Baikal in Winter

Winter offers lots of activities to those ones who are looking for a truly impressive adventure. Baikal’s climate is much milder than that of the surrounding territory, very unpredictable and quite different in different parts, though. At that, it offers a lot of sunny days, just like Sochi or Riga seaside.

December

This month is not very popular among tourists, but depending on the temperatures, you might already enjoy ice in some bays. The wind is rather harsh and forms ice mounds at the shore. You can frequently see fog embracing the surface of the lake. December at Lake Baikal is definitely the best time for those adventurous people and photography-lovers, who would like to immerse into the serenity of snow-bound Siberian taiga and enjoy the local peaks and reserves.

January

The frostiest month of the year at Baikal with the temperatures sometimes falling below -30°C (-86°F), it is the beginning of winter tourist season. The lake, though, is just beginning to get iced properly, depending on the place, since the lake freezes up unevenly due to its length. You may well enjoy trekking, husky rides and snowmobiling around the lake, mountain skiing and snowboarding, as well as visit glacier shaman caves, and bathe in hot springs. You might also meet an endemic Baikal seal that gives birth to its pups later next month. And there always are warm clothes and Russian sauna at that.

February and March

Sunny and not so cold as January (and yes, mid-March is still winter at Baikal), these are the best months to enjoy the lake’s grandeur. The ice is safe to walk or drive on already, and the ice road to Olkhon Island is open. It is windy, and the winds blow away the snow from the surface, exposing all sorts of ice that the lake has to offer. February and March are the busiest months, with tourists from all over the world coming to see the famous bubbles under the transparent ice, to listen to its song with your ear against the surface, to skate it, and even to take part in Ice Storm, a unique Baikal extreme ultramarathon, when you can cover around 200 km by bike or skies across the glittering lake!

Baikal in Spring

Spring comes late to Baikal since the ice isn’t fast to melt down and cools the air around.

April

It’s getting warmer, but the temperatures are still slightly below zero degrees C (32°F) depending on the place. With a hat and a sunscreen, you can still practice sunbathing, skiing, or ice fishing, though closer to end-April, ice is no longer safe, so it’s better to enjoy the picturesque cracks from shore or from Hivus hoverboard.

May

Nature is just beginning to wake up, manifesting itself with waves of lovely purple flowers of Rhododendron dauricum all over the shores and rare sprouts. The ice is actively drifting across the lake, and despite the sun, the days are still windy and chilly. Rare tourists enjoy motor-boating, picnics, and meditative walks in the awakened reserves.

Baikal in Summer

June

It is a quiet and green summertime, with few tourists and no storms. The water is too cold for swimming, but the opening of regular cruises season and fishing make up for it perfectly. You can easily find a secluded place to sunbathe or to return to your true self while peacefully watching the sunrise or walking in the mountains or forests.  
 

July and August

Truly a high season with the temperature reaching up to 25°C (77°F), these months offer multiple tourists all sorts of activities to enjoy – swimming, rafting, canoeing, hiking, camping, while nights in a tent are no longer way too chilly. It gets colder by mid-August when winds come back to cool the lake.

Baikal in Autumn

Autumn comes suddenly to Baikal, bringing shades and colors a painter has always dreamed of depicting.

September

A truly poetic time, the first half of the month offers you a warm Indian summer under blue skies. Peace and quietness settle in the place, and the nature generously treats you to fish from the lake and lingonberries from the forests around – the last gifts before the dead season comes.
 

October and November

There are even fewer people visiting the lake, with harsh winds and temperature drops taking place closer to mid-October. Lake navigation is over till summer, the first snow falls, and tourist activity lulls till winter.

The locals are truly fond of Lake Baikal in all seasons, and I haven’t heard anyone speaking about it without the most tender affection.