Listvyanka

Listvyanka (Russian: Листвя́нка leest-VYAHN-kuh) is a small town in Irkutsk Oblast on the shores of Lake Baikal. Understand Get in Listvyanka in December By bus or marshrutka from Irkutsk, mainly from the bus station, however some marshrutkas go from the railway station as well. By boat you can get there from Irkutsk and Port Baykal. You can get to the port in Irkutsk by marshrutka no. 16 By bus If you go by bus, you have to leave from the autobus station (avtobus stanice). The bus is often full and doesn't take on passengers along the way when it is. There are at least buses each day, a bus costs 100 rubles, it takes an hour and 40 min to get to Listvjanka. (Oct 2010) From the train Station to the autobus station (avtobus stantice) You can get to the autobus station from the railway station by taking tram number 1 or 2 (right in front of the station, take a tram that goes to the right.). Get out after four stops (Central Market), change to tram number 4, ride two more stations, then you can see the autobus station. Trams cost 12 rubles. By ship The port is called Raketa. The boat isn't very expensive, but it can be overbooked. The staff at the port is really unhelpful, so attempt to get tickets online in advance. Travel time: 1h 20 min. It arrives to the pier known as Rogatka. Get around See St. Nikolay Church Baikal Limnology Museum. To learn about history of the Baikal, its worlds of animals and plants. To see seals and fish in the aquarium. There is a dendropark nearby. The big solar vacuum telescope on the hill for registration of sun's activity. Breath-taking view. St. Nikolay Church, built in the end of XIX century. Private gallery. Adress: 76, Chapayeva st. Do Rent an all-terrain vehicle or a bike at Baikal-Visa Info Center. In the winter do dog-sledging. Info-Center is inside the Town Administration building close to the Hotel Mayak. They could help in accomodations, excursions and picking a tour as well as providing information on schedules. E-mail: info@baikalvisa.ru; phone: +7 (3952) 550-464, 792-551, 792-556; fax: +7 (3952) 792-546. Internet access. Buy Omul fish In the market-place there are stalls of fish for sale and precious stones, emblems and amulets. Like everywhere bargaining is right. Eat You can try Omul, which is a local fish speciality which you can buy from locals at the market. You can also try Buriat food in Buriat restaurant located just next to the market by the shore of the lake. Drink Sleep The town has a few hotels (The upper-end hotels have English-speaking attendants) Conference-Hotel Mayak[1] ul. Gorky, 85A (lat 51°50'57"N, long 104°52'15"E). Prominent seven-floor hotel. Rooms start at 120 USD. Hotel Legenda Baikala [2] ul. Istok Angara, 11 (lat 51°52'33"N, long 104°49'45"E), at the mouth of the Angara River. Plenty of amenities. Rooms start at 110 USD, Suite at 235 USD. Hotel Krestovaya Pad [3] ul. Gornaya, 14A (lat 51°51'28N, long 104°51'35E), near the St. Nikolay Church. Rooms start at 110 USD, cabins at over 500 USD. The Park Center unadvertised rooms for $10 Derevenka (not a hotel, they rent wooden cabins on a ground filled with wooden cabin, with view of lake Baikal, around $25 a night) You can also sleep in the privates. It is cheaper and you will meet locals. Accommodation next to the main road costs around 350 rubles, accommodation somewhere further can by find from 250 rubles (summer 2008). Get out Take a ferry across Angara river to port Baikal to ride on a train on the Circum-Baikal Railway. You can go by boat to Bolshoie Koty, a village in the heart of Baykal national park. You can also go for various excursions on the boats. This article is an outline and needs more content. It has a template, but there is not enough information present. Please plunge forward and help it grow!