Irkutskaya Oblast' Travel Forum

Hello
I am planing sleep 1-2 night on Bajkal lake 12-13.07.2008
I am looking a chaep sleep. Anyone could recomende something me? What city on Bajkal lake ? and on the other hand I am looking realy cheap sleep in Irkuck ?

Is there an American Consulate/Embassy in Irkuts? If there is not, what is the closest location where people from Irkutsk get their USA visas? Thank you

Does anyone know where I can get a visa support letter/invitation from anywhere in Irkutsk or Ulan Ude?

Thanks

Hi,
I am visiting Irkutsk in October and would like to use a homestay while there. I have read that there are plenty of people waiting at the train station advertising homestays on signs and I don't need to try and book one in advance. Is this correct?
Cheers
Peter

Hello. My girlfriend & I are planning to spend a couple of months in Russia basing ourselves in Irkutsk. I am looking for some general information about living costs, but especially renting a small apartment( as I hope this will cut the costs abit) & the possibility of teaching english to keep the bank balance from collapsing. I am from the UK & my girlfriend is Slovak( & speaks Russian, a big help)....we'd also like to get in touch with anyone living in Irkutsk, especially Russian, as it's always helpful to have friends. Thanks to all who reply. Andy

My husband and I are moving to Irkutsk and are interested in knowing about the cost of living in Irkutsk and surrounding area. We have lived for about 7 years in Russian towns, so we do not want to live like tourists. Our goal is to blend and live more or less like the locals. Any info on the range of rent costs or costs for buying property there would be appreciated. Thanks for your replies in advance.

Cor

Does anyone have any weblinks or info on the regularity of the Hydrofoil to Yakutsk from Ust-Kut? I believe the journey takes about 3 days, but I'm unclear (or actually just in the dark) on how many times a week it goes and how far in advance it needs to be booked. Also, do I need more than one city listed on my visa within the Republic of Sakha in order to gain entry? Yakutsk is already listed.
Thank you very, very much.
L

HI, My partner and I will be stopping at Lake Baikal and were wondering how long to stay there, we are outdorrs type people with all our own camping gear is there neough to do to stay for a week or more? Is it a relaxing place etc?

Cheers

I am travellling with my partner on the Transiberain railway and will be stopping at lake Baial. As we need to buy the train tickets upfront with dates we need to decide how long to stay at each place. We like the outdoors and have all our own camping gear with us. How long could you spend at Lake Baikal before you get bored? Is a week enough, or could you do more? Is there plenty to do and explore? And are you allowed to camp?

Thanks

Hi

I will be in Irkutsk on May 19 2007. Does anyone know of a good bar that will show the English FA Cup Final on TV?

Also if there are any fans of Zvezda Irkutsk on this site please feel free to contact me.

Thank you

Jerry

Hello to all, again. I am now trying to find prices for some of the hotels everyone has so graciously recommended. I have tried to book a hotel online, but I have not had any success. Can anyone make a recommendation. I have been told to expect to spend $200.00 a night, does that sound correct?

Hello all and thank you in advance to those who reply. I will be traveling to Irkutsk in November to meet a dear friend. I am somewhat concerned about neo-nazi activity and I am trying to determine the safest place to stay (a hotel) and the best way to get around town without using public transportation. From what I have been able to learn from reading news reports and other sources, neo-nazi activity seems to be confined to areas that are less than desirable -- is that true? Are there any car services in Irkutsk that I could arrange in advance? Is there an office of the American Embassy in Irkutsk? All replies will be greatly appreciated.

Does anyone know the Parus Travel Agency in Irkutsk and have you had any dealings with them?

According to what I have read on VT, it seems that 1) visiting Baikal lake is a must; 2)it's a good idea going off the beaten path and visiting the most "unexplored" parts of it. That's why I was considering the option of getting a car in Irkutsk or Listvyanka for a couple of days. Does anybody know where I can do it? Or, are there alternatives like hiring a guide or a taxi driver?

Thank you in advance!

Hi, I get into to Irkutsk about 10am by train and want to travel to Khuzir on the same day in September. I'm in a group of 6 people. This seems to be too late for us to take the bus but I've read that we can take a minibus there. Can I book this in advance. Or would I be able to find a minibus on the day I arrive?

Thanks for any help.

Can anyone please tell me if their are any tourist apartments for rent in Irkutsk?

Does anyone knows the name of the hotel right near Irkutsk airport, and if possible their phone#?

Thank you.

Eric

As a part of our trip with the Trans-mongolian, we`re going to stay in Listvyanka, near Lake Baikal, for a few days. As we travel on a quite low budget, I`m wondering if someone knows about some cheap places to stay there?

Also heard a tiny bit about homestays, how does that work, and is it worth the money?

Thanks,
Frank

Hello!

Does anybody know that if I can apply for Mogolia visa at Mongolia consulate at Irkutsk?
I've read related infomation on LP, just wanna make sure.


Thanks for your replay in advance!!


Best,
Martha

Hello,

On my journey next month from Vladivostok back to the west (I live in Belgium) I plan to stay a week or so in the Ulan-Ude and Irkutsk region. Of course I want to spend two night or so in both cities. Beside of that there a lot of other interestings I should like to do:
- visiting a budhist monestary and spend a night there, if possible
- following the Circum-Baikal Railway to Port Baikal: partly by food, partly by train (if possible)
- take a boat to Bolschije Kotui and walk back to Listvyanka.
- maybe visit Olkhon island
- departing from from Irkutsk with the hydrofoil to Bratsk.
- … (other ideas coming from people knowing the region :-)

How can I best organise all of that? Are there experiences of other travellers
who done this in the past. Suggestions about homestays or other accomodations are also welcome.

All suggestions are welcome !!!!!!

Privet to all VT'ers,
I've read on my Lonely Planet guide that finding a (budget) accomodation in Irkutsk without booking in advance might be hard. Is that true? I will travel there in mid August.
Also, any suggestions about good accomodation (B&B, hostels, apartments) will be much appreciated.

ZoT

Is camping possible around Baikal? Are there any camping facilities near the towns? I am visiting Baikal in the second half of June. Thank you.

Bonjour,
I plan in march 2006 to go from IKT to Ulan Ude Chita and Then Khabarovsk to meet local painters in their workshops (spending about 3 to 4 days in each town).
I am french tourist interested in Siberian painters and i already did those cultural trips several times in the past, it s an amazing way of discovering those cultures.
(my profesional activity has nothing to see with those trips)

Would you like to join me ?
If you like art and painting,
if you are from Sibir
Ir you are available in march 2006
if you can translate from russian to french/english
Contact me to discuss further into details on how to deal with that.
Poka

I can't stand any more of those cold, creepy, impersonal hotels. Any information on finding a decent B&B or homestay with locals in or near Irkutsk (or Baikal) would be most appreciated.

I am posting this on behalf of a friend who is at the moment travelling by ferry from Japan to Shanghai. He is planning to get all the way back to England by surface transport. He is travelling from Shanghai to Beijing, then by train, arriving in Irkutsk September 6th. He has tickets booked as far as Irkutsk.
He has been trying to secure a ticket from Irkutsk to Moscow and onwards to Riga.
Reading others' tips it seems it should be possible to book these tickets when he arrives in Irkutsk - he plans to stay there for a few days. Can anyone confirm that this should be ok. It would be great to hear from anyone who has done this trip or something similar so that I can pass on any advice.
Many thanks
Ellen Morgan

So it is my turn to ask the experts. On my many trips to Russia i have come across a "mystery" for me... and nobody have been able to give me an answer... but maybe there are no answer? I have noticed, mainly in the country, that the window frames are painted blue! why blue? was it fashion 100 years ago when it was painted last time or does it have something to do with nationalism? Or is it me who is just going crazy? Well the last explanation can not be rulled out! :op I appologize that i have no photo of it on the computer, but if anyone knows what i am talking about and have an idea... well feel free to answer.
thanks to all for the possible answer.

Pls tell me...

thank you.

Hi all - any suggestions for a reasonable clean hotel in Irkutsk where I can stay first night after arrival on train? I believe I will need a hotel that will take care of registering my visa and allow me to be on my way to Olkhon Island the next day. Thanks!

Privet! Hello! Hola
Well..I am going to be in Irkutsk from the 19th of june until 9th of july and I am thinking about to write an article about Syberian shamanism and traditional beliefs in the Irkutsk area. Any sugestion or help will be wellcome
Spasibo bolshoe!

I heard about a shamans' meeting at Olkjon Island but I couldn't confirm if that was only for one time or it's every year

What reasonably reliable airline(s) should I contact for an Irkutsk-Beijing flight in August? Does anyone have a suggestion for an agency/website to book this? Also, I'm interested in Trans-Mongolian rail travel Beijing-Irkutsk via Ulaanbataar, where I will be stopping over for a week.
Thanks