Oh Lake Baikal, the deepest lake in the world, how can I begin to describe you? As in any modern love story, I first discovered you on the Internet (Pinterest to be exact), and then when I realized I’d be passing your neighborhood on my way through Siberia I thought I might as well stop and say hi, but I had no idea how magnificent you would really be! Seriously, those photos didn’t begin to do your beauty justice.
Perhaps that’s what Dan thought when he first met me after stalking my blog for six months?! (True story.)
Visiting Lake Baikal in winter truly was an impressive experience.
Actually, even on paper Lake Baikal is impressive. It’s the world’s largest (by volume) freshwater lake, and the world’s deepest lake, reaching down 5,387 feet. If that’s not reason enough to visit, Lake Baikal is also thought to be the oldest lake in the world (25 million years+) and contains over 1,700 different plants and animals, two-thirds of which aren’t found anywhere else in the world!
As Lake Baikal is a couple hours outside of Irkutsk, Dan and I decided to spend two nights in Listvyanka, a small town on the southern end of the lake. Listvyanka looked like it’s probably full of tourists in the summer, but it was pretty much dead when we were there.
We didn’t see many people around Listvyanka in February, but Dan did make friends with this adorable puppy!
I’ve walked on plenty of frozen ponds and lakes without a problem, but venturing out onto Lake Baikal gave me seriously wobbly knees! Because the water is so clear, at parts we could see far down into the lake and it really felt like the ice could simply give way and I’d be sucked to the very bottom. It was ridiculous considering I could see quite well that the ice was incredibly thick, but I guess standing on top of the world’s deepest lake just has to be a tad intimidating.
At one point a hovercraft drove by in the distance and the ice cracked and oh my goodness, I had no idea I could move so fast on ice. Dan and I both zoomed back to land so quickly.
standing on the deepest lake in the world was quite surreal!
I wish I could have captured how clear the water was in photos, but I guess you will all just have to visit the lake in person instead!
I would have happily stayed on the lake all day, but it was incredibly cold and windy so we eventually made an escape in search of hot chocolate. But we were sure to return for sunset!
And it was the prettiest sunset I ever did see. Sorry, Boracay, but sandy beaches have nothing on blocks of ice when it comes to reflecting a setting sun’s purple and gold rays.
We took a minivan from Irkutsk’s Central Market to Listvyanka for 120 rubles ($2). Vans leave about every 20 minutes.
We stayed at Belka Hostel, a cozy wooden lodge on a hill overlooking the lake. I loved it, and sort of couldn’t believe our twin room was so cheap. I highly recommend staying there, though be aware that it’s a 15-20 minute walk uphill (it was a bit of a struggle on an icy path with heavy backpacks) and there’s no WiFi. Check current rates and availability here
If you want to stay in a hotel in Listvyanka, I’ve heard amazing things about the Malina Guest House, which has lovely views out over Lake Baikal (and they do have WiFi!). Check current rates and availability here
Have you been to Lake Baikal? Would you go in the winter?
Ashley says
I think growing up near two of the Great Lakes has caused me to be a bit of a lake-snob, but 5,387 feet deep- wow! And you’ve managed to make a Siberian winter look slightly appealing to me, which is not an easy feat 😉
Silvia says
I actually read that Lake Baikal has more water than all of the Great Lakes combined! So crazy.
becky hutner says
that last shot is adorable! i don’t know if i’d be brave enough to walk that ice???
Silvia says
I was nervous at first, but as you can see in the last photo, after a while I was dancing on the ice! haha
Marie @ Marie Away says
The puppy is too cute!
I love the last picture. You should turn it into a desktop wallpaper–just throw a quote on there. I’d totally use it (is that creepy?).
The ice looks amazing. I wish I could look into it in person! Maybe some day!
Silvia says
Ha it totally does look like it should have some wanderlusty quote on it!
Anna says
I remember learning about lake Baikal in Geography class in school, but that’s actually the first time I see it “live”…Love your photos, especially the sunset ones!
Silvia says
It’s always crazy visiting a place I’ve heard so much about before – Lake Baikal definitely lived up to my expectations though!
Nikita says
WOW that sunset! I’ve been on my fair share of frozen lakes in my life, but I’ve never seen ice that clear. It looks magical!
Silvia says
It was magical! And sort of terrifying being on such clear us, ahh.
Winederlusting says
Absolutely stunning photos! Very cool.
-Greig
Silvia says
Thanks, it was a stunning lake!
Kayla says
That is amazing!! I would definitely go in the winter to stand on the ice. Adding this to the places I must visit.
Silvia says
You really do need to go! I’ve decided winter is the best time to see it, even though I haven’t seen Lake Baikal in the summer (yet!).
Emma says
Such an amazing place, I can’t wait to see it for myself!
Silvia says
I seriously can’t stop raving about it – all of my friends have gotten messages from me saying they have to visit, haha.
Justine says
Oh my gosh, this place looks incredible! I think it’s kind of awesome you were able to visit in the winter. What a unique experience to be able to walk on such a massive frozen lake! Ha, I would have hightailed it out of there too if the ice started to crack. That must have been the most magical place to watch the sunset. All I can say is…wow!
Silvia says
It really was wow! After traveling so much there aren’t many places that totally blow me away anymore (which is super sad – I don’t want to start getting numbed to beauty!) but Lake Baikal was literally breathtaking.
Rebekah says
That’s so beautiful. I love going out on lakes when they freeze back home. I sort of missed having a winter this year. I’Ve found some amazing travel destinations of Pinterest as well.
Silvia says
Pinterest really is an amazing source! It sort of overwhelms me so I don’t search on it too often, but then whenever I do I’m hooked for hours, haha.
Zascha Friis says
I love the pictures of the sunset – it’s SO beautiful!
Silvia says
Ice + sunsets really is a magical combination!
Kathi says
This is such a lovely post, great photos! I was never really interested in going to Russia but I live in Kyrgyzstan at the moment, learning Russian, so all of a sudden it seems very appealing. 🙂
Silvia says
I loved Kyrgyzstan SO much – I’m jealous you’re living there! Russia has so many beautiful places, so you should definitely visit sometime and take advantage of your language skills!!
Jo-Anne says
My first visit here you can thank Taylor for me coming over, I want to tell you that the photos are just bloody amazing
Silvia says
So glad Taylor sent you over!
Rachel says
I’ve visited Lake Baikal in late Autumn, we took a minibus/ferry to Olkhon Island on the lake and it was by far one of the most amazing places I’ve been. The lake is so extraordinary, so clean and clear, the boys swam in it: brrr to that!
I would absolutely love to see it in winter, with the ice!
There were quite a few dogs on the island too, so friendly, they joined us on our walks. The island was really quiet at that time of year and there was just us and the dog hiking along a spectacular coastline.
Silvia says
I wish we had had time to visit Olkhon Island! I definitely want to return to Lake Baikal in the summer, so hopefully I’ll have more time then.
kami says
It’s one of my dreams to visit Lake Baikal and to do that in winter time! I just never really knew why I want to go there exactly at that time but now you proved me why – it’s so incredibly beautiful!!! Too bad it’s getting harder and harder to get a visa to Russia these days
Silvia says
Ugh, visas always make me so sad – why can’t everyone travel freely! I think then we could have world peace 🙂
Jasilyn Albert says
My friend and I just booked our tickets to go to Lake Baikal at the end of May. We live in a city called Ufa. I was hoping for some abandoned places, but the only place we found was on the northeast side of the Lake, I’m sure it’ll still be worth the trip though!
kook says
Thanks i found your blog. I plan to honeymoon at Baikal lake but tour is too much expensive.
I concerned how i can bus to Listvyanka and you answer me, fully thanks.
Do you mind if i have some question? If I go on mid December, the ice will clear and beautiful like this?
Silvia says
Hmm I don’t know what it’s like in December! I would guess that it would be frozen by then, but I’m not sure since I visited in February. It’s such a lovely honeymoon choice though – have fun!!
Dimitriy says
Hello, guys, thanks for this positive and informative post about Irkutsk and Lake Baikal. My name is Dimitriy, and I make free walking tours in Irkutsk and I’m also lake Baikal local tour guide. So if you have any questions, please feel free to ask. I will be happy to inform you about travelling in our area. You’ve stayed in Belka, this is good value, but yes, no WiFi 🙂 But the banya there is amazing (hot steam Russian sauna), everyone should try it.
Guilherme Costa Gomes says
I went to Baikal in June 2007 and strongly recommend spending a couple of days at Olkhon Island. During summer you can take a dip at the lake (though the water is still fringing cold!) and ride bikes throughout the island.
Greetings from Brazil!
Ps.: just checked a couple of your posts about Vladivostok and Central Asia. They are definitely in bucket list now!
Dimitriy says
Very cool pictures. And yes, Lake Baikal in winter is a magical place. It is great because it is not touristic and you can enjoy nature and Siberian villages and cities without crowds. Lake Baikal Ice also opens interesting opportunities for travelling.