Lake Baikal is one of Russia’s highlights, and a very worthwhile stopover during a Trans-Siberian journey. Whether you want to swim, hike, boat or take the BAM or Circumbaikal Railways, jump off the train at Irkutsk and head to Lake Baikal.
Where and What is Lake Baikal?
Five thousand kilometers (over 3000 miles) east of Moscow on the Trans-Siberian line, in the middle of Siberia and near the Mongolian border, you’ll find Lake Baikal. Not only is it beautiful, but it’s the world’s deepest lake and holds nearly a fifth of the world’s freshwater. What’s more, it’s cold, with the water temperature rarely rising about 15 degrees Celsius (around 60 Fahrenheit).
What to See at Lake Baikal
It’s usually the great outdoors of Russia that you’ve come to enjoy if you head to Lake Baikal. Boating or cruising on the lake itself, swimming if you’re very brave, or hiking around its long shore are popular activities. Most tourists find being based in the fishing village of Listvyanka the most convenient, but smaller villages on the eastern and northern shores get you more off the beaten track.
The Circumbaikal and BAM Railways
For train enthusiasts making a stopover from the Trans-Siberian, the Circumbaikal Railway is also a big attraction. It’s an old line from the original Trans-Siberian that is now bypassed by a shortcut route, but it’s a fascinating line to ride with some 200 bridges and 40 tunnels through steep cliffs and pretty valleys. You can take a train trip on the Circumbaikal or hike it in less than a week. The Baikal Amur Mainline (BAM) Railway is an alternate train route passing over the northern end of Lake Baikal.
Accommodation Around Lake Baikal
Increasing numbers of small hotels are opening around Lake Baikal as tourism booms, but the center is still the village of Listvyanka, easily reached from Irkutsk. An alternative is to homestay and several agencies arrange this in nearly all the villages around the lake.
