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After collecting tones of documents, filling endless visa applications, and other electronic forms, going through numerous interviews and passing the most frightening border officer in your life, you are finally here, in Russia. And each minute you spend on this land must worth all the effort you put to come here! But what to start…

What is the Great Baikal Trail? The main mission of the organization is the development of ecotourism and the cultivation of a socially responsible society through the organization of volunteer and educational projects. The main idea behind the Great Baikal Trail is to build the first system of environmentally sensitive trails all over Russia. The…

One of the most common jokes among locals about seasons on the lake is: the difference in what you take with you while packing for a short or long trip to the lake is not really big any season. Take a swimming suit in summer just in case. It perfectly illustrates how special, wild, unpredictable,…

The city of Irkutsk may not be the first place you think of when the urge to travel kicks in, but we think it should be! Located in eastern Siberia, Irkutsk is home to a rich history, unique architecture, delicious food, and is in close proximity to the deepest and oldest lake in the world…

Pancake Week has come to an end. We gained some weight eating delicious pancakes with caviar and jamming them with sour cream. We burned the straw figure of Maslenitsa on fire and hope that this pagan ritual will bring us good luck for the rest of the year. Why does orthodox lent last for 40…

No matter where we go, we try some of the most traditional dishes and drinks. Irkutsk region neighbors Buriyat republic so we got used to seeing the Buriyats dishes on our tables. In this article, you’ll find out what not to miss visiting Baikal lake and Irkutsk. We have asked different local people the same…

Located in Eastern Siberia, Irkutsk is a fascinating place to visit and has something to offer nearly every type of traveller – from history buffs to outdoor enthusiasts to fans of unique architecture. Whether you’re planning a visit, thinking about adding the city to your must-visit list, or you’ve already set a date and booked…

Yana is our wonderful ExploRussia guide from Irkutsk  team. Today she is answering some questions about Irkutsk and Lake Baikal for you. Why did you move to Irkutsk from your hometown? My hometown is really nearby only 20 km away so I can say that I’ve always lived in Irkutsk. What do you like about…

The most interesting restaurants with Transbaikalian food – now in one rating. Attention! Not recommended to read it if hungry, losing weight people and vegetarians. The best food in Irkutsk is either Buryat or Siberian cuisine. The most unusual and interesting of them are dishes from local fish (some types of such fish are nowhere…

What is Maslenitsa? You may call it ‘Russian Mardi Gras’ or even ‘Beltane’. And there are many other analogs: ‘Fastelovend’ in Cologne, ‘Fassenacht’ in Mainz, Carnival in Rhineland and other similar celebrations in the Czech Republic, Denmark, and England. Maslenita is a holiday that highlights the beginning of spring. According to ancient traditions, each day…

Eat some breakfast and then change the world. Here are some places for you to start a great day when in Irkutsk. Zhito / Жито Where: Sukhe-Bator street, 15а What time: Monday – Friday from 8 a.m. An extremely atmospheric place. It stands out from the cafes you have already been. For breakfast, you can…

One day stay in the capital of Eastern Siberia. Is it enough? It will take you about 20 minutes to get from the airport to downtown. By the way, there are trolleybuses running this rout. It makes clear that Irkutsk is a quite compact city. So, one day is enough to see it all if…