How to get to Baikal? All methods and routes, tips

How to get to Baikal from Moscow, Irkutsk, Klan-Ude and other cities of the Russian Federation? Let's look at up-to-date information about ways to get there by train, car, or plane. We’ll find out ticket prices, schedules and other aspects of planning a vacation on the coast, and as a bonus, we’ll tell you about several recreation centers where it’s best to become the best.

The pride of the Russian land - Lake Baikal - is located deep in the forests of Eastern Siberia between the Irkutsk region and the Republic of Buryatia, a fusion of cultures that gives this area a special flavor. The oldest and deepest lake on the planet, unique in its diversity of unique flora and fauna, attracts the attention of scientists and travelers. Baikal has incredibly clear water, pristine nature has been preserved here, and there is no civilization. This place is shrouded in an aura of secrets, customs and traditions. From all over the world, millions of tourists dream of coming here to enjoy peace and quiet, or to find adventure and extreme relaxation. Baikal is not easy to get to, which is why this place attracts millions of people.

Call ! We have already repeatedly published photos from vacation spots where mountains of garbage are left behind by seemingly decent tourists at first glance. Respect yourself first of all; it is not so difficult to bring waste products to specially designated areas.

How to get to Baikal from Moscow?

On the coast of the lake there are three large cities that can be reached by train or plane - Irkutsk, Ulan-Ude and Severobaikalsk. You can also get there by car, as many independent travelers do; we will also touch on this point.

Depending on your holiday destination on Lake Baikal, you will have to choose your arrival city. Irkutsk is ideal for a trip to Maloe More, Olkhon, Arshan, Listvyanka and other places.
Ulan-Ude is ideal for relaxing in wild places (for example Enkhaluk), where tourism is not yet fully developed as on the Irkutsk side.
Severobaykalsk is perfect for visiting hot springs.

Cost of flight to Irkutsk

Since there are airports in Irkutsk and Ulan-Ude, most tourists prefer to fly to the city closest to the lake - Irkutsk, and flights here will become even cheaper thanks to the return of Pobeda in the near future.

Airplane tickets to Ulan-Ude are cheap, and flights are regular.

We will tell you how to get to Baikal from Moscow by plane. Everything is very simple: from any airport in the capital by planes of companies:
Aeroflot,
S7,
UTair,
Ural Airlines,
Transaero.

Flight time is 5 hours. 45 min. The cost of a ticket is from 10 to 13 thousand rubles in both directions. The lowest prices for air tickets to Irkutsk are from December to March, the highest are in July, August and September. In order to plan the loading of the aircraft, the air carrier arranges a preliminary discount on tickets and their sale, and thus monitors the filling of the aircraft. If you are persistent and monitor prices frequently well in advance of your trip, you will eventually get lucky and score a discounted ticket.

We recommend that you definitely use the calendar below; it saves a lot of time and shows all the results in the required period of time. Sometimes neighboring dates are half the price.

Price calendar for tickets to Irkutsk:

Flights from Moscow to Ulan-Ude:

How to get there by train?

If you don’t know how to get to Lake Baikal cheaply, choose the train. You will travel along the legendary Trans-Siberian Railway, see the beauty of the European part of Russia, the Urals, and Siberia.

The capital's Kazansky and Yaroslavsky stations offer several regular direct or transit trains to Irkutsk and Ulan-Ude . The travel time will be a little over three days. For a ticket in a reserved seat carriage you need to pay from 6 thousand rubles.

to Severobaykalsk from the same stations. Travel time is about 4 days, the cost of a reserved seat starts from 6,400 rubles.

Advice! When choosing a train trip, you should buy tickets in advance; during the holiday season, many tourists buy up offers 2 months in advance.

When is the best time to relax?

What to see on Baikal?

Get there by your own car?

Surely, there are such desperate heads who dream of traveling to Lake Baikal in their own car. The idea is quite feasible, considering that you are a lover of serious adventures and the price of gasoline does not scare you at all. Calculate for yourself how many days it will take to cover 5200 km. It is worth noting that you will have to travel through Kazan, Chelyabinsk, Omsk along the federal highways M-7 (from 2013 “Volga”) and M-53 (from 2013 “Siberia”), asphalt concrete, 7 m wide, recently renovated .

We would like to note:
You can get to Baikal on your own by car from Moscow in a week, driving about 800-1000 km a day.
Be sure to take a spare tire, many sections of the gravel road are not kind to tires.
Mountain sections of roads are serpentine (especially in the Kultuk area), here we advise you to be extremely careful, many trucks have brake failures.

A number of sections of the route have dangerous factors: steep descents and ascents, turns, limited visibility. Every 50-60 km of the route there are food points, the food is tasty and inexpensive, be guided by heavy trucks. The price of AI95 gasoline in Kazan is 43.04 rubles, in Chelyabinsk – 44.05 rubles, in Omsk – 45.10 rubles, in Irkutsk – 44.02 rubles, (AI92 – 41.60 rubles, at the time of publication).

Olkhon Island, Shamanka Rock

Skyscanner technology

Lake Baikal, called the Russian Sea, is located in the center of Asia at the southern border of Russia - more than 5,500 km separates it from Moscow. The lake stretches for 620 km along the border of the Irkutsk region with the Republic of Buryatia. The Baikal region is connected to the rest of the country by air and rail. The federal highway M55 "Baikal" is part of the Asian highway route AN6 and continues the highway M53 "Siberia" to the east. To get to Baikal from Moscow, you need to come to one of the large cities located in close proximity to the lake, Irkutsk, Ulan-Ude and Severobaikalsk, and then continue the journey.

For tourists planning to visit the sights of Southern Baikal - Listvyanka, Slyudyanka, the Circum-Baikal Railway, Arshan, Baikalsk, as well as Maloe More and Olkhon, it is more convenient to come to Irkutsk and from there get to their destinations. For those who choose to visit the East Coast, for example, Chivyrkuisky Bay and the Barguzin Valley, it is more profitable to travel through Ulan-Ude. The city of Severobaikalsk is chosen by those who want to visit the hot springs of Khakusy, Goudzhekit, Dzelinda, hear the singing dunes of Turali or go skiing in Davan.

How to get to Baikal from Irkutsk?

And now you have reached Irkutsk. But from there to the nearest village on the lake there are still 70 km, which also need to be overcome somehow. You have several options for how to get to Baikal from Irkutsk: take a minibus or bus, go by car or boat, or train.

Buses and minibuses to Baikal

The first automobile option is a bus .

Therefore, we are looking for a bus station, which is located on October Revolution Street, 11 (15 minutes walk from the city center). From there towards Baikal every day from 8 to 16 hours. Buses depart every 50 minutes. Ticket price from 130 rub. to Listvyanka, to Olkhon - 510 rubles. We buy tickets at the box office, there are no queues. Official website of the bus station with schedule.

The second option is a minibus .

The parking lot is located at the Central Market (near the Shopping Complex), the cost of transportation to Listvyanka will cost 150 rubles, and to Olkhon - 800 rubles. Minibuses depart as soon as they are full. If suddenly there are no places (which is unlikely), then we go along Timiryazev Street towards City Hospital No. 3, near the “Original” photo salon there is a pavilion where you can buy tickets to Olkhon Island.

After 1 hour along the Baikal Highway (65 km) you get off at the “Baikal Museum” stop in Listvyanka. Here, a ferry runs from the Rogatka pier to the Port Baikal pier, which takes up to 30 passengers on board. The cost of a ferry ticket for an adult is 71 rubles, for children from 5 to 10 years old – 36 rubles.

100 meters from the bus station, private minibuses await passengers, which will take you to any place on the Baikal coast at a negotiated price.

The best recreation centers

How to get there by train?

Along the Baikal coast you can get to the necessary station by train on the Circum-Baikal Railway, which connects the southern village of Kultuk with the eastern Mysovaya station and makes stops at several stations and stopping points.

First, they get to Kultuk or Slyudyanka by train for 150 rubles and transfer to the train to the desired station. To board the Port Baikal railway station, tourists get to it by the Voskhod motor ship, and to the village of Listvyanka by bus.

In summer, the Circum-Baikal Express tourist train runs between the stations of Irkutsk and the port of Baikal. Trains run to Severobaikalsk and Nizhneangarsk every other day. Official website of the railway station with schedule.

How to get there by car?

By car, you need to get to the coast approximately 100 km along the M-55 highway to Baikalsk, Tankhoy, Vydrino, or 60 km to the village of Listvyanka along the Baikal Highway. It all depends on your vacation spot and desires. Baikal is different everywhere, so we welcome questions in the comments.

And one more way : from Irkutsk, take the Yakut highway to Bayandai, turn right and after a short time you will reach the ferry crossing to Olkhon Island or turn off the highway to MRS earlier.

Map with routes and main places

How to get there by water?

It’s very simple, go to the VSRP website and look at the schedule of the ship to different parts of the lake, and buy tickets here. Tourists mainly use the shuttle service to Bolshie Koty and Peschanaya Bay.

Departure takes place from the Raketa pier in the microdistrict. Solar. The stop with the same name is located nearby; minibus No. 16 goes here from the railway station through the city center. (By the way, you can also buy tickets at the pier; the ticket office is open from Monday to Saturday)

Recreation centers on the Small Sea

By plane

From Moscow to Baikal you can fly to two airports. On the western side of the lake is the Irkutsk International Airport (60 km from Baikal), and on the eastern side is the Baikal International Airport in the city of Ulan-Ude (75 km from Baikal).

Air and Ural Airlines fly from Moscow Domodedovo Airport to Irkutsk, and Aeroflot from Sheremetyevo. Flights to Baikal Airport (Ulan-Ude) are operated only from Domodedovo by Ural Airlines and Globus. In any case, the flight will take at least 6 hours.

Airplanes fly from Irkutsk and Ulan-Ude to Severobaikalsk (Nizhneangarsk airport) three times a week. Travel time is about 1.5 hours. The flight between Irkutsk and Ulan-Ude will last 40 minutes.

Irkutsk airport is located 6 km from the city center. There are taxis, minibuses, buses No. 3, 42, 43, 80, 90 and trolleybuses No. 4, 6 (travel time 20-30 minutes) to the city. Further travel around Lake Baikal can be continued by road, rail or water transport from the bus station, the Raketa pier or the railway station of Irkutsk.

How to get to Baikal from Ulan-Ude?

If you are planning to visit the eastern coast of Lake Baikal - Bezymyannaya Bay, Zmeinaya Bay, Ust-Barguzin, Transbaikal National Park, Vydrino, Tankhoy, Baikal Nature Reserve, Enkhaluk, then it is better to buy a ticket to the capital of Buryatia, Ulan-Ude, right away.

From this city you can get to many places on the lake, both by public transport and by your own car. Buses, trains and minibuses are at your service. The transport schedule is constantly changing, so it is better to check the official website of the city railway and bus station often.

The villages of Vydrino , Tankhoy , Kultushnaya , Baikalsky Priboy , which are located in one direction from Ulan-Ude, can be reached by minibus from the railway station on the street. Revolutions of 1905, 35. Travel time is 5 hours, ticket price is 1300 rubles. The minibus schedule changes, so information must be clarified at the station contact center.

The villages of Ust-Barguzin , Gremyachinsk , Turka , Goryachinsk , located along the Barguzinsky tract, can be reached by minibuses No. 301, 302, 344, 345, 346 from the Selenga bus station, which is located almost in the city center on the street. Sovetskaya, 1. In the summer, it makes sense to book tickets in advance, as there is a very large influx of tourists. Ust-Barguzin is located further, the travel time to it is approximately 4-5 hours. The cost of tickets to the above stations is from 270 (Gremyachinsk) to 540 (Ust-Barguzin) rubles.

There is another option - renting a car, but it is very expensive, approximately 1000 rubles per day for an old car, and even with a deposit of 5 to 40 thousand rubles.

Sunset in Khuzhir

Where is Baikal

Baikal is located in Eastern Siberia, between the Irkutsk region and the Republic of Buryatia. The lake stretches for 636 kilometers, and the length of the coastline is more than 2000 kilometers. You will find it on the map at coordinates 53.405332, 107.673058.

There are 2 large cities near Lake Baikal: on one side Irkutsk (72 km from the coast), on the other - Ulan-Ude (170 km). Each of them has an airport and a railway station.

There are many villages and small towns scattered on the shores of Lake Baikal. They have tourist centers, hotels, and houses that locals rent out.

Irkutsk region - Listvyanka, Kultuk, Slyudyanka, Utulik, Baikalsk, Solzan, Bolshoye Goloustnoye, Buguldeika, Onguren, Zama, Sarma, Sakhyurta, Khargino.
Kabansky district - Vydrino, Tankhoi, Klyuevka, Babushkin, Posolskoye, Oymur, Sukhaya.
Pribaikalsky district - Gremyachinsk, Turka, Goryachinsk.
Barguzinsky district - Ust-Barguzin, Maksimikha, Monakhovo, Katun, Kurbulik.
Severo-Baikalsky district - Severobaikalsk, Nizhneangarsk, Baikalskoye, Davsha.

How to get to Peschanaya Bay?

This place is considered the most beautiful on the lake. People come here to take a break from civilization, retire and be left alone with their thoughts. Since the bay is very far from the roads, you can get to it by the motor ship “Barguzin” from the Irkutsk river station at the Solnechny microdistrict, Zhukova Ave., 98 (for tickets, see the WSRP at the link above).

The ship operates only in the summer, and the rest of the time it is fashionable to order a private boat, especially during the Indian summer. The trip by boat takes 4 hours and 2800 rubles per ticket. In winter, brave souls can reach the Bay by car across the frozen lake. This route will take 35 minutes at a speed of 40-60 km per hour.

Another option for the hardy ones is a minibus to the village of Bolshoye Goloustnoye and a walk along the Baikal Trail, 35 km long.

The bus schedule from Irkutsk to Bolshoye Goloustnoye is variable, as are the prices. Therefore, the information needs to be clarified.

Due to the ever-growing interest of tourists in the lake, more and more travel companies are appearing in Buryatia and Irkutsk, which solve the problems of delivering tourists to different places of Lake Baikal. Both long tours and day trips allow you to get where you want to go and see the untouched edge of the sacred Lake Baikal, but remember the call at the beginning of the material.

What attracts Baikal?

Many shamans consider Lake Baikal to be a sacred and mystical place. Having been here, you will plunge headlong into the atmosphere of the life of the local people, you will be able to see the traditions of the Baikal region, get acquainted with shamans and rituals.

Many Russians dream of seeing this wonder of the World, but one of the reasons why the trip to Baikal is being organized is the long journey to Siberia. The distance from Moscow to Baikal is about 5500 km, and from St. Petersburg about 6000 km, so the route must be planned in advance, since the road does not promise to be fast.

How to get to Olkhon and the Small Sea?

To get to Khuzhir, choose the Yakutsky highway and follow the highway to Bayandai (distance 134 km). The road is of good quality, mostly straight, sometimes there are traffic police posts. You can have a snack at the Cozy Cafe in Gulun Tumur.
There are gas stations along the way; we recommend refueling at Rosneft.
At Bayandai you need to turn right, from here it’s another 130 km. to the ferry crossing to Olkhon Island (Khuzhir). The crossing is free, during the holiday season we recommend traveling on weekdays; at peak times the queue can last up to 5 hours.
The last 37 km after the ferry crossing is a gravel road; here you must adhere to the speed limit and stay away from oncoming traffic. This way you can extend the life of the suspension and tires.

How to get to the Small Sea? Moving towards Olkhon along the Yakutsky Highway we reach the Kraisneft gas station, sign for Chernorud. We turn left and move further along the gravel road, it will lead you to tourist centers on the coast and the village of Sarma.

When to go to Baikal

In the autumn, the road to Lake Baikal can be uncomfortable and even dangerous. Since around September to December there are strong winds here. You may also be caught in a storm at the most inopportune moment. The ideal time to spend a holiday on Lake Baikal is summer. But visiting here in winter or spring has its own charms.

Winter and spring are the periods when airlines launch off-season discounts on tickets. When saving on your flight, you should consider the luggage you take with you. If your luggage contains equipment for climbing, hiking and water trips, it is better to immediately check the norms and cost of transporting things with a specific airline.

This is what Baikal looks like in February. Photo: Lana Ozerova

How to get to Listvyanka?

You can get to Listvnyaki from Irkutsk by your own car, bus or minibus. The distance from the center to the village is 67 km. You can take a minibus or bus from the Central Market or the bus station, as we have already mentioned in more detail above.

The Baikal highway, leading to the destination, is constantly being reconstructed and the route is expanding, the first 25 km of the road are of excellent quality, then there is asphalt with cracks and filled holes, there are places with cameras. Travel time is approximately 1 hour. The cost of travel by minibus is 150 rubles, the bus is cheaper.

We get there by train

You can get to Lake Baikal from Moscow by rail. The duration of the route depends on the destination. For example, a direct train to Irkutsk takes about 3 days, to Severobaikalsk – 3.5 days, to Ulan-Ude – about 4 days.

If you have a lot of time, then traveling by train you can plan a route through beautiful cities so that you have time to see the local attractions. Of course, the duration of the trip will increase in this case.

The cost of a seat in a compartment car averages from 7,000 rubles. If you buy a ticket in advance, it will be cheaper. Also, the price of a seat depends on the season and the chosen category - reserved seat or coupe.

During the high season, it is unlikely that you will be able to purchase a train ticket, since this route is in great demand. Therefore, buy tickets in advance - at least 2-3 months in advance.

How to save money on your trip? Working lifehacks!

These tips will help you plan an independent holiday at resorts in winter or summer for less:

We recommend looking for the best hotel prices on ROOMGURU . The search engine searches among all hotel databases on the Internet, even from such giants as Booking, and compares prices. If you are a smartphone lover, then the HOUSING SEARCH is a must. It is very convenient to open options upon arrival and book immediately.
TRIPINSURANCE service will help you profitably insure your health and life while traveling ; the search engine shows results from all major insurance companies. All you have to do is choose only the most profitable option, but we advise you not to skimp on your health!
Air tickets? Experiencedly, we recommend using AVIASALES , it is still the No. 1 search engine among independent travelers.

Parting words for tourists

For a successful trip to Lake Baikal, which will leave an indelible impression, using any of the above types of transport, you need to plan everything in advance. We advise you to correctly calculate travel and rest times, transfers and stops.

We recommend taking warm clothes with you on the road, since Baikal is characterized by temperature changes, a first aid kit, and cash, because when traveling through small towns and villages there may not be a terminal or ATM nearby.

We hope that your holiday will be flawless and full of impressions!