Irkutsk Off The Beaten Path

 
by JessieLang
 
  •   Off The Beaten Path
    by JessieLang
  •   Off The Beaten Path
    by JessieLang
  •   Off The Beaten Path
    by JessieLang
  •   Off The Beaten Path
    by JessieLang
  •   Off The Beaten Path
    by JessieLang
 

Most Recent Off The Beaten Path in Irkutsk

Taltsi Museum of Wooden Architecture
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JessieLang 636 reviews
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When a power station was built in 1964, the old wooden buildings in the area were saved, brought to this site, and turned into an outdoor museum. The buildings range from a 1643 fort to houses built as late as the 19th Century. It is a large site and we didn’t see all of it, but we wandered through a number of buildings, including the schoolhouse and church, the fort, and some homes.
It is a large site, and I didn't have time to see all of it.

Take the road to Listvyanka; Taltsi Museum is 47 km from Irkutsk. Get a brochure when you enter--it has a nice map.

Written Oct 18, 2012

Phone: (8-3952) 33-47-05

Related to:
 Architecture
 Historical Travel
 Museum Visits

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Bol'shiye Koty : quiet alternative to Lystvyanka
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bartw 14 reviews
Bolshie Koty

Main stop on the Transsiberian and Transmongolian train routes, Irkutsk is the gateway to Lake Baikal.

The closest and most easily reachable village on Lake Baikal is Listvyanka. However, due to crowding, Listvyanka has little charm left if you ask me.

Harder to reach (as there are no roads leading there) but therefor much quieter and authentic is the village of Bolshie Koty, +/- 20 km more to the north on the Baikal's lake western shore.

With less than 20 inhabitants (and never more than 100 residents in summer), no cars and no real roads, this place feels like the end of the world.

In summer a daily connection by hovercraft exists between the Raketa Harbour at Irkutsk and Bolshie Koty (stopping also at Listvyanka), schedules see here : http://www.vsrp.ru

Updated Nov 6, 2011

Website: http://www.virtualtourist.com/travel/Europe/Russia/Irkutskaya_Oblast/Bolshiye_Koty-612288/TravelGuide-Bolshiye_Koty.html

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Open Air Museum
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tini58de 2509 reviews
Detail of a roof

The Talcy museum was founded in 1969 and is situated between Irkutsk and Lake Baikal. There are over 40 monuments, like a wooden church, a wooden fort, a schoolhouse and other buildings of architectural heritage plus 8,000 historical exhibits. You can find both an area of Russian architecture as well as of Buryat housing and life.

Operating hours: daily, from 10:00am to 5:00pm.

Updated Apr 4, 2011

Related to:
 Museum Visits
 Architecture

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Quiz night at Senator Restaurant
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Gjosz 2 reviews
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You want to learn local people, get a taste of Russian amusement performance and get your hunger stilled.
Visit the senator Restaurant, Wednesday evening (please check) Quiz night.
In Russian of course, but due to type of question you always will recognize and know answers without any knowledge of the language.

But be prepared, just a few words of Russian always will be of help.

Written Nov 25, 2009

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Best coffee in Irkutsk
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rsudic 201 reviews
cafe
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Cafe and flower shop, cool combination. Can't remember street name but one of two main is for sure. Just look all three photos I posted and try to find two cups in front of the shop. Staff is really friendly.

Written Dec 25, 2006

Related to:
 Trains
 Backpacking

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Listvjanka
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tini58de 2509 reviews
Listvjanka

Listvjanka is this beautiful fishing village, that about every tourist group has to visit - and still I had the feeling, it was quite off the beaten path! I have the best of memories from both of my visits!

The first time we were just more or less left alone and strolled through the village with those beautiful wooden houses. It was then when an old man invited us in and showed us pictures of his family and of him as a young lad who had just killed a brown bear! It was such a heartwarming encounter, since he did not speak any English and non of us knew any Russian, but still we communicated!

The second time we visited the church of Listvjanka and were offered a little icon of the saint of travellers and thieves - hahaha, what a nice combination!!! Of course, I bought one and it is accompanying me ever since!

The limnological museum of Listvjanka is a real sight to see as well! I have never ever seen such a colorful and full museum in my whole life! Fun!!!

Updated Sep 3, 2006

Website: http://www.baikalex.com/travel/listvyanka.html

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Lake Baikal
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tini58de 2509 reviews
Lake Baikal

it is not off the beaten path, but it is a couple of kilometers away and sooooooo worthwhile visiting: Lake Baikal!

Lake Baikal is the oldest lake (25 million years) and the deepest lake (1700 m deep) in the whole world. It contains 20% of the non-frozen fresh water reserves!

Lake Baikal is a UNESCO World Nature site and here is why: UNESCO description of Lake Baikal

Updated Sep 3, 2006

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Irkutsk Theater
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fal1206 1 reviews
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Thanks to Eugene Iachmenov i went to the theater bar , close to the Irkustk Grand theater. I met there all the comedians you can see in the picture ...
the day after, i attended "Cyrano de Bergerac" played in russian in the theater ... played by my friends
Inforgettable moment
thank you all
Thank you Eugene

Written Dec 22, 2005

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Port Baikal
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explore77 5 reviews

Port Baikal... the city where in the really old days the trans-siberian train entered the ships and sailed across the baikal to continue the jorney on the other side. this extremely small city is one of the places where everybody knows everybody and where the history teacher have been teaching the grandmother, mother and daughter in the school! this is no joke! at the same time it is quite charming, but without many of the modern day facilities that the west are used to. the surroundings are beautyful with the baikal lake on one side and the hills and mountains to the other side. in between you have the city where cows and chickens are "rulling" the unpaved streets. the city itself does not offer much, but the area around it is great for hiking. the city is located on the opposite side of the angara river where listvyanka is. there are 2 daily ferrys crossing from listyanka to port baikal which would offer you a perfect combination of going to listvyanka and then in the evning croosing the angara river and spending the night in port baikal. port baikal is also the starting point of the circum baikal railway, which was a part of the trans siberian railway when the tzar constructed a railway around the baikal lake so the train should not cross the lake. today there are tourist trains going along the lake from port baikal to sludyanka and then back again to irkutsk. it would be a perfect 2 day tour... but be aware the tourist train does not have departure every day, so check before leaving.

Written Jul 22, 2005

Related to:
 Backpacking
 Hiking and Walking
 Budget Travel

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Olkhon
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explore77 5 reviews
Khaboy Cape in the distance

If you are a nature lover, then Olkhon is the place to go. Olkhon is the biggest of the islands in the lake Baikal… and probably also the most interesting. The bus trip to Olkhon is very tiresome, 6-8 hours in bus, but it is worth it… just don’t go there for 1 night! Busses leave from the central bus station everyday during the morning. And just in case you are wondering, then there are plenty of things to do and see to make a trip last for 5 days, or longer! One thing you have to be aware of is that only now power lines are being established from the island to the mainland, which also means that many of the everyday comfort are not available. But if you love wild nature, a clear starry sky at night, adventures, mysticism, bird watching… yes you more or less name it then Olkhon is the place to go. when you choose to go back then buy the ticket at least one day before, preferebly two days during high season, otherwise you might not go back the day you want to.

Updated Oct 28, 2004

Related to:
 Hiking and Walking
 Horse Riding
 Safari

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