IRKUTSK & LAKE BAIKAL DAY TOUR

Explore the Magnificent Lake Baikal and Take a City Tour of Irkutsk

Irkutsk is a unique, ancient city, a historic crossroads of trade routes, the capital of Eastern Siberia. This is a great opportunity to enjoy Lake Baikal on a full-day tour with friendly local guides and learn as much as locals know about this area.

Early in the morning, you will head to the Listvyanka village together with your private guide. Listvyanka is an amazing place that combines the comfort and dynamics of civilization and the calm and smooth flow of Lake Baikal’s waters, the harmony of the mountain landscape, and the silence of the Taiga Forest.

On the way, you will take your first stop in Taltsy Museum. This is an open-air museum complex. Four historical and cultural zones were recreated here: Russian, Buryat, Evenki, and Tofalar. Learn about the culture and everyday life of the peoples of the Baikal region.

Have you ever heard about sbiten? This is a special traditional beverage, namely herbal tea with berries. It’s time to try it with local pastries, pancakes, or pies.

In a taxi, you will head to the shores of Lake Baikal shores, the most famous lake in Russia. Lake Baikal, which is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, is a place of power. Make a wish, and the energy of Baikal will help it to come true.

Baikal is more like a sea than a lake. Baikal is considered the deepest lake on the planet. The water in it is clean, rich in oxygen, and very cold. In summer, the maximum temperature does not exceed +10 degrees. Take a chance to wet your hands in water if the weather permits and feel the energy of this sacred water.

During this walk, go to the observation point and enjoy the beauty of Listvyanka, Lake Baikal, and the Shaman Rock. The Shaman Rock is a subject of many legends and mysterious stories about Baikal. In the past, people also believed it had miraculous power.

After making your way around Lisviyanka, you will also visit an unusual small local museum and have lunch in a picnic spot or in a cute cafe nearby. Try fresh and tasty local fish or other snacks and listen to more legends about these places.

Now it’s time to come back to the Irkutsk city center. Modern Irkutsk is a historical city, successfully combining the greatness and originality of the historical center with modern buildings and the traditions of the most intelligent and cultural Siberian city.

Back in the city, you will have a chance to learn more about the history of the city with a glass of craft beer in a local bar. And what about dinner? For dinner, we offer local Siberian dumplings. We called them pelmeni, and they have different fillings — meat, poultry, potatoes, vegetables. We are sure you’ll love them!

After that, take a walk along the only pedestrian street in the city, featuring must-see historic wooden houses, and enjoy the beauty of the Angara River. Walking along the modern embankment, your guide will show you more of the city’s sights and you learn one of the best ways to spend your free time in Irkutsk.

Your Lake Baikal day tour with the ExploRussia guide is coming to an end, but you have a chance to continue exploring the city and your guide will be happy to suggest some memorable places to check out.