The largest island in the lake, with steppe, cliffs and beaches.
Address: Olkhon Island, Irkutsk Oblast
Olkhon is about 72 km long and sits in the centre of Lake Baikal, which is around 25 million years old, up to 1,642 metres deep and holds about a fifth of the world's unfrozen fresh surface water. Baikal is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The island is a mix of dry steppe in the south and pine forest and cliffs in the north, with Buryat villages, shaman sites and wide beaches. In winter the lake freezes into clear turquoise ice full of cracks and bubbles.
July and August for swimming in sheltered bays; February and March for ice.
Sunrise and sunset over the lake.
Spring and autumn ice break-up can cut off the island for weeks.
Well-known hotels within easy reach. Many international booking sites do not work here, so book direct or through local platforms.
By minibus and ferry from Irkutsk, about 5 to 6 hours.
Summer for hiking, late winter for ice.
Yes, in shallow bays in July and August, though the water is cold.
