THE CIRCUMBAIKAL RAIL ROAD with Irkutsk and Lake Baikal
4 Days/ 3 Night

Package Description:

In the morning you travel by train to the southern region of Lake Baikal. This journey takes about 2.5 hours to arrive at a station called, "Black Valley". From here you walk for an hour down a valley to the shores of Lake Baikal. At the lakeshore you have some time to explore the lake beach, or walk to the nearest tunnel and have lunch. From this point you then take either the old ORR (Circumbaikal Route) local train or the modern tourist train. The old local train has only two passenger carriages and one or two cargo wagons. The modern tourist train has more carriages – 7/8 carriages in summertime and 2 carriges in wintertime. One of the carriages has a bar with some food. Both trains go very slowly, about 25-30 km/hour and make long stops. The route runs along the shore of Lake Baikal 5 to 20 metres from the Lake itself and passes through many tunnels. You can open the doors while the train is moving and take photos of Lake Baikal, tunnels, bridges and railway stations. In the evening, the train arrives at Port Baikal. Overnight at homestay (either Port Baikal or Listvyanka). The next day you have a full day excursion around Listvyanka, visiting the Museum of lake Baikal, a Russian Orthodox church made of wood and the viewpoint over the outlet of Angara. You then take the afternoon public bus, or boat (in summer only) back to Irkutsk. Upon arrival you have a private transfer to your chosen accommodation.

Basic Itinerary:

Included: Accommodation. Breakfasts in Irkutsk. Full board at homestay. Guide. Transfers by private car, local trains and ferry. 3 hours walking city tour inc two museums.

Departures:

Using the ‘Old local train’:
Between 20 September and 31 May this operates 4 times a week - Every Friday and  Sunday.
Can occasionally operate on other days. We only find this out when requesting.
Between 1 June and 31 August – Friday and Sunday only.

Using the ‘Modern tourist train’:
Departs all year round on Saturday from Irkutsk to Sludyanka and then Port Baikal. On Sundays it operates in  reverse.
From mid June to the begining of September it departs on Wednesday from Irkutsk to Sludyanka and then Port Baikal. The reverse operates on Thursday.

Costs:

To add this package to one of our published train programmes ADD the following amounts to the correct OPTION No (train programme).

NOTES:

• Due to the Odd and Even date system for train departures along the main Trans Siberian rail route you might require an extra night in Irkutsk to make this programme work for your individual plan. We will advise you if this is required when you make a booking.

• Dependant upon the above train schedule and season, you could be on either the old local train, or the modern tourist train.

• Dependant upon the above train schedule the overnight is arranged at Listvyanka (if the train departs before lunchtime) or at Port Baikal (if the train departs after lunch). The transfer from Port Baikal to Listvyanka is made by local ferry.This price is as an 'ADD On' to our existing train journey packages.

• To take this package on its own we will need to adjust the price. Please contact us.

• For add on prices related to the 'Guided All Stops' train journeys please contact us.