How to get to the Circum-Baikal Railway?

Tourists will not regret if, having gathered on Lake Baikal, they decide to visit the Circum-Baikal Railway (KBZHD).

Organizing a trip is not so easy, because there is little information about this on the web.

Pros and cons of an excursion trip

There are 2 types of excursions for tourists: by boat and by train.

Boat tour

The ticket costs 2,400 rubles. The ship makes several stops: on the capes Thick (45 min) and Half (2.5 h), in the village of Shumikha (45 min). The tour is accompanied by a guide. Travel can only be purchased in summer. Work schedule: weekends, in July and August, Thursday is added.

Disadvantages: tourists will be able to see less than half of the KBZHD. You can get to Cape Polovinny and get off the ship, see everything yourself. The ticket price will not decrease much. It costs 2000 rubles. Also, this tour is not particularly interesting because the road is viewed from the water. You can't drive on it.

Train tour

There are different route options. They begin in Irkutsk. During the tour, stops are made in the most exciting places of the KBZHD. At the Baikal port stop, passengers board the ferry, then take the bus back to Irkutsk.

The trip takes about 12 hours. You can purchase a shortened tour, there are fewer stops in it. Travel time: 10 hours. Ticket price: 3000-5000 rubles. It depends on the seasonal margin and the class of service. Meals are not provided.

The advantages of a train tour are that you do not need to adjust to the schedule, look for a place to stay overnight, but you can take a ride around the Baikal. The guide is included in the price.

The main drawback: the price. Some users complain that the tour is poorly organized.

How to go on an independent trip?

The basis of independent movement is "Matanya"

«Matanya»

This train travels all over the railway. The train includes 1 or 2 cars. The transport makes 4 flights a week (in each direction).

Starting points: Slyudyanka-1 and the Port of Baikal. The way there takes 4 hours 54 minutes, back – 4 hours 30 minutes.

Inside, comfortable conditions have been created for passengers, beautiful views open from the windows.

A full ticket costs 152 rubles. For reduced options, the cost is reduced.

Advantages: low cost, few passengers.

Disadvantages: no long parking, inconvenient schedule.

In "Matana" you can buy drinks, snacks, press. You have to pay in cash.

Features of accommodation

There are private houses and camp sites near the roadways. You can find budget housing. The available options are listed on the websites of travel agencies. However, they rarely have contacts of camp sites.

Which objects should I look at?

• «Sharyzhalgay». 138 km of KBZHD. Upgraded wagons are available for housing. A room without amenities costs 450 rubles. You will have to pay extra for the amenities.
• «At the old lighthouse». 73 km of KBZHD. There is a hotel at the station. Prices: 700-2400 rubles, depending on the room and time of stay. This place resembles a Soviet hotel. The windows offer views of Lake Baikal.
• «Coniferous». 89 km of KBZHD. Daily cost: 500 rubles.
• «Hype». 102 km of KBZHD. Prices: 600-850 rubles.
• Guesthouse in Maritui. 120 km of KBZHD. Very budget housing, the room costs 120 rubles.
• Guest House «Hope». 73 km of KBZHD. Tourists praise this place. Prices: 500-700 rubles. You can come here only from mid-May to mid-October.
• You can stay in a Kultuk. 156 km of KBZHD. There are budget options.
• There is an opportunity to live in a tent. Tables and benches are located next to the road. You can light a fire, go down to the water.

Features of independent routes

There are several of them.

From the Listvyanka side

The minibus departs from the bus station or the Central Market. It costs 150 rubles. It is necessary to get out at the "Baikal Museum". Ferries depart from the pier "Slingshot" all year round. Travel time: about 20 min. Ferry ticket price: 71 rubles.

In summer it is better to walk to «Coniferous » and Marituya, spend the night at each stop, and in the morning get on «Matanya ».

Next, it is necessary to overcome the distance between Slyudyanka and Irkutsk. You can do this on a daytime or evening commuter train, long-distance trains, bus.

From the side of the Mica

This option is considered the most convenient. It includes the same items, only in the opposite direction. There are no budget ways to travel along the entire railway and get to Irkutsk without stopping for the night.

The easiest and cheapest way is to take the train and get to Slyudyanka, go to the port of Baikal on the "Matan", spend the night in it. In the morning, you need to take the ferry arriving at the pier "Slingshot". Minibuses stop not far from it. It is necessary to get to the final stop and return to Irkutsk.

The cost of the entire movement will be about 1500 rubles.

Alternative options

There are a couple more ways to get to the Circum-Baikal Railway.

«Dark Pad – Old Angasolka»

An electric train departs from the Irkutsk railway station. The road to the "Dark Pad" takes 2.5 hours. Then you have to walk through the forest to the Old Angasolka. The path is comfortable, its length is 3 km. It takes 40-60 minutes by time. There are 3 rivers: Left, Right, Middle Angasolki. There are beautiful views of Lake Baikal and the mountains.

At the end of the way, the village of Staraya Angasolka appears. Sometimes tourists are allowed to spend the night in the museum. The main parts of the KBZHD are located near the settlement.

At the next stage, you can go to the village of Sharyzhalgaysky. You will have to spend 2 days on the way.

There is an option to walk from Old Angasolka by rail to Slyudyanka. The journey lasts 10 km. However, the views here are not particularly fascinating.

«Moving – Circum-Baikal Railway»

On the same train you need to get to the stop «Moving ». It is 15 minutes closer to Irkutsk than "Dark Pad". There is a path in the forest leading to the railway tracks.

Tourists will have to walk 13 km. Next to the path flows the river – Big Steep Lip.

This is a simple route. You won't be able to see unusual objects here. This road is embedded in navigators, so it is difficult to get lost on it.