Lake Baikal Adventure
Irkutsk, Russia
From EUR 85.09
Office phone number: +7 9247 126 996
Lake Baikal Adventure
Irkutsk, Russia
Culture shock rating
Worried we’re going to shock your senses? Relax! We believe part of the fun of travel is immersing yourself in the destination and its culture, meeting the people, and learning what makes the place tick. We’ve got a wide range of tours with something for everybody. The cultural shock rating ranks how different the experience is from most Western cultures. But no matter the level, don’t worry, you’ll have a local, in-the-know guide with you every step of the way.
Low
Consider these tours your 101 intro to a place. Transportation might be private or a very comfortable public option, and the activities are usually visits to iconic sites and locations that are familiar to most Western cultures – but that will still give you fantastic insight into a destination.
Medium
Expect to rough it for parts of this tour, whether that’s on a packed public bus or in a local market off the tourist trail. There might be a few language barriers or unfamiliar cultural customs, and you’ll get an experience different from what you're used to at home.
High
You're out there in the global community! We’re going to take you down streets you’d rarely explore on your own, introduce you to local customs and languages, and take you for a ride in whatever transport is available. Get ready to take it as it comes, whatever comes. There might be a shock, but oh man, it’s worth it.
Physical rating
Worried our tours are too tough? Relax! From leisurely strolls to muscle-burning treks, we’ve got a wide range of tours with something for everybody. The physical grading gives you an idea of how much huffing and puffing you can expect on the tour.
Low
Slow and steady is all you need here. These tours have very limited physical activity, such as walking relatively flat streets, sites, or markets, and climbing in and out of the transport provided.
Medium
Not too hard, not too soft, these tours are just right! You can expect a bit of physical activity, but nothing overly challenging – perhaps walking up and down hills, riding a bike for up to 30 kilometers along mostly flat terrain, or jumping in a kayak for a gentle paddle on flat water.
High
Get ready for a workout! These tours are our most challenging and involve intense walking, hiking, kayaking, swimming, or bike riding. You could be making steep climbs by foot or pedal, or working your core in the water. We recommend you have a good level of fitness to join this tour.
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Tour snapshot
A trip to Lake Baikal is a wonderful adventure and the best way to immerse yourself in the culture and history of Siberia. Alongside the spectacular views and pretty flora and fauna of the Siberian countryside, you’ll visit Russia’s biggest open-air museum of wooden architecture where you’ll see shaman yurts and typical wooden houses, and you’ll visit a 17th-century church and orthodox school, too. Once we’ve covered the architectural and historical gems, we’ll head 20 kilometres south to the lakeside village of Listvyanka, known affectionately as the Baikal Riviera, to explore the water. We’ll take a stroll along the bay, visit some spots that only locals know and enjoy a picnic right on the Baikal Bay. A perfectly picturesque and fascinating day awaits you in beautiful Baikal.
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Highlights
- Take a stroll around the deepest lake in the world and let your breath be taken away by the magnificent views
- Enjoy a picnic by the water’s edge and sample traditional local cuisine such as smoked Baikal fish
- Explore an open-air museum of wooden architecture and shaman yurts and get an insight into the lives of the Siberian people over the centuries
- Listen to the personal stories of your local guide, from ancient legends about the lake to stories about the local people
- Visit an unusual local museum in the charming village of Listvyanka
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Schedule details
- Duration: 6.5 hours
- Meeting point:
Main entrance to Central bus station (Автовокзал) in Irkutsk. Address: Oktyabrskoy Revolyutsii Street, 11. Your guide will be holding an Urban Adventures sign.
- Starting time: 10.30 AM
- Ending point:
Central bus station in Irkutsk
Language: English
Inclusions: Local English-speaking guide, ticket to Taltsy museum, snack in Taltsy museum (pancake with tea), snack of smoked Baikal fish at the bay of Baikal (there are vegetarian options available), public transport tickets, taxi ride from Taltsy to Listvyanka, ticket to museum in Listvyanka.
Exclusions: Additional food and drinks, souvenirs and items of a personal nature, tips/gratuities for your guide.
Upon meeting your friendly local guide, we’ll head out of the historical centre of Irkutsk onto the Baikal motorway in a public minibus. The journey to our first stop will take about an hour, which is a perfect amount of time for your guide to introduce you to the area and its people.
Our first stop is Taltsy, a wonderful open-air museum dedicated to the wooden architecture of old Siberia. Your guide will regale you with stories of the different cultures that have settled or passed through the area over the centuries and their way of living. We’ll explore the lives of local people and their house arrangements, from the Buryats and Evenks to the Tofalars and the Russians.
Next up, we’ll check out the wooden church of Kazan, built in 1679, and check out a traditional wooden fortress. It’s interesting to find out what’s inside many of these Siberian ostrogs, as many of them went on to form the framework of the cities we know today.
You’re probably feeling peckish around now so we’ll take you to a tea room to try Siberian sbiten (herbal tea with berries) and pancakes with honey and sour cream. So yummy!
Full, warm and happy, we’ll hop in a taxi and head towards the world’s deepest freshwater lake. It’s not a secret that Baikal is a sacred place and you will have the opportunity to feel the rejuvenating water on your skin. We’ll arrive in the lake’s most popular village, Lisviyanka, and head straight to Dendro Park’s observation point for spellbinding views and photo opportunities galore (that Instagram feed isn’t going to fill itself!).
Our adventure continues with a stroll along the shore as your guide tells you about some of the legends of the lake. We’ll also talk about conservation, why this site is so unique, why it needs our care and respect and what the local community are doing to protect it for future generations. We’ll then make our way to an unusual local museum. Small but absolutely worth visiting!
Picnic time is next! We’ll buy some fish and maybe one or two other local treats and, weather permitting, set ourselves up at our favourite picnic spot along the lakeside (if the weather s bad, we’ll head into a cute little café instead).
After a delicious, local meal, we will head back to the city via public transport (the journey will be about 1 hour 30 mins), arriving at the central bus station. Before you go, don’t forget to ask your guide for more tips on what else to see, do and eat during your stay in Irkutsk.
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Additional information
Inclusions: Local English-speaking guide, ticket to Taltsy museum, snack in Taltsy museum (pancake with tea), snack of smoked Baikal fish at the bay of Baikal (there are vegetarian options available), public transport tickets, taxi ride from Taltsy to Listvyanka, ticket to museum in Listvyanka.
Exclusions: Additional food and drinks, souvenirs and items of a personal nature, tips/gratuities for your guide.
Dress standard: If you’d like to go inside the Russian Orthodox Church, please be sure to wear clothing that covers your legs to below the knees. Women must also wear a scarf to cover their head.
Your Trip: For your Urban Adventure you will be in a small group of a maximum of 12 people.
Confirmation of booking: If you have your voucher, your booking is confirmed. We'll see you at the start point. Get in touch if you have any concerns or require more information via the email address or phone number (business hours only) on your voucher.
Child Policy: No age limit: This is a child-friendly tour. Children between the ages of 7 and 11 inclusively are permitted on this tour at the rate listed above. Please select ‘child’ above when booking. Children under the age of 6 are permitted to join this tour free of charge. Please inform us at the time of booking if you’ll be bringing a child under the age of 6. You can do so in the special request box on the checkout page.
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Dietary Notes
We can accommodate vegetarians and some other dietary restrictions. Please notify us in advance if you have any dietary requests. You can do so in the ‘Additional information’ box at checkout, or by emailing us at info@irkutskurbanadventures.com.
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Local contact
Office phone number: +7 9247 126 996
Email address: info@irkutskurbanadventures.com
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