How to get to Baikal?
Lake Baikal is located in the depths of the forests of Eastern Siberia between the Irkutsk region and the Republic of Buryatia
Travelling to Baikal Lake
There are two main means of transport to get to Baikal lake: by plane or by train. If you are traveling from a nearby town (such as Irkutsk or Ulan-Ude), you can also get to Baikal lake by bus or by car.
Traveling to Russia by Plane
This is the fastest way. There are regular flights between the major Russian cities (such as Moscow, Ekaterinburg, Novosibirsk, Krasnoyarsk, Vladivostok, etc.) and Irkutsk or Ulan-Ude, which are located within a close reach to Baikal lake (Irkutsk: 65 km, Ulan-Ude: 250 km).
A one-way flight Moscow - Irkutsk would cost you about 4000-8000 R ($100-$200 US), a return flight is twice more expensive. The trip Moscow - Irkutsk takes about 6 hours.
A one-way flight Moscow - Irkutsk would cost you about 4000-8000 R ($100-$200 US), a return flight is twice more expensive. The trip Moscow - Irkutsk takes about 6 hours.
Travelling to Baikal by Train
The Trans-Siberian route goes through Irkutsk, Slyudyanka, and Ulan-Ude, so you may choose to stop in one of these three places, whatever direction you're going into. Generally, Irkutsk is good for a more civilized exploration (western shore of Baikal), Slyudyanka (southern tip of Baikal) is good for the exploration of Circum-Baikal railway, while Ulan-Ude (eastern shore) is a great place to start "wild camping" or staying with locals in villages along the lake.
Irkutsk is located slightly less than 5000 km from Moscow, and it takes about 4 days to get there (3 days from Ekaterinburg, 2 days from Novosibirsk, 1 day from Krasnoyarsk). Ulan-Ude is a 7-hour journey towards the East (and Mongolia with China) from Irkutsk. Alternatively, you can get to Irkutsk in 2 days from Beijing, China, or in 1 day from Ulan-Bataar, Mongolia. If you're going from Vladivostok (Russian Far East, Pacific Ocean), Irkutsk is about 2.5 days away.
The price of the trains always change, but generally expect to spend somewhere between $70 and $200 on one way from Moscow to Irkutsk (depending on the class you choose, average - about $130 = 4000R). And it is about the same price to/from Beijing, China.
Irkutsk is located slightly less than 5000 km from Moscow, and it takes about 4 days to get there (3 days from Ekaterinburg, 2 days from Novosibirsk, 1 day from Krasnoyarsk). Ulan-Ude is a 7-hour journey towards the East (and Mongolia with China) from Irkutsk. Alternatively, you can get to Irkutsk in 2 days from Beijing, China, or in 1 day from Ulan-Bataar, Mongolia. If you're going from Vladivostok (Russian Far East, Pacific Ocean), Irkutsk is about 2.5 days away.
The price of the trains always change, but generally expect to spend somewhere between $70 and $200 on one way from Moscow to Irkutsk (depending on the class you choose, average - about $130 = 4000R). And it is about the same price to/from Beijing, China.
Traveling to Baikal by Bus, or by Car
You will probably travel by bus or by car either from Irkutsk or Ulan-Ude (there are no other roads to access Baikal lake).
The western shore of Baikal (Irkutsk side) is less accessible by road — only Listvyanka (65 km from Irkutsk), and Olkhon island (250 km) can be accessed overland. All other places (like Peschanaya Bay), should be accessed by river transport.
The eastern shore of Baikal (Ulan-Ude side) is accessible by road all the way up to Ust-Barguzin, and in fact there are many travelers who camp with their cars on this shore. The road on the other side of Baikal (eastern - Ulan-Ude) is asphalted all the way up to Ust-Barguzin, but I wouldn't call it comfortable. You can also reach Baikal via a south road from Ulan Ude, a very good federal road M55, it takes about 1-1.5 hours by car.
There are regular buses to Listvyanka (6 a day, price: about 70 R ($2), takes about 1.5 hour), Olkhon (1 a day, price: 200-400 R ($7-$14), takes about 7 hours), and along the eastern shore of Baikal (at least 1 a day, from/to Ulan-Ude (the longest to Ust-Barguzin costs about 250 R ($10) and takes about 7 hours).
The western shore of Baikal (Irkutsk side) is less accessible by road — only Listvyanka (65 km from Irkutsk), and Olkhon island (250 km) can be accessed overland. All other places (like Peschanaya Bay), should be accessed by river transport.
The eastern shore of Baikal (Ulan-Ude side) is accessible by road all the way up to Ust-Barguzin, and in fact there are many travelers who camp with their cars on this shore. The road on the other side of Baikal (eastern - Ulan-Ude) is asphalted all the way up to Ust-Barguzin, but I wouldn't call it comfortable. You can also reach Baikal via a south road from Ulan Ude, a very good federal road M55, it takes about 1-1.5 hours by car.
There are regular buses to Listvyanka (6 a day, price: about 70 R ($2), takes about 1.5 hour), Olkhon (1 a day, price: 200-400 R ($7-$14), takes about 7 hours), and along the eastern shore of Baikal (at least 1 a day, from/to Ulan-Ude (the longest to Ust-Barguzin costs about 250 R ($10) and takes about 7 hours).
