beginning of May until freezing. At the peak of the tourist season, queues line up there.

The ferry between Listvyanka and Port Baikal transports vehicles and people all year round from 6:40 am to 8:30 pm. The fare for an adult costs 67 rubles, and for a child - 33 rubles. For a bicycle you need to pay 103 rubles, for a passenger car - 435 rubles.

Ferry to Olkhon (Photo © wikimedia.ru / Ekaterina Vashchenko)

If you like water transport, get to Baikal along the Angara. Passenger ships of the East Siberian River Shipping Company run from Irkutsk to Listvyanka, Peschanaya Bay, Bolshie Koty, Cape Tolstoy and Severo-Baikalsk. A ticket to Listvyanka costs 450 rubles.

from Irkutsk to south coast convenient to reach by rail. Trains on the Circum-Baikal Railway and the Trans-Siberian Railway take you to Port Baikal, Kultuk and Slyudyanka. Tickets cost from 100 rubles.

Circum-Baikal Railway. Train "Baikal Cruise" (Photo © wikimedia.ru / Fanzuga)

Electric trains, buses and fixed-route taxis run from Ulan-Ude to Baikal. Ticket for suburban train to Kultushnaya it costs 200 rubles, for a minibus to Enkhaluk - 300 rubles, and for a minibus to Arshan - 800 rubles.

Ulan-Ude and Nizhneangarsk are connected by air. Regular planes fly from the end of May to the end of October. Small aircraft operate on Baikal. You can use helicopters and planes, but flights are expensive.

Many tourists book transfers. IN different corners Lake Baikal is visited by minibuses, buses, four-wheel drive SUVs and ZIL-131 trucks.

Boat transfer (Photo © vk.com/club48157996)

Beaches on Baikal

Where to swim on Baikal? Not all coasts are suitable for beach holiday. A pulp and paper mill used to operate in the southeast, and the water in this part of Baikal is still polluted.

Tourists prefer shallow parts of the coast and small bays, where there are no large stones and rocks. On the equipped beaches, vacationers are offered water activities - parachuting behind a boat, riding jet skis and "bananas".

Here are the most popular beaches of Lake Baikal:

Small Sea. Small pebble beaches are famous for their warm water. They are not wide, and the bottom is flat. The coast is accessible for transport, so in the summer there are many tourists.

Beach in Mukhor Bay, Small Sea Strait (Photo © vk.com/togot)

Olkhon. All beaches are located in the west of the island. The most famous - Sarai beach - is located near Khuzhir. It is covered with sand, stretches for 2 km and is bordered by a beautiful pine forest.

Listvyanka. The village beach is quite narrow. Incoming ships pollute the water, and there is a lot of algae near the shore.

View of the Saraisky Bay (Photo © wikimedia.ru / OlGalsea)

East Coast. Shallow bays and sandy coves are suitable for swimming. True, it takes a long time to get to them, and there is almost no infrastructure. Biggest sand beach Lake Baikal, 20 km long, is located near the Svyatoy Nos peninsula.

According to tourists, it is better to choose the safe bays of the Small Sea or the coast from Ulan-Ude for summer vacations with children on Lake Baikal. The water in these places warms up more strongly.

View of the Holy Nose from the Chivyrkui Isthmus (Photo © wikimedia.ru / Arkady Zarubin)

What to see on Baikal

The largest freshwater reservoir of the planet is surrounded by picturesque landscapes. Tourists come here to walk along the Great Baikal Trail. They are attracted beautiful rocks, waterfalls, caves, nesting sites for birds, seals and unique "stilted" trees. When planning summer holiday on Baikal, keep in mind what kind of entrance to National parks and nature reserves charge an entrance fee - from 100 rubles per person.

• ethnographic complex "Taltsy" - 150 rubles;
• nerpinary in Listvyanka - 500 rubles for adults and 400 rubles for children;
• planetarium in Irkutsk - 200 rubles;
• Baikal Museum with "immersion" in the bathyscaphe - 310 rubles for adults and 190 rubles for children.

On the shore of Lake Baikal (Photo © vk.com/club48157996)

Excursions and entertainment on Baikal

Look for interesting excursions on the Sputnik and . Individual and group, without crowds of tourists.

During your vacation on Lake Baikal, there will definitely be no shortage of entertainment and excursions. Their prices are quite high. Here are the most popular:

• sightseeing tour of Irkutsk - 600 rubles;
• a walk around Baikal on a motor ship and a boat - 500-900 rubles per hour;
• excursion trip from Listvyanka to Olkhon - 5200 rubles;
• one-day tour of Olkhon with a guide - 1000 rubles;
• water excursion around the Angara: from Irkutsk via "Taltsy" to Listvyanka and back - 1500 rubles;
• ethnographic tour to the Buryat village of Ust-Orda - 1500 rubles;
• excursion by train along the Circum-Baikal Railway - from 4000 rubles;
• horse riding tour in the taiga - 7400 rubles;
• fishing on the Small Sea - 2000 rubles;
• quad biking, 1 day - 4500 rubles.

Climbing the Peak of Love (Photo © vk.com/koyotbaikal)

Let's calculate how much a week-long vacation for two on Lake Baikal will cost in the summer of 2019:

• air tickets from Moscow to Irkutsk and back - 46 thousand rubles;
• bus from Irkutsk to Listvyanka and back - 500 rubles;
• accommodation, 2000 rubles per day - 14 thousand rubles;
• food, 2500 rubles per day - 17.5 thousand rubles;
• money for excursions and souvenirs - 10 thousand rubles.

The trip turns out to be expensive - about 88 thousand rubles for two for 7 nights. Holidays on Lake Baikal in the summer of 2019 cost as much as package tour"all inclusive" in warm country with the sea. You can save money if you live in a tent, cook on a fire or travel by car with a group of friends.

On the slope of the Sayans, behind Lake Baikal (Photo © Daniel Beilinson / flickr.com)

A summer trip to Baikal is suitable for active tourists. If you are ready for scenic views and vivid impressions to sacrifice comfort, vacation will meet all expectations.

Tourists who came to rest on Lake Baikal in the summer note a lot pluses:

• A trip to the Baikal and Transbaikalia allows you to see untouched corners of nature, interesting sights and get acquainted with the culture of indigenous peoples.
• Holidays on Lake Baikal in the summer are good for lovers of trekking, diving, fishing, horseback riding, cycling and caving.
• Convenient entrance. They get to the coast by buses, minibuses, by rail and by water transport.
• The locals are friendly towards tourists. In any village, they are ready to rent a room or part of a house with amenities in the yard.

Minuses:

• Prices for holidays on Lake Baikal are high - especially for comfortable housing.
• IN last years in summer there are many fires around the lake. Because of them, the smell of burning is felt in the air, and sometimes visibility decreases to 150-200 m.
• A trip to Baikal with kids is problematic. There is no developed infrastructure for children's recreation. There may not be hospitals or pharmacies nearby.
• After the influx of tourists, a lot of garbage remains on the shore.

Holidays on Olkhon in the summer

Here are the simple adviсe how to make your vacation on Lake Baikal safe and memorable in the summer of 2019:

• Any trip requires preparation. If you are going on a water trip, study the local winds. They are quite capricious and cause violent storms.
• There are ticks around Baikal, but no outbreaks of tick-borne encephalitis have been recorded. To be 100% sure, get vaccinated in advance. In the forest, walk in fully covered clothing and headgear, and carefully examine the body after each walk.
• On the north and east coast there are many forests, swamps and lakes, so mosquito nets and repellents will come in handy.
• Encounters with dangerous animals like bears, wolves and wild boars are very rare. Wild animals are afraid of noise and people. For complete security don't go into the woods alone.
• The weather on Baikal is changeable. Be sure to take warm clothes, a raincoat and a windproof jacket on the road.
• Don't count on banks and ATMs. They are only in Irkutsk, Ulan-Ude, Listvyanka, Baikalsk, Severobaikalsk and some regional centers. Have cash with you.
• Far from the main highways, there are almost no network gas stations, and the quality of local gasoline is questionable. We recommend refueling a full tank in big cities.
• Buy souvenirs at the Central Market of Irkutsk. There they are much cheaper than in the villages on the shores of Lake Baikal.

Intro image source: © Voyages Lambert / flickr.com