Travel prices for excursions to Lake Baikal in summer 2025 have increased by an average of 10-20% compared to last year. Experienced travelers booked their routes and itineraries back in winter and even autumn. However, if you’ve just decided to visit Baikal, be prepared to spend more — but even now, it’s possible to find relatively affordable options. The overview by Teleinform.
Excursion Tours to Olkhon Island
The main attraction is, of course, Olkhon. Budget-friendly trips currently start at around 13,500 rubles per person — a one-day photo tour departing from Irkutsk at 7:00 AM and returning by 10:00 PM. Alternatively, you can join the tour from Listvyanka, leaving an hour earlier and returning an hour later. The program includes a stop in the Tazheran Steppes, a ferry crossing to Olkhon, a visit to Khuzhir with a trip to the Trident Rock, a walk to Shamanka Rock, and then the return. A professional photographer accompanies groups of up to eight travelers. The price includes guide services and a picnic lunch, but transfer from and back to Listvyanka costs extra.
For a more in-depth experience, a two-day boat cruise around Lake Baikal (visiting Small Sea, Peschanoe Bay, and Listvyanka) costs from 50,000 rubles per two people. A three-day stay on Olkhon with a couple of guided excursions and free time will be around 66,000 rubles per couple. A five-day trip covering major highlights like Irkutsk – Small Sea – Sakhyurta – Olkhon Island – Shamanka Rock – and other iconic sites will cost at least 76,000 rubles per two (excluding flights). For a comprehensive six-day tour visiting all key locations (Irkutsk – Small Sea – Sakhyurta – Olkhon – Shamanka Rock – Cape Khoboy – Sagan-Khushun Cape – southern Olkhon – Ogoy Island – Enlightenment Stupa – Khuzhir – Irkutsk), expect costs of around 98-100 thousand rubles per couple.
Overland and Regional Tours – Baikal & Buryatia
For those who want to explore not only Olkhon but also Listvyanka — the second must-see of Baikal — tour operators offer six-day trips costing from 100,000 to 160,000 rubles per couple. The program includes visits to Irkutsk, the village of Listvyanka with a fish market and Baikal Museum, Taltsy Open-Air Museum, a cruise along the Circum-Baikal Railway, and optional excursions to Olkhon or Small Sea (for beach lovers).
The next level of Baikal exploration involves visiting both shores. Tours include both Olkhon and Listvyanka, as well as sights in Buryatia. For example, an eight-day tour (Irkutsk – Olkhon – Shamanka Rock – Ogoy Island – Cape Khoboy – Ust-Barguzin – Chivyrkuy Bay – Ulan-Ude – Ivolginsky Datsan – Irkutsk – Taltsy – Baikal Museum – Chersky Stone) costs over 250,000 rubles for two.
There are also options focusing exclusively on the Buryat side of the lake. A six-day tour exploring Buryatia's culture and religion costs around 102,000 rubles for two. It includes Ulan-Ude, Tarbagatai Village (familiarity with Old Believer rituals), Chivyrkuy Bay, excursions to the Trans-Baikal National Park and the Ethnographic Museum of the peoples of Transbaikalia, trips through the Barguzin Valley, visits to Ivolginsky Datsan, and Rinpoche Bagsha Datsan.
A week-long ethnocultural cruise aboard a river steamboat costs at least 155,000 rubles per person. The departure and arrival point is Ulan-Ude. The itinerary features Ivolginsky Datsan, Ushkany Islands, Ogoy Island, Olkhon, and Chivyrkuy Bay.
Quick & Short Trips
Additionally, this summer, tour operators offer short excursions to various parts of Lake Baikal. For example, a one-day trip to the Tunkinskaya Valley costs from 8,300 rubles per person. It includes visits to mineral springs, a tour of Arshan with a stop at the Bodhidharma Datsan, and a visit to the Sayan Maral farm. One-day cruises from Irkutsk to Takhoy or Ogoy on a boat cost from 4,300 to 11,000 rubles per person. For fishing enthusiasts, two-day trips to Olkhon start at around 14,000 rubles per person (group of 10). Four-day trips along the same route cost from 47,000 rubles per person, also for groups of 10.
Additionally, you can find short vacation packages such as a weekend trip to Baikalsk from Irkutsk, priced from 82,000 rubles for two people for three days. This includes visits to the ski resort with year-round observation decks and excursions to Lake Baikal’s Federal Biosphere Reserve.
Premium & Extended Tours
For travelers seeking luxury and more comprehensive experiences, the most expensive tours in 2025 include:
An eight-day package costing from 355,000 rubles per person, which features boat cruises, jeep excursions, a visit to the Sealarium, and helicopter flights over Lake Baikal.
A 15-day adventure costing over 267,000 rubles per person, designed for active travelers. It covers southern Baikal, Olkhon Island, and Chivyrkuy Bay, with kayaking, horseback riding, quad biking, mountain hikes, coastal caves, visits to Old Believer communities, and spiritual sites. The journey begins in Irkutsk, with ferry transfers to Buryatia, ending in Ulan-Ude.
A ten-day comprehensive tour that includes both sides of Baikal, starting at about 180,000 rubles per person. The itinerary includes visits to Listvyanka (with the Taltsy Museum and the Lake Baikal Museum), excursions around Irkutsk, Olkhon Island, the Barguzin Valley, Chivyrkuy Bay, Ivolginsky Datsan, the Tunkinskaya Valley, hot springs, and more—tailored for avid explorers.
Self-Guided Travel & Accommodation Tips
If you prefer to explore independently without guided tours, accommodation options are plentiful and vary significantly. In Listvyanka, bus tickets from Irkutsk start at about 280 rubles. Guesthouse rooms typically start from 1,500-2,000 rubles per night, with some premium villas at 15,000-25,000 rubles per night.
In Baikalsk, bus tickets from Irkutsk cost from 300 rubles. Budget accommodation begins at around 1,000-1,150 rubles per night; guesthouses usually start at 2,000 rubles, and apartments rent for approximately 3,000 rubles daily. Luxury cottages can be around 25,000-30,000 rubles per night.
From Irkutsk to Huzhir, direct buses cost from 900 rubles. Accommodation in Huzhir varies from 2,000-3,000 rubles for basic rooms to private houses costing 20,000-30,000 rubles. Guesthouses near Lake Baikal range from 3,000 to 17,000 rubles per night.
Another attraction is Big Goluostnoye, accessible by bus from Irkutsk at about 400 rubles. Rooms at guesthouses start at 3-5 thousand rubles per night. Luxury cottages are around 18-30 thousand rubles nightly.
In Bolshie Koti, a water transport ticket from Irkutsk costs approximately 2,000 rubles; similar ferries operate from Listvyanka. Accommodation usually ranges from 1,500-2,000 rubles per person per night.
Additionally, you can reach Bolshoye Goloustnoye from Irkutsk by helicopter or private transfer options, depending on availability.
Travel Expenses & Transportation Tips
Finally, here’s an overview of how much it costs to get to Irkutsk and Ulan-Ude — the main gateways for Baikal tours. Flights are a significant expense. In June, round-trip flights from Moscow to Irkutsk with luggage typically start at around 84,000 rubles for two. In July, fares rise to approximately 102,000–104,000 rubles; in August, from 112,000 rubles in the first half, with prices dropping by about 20,000 rubles in the second half of the month.
Flights from St. Petersburg to Ulan-Ude are more expensive — about 120,000 rubles or more round trip for two in June, slightly less in July and August. Siberian travelers can fly from Novosibirsk to Irkutsk for around 56,000 rubles for two.
Traveling by train is a budget-friendly option: tickets from Moscow to Irkutsk in June-July start at around 54,000 rubles for two, and from Novosibirsk, a round-trip ticket for two costs roughly 24,000 rubles.
Getting to Ulan-Ude by plane from Irkutsk costs about the same or slightly higher. The average cost of a one-way flight from Moscow to Ulan-Ude for two with baggage ranges from 84,000 to 112,000 rubles depending on the month. Flights from St. Petersburg to Ulan-Ude are generally more expensive, starting at about 120,000 rubles for two in June, decreasing slightly in July and August. Flights from Novosibirsk are more economical, averaging around 46,000 rubles round trip for two.
Rail travel remains a budget-friendly alternative. Tickets from Moscow to Irkutsk in June-July are available from approximately 54,000 rubles for two. From Novosibirsk, a round-trip train ticket for two costs about 24,000 rubles.
Within the region, traveling by bus or boat is convenient. A bus from Irkutsk to Ulan-Ude costs from 1,200 rubles one way. A boat ride from Irkutsk to Bolshoye Goloustnoye costs around 2,000 rubles. Ferries from Listvyanka to other points like Olkhon or Ladoga Bay vary in price, generally ranging from 1,350 to 3,500 rubles. Optionally, helicopter transfers are available at higher prices, offering faster travel times and spectacular views of Lake Baikal.
