Olkhon Island Travel Guide

Olkhon Island, at 72 km long, is the largest island in Lake Baikal and one of the best places from which to appreciate the serene vastness of the lake. It has varied scenery ranging from sandy beaches with surprisingly warm water by the end of summer to the jagged cliffs of Choboi Cape. The island is also considered one of the five poles of Shamanic energy by the Buryat people and there is certainly something spiritual about this jewel of Baikal.

Olkhon is a sublime place to get away from it all and is the best point to take in Lake Baikal. The downside is the journey to get to and from the island from Irkutsk which is time-consuming.

★  Olkhon is as much about experiencing the island as a whole rather than individual a string of individual sights.

★  Visit the beach near Shaman’s rock just north of Khuzhir where it is actually almost a pleasant temperature to swim by late August.

★  See the dramatic cliffs at Choboi Cape, one of the best spots for lake views.

★  Rent a kayak when the lake is calm.

★  Camp at Sahara Lake – a small salty lake.

Olkhon is usually reached from Irkutsk by public bus and a boat trip. This is quite time consuming and, of course, you need to return to Irkutsk to rejoin the train by the same route so consider if this additional travel time against areas of the lake closer to Irkutsk.

Most accommodation on Olkhon Island is located in the main village of Khuzhir where we use the Olkhonskie Terema Hotel. Camping is also a good option on the island and a multi day trip might include at least one night under canvas.

Click on any of the destinations below to explore other places in Russia that can be incorporated into your Trans-Siberian tour.

By Phil Stanley & Headseast – TCTC Destination Expert.