The Circum-Baikal Railway is a historic 84 km section of the old Trans-Siberian line that runs along the southwestern shore of Lake Baikal through tunnels, stone galleries, bridges and viaducts built by hand more than a century ago. On this one-day tour from Irkutsk you ride a comfortable tourist train at 20–30 km/h, get off at the most scenic spots, and cross the source of the Angara River by ferry. It is the easiest way to see the engineering side of Baikal without hiking for days.
Duration: 1 day
Group: 1-30 people
Season: All the year round
Tour type: Rail Tour, Nature and Wildlife
Tour price: from 14,000 rub per person
What you will see on the Circum-Baikal Railway
The railway was opened in 1905 as the last missing link of the Trans-Siberian Railway and was nicknamed the “golden buckle” of Russia’s steel belt. Along the whole line there are 39 tunnels, 16 stone galleries and 248 bridges and viaducts. Today the tourist section runs on the old tracks beside the water, and the train makes several stops of 15 minutes to an hour for photos and short walks.
The tour is run in one of two directions. Which one applies to your date is shown in the calendar at booking, and we confirm it before payment.
Route A: train first (train to Port Baikal)
Route B: bus and ferry first (mirror route)
⏰ Exact times can shift with the season, so always rely on the time printed in your ticket.
Schedule 2027
Prices are per person for foreign citizens and depend on your seat. Lakeside seats face Baikal; rockside seats face the cliffs and tunnels.
May, June, October
July, August, September
The price includes:
The price does not include:
Prefer the water? In the summer season we also offer a boat version that follows the railway shore on selected dates from June to September. Travel time depends on the weather.
Price: from 11,000 RUB per person. Includes the boat trip, excursions at the stops and a lunch box. Does not include the hotel transfer.
Plan to arrive 20–30 minutes before boarding.
Explore the Circum Baikal Railway more thoroughly with the Baikal Railway Walking Tour. Walk through the old tunnels and visit the most significant structures of the Baikal Railway.
If you’re looking for something unique, book Baikal Ice Yachting, luxury and adrenaline-fuelled experience! Sail an ice boat over Siberian lake Baikal.
Book the Dogsled Tour along the Circum-Baikal Railway and enjoy working with powerful Baikal huskies, the beauty of the Baikal’s winter nature, and the architectural monuments of the Circum-Baikal Railway.
Whatever route of the Full-day snowmobile tour you choose, either through taiga or over the frozen surface of the lake, make sure you’ve got your camera with you because the views are breathtaking!
Want to see the Circum-Baikal Railway in winter but afraid of riding over the frozen lake? Take a the tour by hovercraft and enjoy winter views of the Circum-Baikal Railway from its warm and comfortable cabin.
When you are in the Lake Baikal region you can have the unique opportunity to visit a Shaman in Ust-Orda village or on Olkhon Island. You’ll be able to ask the Shaman all your questions and take part in the rituals of Shamanism.
On the Baikal Helicopter tour, you will see the unforgettable Baikal landscapes and the Circum-Baikal railway from a bird’s-eye view.
One-day Fishing trip on Lake Baikal give you a chance to spend a day enjoying the stunning beauty of the Baikal’s nature and experience the excitement of fishing.
Looking for an itinerary for a One-day tour to Olkhon island? It is impossible to see all of Olkhon in one day, but a day trip can be fun and rewarding.
A Real Icy Banya! Such an exotic place actually exists and is located on the shore of Lake Baikal.
Winter tour to Maloye Morye and Olkhon Island. During the trip, you will see landmarks that are not available in any seasons except winter.
On the Baikal Caves tour you will explore several caves and admire their spacious halls and narrow passages, stalactites and stalagmites, crystals of ice and corallites. Most of Baikal caves are even older than the lake!
Spend your vacation in the Floating hotel “Ecotur” which is located in Chivyrkuysky Bay, the most magnificent bay of Lake Baikal.
“Around the Baikal” tour. During this boat tour, you will travel by a variety of water vehicles watching slowly changing landscapes or getting adrenaline rafting the fast mountain rivers.
Hot Springs Arshan tour.A real fairy tale awaits you on the Arshan tour! Down caps of treetops, blue, green, black, white ice of Lake Baikal, sun, walk along the lake on foot and by car, hot springs with amazing views of the majestic snow peaks bring resemblance to the Swiss Alps and Tibet at the glance of a globe rover.
Check out the full list of the most interesting tours in Russian cities.
The form was sent successfully. We will contact you shortly.
