Lake Baikal in Summer

Olkhon

Picturesque cliffs resembling fantastic creatures, sand dunes, crystal clear water. But thousands of tourists come to Olkhon every year not only to enjoy the unique nature but also to touch shamanic shrines. As the saying goes, if you haven’t been to Olkhon, you haven’t truly been to Lake Baikal. How to get to Olkhon from Irkutsk: By regular bus from the bus station:

Address: 22 Chekhova St., Irkutsk, then by ferry.

Cape Burkhan and Shamanka Rock

Cape Burkhan and Shamanka Rock are considered sacred and are on the list of the nine greatest shrines of Asia. Until recently this attraction was inaccessible to tourists. The rock made of white marble and limestone is located at the edge of the cape and has two peaks — 30 and 42 meters, with a 12-meter winding cave running through the mountain. From the western side of the rock, you can see a grotto of brown marble, resembling a dragon in its outline. It is believed that the cave is inhabited by the spirit of Olkhon. The rock looks incredibly beautiful from the water. You can rent a boat or a SUP board — rental points operate in Khuzhir. Please note that closer to sunset, the demand for boat trips on the lake increases, as the view of the sun melting into the majestic Baikal is particularly mesmerizing.

Address: Coordinates: 53.204189, 107.338578

Cape Khoboy

The northernmost point of the island Located approximately forty kilometers from Khuzhir. Translated from Buryat, "Khoboy" means "fang." According to the legend, a huge dragon dropped its tooth here, which later turned into a pointed cape. Be sure to climb to the observation deck on top of the cliff, which offers a breathtaking view of Great Baikal, the Small sea, and in good weather, you can see the outlines of the Holy Nose peninsula. The sunrises here are also magical.

Address: Coordinates: 53.2438, 107.4723

Peschanaya Bay

The nature here is extraordinary. Located in the Nyurganskaya Bay, 20 kilometers north of the village of Khuzhir. Over an area of three square kilometers on the shore of Baikal, sand dunes stretch. If visiting in July, it is possible to see the blooming of a unique plant, the Olkhon astragalus, which is listed in the Red Data Book of Russia. Unusual "stilted" or "walking" trees also grow here. These are pines and larches. Strong winds blow away the light sand from their trunks, exposing the roots. It creates the impression that the trees are about to take off.

Address: Coordinates: 53.286487, 107.588859

Lake Khankhoy

The water here is not as cold as the Baikal waters on Olkhon, so you can fully enjoy a beach holiday. The lake is shallow, warming up to a comfortable twenty degrees in summer. At Khankhoy, you can have a picnic, pitch a tent and admire a magical sunset, or go horseback riding. The lake is separated from the majestic Baikal by a sandbar and powerful cliffs, offering a picturesque view of the Small sea and the Primorsky ridge. On the slope, you can see the remains of cult structures. Not far from the lake is an archaeological site — the remains of an ancient ritual complex from the 7th century BC to the 10th century AD. You will definitely want to come back here!

Address: Coordinates: 53.152677, 107.169166

Buryat Village

An open-air ethnographic museum. Here you will learn all about the life and traditions of the Buryats. It is located four kilometers from Khuzhir in the village of Malomorets. It will be interesting for both adults and children. Several wooden yurts are located here, their doors hospitably opened by the complex's hosts. The program includes: folk songs, legends, and, of course, national treats. In addition, you will be taught the yokhor — a Buryat round dance, a local shaman will tell you how to properly "burkhan" — appease the Baikal spirits, and in the village, you and your children will be taught the skills of national wrestling.

Ethnographic Museum in Taltsy

Here are 160 unique architectural monuments: mills, churches, defensive structures, estates, Evenki burials, and even a Buryat summer ulus. The museum is divided into four historical and cultural zones: Russian, Buryat, Evenki, and Tofalar. The Buryats, Evenks, and Tofalars are the indigenous peoples of the Baikal region. You will see how their camps were arranged, be able to enter yurts, and get acquainted with their way of life. The Russian exhibition zone contains monuments of wooden architecture from the Baikal region of the 17th — early 20th centuries. Be sure to notice the Spasskaya Tower from 1667 and the Kazan Church of the Ilimsk Ostrog from 1679.

Address: 1, 47th km of Baikalsky Trakt

Opening hours: from March 1 to October 31 (summer period) 10 am–6 pm;
from November 1 to February 28 (winter period) 10 am–5 pm

Website: talci-irkutsk.ru

Fish Market

A must-visit place in Listvyanka Dozens of stalls offer: vegetables, fruits, souvenirs, and, of course, fish. Omul is the main Baikal delicacy. You will find it fresh, dried, and smoked. Whitefish is a larger and fattier fish, very good salted. A well-known northern dish called sagudai is prepared from grayling, a less calorie-dense fish, as well as from omul and whitefish. Be sure to try it. The fish is not thermally processed during its preparation; only oil, vinegar, spices, and onions are added. At the market, you will find souvenirs made from the semi-precious stone charoite, from which everything is made: from jewelry to tableware. This unique mineral is mined only in Yakutia. You can also buy pine nuts, honey, and the popular Siberian tea Saygan Daylya.

Address: 111/1 Gorkogo St., Listvyanka

Baikal Museum

The museum's history began in 1928 with the opening of the Baikal Limnological Station, which studied the evolution of the lake's flora and fauna. The exhibition was formed based on scientific research conducted here. And, we assure you, getting to know the world of Baikal is very exciting! In the first hall, you will see a unique exhibit — the Paisis XI bathyscaphe: it made over a hundred dives and was the first to reach the lake's maximum depth. In another hall, you will find real inhabitants of Baikal: in 11 huge aquariums filled with water from the lake, several dozen species of fish, mollusks, and even charming nerpa live. You can also take a virtual journey to the bottom of Baikal in a submarine. The portholes show videos filmed by scientists during dives. In addition, you will get acquainted with the unique flora of Baikal. On an area of 4 hectares — local endemics. Not only tourists but also biology students come here for excursions.

Address: 1A Akademicheskaya St., Listvyanka

Opening hours: 9 am – 7 pm, daily

Website: bm.isc.irk.ru

Nerpinarium

The amazing and charming Baikal endemics — nerpa — have long become an unofficial symbol of this place. You can get to know them better at the largest nerpinarium in our country, located in Listvyanka. Every 45 minutes, a unique show takes place here with the participation of these incredible animals, whose intelligence is not inferior to dolphins. Before your eyes, they will play football, show counting skills, dance, and even sing, and finally, blow you an air kiss. It is worth noting that the nerpa living here are rescued animals. Some were caught in poachers' traps, some came here as pups — they either got lost or were left without a mother. Having come under human care, they cannot return to the wild, so they remain in the nerpinarium under the close supervision of caring keepers.

Address: 101 A Gorkogo St., Listvyanka

Website: baikalnerpa.ru

Chersky Peak

This is the highest point of the Komarinsky Ridge The height of the mountain is 2090 meters. But climbing it is not difficult. The nature in these places is incredibly picturesque. Cedar forest gives way to low vegetation, such as dwarf willow, then boundless alpine meadows appear before you. At the top of Chersky Peak, there is an observation deck that offers a mesmerizing view of the mountains, Baikal, the snow caps of the Eastern Sayan, and an amazing lake, shaped like a heart.

Address: Coordinates: 51.51556, 103.62583

Lake Heart

The descent to the lake from Chersky Peak takes only 25 minutes, and walking around it will take no more than 15. The beauty of the lake's surroundings is impressive. In summer, the area around is dotted with the colorful blooms of plants: blue gentians, orange Asian globeflowers — a symbol of Siberia, golden rhododendrons, pink bergenia. In addition, the picture is complemented by boulders submerged in water, covered with colored lichen.

Address: Coordinates: 51.509341, 103.625923

Waterfalls of the Podkomarnaya River

On a small section of just three kilometers, you will see several picturesque mountain waterfalls. Their height ranges from 2 to 25 meters. The largest is located at the confluence of its right tributary, the Kamenka River, into the Podkomarnaya.

Address: Coordinates: 51.514698, 103.581369

Mineralogical Museum-Estate "Baikal Gems"

The museum's collection includes over 10,000 unique samples from deposits in Southern Baikal, other regions of Russia, and abroad. This is the first private mineral museum, opened in 1990. The exhibition began to form in 1975, and the first exhibits were mined directly in Slyudyanka. You will be able to immerse yourself in the world of geology, learn how minerals are mined and processed, what they are used for, and hear personal stories from the museum’s founder about working with stone.

Address: 36 Slyudyanaya St., Slyudyanka

Opening hours: 8 am–8 pm

Website: baikalgem.ru

Railway Station

Even if you came to Slyudyanka by private transport or bus, be sure to visit the railway station. After all, this is the most "precious" station in the world. The building, constructed in 1904, is made entirely of white and pink marble. Inside, there is a museum dedicated to the history of Baikal, its unique nature, and attractions. You will see minerals mined in these areas, traditional Buryat clothing and household items, and learn a lot of interesting things about the flora and fauna in the museum's interactive part.

Address: 18 Geroya Ivana Tonkonoga St., Slyudyanka

Goryachinsk village

It is located on the eastern shore of Baikal and was named after the "Hot" stream flowing here, as well as the nearby warm mineral springs. It is an ideal place for both beach relaxation and wellness tourism. The first balneological resort appeared here more than 250 years ago, and there were legends about the healing properties of the water. If you want to improve your health, Goryachinsk offers a whole range of therapeutic procedures. Pearl, iodine-bromine, dry carbon dioxide baths, as well as restorative procedures with therapeutic mud, which is brought here from Lake Bormashovoe. In addition to the springs, the air here is amazing. The trees growing here saturate it with beneficial substances, which also has a beneficial effect on the body. On the beach, near the sanatorium, all amenities are available: wooden walkways are laid, cafes operate, and lifeguards are on duty. There are plenty of entertainment options: you can ride a catamaran, rent a SUP, or a jet ski. How to get to Goryachinsk from Ulan-Ude By bus — from the bus station

Address: 53B Revolyutsii 1905 goda St., Ulan-Ude

Barguzin Nature Reserve

This is the first Russian nature reserve, created in 1916 to preserve the sable population. If you like active recreation, we suggest taking the most scenic route — the "Shumilikha" ecological trail. It runs along the valley of the river of the same name. 10 kilometers from Baikal at an altitude of one kilometer, you will see one of the main attractions of the reserve — a large waterfall. In this place a wide ledge completely blocks the river's flow; the river literally crashes into it and falls down with a roar. Also, along the way, you will pass by several moraine lakes formed as a result of glacier melting. The first is a small lake with absolutely clear water and a small island in the middle. The second is surrounded by stone debris, and another by sheer cliffs, at the foot of which huge cones of fallen boulders are visible.

Address: Coordinates: 54.3000, 109.5000

Nature Museum in Davsha

Here you will learn how the Barguzin Reserve appeared, why the sable was on the verge of extinction, and even feel yourself in the era of Ivan the Terrible. The museum's exhibition includes many unusual exhibits: from wooden traps to rare documents. You can also witness a "sable show". Museum staff feed the nimble animals, giving visitors the opportunity to observe these amazing creatures.

Address: Davsha Settlement, Severobaikalsky District

Posolsky Sor

The bay got its name in memory of the tragic death of a Russian embassy in the 17th century. In memory of this event, a monastery was built on this site. Posolsky Sor is a shallow bay separated from Baikal by sandbars; it attracts tourists with its transparent waters, beaches, and fishing opportunities. In summer, the water warms up to a comfortable +20–22°C, so if you choose a beach holiday, this is the place for you. Today, it is an amazing place where you can enjoy beach relaxation, fishing, and master windsurfing and other board sports. How to get to Posolsky Sor from Ulan-Ude By train — from the railway station

Address: 35 Revolyutsii 1905 g. St., to the Baikalsky Priboy station

Holy Transfiguration Monastery

This is the oldest Orthodox monastery in Transbaikalia. Its foundation is connected with the first spiritual mission to the region in 1681 during the reign of Tsar Fyodor Alekseevich. Initially, all the buildings of the monastery were wooden, but after a fire in 1769, the construction of the stone Spaso-Preobrazhensky Cathedral began. It, as well as the brick St. Nicholas Church from 1820, can be seen today.

Address: Koltsevaya St., Posolskoye Village

Chivyrkuisky Bay

The bay is one of the most picturesque and popular places on Baikal, with many options for both active and calm recreation. Here you can escape the city bustle, enjoy the clean air and the crystal water of Baikal. The bay is shallow, and the water temperature in summer reaches 22–24°C. There are many sandy beaches, incredibly beautiful capes, and thermal springs. The shores of the bay form a series of small, well-protected coves. How to get to Chivyrkuisky Bay from Ulan-Ude By bus — from the bus station to the town of Ust-Barguzin. Then ferry across the Barguzin River to the village of Monakhovo

Address: 53B Revolyutsii 1905 goda St., Ulan-Ude

Holy Nose Peninsula

The largest peninsula of Baikal. The average height of the mountains on Holy Nose is 800 m, and the highest point reaches 1877 meters. At the top of the peninsula, there is a mountain plateau, offering a picturesque panorama of the Holy Nose isthmus, Chivyrkuisky and Barguzinsky bays, as well as the Ushkani Islands. If you love camping, you will definitely like it here. There are several places to stay. The first is on the Myagkaya Karga beach, located at the entrance to the peninsula. The next, already a paid campsite, is located in the village of Monakhovo. There is an opportunity to stay in small cozy houses. You can also camp for free in Okunevaya and Kresty bays. For those who enjoy active recreation, we recommend the “Trail of Challenges”. Despite the name, this is a route of medium difficulty, suitable for people of all ages in good physical shape. This route will reveal the Baikal high-mountain tundra in all its beauty.

Address: Coordinates: 53.563757, 108.627739

Zmeinaya Bay

Here are the famous healing thermal springs of Baikal. The water temperature reaches up to 45°C. The springs are highly effective for disorders of the musculoskeletal system, helping with radiculitis, osteochondrosis, and arthrosis, and also strengthening the immune system overall. You can walk along the ecotrail "To Zmeinaya Bay," which runs along the coast of Chivyrkuisky Bay, starting from the Monakhovo area at the beach.

Address: Coordinates: 45.406332, 35.774903