Hiking trails
on Lake Baikal

Pribaikalsky National Park occupies 470 km of the Western coast of Baikal, including the island of Olkhon. It's very easy to get to the trails in this region by public transport. Before a visit, you should acquire a permission from the National Park - the procedure is simple and usually takes no more than 5-10 minutes.

Baikal landscapes along the trails are magnificent. You will hike along the shore of Baikal with beautiful rivers, streams, forests and steep cliffs on your way. If you are lucky, you can even see one of the Baikal nerpas laying on the stones near the shore. Along the trail there are many campsites where you can stay overnight. You can also stay in a guesthouse in one of the villages on the way.

The mountain range of Khamar-Daban is one of the most interesting and picturesque areas of Eastern Siberia. It is one of the oldest mountain ranges on the Planet. Khamar-Daban stretches along the coast of Baikal from Selenginsky region to the ridge of Munku-Sardyk in Tunka valley.

Despite the seeming wilderness and inaccessibility, there is a large number of attractive and accessible destinations for a one-day hike. A part of the ridge is on the territory of the Baikalsky natural reserve - here, the acess to the trails can only be granted on special request. A good opportunity is also to join a team of Great Baikal Trail volunteers that works in Khamar Daban.

Zabaikalsky National Park is located in Buryatia and includes Ushkany Islands, Svyatoi Nos Peninsula, Chivyrkuyusky Bay, and Barguzinsky Range. The territory of the park is large - it includes 267.2 thousand hectares of various landscapes with a very rich offer of tourist destinations. The region is accessible by public transport from Ulan-Ude. Comparing to the Western side of the Baikal, this part of the lake is less popular among tourists who usually visit the Irkultsk side of the lake.

The North of Baikal, where the city of Severobaikalsk is located, is relatively remote from both major tourist hubs of the region - Irkutsk and Ulan-Ude. The nature in this part of the region is considered to be the 'wildest' and best preserved. Mountains covered with snow, clear rivers and lakes, untouched forests with an abundance of berries and mushrooms, hot springs - the region has a lot to offer. The best way to begin exploring the North of Baikal is by taking a train to Severobaikalsk and starting the journey from there.