• Fees/Permits
• Get around
• See
• Do
• Buy
• Eat
• Drink
• Stay safe
• Get out

Lake Baikal in the morning

Lake Baikal is in Russia. It is the biggest and deepest freshwater lake in the world, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

[edit] Understand

Along the shores of Lake Baikal in the autumn

The lake is located in Eastern Siberia, between Irkutsk Oblast to the northwest and Buryatia to the southeast. It is the planet's deepest and oldest lake, as well as its largest body of freshwater, containing over one fifth of the world's supply.

[edit] History

[edit] Landscape

[edit] Flora and fauna

• Baikal Seal

[edit] Climate

[edit] Get in

[edit] By air

The nearest airport is in Irkutsk, which can be reached from either Domodedovo or Sheremetyevo 1 in Moscow.

[edit] By train

The Baikal-Amur Mainline and the Trans-Siberian Railway both reach Lake Baikal.

[edit] By bus

Buses leave from Irkutsk station throughout the day. The ride is about an hour and a half, with several stops along the way, and ends in the small town of Listvyanka, at the shores of the lake.

[edit] Fees/Permits

[edit] Get around

[edit] See

• Olkhon. The largest island on the lake.

[edit] Do

[edit] Buy

Souvenirs are sold near the omul sellers (see below), and tend to be cheaper than in other Russian cities. There are several boats at the main dock who take on tourists when not fishing. The prices are negotiable, try to find other tourists who want to ride and get cheaper prices by being in a large group. Sometimes a kid with broken English acts as an intermediary for the price haggling.

[edit] Eat

The smoked Omul sold by several fish sellers on the edge of the lake is wonderful, and there is a restaurant on the lake's edge with good fish, along with several bars and small groceries. Everything in Listvyanka is within walking distance, including a small post office.

[edit] Drink

[edit] Sleep

Lake-side towns:

• Listvyanka, Irkutsk Oblast
• Severobaikalsk, Buryatia

Islands:

• Olkhon

[edit] Lodging

[edit] Camping

[edit] Backcountry

[edit] Stay safe

[edit] Get out

Irkutsk is the biggest city nearby, but the BAM and the Trans-Siberian can take you from one side of the country to the other.