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Home  /  russia  /  lake-baikal
The deepest lake on earth · Russia

lake-baikal

The oldest and deepest lake on earth — Siberia's 'sacred sea', home to the endemic Baikal seal, and a wonderland of turquoise ice in winter.
Getting there
From Irkutsk to Listvyanka on the lakeshore, in southern Siberia
Best for
Baikal seals, winter ice, taiga shores, Listvyanka, lake scenery, photography
The land
A vast, ancient rift lake ringed by taiga and mountains in Siberia
Good to know
Baikal holds around a fifth of the world's unfrozen fresh water
What it is
Lake Baikal is the oldest and deepest lake on earth — Siberia's 'sacred sea', home to the endemic Baikal seal and a wonderland of turquoise ice in winter.
The oldest and deepest lake on earth, Baikal holds around a fifth of the world's unfrozen fresh water in a vast Siberian rift. Its waters are home to the Baikal seal (nerpa) — the only freshwater seal on earth — and in winter the lake freezes into a wonderland of turquoise ice and pressure ridges. The shore village of Listvyanka is the classic base, amid taiga and mountains.
PhotoLake Baikal — the deepest lake on earth.
The reason to come

The sacred sea

Baikal is the world's deepest lake, with its endemic seal and turquoise ice.

Baikal seals

The only freshwater seal on earth, endemic to the lake.

Winter ice

Turquoise ice, pressure ridges and frozen clarity.

Taiga shores

The forested, mountain-ringed shore at Listvyanka.

Worth knowing

The sacred sea

Baikal, the oldest and deepest lake on earth, holds a fifth of the world's fresh water and its own endemic seal.
PhotoTurquoise winter ice on Lake Baikal.
When to come — honestly

A year-round lake.

February – March
Best
Peak winter ice — turquoise clarity and Baikal seals on the ice.
July – August
Best
Mild summer for the lake, taiga and shore.
Year-round
Good
A year-round lake; winter ice and summer are wholly different.
Winter is severely cold but offers the famous ice; the seals are wary and best seen on the ice in late winter.
Context

The deepest lake

Baikal is the world's deepest lake, with its endemic seal and famous winter ice.

It anchors the Siberian leg of a Russia trip, based at Listvyanka.

We base Baikal at Listvyanka on the shore, for the seals, the winter ice and the taiga.

Beyond the obvious

More to Lake Baikal.

PhotoBaikal seals

Baikal seals

The endemic nerpa.

PhotoWinter ice

Winter ice

Turquoise and pressure ridges.

PhotoTaiga shore

Taiga shore

Listvyanka and the forest.

Why Wild Voyager

We open up the Russian Far East.

Russia's wildlife — Amur tigers, Kamchatka's bears, the Bering Sea, Baikal — is remote and logistically complex. We plan the permits, flights, helicopters and specialist camps and trackers needed to reach it.

Handpicked stays

We choose the lodge and guides that fit your goals, not whatever is left.

We time it right

We build your visit around the season and the wildlife that delivers.

Journeys

Trips through lake-baikal

8 Days · 7 Nights

lake-baikal-winter-explorer
9 Days · 8 Nights

lake-baikal-photography
14 Days · 13 Nights

russia-wildlife-highlights
21 Days · 20 Nights

russia-wildlife-grand-expedition
Where to stay

Where you’ll stay in lake-baikal

Signature Collection
PhotoBaikal Residence Hotel
Signature

Baikal Residence Hotel

A refined lakeshore hotel at Listvyanka, the finest stay on Baikal.
Classic Collection
PhotoLegend of Baikal Hotel
Classic

Legend of Baikal Hotel

A comfortable hotel on the Baikal shore at Listvyanka.

Plan your Lake Baikal trip.

Explore the deepest lake on earth. Tell us your dates and we will build the route around it.

Plan a trip

Field notes, now and then.

Where to go · When to go · Wildlife in season

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