Irkutsk Oblast

The gateway to Lake Baikal's western shore, from Irkutsk's old town to Olkhon Island and the frozen lake, and East Siberia's most popular travel destination.

Irkutsk Oblast lies in southern East Siberia and holds the western shore of Lake Baikal. Its capital, Irkutsk, preserves many wooden houses and the Decembrists' houses, and is regarded as a cultural center of Siberia. On the lakeshore, Listvyanka is easily accessible, Olkhon Island is known for Shaman Rock and its steppe shoreline, and the Circum-Baikal Railway winds along the lake. Summer is good for hiking and boat trips, and in February and March the frozen lake lets you see blue ice. Irkutsk has an airport and is an important stop on the Trans-Siberian Railway.

Destinations

• Irkutsk & Lake Baikal
• Olkhon Island

Itineraries

• Lake Baikal Summer Classic Loop – Depart from Irkutsk, head up to Olkhon Island, and finish with the Circum-Baikal Railway to Listvyanka.
• Lake Baikal Winter Blue Ice – Head to Olkhon Island during the frozen period to explore the northern and southern routes, see blue ice and ice caves…
• Trans-Siberian Railway Eastern Section: Vladivostok to Lake Baikal – Travel west along the railway via Khabarovsk and Ulan-Ude to Irkutsk and Olkhon Island.
• Trans-Siberian Railway: Moscow to Beijing – Cross Russia by train in stages, traveling through Lake Baikal and the Mongolian steppes to Beijing.