Discover Boris Bychkov, and his art of glass and crystal. Collection of his art will be presented to view for the public in Irkutsk downtown in Regional Museum. This man worked during Soviet times and he decorated with stained-glass windows many of the architechture in the middle of the XX century in Irkutsk and regional cities. He has a title of well known and respected artist among local people.
Start: 11 September 2018 Finish: 4 Nobember 2018 Location: Irkutsk Regional Museum Address: Lenin street, 5 Price: 150 RUB Everyday: AM 10:00 — PM 6:00 Thursday: AM 12:00 — PM 6:00
Closed on Monday
Also, if not in a hurry take a look at the best collection of art in Irkutsk Regional Museum. It is totally worth of seing. There you may not see many staff speak great English, but you can get around easily and they are used to see travelers, who you might meet there as well.
Summer high season on lake Baikal is from middle of July to the beginning of September. Warmest days. Most tourist are from Russia and China, but you can meet people from all over the world in Irkutsk and around lake Baikal. There are many locations with no tourists or very little.
Winter high season is from middle of February to the end of March. Winter’s end. This is the time when the ice on the lake is the most stable and firm, 1 meter thick on the most of the lake. It doesn’t freeze only in small area in the south, where Angara river begins (Listvyanka village).
The lake is frozen from middle of January to middle of April.
See the chart below for the temperature averages.
average temperature / precipitation chart
Weather is changing fast. It never rains more than 2 days. Usually 1 day rain, cloudy day after and sunny again. Lake Baikal area is famous for having near 300 sunny days in a year. Most of the time the weather forecast is wrong about the rain. Clouds may be all over the place, but it rains shortly in random location.
It is possible to get into heavy rain but it will be short time rain. But snow falls can last longer and sometimes give a lot of trouble on the roads. Thanks to Russsian people who are used to occasional abundance of snow and icy roads.
Visiting lake Baikal is all about getting connected to nature. We recommend to visit the lake when there is the smallest amount of travelers.
From April to the beginning of June you can see how the lake starts to wake up from the winter sleep. The ice is all gone and more than 300 streams and rivers start to fill the lake. Spring time is a struggle with winter who doesn’t want to finish. The water is the cleanest during this time.
From September to the end of January, extremely beautiful during the fall on lake Baikal. Autumn stormy skies and colors of the nature can impress anybody. Also winter magic starts when everything goes to bed under the white blanket of winter. There is snow all over the land, but the lake takes long time to freeze. Misty waters, icy shores, trees under the snow. Short winter days take you away into the fairy tale of Siberian winter.
Would you like to go fishing in the evening? Right in the center of the city!
Yes, here is the fish we cought in Angara river in the very center of Irkutsk. A medium pike. It was a very nice evening, lots of fishermen on the shore, people having barbecue and relaxing.
Buildings of new Irkutsk.
Street art in Irkutsk
Discovering the small islands of Angara river in downtown of Irkutsk
Ferry to Olkhon IslandRiver Ehe-Uhgun’ near ArshanRiver Ehe-Uhgun’ near ArshanBridge across the beginning of Irkut riverTravelers meet travelers in Irkutsk. Chile and Italy.Fishing spot in Irkutsk city
Nice cafe in the shadow of Courtyard by Marriott in Irkutsk.
Open libraby booth, Irkutsk.Good old stuff.Moments of emptiness.Strong building = strong history.Angels live in Irkutsk city.Honey market.Hidden treasures of Irkutsk downtow.Khuzhir village on Olkhon Island.Cape Burkhan (Shamanka) on Olkhon Island near Khuzhir.Ship returning to Olkhon Island port.Helicopter landing field spot on Olkhon Island.Foggy Baikal.Ferry to Olkhon Island.Cape Burkhan (Shamanka) on Olkhon Island near Khuzhir.Waterfall near Arshan village.
When we came back from kayak trip, my friend told me that I’m #(*&^ crazy. Well, yes, but we are crazy in a good and safe way.
My firiend let me use 2 person kayak for a little adventure on lake Baikal. We started early in the morining from Irkutsk. Picked up kayak in Bolshaya Rechka, went to Listvyanka, had breakfast, put kayak on the water loaded it with all the stuff.
After that I went to Belka Hostel and parked my car on the territory. Then walked down Chapaev street where Natasha was waiting for me reading her book.
We sailed for an hour. Meeting nerpa, Baikal seal, was unusual. It was sleeping on the water with only it’s small head on the surface. It woke up only when kayak was 2 meters away from it. Blinked it’s black eyes, sneezed at us and went under water. My camera was away, so sorry, no pictures.
After taking a nap on the shore we were trying to get back on the road, but I flipped it over. My bad. First time kayaking with no instructor, so this was expected. It is like a initiation to ‘kayaker’s club’. Camera, phone, money, documents and all important stuff was wet. But not lost. Now I understand what must be kept in dry box of kayak. All the things that got wet. But our box was full of food and there was no extra place. Ha-ha! First hand experience. Now I understand the value of instructors and guides.
I was in a hurry to get into kayak, because the water is so cold that it hurts feet when you are just few seconds in the water, the stones are slippery and I was not wearing proper footwear for this trip. Remember don’t be bear feet when kayaking. Wear at least rubber slippers.
2 hours more and we reached Bolshiye Koty village where we camped, cooked on fire and went to bed very early as we were extremetly tired.
Camping was great. We put our tent near the water stream that flows into the lake and had the source of fresh water. Also the sound of the stream was providing with calming and natural atmosphere. Bolshiye Koty village is small and has almost no cars, very quiet and relaxing.
Next day we woke up. Cooked food. Packed and started to pedal back. Now I get the idea of how to get inside the kayak and thought about my mistakes. I can teach anybody. Also we understood how to pedal properly. The weather was perfect both days. First day it was wind to the back and second day there was no wind at all and it was hot!
When we reached Listvyanka the shore was full of people. It was great hot summer days. People were greeting us from land, ships and boats. It was lovely. We felt like heroes.
40 kilometers total there and back. It is great for beginners, but it is not too easy. Thank you lake Baikal for your beauty and thanks to everybody who instructed and supported us.
We love to go for a ride on Olkhon Island. The day was not sunny and not hot. Very nice for a day trip to the next small village Kharantsy from where there is a trail to the forest with nice clean water spring. It is very green in the forest and air is fullfilling you with powers of nature. You just can’t stop. But it is time to go home, we return and have great local traditional lunch in a village cafe. Dogs dictate us to go to have a nap after a great lunch.
Come visit us and we will show you something like that. With pleasure.
My friend share some photos of the evening road to Arshan. They stopped at Kultuk town to have dinner in a place with amazing view on the very south part of lake Baikal.
It is possible to go to Arshan and return in Irkutsk in one day. The trip takes about 12-14 hours. Yesterday, my brother and his wife took two traverlers to Arshan. Good scenery at Kultuk village, great road to Arshan. Hot summer day.
Lunch in a local cafe started Arshan adventure. Visit to sacred waterfall, stone river and buddhist datsan temple. After exploring Arshan they went to Zhemchug village, where travelers went to take a swim in a hot water pool. Suddenly there was nobody there. Swimming in hot water is more popular in winter 🙂
Then return back to Irkutsk, with dinner stop in a road cafe with great view on Kultuk village and south spot of Lake Baikal.
Today we went for 1 hour bicycle ride to the top of the hill with spectacular view on Khuzhir vllage on Olkhon Island. Going up the hill is hard, but the reward is great. The funny thing is that the view was covered with thick fog. After hard work up the hill it was a little upsetting. But still, the view was amazing anyway.
Second part of the trip is the best when return downhill back to the village.
We left just when cars with other traverlers started to arrive 🙂
