Things to do in Lake Baikal

2026 Global 50 - Fall Viewing Attractions

Lake Baikal

Lake Baikal is a crescent-shaped rift lake with a long, narrow, and curved surface, known as the "Blue Eye of Siberia." The lake water is clear with extremely high transparency, and its water volume accounts for approx. one-fifth of the world's total unfrozen freshwater. It is also a habitat for a large number of endemic species—the Baikal seal is one of the only freshwater seal species in the world, and the Baikal omul is a fish species endemic to the lake region. There are many islands in the lake where you can see rock views like Shamanka Rock, or travel along the lakeshore through grasslands, sand dunes, and pine forests to take in the diverse landscapes. In winter, the lake freezes over, with rows of bubbles, crisscrossing cracks, and transparent blue ice frozen within the thick ice, creating a fascinating natural spectacle in the lake region. The Circum-Baikal Railway winds along the lakeshore. Taking a vintage train through tunnels and over bridges, with cliffs on one side and clear blue water on the other, is a classic way to experience the lake's scenery.

Baikal Museum

Baikal Museum is an aquarium museum located at the mouth of the Angara River, over 2 km west of Listvyanka. You can walk there from the town or get off midway when traveling from Irkutsk to the town to visit. Baikal Museumshowcases the ecosystem, history, and flora and fauna of Lake Baikal. There are many virtual films to watch, as well as diverse exhibits and interactive activities, allowing you to gain a comprehensive understanding of Lake Baikal. The museum is not very large, but it is rich in content. In addition to extremely detailed introductions to Lake Baikal, there are many animal specimens and 3D animations showcasing the flora and fauna of the Lake Baikal ecosystem, including the freshwater seals unique to Lake Baikal. You can also enjoy the cute antics of the seals, making it a great place to visit with children.

No. 1 of Best Things to Do in Lake Baikal

Olkhon Island

Olkhon Island, also known as Olkhon Island, is the larger island on Lake Baikal. The pure scenery and mysterious shamanism make this island a pearl on Lake Baikal. The larger village on the island is Huzhi'er Village, which is the tourist distribution area on the island and the main accommodation point for tourists on the island. Pure natural scenery The natural environment of Olkhon Island is quite well maintained. Half of the island is virgin forest and half is grassland. The pure air is very fresh, and under the refraction of the sun, it becomes a blue sky. There are also rolling grasslands, steep cliffs on the island, and flocks of seagulls flying by the lake. The magnificent sunrise and sunset and the starry sky at night are all shocking. If you come here in winter, the transparent blue ice and dreamy bubble ice will be breathtaking. The inhabitants of Olkhon Island, a famous place of shamanism, are mainly Buryat people. Colorful cloth strips tied to branches can be seen everywhere on the island, and the cloth strips are filled with wishes for blessing in Buryat and Mongolian. The shaman stone next to the village of Huer is a relatively sacred place in the shamanic beliefs. It is said that the gods of Altai live in the stone. The residents of the island will regularly hold rituals around the stone to pray for the blessing of the gods. There are also 13 pillars used by shamans to pray for blessings, and the pillars are covered with prayer flags. How to get there Starting from Irkutsk, it takes about 6 hours by car, and then cross the river by ferry, you can land on the island. Of course, in the harsh winter of Siberia, the ferry boat does not work, and you can take the island on a hovercraft. To play on Olkhon Island, Olkhon Island is mainly chartered. It is recommended to take a "one-day tour" on the island. Under the leadership of an experienced guide, you can better appreciate the charm of Olkhon Island. In summer, you can visit all the attractions on the island in one day, and you can also take a boat trip around the lake, passing sights such as the Shaman's Pillar, and then arrive at Cape Haboye, the northern end of Olkhon Island. The tour on the island in winter can be divided into two lines: the southern line and the northern line. The southern line is a line with a longer tour time along the lake, which can get close to Lake Baikal; the northern line is to run directly on the lake by car. You can also see beautiful blue ice. The best travel time is from May to September, which is the best travel time on the island. The weather at this time is cool and pleasant, suitable for summer vacation. Especially from July to August, the temperature is mostly between 20-30 ℃, which is especially suitable for traveling. This is also the peak travel season on the island. Accommodation and dining The accommodation on the island is concentrated in the village of Huzhir. One of the larger and more famous is the Nikita Manor. Here you can also book "day trips" to the island. The manor is very popular, and it is recommended to book half a year in advance. Except here. Other homestays also have their own characteristics, such as GALA is also very good. The homestays in Huer Village basically include breakfast and dinner, and there are also small restaurants in the village, which are very convenient. There is a relatively large store and several small stores in the village where you can buy basic daily necessities. The shamanic tradition of animism began in prehistoric times and has spread all over the world. The places where shamanism is more worshipped are: the Volga River Valley, the areas inhabited by the Finns, Eastern Siberia and Western Siberia. In my country, the Jurchen who founded the Jin Dynasty once also believed in shamanism. The theoretical foundation of shamanism is animism, and shamans were once believed to have the ability to control the weather, prophecy, interpret dreams, astrology, and travel to heaven.

No. 2 of Best Things to Do in Siberian Federal District

Kazanskaya Tserkov'

The Kazan Cathedral of Our Lady is the most beautiful church in Irkutsk and even in the entire Siberia region. It is said to be second only to the Cathedral of St. Basil in Moscow and the Cathedral of the Savior on Spilled Blood in St. Petersburg in the whole of Russia. It is also a must-visit place for many foreign tourists to Irkutsk. The building is magnificent and the interior is gorgeous As an Orthodox church, the Kazan Cathedral of Our Lady has a typical Byzantine style, with thick red exterior walls and blue onion-like domes. It shines brightly under the bright sunshine of Siberia, like a castle in a fairy tale, with great visual impact. When you walk into the church, you will be amazed by the exquisite murals and portraits. There are dazzling icons and murals of saints and saints everywhere, which tell those distant religious stories. In the Orthodox Church, icons are called "windows of heaven." You can't see statues in the church, including the huge "Crucifixion of Jesus". The exhibition here is mainly murals and portraits. The Russian nation has been in a turbulent migration in the early days. Compared with statues, portraits are more portable. Unreal sacred world On sunny days, around 16:00 in the afternoon, the sun will shine through the windows, and the beams of light are like holy light. The interior of the church is shrouded in a bright golden color. Local believers light candles and pray here. In such an atmosphere, people's hearts can't help but calm down. Russian Patron Saint For centuries, the Kazan Mother of God has been regarded as the patron saint of the Russian people. In many cities in Russia, there are Kazan Mother of God Church. The church in front of you was built in 1885 and completed in 1892. Due to war and man-made destruction, many historical sites in Russia are the result of reconstruction, and Kazan Cathedral is no exception. The current church was rebuilt in 1993 in the same style as the original.

No. 2 of Best Things to Do in Slyudyansky District

The Circum-Baikal Railway

The Lake Baikal Railway, originally part of the Trans-Siberian Railway, has a total length of more than 80 kilometers, passing through 39 tunnels and a 29-kilometer-long gable built by the Italians. In the 1950s, due to the construction of a reservoir, a section of the railway around the lake was submerged, and the train was rerouted. After many years, this section of the abandoned railway was leased by a tourism company and developed into a one-day sightseeing tour route, which travels to and from Baikal port every two days. and Sliujiang truck station. There is only one official station along the way, and the driver will stop when you go to a place with beautiful scenery, giving enough time for tourists to take pictures and tour. During the day, tourists can take the train around the lake for sightseeing, and appreciate the vast and quiet beauty of Lake Baikal in all aspects. On one side of the railway are lake bays and lake shores, and on the other side are river valleys and mountain forests. The small mountain villages along the way are surrounded by woods and meadows, with Russian-style cabins, just like a classic oil painting with strong regional colors. There are about 20 scenic spots in the whole journey, but the train only stops at five or six scenic spots per trip, and the group tour is explained by a Russian-speaking guide. The TV on the train broadcasts a promo video of the scenery in Russian. Few of the flight attendants can speak simple English. Bring your own food and drink (there is also a bar and dining car on the train, selling simple food and drinks and smoked fish). After getting off the bus, you can have a picnic at the stop.

Planet Baikal

Khuzhir

Huzhir Village is the largest population gathering place on Olkhon Island. It is located in the north of the middle section of the island. The famous Shaman Rock is in the north of the village. It is also the only place to go to Lake Baikal. Generally, the accommodation on the island and Dining is concentrated here. Because of the low level of modernization, there is no network here. Tourists can come here to experience life without WIFI for a few days. Under the famous Shamanism, there is also a beautiful Orthodox church that is also worth seeing. How to play The more worth seeing in the village is the Russian country style, just hang out. Walking along the main road in the village to the end, you can see the pier. This is the shore of Lake Baikal. If you are lucky, you can see the fishing boats that have returned with their rewards, and you can also see a small Orthodox church with white walls and blue roofs. very beautiful. The Shaman Rock is in the northeast corner of the village and in the north of the pier. It is very beautiful to watch the sunrise and sunset. In summer, you can bask in the sun on the shore and watch the locals swim in the lake. In winter, the lake freezes, and all the way from the pier to the Shaman Rock is blue ice, which is very spectacular. You can take part in a local one-day tour in Khuzhir Village. There are two options: the southern route and the northern route. The southern route is a long-term route along the lake, which can get close to Lake Baikal; the northern route is a direct drive in winter. Looking at the blue ice on the lake, you can take a boat tour around the lake in summer and autumn, passing by Shaman Rocks and Shaman Pillars, and then arriving at Cape Haboye, the northern tip of Olkhon Island. Day trips need to be booked in advance at Nikita Manor. How to get to Olkhon Island The traffic is mainly chartered. In order to maintain the ecology, there is no asphalt road on the island, which is bumpy and dusty. Try to choose a "small steel cannon" specially equipped with a shock absorber system on the island. Accommodation The accommodation in the village of Huer is mainly homestays. The larger and more famous one is Nikita Manor. Some rooms can see the Shaman Rock. The location is very good, and all day trips are booked here. However, because it is too popular, it is recommended to book half a year in advance. In addition to the other homestays here, they also have their own characteristics, such as GALA is also relatively famous. The homestays here are all Russian-style cabins. Basically, every family has dogs and cats, which is very rural. B&Bs in Huer Village basically include breakfast and dinner, and there are also small restaurants in the village, which are very convenient. There is a relatively large supermarket and several small supermarkets in the shopping village, where you can buy basic daily necessities.

Skver Im. Kirova

Kirov Square, in the center of Irkutsk, is not very large, but the environment is very elegant, with fountains, flower beds and trees everywhere. There are many famous local buildings around the square, such as: State Government Building, Duma Building, Xianjie Church, Cathedral of the Savior of Poland, Spasskaya Church, Victory Memorial Wall, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Love Bridge, etc. There are also many vendors selling tourist souvenirs in the square. On the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in the square is written: "Your name is unknown, your merits are immortal". Russians have always held high respect for those war martyrs, and newlyweds must come here to swear when they get married. Tired of playing, it is quite pleasant to come to the square to rest, bask in the sun, and enjoy the performances of local artists in the square. Kirov's full name: Sergey Milonovich Kirov. He was one of the Bolshevik revolutionaries and important leaders of the Soviet Union. On December 1, 1934, Kirov was assassinated in the Smerny Palace. Using Kirov's assassination, Stalin launched the famous purge in Soviet history.

Yarkomoll

130 Kvartal

The 130 Russian style area is located in the city of Irkutsk. The needs of trade and transshipment have left traditional Russian wooden houses of various ages and styles here. Today, these wooden houses have been transformed into restaurants, cafes, bars, bookstores and souvenir shops full of literary and fashionable atmosphere. They are very distinctive and are a comprehensive business district for white-collar petty bourgeois in Irkutsk. Even if you just come to take pictures Will not be disappointed.