Baikal Country Hotel (Listvyanka, Russia) - UPDATED 2016 Reviews - TripAdvisor Baikal Country Hotel #4 of 6 Hotels in Listvyanka Akademicheskaya St., 13, Listvyanka 666016, Russia Name/address in local language Akademicheskaya St., 13, Listvyanka 666016, Russia 81 Reviews | Ranked #4 of 6 To help you get around Listvyanka, here's the name and address of this business in the local language Local name Загородный отель "Байкал" Local address Академическая улица, д. 13, 666016 Directions Trusted partner. We work with to make your booking as easy as possible. Secure payments. We use industry-leading practices to keep your information secure. Book on Enter dates for best prices powered by Ages of Children: change Please provide ages Child 1 Age or compare prices from up to 200 sites including: TripAdvisor members only.

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Location-wise, this hotel has a very nice view of Lake Baikal and it is also within walking distance to Chersky Rock and Baikal Museum, which are really cool places to visit. Take the taxi (cost you 200 rubels) from the hotel to Listvyanka town for about 10-15... More “Great view, somewhat tired hotel” Reviewed September 20, 2016 The stunning view of Baikal made the stay here. The hotel feels quite run down in parts,like doors with lock mechanism exposed! However the room and bathroom was clean and the service provided by the front desk and room service for a meal was good. The distance from teh village is an issue if you don';t have a car. The... More “A room with a view of the lake” Reviewed September 3, 2016 This large old style hotel is in a prime location halfway up the hill behind the Limnological Museum. The rooms are large and comfortable with a balcony . There is a large dining room and ample breakfast and other meals to order. A walk to the viewing point behind the hotel is for the more energetic.

Report “The Overlook Hotel - Siberian Style” Reviewed April 10, 2008 We stayed here for two nights as part of our Transiberian Express tour. We too were a little concerned about the distance from the village until we found a lovely local taxi driver who dropped us in and out of the village, several times a day, during our stay. We carried his card and just asked any nearby hotel reception... More “For independant travellers, too far from village centre” Reviewed June 28, 2007 With views over the lake and situated below the ski runs, the soviet style hotel is some distance from the village. We were allocated a room overlooking the lake & whilst the main road is between the hotel and Lake Baikal, the hotel is high enough not to suffer any noise. Our room & bathroom was of a good size,... More Questions? Get answers from hotel staff and past guests. Ask a question Explore similar hotels Map updates are paused. Zoom in to see updated info. Reset zoom There are no pins in your viewport. Try moving the map or changing your filters.

Only show hotels with confirmed availability {providername} {price} We can't find prices for this accommodation From {rate_price} {rate_periodicity} 72 photos of this hotel Traveler photos: See what travelers like you saw Viewed Management photos: Courtesy of the property manager Viewed Hotels you might also like... Also consider these accommodations in or near Listvyanka 2.2 mi away Questions? Get answers from hotel staff and past guests. Ask a question Amenities Free High Speed Internet ( WiFi ) Restaurant Pets Allowed ( Dog / Pet Friendly ) Things to do Free High Speed Internet ( WiFi ) Public Wifi Children Activities (Kid / Family Friendly) Breakfast included Business Center with Internet Access Laundry Service Breakfast Available Official Description (provided by the hotel) Благодаря расположению на возвышении, только у нас посетители могут насладиться удивительно чистым воздухом, нетронутои природои, тишинои и прекрасными видами на Баикал и исток Ангары. Гостиница расположена всего в часе езды от Иркутска.

Отсюда за 5-10 минут пешком можно добраться до основных туристических объектов Листвянки: Баикальского музея, смотровои площадки напротив Шаман-камня и канатного подъемника на гору Камень Черского, где с ноября по март деиствует оборудованная горнолыжная трасса длинои 1500 м и перепадом высот 165 м. ... more less Additional Information about Baikal Country Hotel Address: Akademicheskaya St., 13, Listvyanka 666016, Russia Location: Russia > Siberian District > Irkutsk Oblast > Listvyanka Price Range: $18 - $41 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room) Hotel Class:3 star — Baikal Country Hotel 3* Number of rooms: 59 Reservation Options: TripAdvisor is proud to partner with Booking.com, Travelocity, Priceline and Agoda so you can book your Baikal Country Hotel reservations with confidence.

We help millions of travelers each month to find the perfect hotel for both vacation and business trips, always with the best discounts and special offers. Is This Your TripAdvisor Listing? Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more. Lake Baikal, Russia's Freshwater Jewel - YouTube Lake Baikal, Russia's Freshwater Jewel Want to watch this again later? Sign in to add this video to a playlist. Need to report the video? Sign in to report inappropriate content. The interactive transcript could not be loaded. Loading... Rating is available when the video has been rented. This feature is not available right now. Please try again later. Uploaded on Sep 6, 2007 Laike Baikal (1995): Lake Baikal is large enough to supply the world with fresh water for half a century and is one of the few remaining jewels in the Soviet crown. For downloads and more information visit The only practical way to get around Baikal is by boat, in weather conditions which can alter dramatically from hour to hour. The lake is more hospitable to its 100,000 freshwater seal population.

We find a seal sick bay where the weaker animals languish on a rock. A small seal, with too many wrinkles on his neck, looks unwell and underfed. Many are dying from pollution, poaching and entanglement in fishing nets. Baikal's largest island, Olkhon, boasts a fishing industry and plenty of rain. It is also developing a thriving tourist trade. But as heavy industries pump waste into the lake, the greatest human impact on the lake is pollution. The biggest offender is a Cellulose Plant. A local environmental group complains that the lake's waste treatment centre is often closed. As tourism develops in its haphazard way, there is new pressure for legislation to regulate local industry. But in Russia, money speaks louder than law, and the future of the lake depends more upon good luck than good management. ABC Australia - Ref. 165 Journeyman Pictures is your independent source for the world's most powerful films, exploring the burning issues of today. We represent stories from the world's top producers, with brand new content coming in all the time. On our channel you'll find outstanding and controversial journalism covering any global subject you can imagine wanting to know about. Category Lake Baikal. Basic information about Lake Baikal.

Geography, climate, islands of Lake Baikal National Parks and Nature Reserves of Baikal Lake Baikal. Basic information When kayaking on Baikal , the last thing you think of is that beneath you is 20% of the world's cleanest freshwaters... In this section, general information on the lake is presented with links to pages in The Magic of Baikal where you can find more detail. When gathering information, I found that it varies from one source to another, sometimes quite considerably. For example, there is still not one opinion as to the number of islands in Baikal, or the number of rivers flowing into the lake, and so on. The origin of the names of capes, islands, inlets and other sites are often a mystery. I have tried to take information from reliable sources, and indicate discrepancies with reasons for them. The Geography of Lake Baikal Lake Baikal is in the south of East Siberia. In the form of a new moon, Baikal stretches from south-west to north-east between latitudes 55ï¿½47' in the northern hemisphere and longitudes 103ï¿½43' and 109ï¿½58' .

The lake is 636 km long, while its width varies from 81 km at its greatest point in central Baikal, to 27 km at its narrowest point, opposite the delta of the river Selenga. Baikal is 455 metres above sea level. Its shoreline measures some 2000 km, more than half of which is protected. The surface area of the lake, when its water level is 454 m above sea level, is 31470 square kilometres. The maximum depth of the lake is 1637 m and average depth - 730 m. Some sources state that the maximum depth is 1642 m. Which is correct? The answer to this question is somewhat paradoxical - they are both correct. The thing is that the telemetry error for such depths is about 2%, i.e. 30 metres. So really it is correct to say that, at its greatest, Baikal is 1640 m deep. 336 permanent rivers and streams flow into Baikal, with half the incoming waters brought by the Selenga. Only one river flows out of the lake, the Angara.

However, the question about the number of rivers flowing into the lake is rather controversial. It is more likely that there are fewer than 336. There is no doubt that Baikal is the deepest lake on Earth, its closest rival being Lake Tanganyika, a whole 200 metres behind. The lake has 30 islands, though, as has been said already, opinions on this differ. The largest of them is the island of Olkhon . The age of Lake Baikal In literature, the age of the lake is usually given as 20-25 million years. In actual fact, the question of its age should be considered open, as the application of different methods of determining age give from 20-30 million to a few tens of thousands of years. It would seem that the first estimate is closer to the truth - Baikal is really a very ancient lake. If one accepts that Baikal is actually some tens of millions of years old, then it is the oldest lake on Earth. It is thought that Baikal came about as the result of tectonic forces. Tectonic processes occur to this day, as seen by the high seismic activity of the Baikal region.

Origin of the name Many works of literature have been devoted to the question of the origin of the word ï¿½Baikalï¿½, indicating a lack of certainty in this regard. There are some ten possible explanations for the origin of this name. Amongst them, the most likely is thought to be the version that the lake's name comes from the Turkic language's Bai-Kul - rich lake. Of the remaining versions, perhaps two should be mentioned: from the Mongolian Baigal - rich fire and Baigal Dalai - big lake. The people living on the lake's shores named it each in their own way. For example, the Evenk called it Lamu, the Buryats - Baigal-Nuur, and even the Chinese had a name for Baikal - Beihai - Northern lake. The Evenk name Lamu, or Sea was used for a few years by the first Russian explorers in the 17th century, then they changed to the Buryat - ï¿½Baigalï¿½, and subsequently ï¿½Baikalï¿½ by means of a phonetic substitute slightly softening the letter ï¿½gï¿½.

Baikal is quite often called a sea, simply out of respect, because of its turbulent spirit, or because its far shore is often hidden in mists... At the same time, a difference is made between the Maloye Morye (Small Sea) and the Bolshoye Morye (Big Sea). Maloye Morye is the part situated between the northern shore of Olkhon and the mainland, all the rest is the Bolshoye Morye. Baikal's water Baikal's water is unique and surprising, as is the lake itself. It is unusually transparent, pure and saturated with oxygen. In not so distant times it was considered to have curative properties, and was used as a remedy. In spring the transparency of the lake's water, as measured by a Sekki disc (a white disc, 30 cm diameter), is 40 metres (for comparison, in the Sargasso Sea, which is considered to be the standard of transparency, there is a transparency of 65 metres). Later, when a mass algal bloom occurs, the water's transparency decreases, but in still weather one can see through to the lake floor to a considerable depth from a boat.

This high degree of transparency is explained largely by the fact that Baikal's water has a low mineral content and is close to distilled water, thanks to the activity of the organisms living in it. The volume of the lake's water is some 23 thousand cubic kilometres, which is 20% of the world's and 90% of Russia's freshwater resources. Each year Baikal's ecosystem produces some 60 cubic kilometres of clear, richly oxygenated water. Climate The climate of East Siberia is acutely continental, but the enormous mass of water in Baikal and its mountainous surroundings create an unusual microclimate. Baikal acts like a large thermo-stabilizer - in winter it's warmer at Baikal, and in summer cooler, for example, than in Irkutsk, some 70 km away from the lake. The difference in temperature is usually around 10 degrees. The forests covering almost the entire coast of Baikal make a considerable contribution to this effect. Baikal's influence is not limited to temperature regulation. Because of the fact that there is very insignificant evaporation from the cold surface waters, clouds cannot form above the lake.

Also, the air masses bringing clouds from the land, become warmer when tumbling over the coastal mountains and disperse. As a result, the sky over the lake is more often than not clear. This is confirmed by statistics: in the Olkhon area, there are some 2277 hours of sunshine a year (for comparison, the coast near Riga has 1839, and Abastumani in the Caucasus - 1994). Of course, one shouldn't imagine that the sun is always shining over the lake, if you are not lucky, you can find yourself in one, and even two weeks of dreadfully rainy weather even in the sunniest place at Baikal - Olkhon, but that is very rare. The average annual temperature of the water at the surface of the lake is +4ï¿½C. Near the shore in summer it can reach +16ï¿½-17ï¿½C , and in the shallows of inlets +22ï¿½-23ï¿½C . Wind and waves There is almost always some wind at Baikal. More than thirty names of winds are known.

But this doesn't in the least mean that there are that number of different winds, only that many of them have more than one name. The peculiarity of Baikal's winds is that they almost all, almost always blow along the shoreline, and there aren't as many havens from them as one would like. The prevailing winds are the north-westerly, often called 'mountain' winds, north-easterly (Barguzine and Verkhovik - the Angara) south-westerly (Kultuk), and south-easterly (Shelonnik). The maximum wind speed recorded at Baikal was 40 metres a second. In literature it is possible to find even higher values, up to 60 m/sec, but there are no reliable witnesses to this. Where is wind, there are waves, of course. I should add though, that the opposite is not true - there can be waves even without any wind. Waves can reach 4 metres at Baikal. Sometimes it is said they can reach 5 or even 6 metres, but that is more likely an approximate estimate 'by eye', usually erring on the side of exaggeration.

The height of 4 metres has been measured instrumentally in the open sea. Choppiness is more often in autumn and spring. It is rare in summer, when it is often calm. Currents As in any sea, in Baikal there are currents. These are brought about by a number of factors: fluctuations in atmospheric pressure, winds, the currents of inflowing rivers, and the so-called Coriolis force. The speed of the current is only a few centimetres a second, seldom rising to more than 10 cm/sec. This depends on a number of factors and decreases with distance from the shore and with depth. The surface current near the western shores of Baikal is almost always moving from north to south, while on the eastern coast it flows from south to north. In other words, in general, Baikal's coastal current moves anticlockwise. There is also a current along the coast of the island of Olkhon. With the exception of the straits - Olkhonskiye Vorota (tr. the Olkhon Gates) and close to the island itself, it moves in a clockwise direction.

In the Olkhonskiye Vorota straits and near the western shores of the Maloye Morye the current is so strong that in calm weather the drift of a vessel is clearly noticeable. Animal and plant life of Baikal There are more than 2600 species and varieties of animal and over 1000 species of plants in Baikal. From time to time new species are discovered. There is reason to believe that at present only some 70-80% of Baikal's living organisms are known to science. In former times, when Russian science was not yet in its present state of coma, on average some 10 species were discovered annually. About 40% of the plants and 85% of animal species inhabiting open Baikal are endemic, that is, they are found only in Baikal. Living organisms are distributed right from the surface of the lake to its very deepest parts. There are 58 species of fish in the lake.

The best known being omul, white-fish, grayling, huchen (salmon trout), sturgeon, ï¿½golomyankaï¿½ - the Baikal oilfish, and ï¿½lenokï¿½, a fish of the salmon family. Some 2000 species of plant grow on Baikal's shores, and 200 species of bird nest there. A typically marine mammal, the unique Baikal seal or nerpa, is found here. It is suggested that it came here from the Arctic Ocean along the rivers Yenisei and Angara. Its present population numbers a few tens of thousands. It can bee seen quite frequently in summer in the central and northern parts of the lake. Lake Baikal | lake, Russia | Britannica.com Lake Baikal Alternative Titles: Baykalskoye Ozero, Ozero Bajkal, Ozero Baykal Related Topics Russia Lake Baikal, Russian Ozero Baykal, also spelled Ozero Bajkal, lake located in the southern part of eastern Siberia within the republic of Buryatia and Irkutsk oblast (province) of Russia .

It is the oldest existing freshwater lake on Earth (20 million–25 million years old), as well as the deepest continental body of water, having a maximum depth of 5,315 feet (1,620 metres) . Its area is some 12,200 square miles (31,500 square km), with a length of 395 miles (636 km) and an average width of 30 miles (48 km). It is also the world’s largest freshwater lake by volume, containing about one-fifth of the fresh water on Earth’s surface, some 5,500 cubic miles (23,000 cubic km). Into Lake Baikal flow more than 330 rivers and streams, the largest of which include the Selenga , Barguzin, Upper (Verkhnyaya) Angara, Chikoy, and Uda. Lake Baikal. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Baikal lies in a deep structural hollow surrounded by mountains, some of which rise more than 6,600 feet (2,000 metres) above the lake’s surface.

The sedimentary strata on the floor of the lake may be as much as 20,000 feet (6,100 metres) thick. Breaks in Earth’s crust produce hot mineral springs in the area. There are occasional severe earthquakes; in 1862 a quake inundated about 77 square miles (200 square km) in the northern Selenga delta, creating a new bay in Baikal known as Proval Bay. Ice-clad Lake Baikal and its only outlet, the Angara River, at Irkutsk, Russia. Hulton Archive/Getty Images The lake hollow is not symmetrical, having steep slopes on the western shores and gentler slopes on the eastern. The meandering shoreline runs for some 1,300 miles (2,100 km), with large indentations at the bays of Barguzin, Chivyrkuysky, and Proval and at Ayaya and Frolikha inlets; the Svyatoy Nos Peninsula juts out into the lake from the eastern shore.

Baikal contains some 45 islets and islands, the largest of which are Olkhon (about 270 square miles [700 square km]) and Bolshoy (Great) Ushkany (3.6 square miles [9.4 square km]). The influx of water into the lake is primarily from rivers, chiefly the Selenga. The only outflow is through the Angara River , a tributary of the Yenisey . Harbour of Bolshiye Koty on Lake Baikal, southeastern Siberia. © Richard Kirby/Oxford Scientific Films Ltd. Similar Topics Dead Sea Baikal’s climate is much milder than that of the surrounding territory. Winter air temperatures average −6 °F (−21 °C), and August temperatures average 52 °F (11 °C). The lake surface freezes in January and thaws in May or June. The water temperature at the surface in August is between 50 and 54 °F (10 and 12 °C) and reaches 68 °F (20 °C) in the offshore shallows. Waves can be as high as 15 feet (4.6 metres).

The water is very clear; from the surface one can see to 130 feet (40 metres). Its salinity is low, and it contains few minerals. Plant and animal life in the lake is rich and various. There are between 1,500 and 1,800 animal species at different depths, and hundreds of plant species live on or near the surface. The majority of the species are endemic to Baikal. There are some 50 species of fish, belonging to seven families; the most numerous of these are the 25 species of gobies. The omul salmon is heavily fished; also important are the grayling , lake whitefish, and sturgeon. Unique to the lake is a fish called the golomyanka, of the family Comephoridae, which gives birth to live young. The one mammal species is the Baikal seal, or nerpa (Phoca sibirica). There are more than 320 bird species in the Baikal area. Baikal seals (Phoca sibirica), endemic to Lake Baikal, southeastern … © Doug Allan/Oxford Scientific Films Ltd.

Learn about the Baikal seal, the only true freshwater seal in the world, in this video. Contunico © ZDF Enterprises GmbH, Mainz A Baikal seal pup waiting for its mother to return. Contunico © ZDF Enterprises GmbH, Mainz Britannica Stories Ringling Bros. Folds Its Tent Industries along the shores of Baikal include mining (mica and marble), the manufacture of cellulose and paper, shipbuilding, fisheries, and timber. There are many mineral springs, and visitors come to Goryachinsk for the curative properties of the waters. A pulp and paper mill built on Lake Baikal’s southern shore in 1966 drew strong environmental protests from Soviet scientists and writers because its wastes were polluting the water, and in 1971 the Soviet government adopted a decree to protect the lake from polluting emissions. Further pollution controls were resisted, however, and industrial waste at the site remained a concern in the late 1990s.

All About Asia The Limnological Institute of the Siberian Division of the Russian Academy of Sciences is located in the town of Listvyanka, as is the Baikal Sanatorium, and the hydrobiological station of Irkutsk State University is in Bolshiye Koty (Bolshoy Koti). The protection of natural resources in the area began with the establishment of the Barguzinsky Nature Reserve in 1916; subsequently there were added the Baikalsky (1969) and Baikalo-Lenskiy (1986) nature reserves, the Frolikhinskiy (1976) and Kabansky (1974) wildlife reserves, and the Zabaikalsky and Pribaikalsky national parks (both 1986). The Lake Baikal Coastal Protection Zone, covering the lake and its environs (a total of 34,000 square miles [88,000 square km]), was created in 1987, and the same area was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1996. Lake Baikal, southeastern Siberia, Russia.

© Index Open Lake Baikal travel guide - Wikitravel Understand[ edit ] Along the shores of Lake Baikal in the autumn The lake is located in Eastern Siberia , between Irkutsk Oblast to the northwest and Buryatia to the southeast. It is the planet's deepest (1637m) and oldest lake, as well as its largest body of freshwater, containing over one fifth of the world's supply. The origins of the name are unknown, but several hypotheses are these : deep water (Yakut), rich lake (Turkic), rich fire (Mongolian), northern sea (Chinese). Russians sometimes call the lake Baikal sea because of its size. History[ edit ] The lake's geological formation started around 20-25 million years ago, making it one of the oldest lakes in geological history and even nowadays its rift is continuing to widen 2cm a year. The first mention of its name appeared in Chinese writings in 110 year B.C. as "Beihai" (Northern Sea). Several cultures have appeared on its shores, including the Buryat .

Russian sources first mention Baikal in 1640 after which was a time of exploration and description by Russian Cossacks and the Church until its first scientific expedition in 1723. On October 13, 1905 the Circum-Baikal Railway opened. In 1916 Barguzinsky Nature Reserve was organized. In 1990, wind-surfers from Russia, Austria and Czechoslovakia were the first to cross the lake's widest point. In 1991, the deepest point on the lake's bottom was declared near Olkhon Island , and since then slightly deeper points have superseded the original. In 1997 Lake Baikal became a part of UNESCO Heritage. The vessel "Sevan" begins cruise tours in 2003. Landscape[ edit ] Baikal ice Baikal mountains surrounding the valley and the lake consist of a few ranges. In the west there are the Baikal Mountains, in the east the Zabaikalskie Mountains. The Angara River is the only outflow of Lake Baikal. The ranges, rivers and valleys are tourist attractions of their own.

Flora and fauna[ edit ] Climate[ edit ] The water mass is a key factor to the climate of the lake's banks. Winters are often milder, summers are chillier. Spring-time is late 10-15 days than the outer regions and fall is rather long. The area is distinctive for sunshine longevity which is record-high for the whole of Russia. Specific traits are added to the climate of the Baikal by winds: barguzin, sarma, verkhovik, kultuk. It is a common thinking that the Baikal is best for visit in July, when temperatures and winds reach favorable condition. The water in summer is cold, normally +8..+9C and can reach +15C in bays. It's so pellucid that one can see the bottom 40m down. By air[ edit ] The nearest airport is in Irkutsk [2] , which can be reached from either Domodedovo or Sheremetyevo 1 in Moscow . The furthest airport lies in Ulan-Ude in Republic of Buryatia [3] from where the right shore of Lake Baikal is more easily accessible.

By train[ edit ] The Baikal-Amur Mainline and the Trans-Siberian Railway both reach Lake Baikal. The closest miles to Irkutsk follow serpantine pattern as the train curves around the shoreline, which is scenic and worth riding in day light. By bus[ edit ] Buses leave from Irkutsk station and from Ulan-Ude station throughout the day. Riding from Irkutsk lasts about an hour and a half, with several stops along the way, and ends in the small town of Listvyanka . The right bank (marked by sandy shores) of lake Baikal is more easily accessible from Ulan-Ude. Get around[ edit ] Railway from Port Baikal to Sludyanka ( interactive map ) From Listvyanka you can go by ferry to the Bolshoie Koty, in the hearth of Baykal national park. One way costs 180 rubles, but you cannot buy tickets in advance (only in Irkutsk). First ferry goes from Listvyanka at 10, last at 16 o'clock. From there you can get by boat at 18.00 or by foot by Baykal tourist trail.

It is around 18 kilometres and the most of the path goes around the shore of a lake. From Bolshoie Koty you can go to the Irkutsk by the same boat. It costs 360 rubles (summer 2008). In the winter, Bolshoie Koty is connected by ice road from Listvyanka. From Listvyanka you can go to the Port Baykal that lies on the opposite side of river Angara. Boat costs 56 rubles (summer 2012) and goes from the place just under the Baykal limnological museum. It takes around 5 minutes to get there. However it is recommended to go the other way, from Port Baykal to Listvyanka. To Port Baykal you can go by train as well. Remaining part of old Circum-Baikal Railway line goes from Sludyanka at the southern corner of the lake. It takes around 4 to 6 hours, since the train is really slow. But you have time to look around, because the railway is going by the shore of the lake. It costs 46 rubles.

It is so slow because it is the old Baykal railroad was built around 100 years ago. The right sandy shores of Baikal and Zabaykalsky National Park are more easily accessible from Ulan-Ude. The only transportation is by car or bus from Ulan-Ude. Driving to Zabaykalsky National Park takes 5-7 hours. Olkhon . The largest island on the lake. In Irkutsk Oblast (west of the lake) Vitimsky Nature Reserve In Buryatia (east of the lake) Baikalsky Nature Reserve Buy[ edit ][ add listing ] Souvenirs are sold near the omul sellers (see below), and tend to be cheaper than in other Russian cities. There are several boats at the main dock who take on tourists when not fishing. The prices are negotiable, try to find other tourists who want to ride and get cheaper prices by being in a large group. Sometimes a local young person with a broken English would act as an intermediary for the price haggling.

Eat[ edit ][ add listing ] The smoked Omul sold by several fish sellers on the edge of the lake is wonderful, and there is a restaurant on the lake's edge with good fish, along with several bars and small groceries. Everything in Listvyanka, is within walking distance, including a small post office. Riding towards Baikal, one will find local food restaurants where the most selled cusine are Buuzi/Pozi (steamed minced balls in dough). Lake Baikal as side trip from Mongolia? | Asia Forum | Fodor's Travel Talk Forums Lake Baikal as side trip from Mongolia? Tagged: India 2 Tagged: India 3 Tagged: India , Sri Lanka 5 Tagged: China 7 Travel India solo by ellisbell12 | 1 responses; most recent on Jan 18, 17 at 01:02 AM Tagged: India 8 Where to stay in Tokyo by marc77727 | 5 responses; most recent on Jan 18, 17 at 12:29 AM Tagged: Indonesia 11 Tuk-tuk, songthew or taxi?

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Posted by: Leslie_S on Jan 10, 13 at 10:18 AM Printer Friendly I'm starting to plan a trip to Mongolia for 2014 and wondering if going into Russia to see Lake Baikal would be a good idea. Since our time away is limited (to around 2 weeks total including travel time) it would mean we'd see less of Mongolia so I'd only do it if Lake Baikal is really worth it. Also it would be a not-cheap side trip on top of an already not-cheap trip...so there's that. I don't know that we'd ever take another trip to that part of the world so it's definitely a now-or-never kind of thing. I've searched online for info from people's trips and haven't found a whole lot to help me decide. Has anyone here been to Lake Baikal and would you give me your opinion on spending a few days there? Thanks. I'll also post this on the Europe/Russia forum. övsg& #246;l_Nuur It's just south of Siberia and incredibly beautiful. We visited there in May 2008.

When we were there, the last ice of the season was still hanging around. So it was cool in the evenings, but was quite pleasant during the day. The lake was so huge, you really couldn't see the end of it. We flew into Moron, and drove the rest of the way on an old Russian van. Quite the trip! PanoramicJourneys on Jan 14, 13 at 05:32 AM I agree with SavTrav, having been to both Lake Baikal and Khovsgol, they are very similar - in fact the two lakes are linked by the Egiin river which flows into the Selenge river into Lake Baikal. Khovsgol is not as large as Baikal but it is huge, the deepest lake in Central Asia and surrounded by beautiful alpine scenery. Of course, the cultural aspects are different - being in Russia is very different to being in Mongolia but if you are interested in the nature rather than seeing the cultural side of Russian Siberia vs Mongolia, then I would recommend staying in Mongolia. 2 Weeks isn't very long to cover this vast country and I would spend more time in Mongolia than time travelling between places.

Hope this helps Leslie_S on Jan 15, 13 at 09:12 AM Thanks so much to both of you for your replies. Since I'm planning this for summer 2014 I've really only just started researching and greatly appreciate advice from people who've been to Mongolia and especially from someone who's been to Lake Baikal also. The 2 week limit we have is making me lean towards just staying in Mongolia the whole time. If we add Lake Baikal that would consume half of the trip and I think even if it's spectacular it's not worth missing a week in Mongolia for. Like you said Kath it just doesn't make sense to travel between the 2 places when there's so much to see in Mongolia. I'll keep Lake Khovsgol in mind. Do you guys think experiencing a Naadam festival should be part of our trip - is it a highlight or maybe slightly hyped up by tour operators?

And also, with only 2 weeks would you consider focusing solely on the desert and spending time in the Yol Valley, Gyalaan Valley, Hongoryn Els, Tugrugiin Shiree, Flaming Cliffs, for example -- or do you think that's too limited and we should make sure to also see Kharakhorum or Lake Khovsgol? SavTrav on Jan 20, 13 at 02:26 PM We didn't see the Naadam festival, and we didn't feel cheated. Actually one thing we loved about Mongolia is that seemed so empty of people, we couldn't imagine have a huge crowd around us for the festival. Although at our camp in Lake Hovsgol, there was a group of wrestlers visiting and it was very cool to watch them practice and play around with each other while they were on holiday. We were there around 2 and a half weeks.

We hit 3 major spots, the 1) North at Lake Hovsgol, 2) the middle - Kharakourm (including Hongoryn Els) and 3) the South - the Gobi (Yol Valley, Flaming Cliffs) I'm sure I'm mis-spelling some of these things..... Although our time was tight, we did manage to fit it all in. We went with Nomadic Expeditions and they did all the planning for us. I would recommend hooking up with some tour operation, Mongolia is not the place where you can just hop in a taxi on your own - especially with tight time restrictions, you will want to have someone set up all the transportation and logistics. If you are heading to the Gobi, definitely stay at the Three Camel Lodge - best place we stayed in Mongolia, and make sure to upgrade to a ger with an attached bathroom. It's just a short drive from the Flaming Cliffs. Leslie_S on Jan 20, 13 at 04:56 PM Hi SavTrav- Nomadic Expeditions is the operator I've been looking at. I'm glad to hear you recommend them.

Did you go on one of their pre-scheduled trips or customize your own? We'll have at most 2 weeks -- I guess hitting those 3 main areas is possible. I don't want to spend much time in UB and I don't feel the need to fit a Naadam festival into the itinerary. I definitely want to stay several days at the Three Camel Lodge - it does look pretty wonderful! SavTrav on Jan 20, 13 at 11:13 PM We used one of their pre-packaged trips. We don't usually like group travel, but they had a fairly low maximum count - I think it was around 8 to 10 people. And it was guaranteed to go regardless of the number of people signed up. We ended up with a group of about 7 people. We were on a budget, so the group travel was what we choose and we didn't regret it at all. We met up with several other groups using Nomadic Expeditions in some of the camps that were on a private tour - just them and a guide and driver. We really got great service from everyone that we dealt with at Nomadic Expeditions and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend them.

Here's one tip, I know you are pressed for time, but try to get over there at least a day early, mainly to catch up on your sleep. We stopped over in Beijing for a couple days, then flew to UB. There's a couple ways to get to UB (if it hasn't changed) Beijing, Tokyo, and Moscow (?) May want to think about Visa requirements before planning your route. It is a trip of a lifetime and I still think about going back - the country is just so different than everywhere else we have been. Don't fret too much about planning - where ever you go will be amazing! Leslie_S on Jan 21, 13 at 10:50 AM Thanks for the assurances on NE. Having the guarantee that the trip will go regardless of the number who sign up is great. Our preferred way to travel would be on our own with a guide/driver in certain areas but we've also had good experiences the times we've traveled with groups so I'm not anti-group like a lot of people on fodors are. I can see the benefits and often the camaraderie can add to the fun vs. it just being the 2 of us.

I've noted your point about trying to have a day to get over jetlag. We usually don't have that luxury and just push through the pain! Just from a quick search it seems flying through Japan might be best, visa-wise. Thanks again for the advice! PanoramicJourneys on Feb 15, 13 at 12:01 PM Just a quick note - Beijing have just introduced a special visa system where tourists can stay for 72hrs in Beijing without a visa. It really depends where you are flying from. My favourite way to arrive in Mongolia is on the train from Beijing - You take the 1st day of the transiberian train from Beijing to UB - normally it runs on a tuesday and saturday in the summer, so I guess it depends on your time available. I've done this journey several times now and it's always magical waking up to the emptiness of the Gobi after the chaos of Beijing. Ulzi on Feb 21, 13 at 10:55 PM wow, so glad to read positive and light things about Mongolia. I am Mongolian and have worked as tour operator for russian people. They also said it was life changing trip.

I guess there is so much changing in spiritual side. You could spend night in frozen tents or you may feel so far from contemporary, technologized world, but oneness with Nature and with everything else. Would be glad to help you and inform you. Ulziibileg Dugarsuren, cokesmith on Feb 25, 13 at 09:32 PM In all of our travels, our two weeks in Lake Baikal and Buryatia rank as one of the best experiences ever. I would not miss it if you can get some time there. One problem though is that most folks pretty much stop before even getting to Olkhon Island...and that is a pity. Now if that's all you can do, so be it - still go for it. But the best way to see the lake is get a Yaroslavet Boat and cruise the lake as we did in this trip report below: It ain't cheap but it will be an amazing experience! The wildlife, nature, unmatchable scenery and plain old solitude will be experience you will never forget. Go for it!

BAIKAL WITHOUT BOUNDARIES - YouTube BAIKAL WITHOUT BOUNDARIES Want to watch this again later? Sign in to add this video to a playlist. Need to report the video? Sign in to report inappropriate content. Rating is available when the video has been rented. This feature is not available right now. Please try again later. Published on Feb 26, 2014 The geographical scope of the movie is the whole Baikal Lake basin that extends to two countries, Russia and Mongolia, and encompasses waste territories with rivers bringing waters to the lake. The Baikal Lake Basin is home to several architectural and natural landmarks, as well as rare scientific artifacts. The main message of the documentary is to make the global community aware of the problems that the Baikal Lake Basin is facing and the need to preserve it as a unique natural, ecological and social and cultural phenomenon. Category

Question: In what country would you find Lake Baikal?
Answer: Russia