Lake Baikal

Lake Baikal, located in the south of Eastern Siberia, on the border of the Irkutsk region and the Republic of Buryatia, is one of the oldest bodies of water on our planet. But it is best known for being the deepest lake on Earth and at the same time the largest natural reservoir of fresh water – 19% of the world’s total reserves.

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Both Baikal itself and the coastal areas are distinguished by a unique variety of flora and fauna, which makes these places truly unique, invariably attracting the attention of scientific minds and numerous travelers and adventurers.

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Video: Lake Baikal in winter

Hotels and recreation centers on Lake Baikal

Many tourists come to vacation on Lake Baikal, as they call it, savages, getting there in their cars. They choose a place they like on the coast and stay there, sleeping in tents. On the lake specially equipped for travelers-automobile camping sites are very few. Having planned to stop at such a site, you should take into account that in this place there may not be wood for a fire and basic amenities (for example, toilets). Therefore, think in advance about how you will “survive”.

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Preparing a lakeside lunch
Listvyanka

Such worries will be spared for those who prefer to travel in comfort, even if minimal. At their service a lot of hotels, recreation centers and guest houses scattered along the entire coast of Baikal. And each tourist will be able to find the most suitable accommodation option for him – taking into account, of course, individual preferences and financial capabilities. We have to disappoint the bohemian public: there are no five-star hotels with the highest level of service here. She, as well as “mere mortals”, will have to be satisfied with ordinary rooms with all amenities. For more information: some recreation centers accept vacationers only in the summer.

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Tourists traveling independently, risk running into unscrupulous intermediaries when booking a room in a hotel or recreation center. To avoid this, reserve a hotel room only through trusted and reliable services, which will not only save you from fraudsters, but also allow you to rent a room at a minimum cost, without unnecessary surcharges. We recommend Booking.com – one of the first and most popular online hotel booking systems.

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How to get there

‘ class=”fancybox” >UAZ “Bukhanka” on the snow-covered ice of Baikal

There are various ways to get to Baikal. The starting point, as a rule, are nearby large cities: Irkutsk, Ulan-Ude, Severobaikalsk. Tourists first arrive in one of these settlements and already there plan their further route in detail. Especially memorable is the trip on the section of the Trans-Siberian Railway between Ulan-Ude and Irkutsk: the lake stretches right outside the train windows and you can admire its magical panorama for hours.

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One of the most popular tourist destinations on the Siberian Sea is the village of Listvyanka, located at the source of the Angara River, 65 kilometers from Irkutsk. From the regional center here you can get here by bus or boat, travel time – a little more than an hour. Irkutsk is the starting point for all water transportation routes that run not only along Baikal, but also along the Angara River.

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