Siberia: Off the rails

From Irkutsk train station we somehow find our way through the cirrilic labyrinth to the central bus station. There we take a 6-hours bus to Khuzir on the island Olchon which is situated at lake Baikal, the largest and deepest fresh water lake on earth. People say the water is clean enough to drink it straight away. The village itself is a fascinating mix of an 80 years old fishermen settlement and a rapidly expanding tourism sector since the last 5 years. Streets are not paved but newly build holiday apartments frame the dusty streets. Old Soviet UAZ trucks share the road with brand new SUVs. No tap water, but a fully equipped supermarket. Cows and quads. We find accommodation in a wooden shack in someone's backyard. Let's see what this island is all about.Read more