Irkutsk Flights

this an other gret thing of the russian trains they have a sanovar, so you cab make coffe thea and soup!!

Go by train, it is a must!! If you go by train, stock up on food and drink, but not to much it is fun to buy food on the station where the train stips long enough and get the local food, some of the food is still warm so you will not starve!!!!
Tram, walking taxi bus

To get to Irkutsk you can go by plane or by train
(Transsiberian Railway).

We took the train both times and Irkutsk was right in the middle of our trip: 3 days from Moscow and 3 days from both Khabarovsk and Beijing...

If you are interested in the Transsiberian Railway, please have a look at my Russia page

Within Irkutsk you can walk or take a bus.

Although I did not try any other way, I think the best way to get to travel around Russia is by rail! First, it is the most common way of Russians to travel; Secondly it is quite cheap (we payed about US$100 for Moscow - Ulan-Ude (further than Irkutsk) - Moscow including all supplements) and Thirdly is a lot of fun and very relaxing. Of course you need to take some time - we travelled 4 weeks from Berlin to Ulan-Ude and back. We bought all our tickets on the way exept Moscow-Ekaterinburg and proved that it is possible to all Russians who warned us. Ok, it is not always easy to get tickets. You should keep in mind the following:
1)It is mostly impossible to buy a ticket for a train not leaving the place where you just are (we managed once)
2)Come as early as possible (two days ahead is fine), do not expect to get a ticket just before the train leaves
3)Have somebody with you who knows at least some Russian
4)Take cheaper trains (numbers greater than 100), they are stopping more often, but are also very nice
5)Be prepared to change your plans if you do not get tickets for the train you want
6)Always have all passports with you.

We always took coupe, a four-bed compartment, there is also luxe (two beds, more expensive) and platzkarta (a lot of beds in one car, no walls in between, quite noisy and crowded, we never took it).

In every car there is a boiling water supply for tea which is free of charge and two toilets (no showers), your compartment can be safely locked from inside and is a pleasent place to be. You have four beds at all times, two on each side, and you can comfortably sit on the lower ones using the table in between for food and games.

Every few houres the train stops for 20 minutes and you can walk around a bit and buy all kinds of food from the locals very cheap - so don't take too much food besides tea on your journey.

We felt so much at home after some time that we were dissapointed when a 27 hour ride was over!
To go from Irkutsk to Lake Baikal you should take the Boat (hydrofoil), it is cheaper and faster and more fun than the bus. You have to get to the hidrofoil terminal (I think Bus #16)

A boat trip on Lake Baikal can be quite nice - but you will have to wait until the ice melts - and that can take quite a while!!!

First time we were there in March - and the lake was still frozen!!

"Bargusin" is the biggest and most popular ship at Baikal.
It takes 200 passengers.

You can take it if you are going to Peschanaya bay or to Ust'-Bargusin.

For short cruises "Yaroslavets" is the best.

"Yaroslaveys" is the model name of those small ships.
It is about 100 ships like this at the Baikal lake.

The best place to rent "Yaroslavets" is Listvianka village.