We have made a detailed guide about vacationing on Lake Baikal in the summer of 2021. Find out how to relax on Baikal inexpensively and independently! We tell you about the best resorts, beaches and recreation centers, prices for vacations. Here are tips and reviews of tourists.
When is the best time to rest
In the Baikal and Transbaikal regions, they rest all year round. In winter - from January to March, fans of downhill skiing, ice fishing, fans of snowmobiling, ice skating and dog sledding come here.
- Rest on Lake Baikal in winter
- How to celebrate the New Year at Baikal
Most tourists come to the lake during the warmer months. IN May it's still springtime on Baikal. Snowdrops sprout on the forest edges, the lilac color of wild rosemary envelops the hills. In the Barguzinsky Nature Reserve, bears come ashore, and you can watch them from the water.
Many people like to rest on Lake Baikal in the summer, especially in junewhen there is still no large crowd of tourists. In early summer, the weather is changeable. During the day, the air warms up to + 15 ... + 23 ° С, cool winds blow from the lake, and at night the thermometer drops to + 5 ... + 9 ° С. In the north of Lake Baikal, ice floes still float in some places. The water is cold + 8 ... + 12 ° С, so almost no one bathes.
The peak of the tourist season comes at july and august... During the day + 22 ... + 30 ° С. The swimming season lasts only a month - from mid-July to mid-August. The water warms up to + 15 ... + 20 ° С, and in shallow bays the lake is quite warm + 21 ... + 23 ° С.
By the number of sunny days, summer Baikal is compared to Sochi. There is indeed a lot of sun, but it is completely different. And even at a temperature of + 25 ° C, a cold wind can come from the lake at any moment, and you have to warm yourself.
It gets cooler in the second half of August. The velvet season pleases with calmness, calm sunny weather, an abundance of mushrooms and berries. Air temperature + 12 ... + 16 ° С. The colorful Baikal autumn is the dream of all photography lovers! The heat ends quickly - by the end of September. Then comes the long off-season. The lake is storming and it starts to rain.
Also check out the best summer vacation spots in Russia.
How to get there
The lake journey can be started from three starting points. Of Irkutsk convenient to explore the south and west coast, from Severobaikalsk - the northern part of Baikal, and from Ulan-Ude - the east coast. Most tourists get to Lake Baikal through Irkutsk.
It is easier and faster to get from Moscow and other cities of the European part of Russia to Lake Baikal by plane. In the summer of 2021, tickets are very cheap: you can fly from Moscow to Irkutsk and back for 11,000 rubles, and to Ulan-Ude - for 9,200 rubles. Search for cheap flights on Airlines and Skyscanner - they compare prices of all airlines. Find out the secrets of finding cheap flights.
By train you can get to Irkutsk, Ulan-Ude and Severo-Baikalsk. The road from Central Russia is long - about 4 days. Train tickets from Moscow to Irkutsk in the summer of 2021 cost from 5,900 rubles in a reserved seat carriage and from 6,600 rubles in a compartment. You can buy train tickets on the Tutu.ru website.
You can also go to Baikal by car (read our advice on the link). This method is especially convenient for the inhabitants of Siberia. Having your own car on vacation on Lake Baikal is very useful - you can easily get to any village or beach without buying excursions and drops.
Where is the best place to relax on Baikal
The huge lake is surrounded by picturesque mountain and forest landscapes. On the shores there are sandy and pebble beaches, hot springs, powerful taiga massifs and beautiful rocky ridges. There are a lot of resorts - we tell you where you can relax on Lake Baikal in the summer of 2021.
Listvyanka
A large village on the southwestern coast is conveniently located - just an hour's drive from Irkutsk. In summer, the climate near the source of the Angara River resembles the Black Sea coast of the Caucasus. Listvyanka is famous for its good infrastructure. People come here to see the Baikal Limnological Museum, visit the astrophysical observatory and the nerpinarium. The resort is popular with parents with children and is used as a starting point for traveling around Lake Baikal. Find out more about rest in Listvyanka.
Slyudyanka
A small town in the west of the lake is famous for its mineralogical museum and the fact that the Circum-Baikal Railway (Circum-Baikal Railway) begins here. From Slyudyanka, hiking routes to Chersky Peak and Tunkinskaya Valley are popular.
Arshan
The mountain-climatic and mud-cure resort is located to the east of Lake Baikal, in the beautiful Tunkinskaya valley. Several thousand people come to the village every year. It is believed that mineral water cures many diseases, and clean air and hiking in the mountains help to restore health and get a boost of vivacity.
Olkhon
The island between the Small Sea and the main water area is considered one of the most beautiful places on the lake. Olkhon is included in the Pribaikalsky National Park. People come here to live among virgin nature, see the Shamanka rock and get acquainted with the spiritual traditions of the Buryats. Find out more about rest on Olkhon and see the 7 best tourist centers in Khuzhir.
Small sea
Popular holiday destinations on Lake Baikal are located between the western coast and Olkhon. Tourists are attracted by small bays with cozy beaches, beautiful coastal landscapes and good fishing.
Baikalsk
The southernmost city of the Irkutsk region is known for the modern ski resort "Sobolinaya Mountain". However, it is interesting not only in winter. There are beaches in Baikalsk. Tourists go hiking along the spurs of Khamar-Daban, ride catamarans and take boat trips.
Severobaikalsk
The city in the north of Lake Baikal cannot be called a full-fledged resort. It is used as a starting point for routes on Lake Baikal. There are many attractions in the vicinity of Severobaikalsk. These are the thermal springs Goudzhekit and Kotelnikovsky, warm Slyudyanskie lakes and Cape Ludar, where the sites of ancient people were discovered.
East Coast
Unlike the mountainous western coast, the eastern part of Lake Baikal is flatter. The shallow coastline gets warmer. Sandy beaches and taiga are included in the territory of the Trans-Baikal National Park. Where is the best place to relax on the eastern shore of Lake Baikal? Tourists like to stay in Gremyachinsk, Goryachinsk, Maksimikha, Enkhaluk, Barguzinsky and Chivyrkuisky bays.
Goryachinsk
The village is located 175 km from Ulan-Ude. It was founded in the 18th century, and today it is considered a popular balneological center. Goryachinsk attracts with its mild microclimate, thermal springs, spacious sandy beaches and a good sanatorium and medical infrastructure. Health paths are laid in the taiga forest near the village.
Map of places of rest on Lake Baikal
Housing prices
There are different types of housing on Lake Baikal: sanatoriums, recreation centers, guest houses, hotels and private apartments. Many campers live in tents. In July and August, the demand for housing is great, so book your accommodation as early as possible. Here are convenient and reliable accommodation search services:
- Rumguru and Hotelluk - camp sites, cottages and hotels
- Airbnb and Sutochno.ru - housing in the private sector
Prices for modern and comfortable housing are high, so a vacation on Lake Baikal in the summer of 2021 will be quite expensive. Options cheaper than 2,000 rubles are, as a rule, very simple rooms with old furniture, without air conditioning and the Internet. To save money, rent a house in the private sector. One-room apartment costs from 1500 rubles. For a company of friends or a family vacation with children, it is convenient to rent a separate cottage for 4000-6000 rubles per day. Read more about the cost of rest on Lake Baikal and see how to book hotels cheaper.
Prices for holidays on Lake Baikal in summer 2021:
| A type | Price (₽) | Example |
| Guest House | 1600-2500 | Argo in Listvyanka |
| Recreation center | 1600-3500 | Tourist base Solnechnaya |
| Sanatorium | from 7000 | Sanatorium Electra |
| Hotel 3 * | from 3000 | White sable |
| Hotel 5 * | from 4000 | Hotel Mayak |
| Elite hotel | 5000-20000 | Hotel Gold |
The best recreation centers on Baikal
The Baikal infrastructure is developing. Every year new camp sites and hotel complexes appear on the shores of the lake. We will tell you about popular bases and hotels that have good reviews from tourists and reasonable prices.
Cozy wooden houses in Khuzhir on the island of Olkhon. An inexpensive option where you can stay for a vacation on Lake Baikal in the summer of 2021. The camp site has excellent reviews and a high rating. Guests like good value for money, landscaped grounds, neat houses, cleanliness and friendly staff. A double room costs from 1800 rubles per day.
Recreation center Chara... This is a camp site with good reviews from vacationers. It is located near the shore of the lake on the Small Sea, in the village of Sakhayurt. There is a sauna, swimming pool, cinema and billiards. Tourists cook their own food or go to the cafeteria. Excursions and walking tours are organized. An economy double room costs 1,600 rubles, and a whole cottage starts from 4,000 rubles.
Hotel Dauria... This hotel in Listvyanka has an excellent rating based on over 280 reviews. Vacationers love the cozy wooden cabins and the well-equipped barbecue area. They consider this place to be very beautiful and picturesque. It is possible to order a transfer to Irkutsk and buy excursions. Double occupancy costs from 3000 rubles.
Baikal View Hotel... An excellent three-star hotel on Olkhon, in the village of Khuzhir, there is a spa, bar, restaurant, laundry. Guests love the friendly staff and the lake view from every room. To the shore of Lake Baikal 5 minutes on foot. Guests consider the cuisine in the hotel restaurant to be the best on the whole Olkhon Island. A double room costs from 9000 rubles per day.
Guest yard Bagulnik... Located in a secluded area on the eastern shore of Lake Baikal, in Enkhaluk. Guests like the good lighting in the rooms and the warm floor in the toilet (this is not superfluous at Baikal). A double room costs from 4000 rubles.
Tourist base Baikal-Babr... This is one of the best recreation centers on Lake Baikal, according to tourists! Rating: 9.8 out of 10 - very few hotels and bases can boast of this. Located on Olkhon Island. Comfortable and cozy yurts are offered for living. The base is very neat, well thought out, and homely. The guests liked the hospitable hosts of the camp site. A wonderful, secluded place for complete relaxation and wonderful rest! A family room with a lake view costs from 4500 rubles.
Food prices
A trip to Lake Baikal will appeal to fans of gastronomic tourism. Try the big Buryat dumplings poses, fish salad zagudai, hearty lamb chowder bukhler, flatbreads with lamb sharbin, green tea with milk and aromatic tea made from Baikal herbs.
True, while relaxing on Lake Baikal, you will have to spend a lot on food - prices on the lake are higher than in Irkutsk or Ulan-Ude. The average bill in a budget cafe is 350-450 rubles. For this money, you will be offered a main course, appetizer and tea. Dinner at a restaurant for one person costs from 1000 rubles. The menu includes salad, soup or cabbage soup, cutlet with potatoes, tea or coffee.
Here are the prices for food in the cafes and restaurants of Listvyanka:
- vegetable salad - 180-200 rubles;
- pilaf - from 200 rubles;
- borscht - 160 rubles;
- poses, 1 pc. - 70 rubles.
Many tourists eat at the recreation centers or prepare their own food. There are supermarkets in Irkutsk and Ulan-Uda. In the shops of Listvyanka or Olkhon, everything is 20-25% more expensive.
With the famous Baikal omul it's not easy now. Since October 2017, the fishing catch on the lake has been completely limited. It is also prohibited to trade popular fish in shops and markets. Local residents can catch omul only for personal needs, but they are not allowed to sell the catch.
Outlets selling omul are illegal. Tourists are often offered peled like omul under the guise of valuable fish. To discourage poachers, we recommend refraining from buying the delicacy.
Transport on Baikal
Buses and fixed-route taxis go from Irkutsk. A ticket to Listvyanka costs 100 rubles, to Olkhon - 600-1000 rubles, to Slyudyanka - 180 rubles, and to Baikalsk - 300 rubles. The ferry to Olkhon operates from early May until freezing. At the peak of the tourist season, queues line up there.
The ferry between Listvyanka and Port Baikal transports transport and people all year round from 6:40 to 20:30. The fare for an adult costs 67 rubles, and for a child - 33 rubles. For a bicycle you need to pay 103 rubles, for a car - 435 rubles.
If you like water transport, get to Baikal along the Angara. Passenger motor ships of the East Siberian River Shipping Company run from Irkutsk to Listvyanka, Peschanaya Bay, Bolshiye Kotov, Cape Tolsty and Severo-Baikalsk. A ticket to Listvyanka costs 450 rubles.
It is convenient to get from Irkutsk to the southern coast by rail. Trains along the Circum-Baikal Railway and Trans-Siberian Railway are delivered to Port Baikal, Kultuk and Slyudyanka. Tickets cost from 100 rubles.
Electric trains, buses and fixed-route taxis go from Ulan-Ude to Lake Baikal. A ticket for a suburban train to Kultushnaya costs 200 rubles, for a minibus to Enkhaluk - 300 rubles, and for a minibus to Arshan - 800 rubles.
Ulan-Ude and Nizhneangarsk are connected by air. Regular planes fly from late May to late October. Small aircraft operate at Baikal. Helicopters and airplanes can be used, but flights are expensive.
Many tourists book transfers. They make transfers to different parts of Lake Baikal by minibuses, buses, four-wheel drive SUVs and ZIL-131 trucks.
Beaches on Baikal
Where to swim on Lake Baikal? Not all coastlines are suitable for a beach holiday. A pulp and paper mill used to work in the southeast, and the water in this part of Baikal is still polluted.
Tourists prefer shallow areas of the coast and small bays, where there are no large stones and rocks. On the equipped beaches, vacationers are offered water activities - parachuting behind a boat, jet skiing and banana boat rides.
Here are the most popular beaches of Lake Baikal:
Small Sea... Small pebble beaches are famous for their warm water. They are not wide and the bottom is shallow. The coast is accessible for transport, so there are many tourists in the summer.
Olkhon... All beaches are located in the west of the island. The most famous - Saraysky beach - is located not far from Khuzhir. It is covered with sand, stretches for 2 km and is bounded by a beautiful pine forest.
Listvyanka... The village beach is rather narrow. Arriving ships pollute the water, and there is a lot of seaweed near the shore.
East Coast... Shallow bays and sandy coves are convenient for swimming. True, it takes a long time to get to them, and there is almost no infrastructure. The largest sandy beach of Lake Baikal, 20 km long, is located near the Svyatoy Nos peninsula.
According to tourists, it is better to choose safe bays of the Small Sea or the coast from Ulan-Ude for a summer vacation on Lake Baikal with children. The water in these places warms up more.
What to see at Baikal
The largest freshwater body of water on the planet is surrounded by picturesque landscapes. Tourists come here to walk along the Great Baikal Trail. They are attracted by beautiful rocks, waterfalls, caves, bird nesting sites, seals and unique "stilted" trees. When planning a summer vacation on Lake Baikal, keep in mind that entrance fee is charged for entering national parks and reserves - from 100 rubles per person. Find out what is worth seeing at Baikal.
We advise you to visit these attractions:
- ethnographic complex "Taltsy" - 150 rubles;
- seal in Listvyanka - 500 rubles for adults and 400 rubles for children;
- planetarium in Irkutsk - 200 rubles;
- Baikal Museum with "immersion" in the bathyscaphe - 310 rubles for adults and 190 rubles for children.
Excursions and entertainment on Baikal
During a vacation on Lake Baikal, there will definitely not be a shortage of entertainment and excursions, but the prices for them are quite high. Here are the most popular ones:
- sightseeing tour of Irkutsk - 600 rubles;
- a walk around Lake Baikal by motor ship and boat - 500-900 rubles per hour;
- excursion trip from Listvyanka to Olkhon - 5200 rubles;
- one-day tour of Olkhon with a guide - 1000 rubles;
- boat tour of the Angara: from Irkutsk through "Taltsy" to Listvyanka and back - 1500 rubles;
- ethnographic tour to the Buryat village of Ust-Orda - 1500 rubles;
- excursion by train along the Circum-Baikal Railway - from 4000 rubles;
- horseback riding tour in the taiga - 7400 rubles;
- fishing on the Small Sea - 2000 rubles;
- quad biking, 1 day - 4500 rubles.
How much does it cost to go to Baikal
Let's calculate how much a week's vacation for two on Lake Baikal will cost in the summer of 2021:
- air tickets from Moscow to Irkutsk and back - 22,000 rubles;
- a bus from Irkutsk to Listvyanka and back - 500 rubles;
- accommodation (2,000 rubles per day) - 14,000 rubles;
- meals (2,500 rubles per day) - 17,500 rubles;
- money for excursions and souvenirs - 10,000 rubles.
The trip turns out to be expensive - about 64,000 rubles for two for 7 days... A vacation on Lake Baikal in the summer of 2021 is worth an all-inclusive package tour to a warm country with the sea. You can save money if you live in a tent, cook over a fire or travel by car with a group of friends.
Travel Tips
Ticks are found around Lake Baikal, so we advise you to get vaccinated in advance. In the forest, walk in fully covered clothes and a headdress, and thoroughly examine your body after each walk.
There are many forests, swamps and lakes on the north and east coasts, so mosquito nets and repellents come in handy.
Encounters with dangerous animals like bears, wolves and wild boars are very rare. Wild animals are afraid of noise and people. But for complete safety, do not go to the forest alone.
The weather on Lake Baikal is changeable. Be sure to take warm clothes, a raincoat and a windproof jacket on the road.
You shouldn't count on banks and ATMs especially. They are found only in Irkutsk, Ulan-Ude, Listvyanka, Baikalsk, Severobaikalsk and some regional centers. Have cash with you.
There are almost no network filling stations far from the main highways, and the quality of local gasoline is questionable. We recommend filling a full tank in big cities.
Buy souvenirs at the Central Market of Irkutsk. There they are much cheaper than in the villages on the shores of Lake Baikal.
Is it worth resting on Baikal
Summer vacations on Lake Baikal are suitable for active tourists. If you are willing to sacrifice comfort for the sake of scenic views and vivid impressions, the vacation will meet all expectations. If you want to relax in comfort, then get ready to splurge.
Pros:
- You can see untouched corners of nature and get acquainted with the culture of indigenous peoples.
- Suitable for lovers of trekking, diving, fishing, horseback riding, cycling and speleotourism.
- Convenient access: you can get to the coast by buses, minibuses, by rail and by water transport.
Minuses:
- Prices for vacations on Lake Baikal are high, especially for comfortable housing.
- In recent years, there have been many fires around the lake in summer. Because of them, a burning smell is felt in the air, and sometimes the visibility is reduced to 150-200 m.
- A trip to Baikal with children is problematic. There is no developed infrastructure for children's recreation. There may be no hospitals or pharmacies nearby.
- After the influx of tourists, a lot of garbage remains on the shore.
