Things to see and do Irkutsk Oblast

If there's one place that sums up the beauty of Olkhon Island, it's here. You will marvel at the view of Lake Baikal from the top of the sharp cliffs. In summer it is a refuge for butterflies. In the sea you may see seals playing leapfrog. At the end of the peak, a shamanistic totem pole is erected like a lighthouse. Don't forget to leave an offering there otherwise the revenge of the shamanic gods can be terrible: breakdown, flat tire... And given the state of the road, a 4x4 is indispensable.

Mount Chersky is a natural panoramic terrace that offers a breathtaking view of the source of the Angara River, the Baikal port and, on a clear day, you can even see the Khamar-Daban mountain range, whose peaks can reach over 2,000 meters in altitude. The mountain is named after the famous explorer of Lake Baikal, geologist Ivan Chersky. It would be a real shame to miss out on this splendid view.

On the left of the Hotel Intourist, two blocks away, you can see the monument to Youri Gagarin on the boulevard of the same name. On the left bank, there is the Irkutsk railway station and the Faubourg Glazkovo, with wooden houses and clay streets. Later on, on the left, the huge Polytechnnique Institute (20 000 students) and the Academic Precinct, an annex of the Russian Academy of Sciences, take care of the country's future elites.

Geology enthusiasts will find a rich collection of minerals from all over Siberia.

In addition to Russian art, the museum presents Western European paintings including a Nicolas Chick, as well as a rich collection of masters from China, India and Japan, ancient eastern porcelain, decorative art objects. An icon of the icons is located in Epiphany Cathedral, 1 oulitsa Ioukhé Botor.

These are the temporary exhibition halls of the museum, located in the building of the church of the Saviour. Icons, national costumes, bells and… panoramic view of the clocher.

Of course, the attraction, well established, is a bit of a summer camp (dozens of UAZs follow and cross each other), but don't miss it: you'll be amazed! Usually, the tour is organized in six main stops, interspersed with a snack (fish soup-sandwich-tea). Here are a few explanations, as the drivers are not talkative. Stage 1: Kharantsy and its fabulous bay. Stage 2: Pichianka beach. Stage 3: Cape Khoboï, with a 1 hour break. You walk towards the cape and walk through its forest, covered with offerings; you quietly meet your group for lunch. Stage 4: Cape Shunte, or Cape of Lovers. Its two rocks represent a couple. In the background, you can see the Sviatoïe Noz peninsula (Nez-Sacré, in bouriate), in the distance, on the left, the archipelago of the Ushkani islands which shelters a colony of nerpas (excursions are proposed by boat). On your right, close by, Mount Juma, home of Baikal. Stage 5: Sagaan Khushun or Cape of Three Brothers, a white marble cap covered with reddish lichen. From there, you drive through a steppe with a relief, interspersed with larch forests, deserted hamlets and hordes of semi-wild horses. Stage 6: the mystical (and extraordinary) bronze sculpture of Dashi Namdakov The Guardian of Lake Baikal (famous Buryat artist born in 1952).In Buryatia, a large dead tree embodies the spirit of an ancestor. Inhabited, it is the object of offerings, prayers and rituals, especially if it is located at the top of a hill...

The Pribaikalsky National Park covers 418,000 hectares along the west coast of Lake Baikal, between the village of Kultuk and the Kheyrene River (it includes the island of Olkhon). The landscape is very varied and picturesque: cliffs, bays, creeks, caves, the largest of which are Aya (570 m long) and Metchta (250 m). Forests cover 70% of the territory and vary according to the altitude. Conifers (pine, larch and cedar) predominate, but deciduous trees such as birch and aspen can be found. You will observe very rare and protected species of plants, fungi and lichens. The mouth of the Angara River, which does not freeze in winter, is a unique wintering ground for water birds, of which there are up to 10,000 individuals. The area is subject to the influence of the enormous water mass of the lake: annual precipitation is very high, as is the humidity level. The average temperature in January is -18 °C, compared to 14 °C in July-August. Popular and much visited, the park is well-structured and preserved.

On the site (in Russian) you will find practical information, including how to apply for a permit. You also get various hiking routes, the list of refuges (equipped and heated) open to the public. To sleep there, you need to have reserved your bed. Finally, you will find the contact details of offices where you can get information and make enquiries (especially in Irkutsk and Listvianka).

The tour of the old Circum-Baikal railway by train is a collective excursion. It lasts a long day (about 10 hours) and is organised from Irkutsk (the trips are included in the ticket). If you have large luggage, charge an extra 250 RUB per piece). This is an excellent option if you are short of time, as you pass through several points of interest on the Baikalian coast.

First you reach Slioudianka (by bus or train, about 2h30). From there, after visiting the station, you climb into a steam railway convoy (Soviet period locomotive) or matanya type (a modern regional train). Direction Port-Baïkal, i. e. some 90 km on the old Circum-Baïkal railway line. The train stops at several stations, with a guided tour and exit at the station (you are walking around): in particular at the village of Angasolka, at the Kirkirei complex (one of the most difficult parts of the circumbaïkalien construction site), at Ulanovo station. During this trip, which lasts about 5 hours, you can eat. You will be offered the option to purchase the tour (breakfast 350 RUB, lunch 800 RUB, dinner 700 RUB). Arrival at Port-Baïkal station scheduled around 6:30 pm: after a short visit of the station and its surroundings, you board for Listvianka by ferry (summer) or hovercraft (winter). Disembarkation at the seaside resort around 8pm, quick visit, then departure for Irkutsk (by bus, about 1 hour drive).

Today's village, with a population of less than 100 inhabitants, was once an important fishing port. The traces of the old installations have disappeared. If Kharantsy is the first stop on the great northern tour in UAZ, it is quite possible to get there by bike (or on foot. Be careful, the road is long). You will find several accommodations: campsites (with yurts) and guesthouses. Up there, expect a 360-degree heavenly landscape, on a land peeled by the sun and wind. You can explore the coast by bike or on foot, go down to the water's edge, unpack your picnic, enjoy an unlimited space. You can also try to discover the shamano-Buddhist oratory hidden in the forest... Opposite is the small island of Kharantsy. It is very popular in winter for its superb ice cascade (accessible by boat in summer). Also, several scenes from the film In the Forests of Siberia were shot there. Continuing north towards the village of Ulan Khushin (Улан Хушин), you can admire an extraterrestrial landscape, strange shaped trees on a sandy perimeter and wild thyme fields as far as the eye can see. Be careful, uneven track and increased difficulty. It is here that Pribaïkalsky National Park opens, recognizable by its forest checkpoint: it is perfectly authorized to enter it alone, subject to paying the entrance fee (300 RUB per day and per person). Entry by vehicle is only possible if the vehicle is off-road.