Irkutsk – Listvyanka (cruise start) – Cape Polovinny – Ogoy Island – Olkhon Island (Khuzhir) – Small Ushkany Islands – Davsha – Ayaya Bay – Olkhon Island (Usury) – Akademicheskaya Bay (Sandy Bay, Babushka Bay) – Listvyanka (the end of the cruise) – Irkutsk

Irkutsk is the largest city and administrative center of Irkutsk Oblast, Russia. Irkutsk is the 25th largest city in Russia by population, the 5th largest in the Siberian Federal District, and one of the largest cities in Siberia. Many distinguished Russians were sent into exile in Irkutsk for their part in the Decembrist revolt of 1825, and the city became an exile-post for the rest of the century. Some historic wooden houses still survive. When the railway reached Irkutsk, it had earned the nickname of "The Paris of Siberia." The city was the center of bitter fighting in the Russian Civil War of 1918–20. Afterward, in the Soviet period, its architecture was dominated by the mandatory squared-up style. The city became a major centre of aircraft manufacture. The historic centre of Irkutsk is located on UNESCO's tentative list of World Heritage Sites.

Geographical location. Located in the south of the eponymous oblast, the city proper lies on the Angara River, a tributary of the Yenisei, about 850 kilometres (530 mi) to the south-east of Krasnoyarsk and about 520 kilometres (320 mi) north of Ulaanbaatar. The Trans-Siberian Highway (Federal M53 and M55 Highways) and Trans-Siberian Railway connect Irkutsk to other regions in Russia and Mongolia.

Territory: 277 (sq. km)

Population: 617 473 residents

Local time: Moscow time + 5

Listvyanka is an urban locality (a work settlement) in Irkutsky District of Irkutsk Oblast, Russia, located 70 kilometres (43 mi) from Irkutsk, near the point where the Angara River leaves Lake Baikal.

Population: 1 882 residents

Local time: Moscow time + 5

Cape Polovinnyy is a cape near the Polovinny tunnel, which is the longest tunnel of the Circum-Baikal Railway. Its length is 778.4 m (2552 ft). Unlike the other tunnels of the Circum-Baikal Railway this one is absolutely straight. The tunnel is drilled through Polovinny Cape, one of the most beautiful spots of the railroad. The cape and the tunnel got their names thanks to the Polovinnaya River whose mouth divides the distance between the Station of Kultuk and the source of the Angara River in two equal halves.

Ogoy is the largest island in the Maloe More strait of Lake Baikal. It has an elongated shape, 2.9 km (1.8 mi) in length and 0.6 km (0.37 mi) in width. It is located between the Cape Shara-Shulun on the west coast of the Olkhon Island and Kurminskiy Bay on the western shore of Lake Baikal. The island is uninhabited.

Khuzhir is a rural locality (a settlement) in Olkhonsky District of Irkutsk Oblast, Russia, located on the west side of the Olkhon Island, the largest island in Lake Baikal region.

Population: 1 350 residents

The Ushkany Islands is a small archipelago in the middle part of Lake Baikal. Totally four islands – Large, Long, Thin and Round. The Islands are part of the Zabaikalsky National Park. Visitsto the archipelago are limited, a landing permit and a recreational fee are required.

The nature of the Ushkany Islands is amazing – this area is isolated from the "big earth" for hundreds of years; a special ecosystem has been formedthere. 

The Baikal is famous for a large number of endemics. The Ushkany Islands are inhabited by the species of plants and living organisms that are neither in the world, nor even in other parts of Lake Baikal can be met.

Davsha is a tiny village on the North-Eastern shore of Lake Baikal. The population is only 10-15 people, while the majority are seasonal workers of the Barguzin nature reserve. The name Davsha has Evenk roots and means "meadows", or "wide open area". The Central office of the Barguzin nature reserve was in Davsha for a long time. Today Davsha is a division of the reserve. The Barguzin reserve was the first reserve in Russia created in 1916 to keep a population of the Barguzin sable.

Ayaya Bay (please do not mix it up with Aya Bay in the southern part of lake Baikal) is one of the most beautiful places in Northern Baikal with a golden sandy beach. Locals claim that the name of the bay comes from an exclamation of surprise: "ay-ay, what a beauty!" In fact, the name comes from the Evenk "Aya" - beautiful.

The bay deeply cuts into the shore and forms a cozy, quiet area, sheltered from some cold Baikal winds. This is one of the few places on Lake Baikal and if you are lucky, you can meet seals in their natural habitat. The place is protected by the Frolikha reserve to keep its original beauty.

Olkhon is the largest island on Lake Baikal. It is called the "heart of the Baikal", for it is located just in the center of the lake. In addition, if you look at the map, Olkhon shape resembles the one of Lake Baikal. The name of the island derives from the Buryat word "oyhon" - "forest", although the forest is found only in the central part of the island. The length of the island is about 72 km, the maximum width – 15 km. The population is about 1500 people.

The Buryats believe that the most menacing spirits of Lake Baikal inhabits the island. According to a legend, HotoBaabai Khan came down from heaven and chose his earthly castle on the island, to sit and judge people. His son, the white eagle, first received the shaman gift long ago and he has been guarding the island ever since.

Olkhon Island is a part of the Pribaikalsky National Park. There are no paved roads on the island, the terrain features allow you to move comfortably only on SUVs. Olkhon is a very popular tourist destination. There are many hotels, holiday centers and guesthouses on the island to meet any taste and budget. The deepest point of Lake Baikal, 1637 m, is located not far from the northeastern shore of Olkhon. Tourists go to Olkhon to enjoy beautiful nature and collect incredible energy of Lake Baikal. This is the center of Buryat and Central Asian shamanism, there are many sacred places, including one of the nine shrines of Asia – Shamanka Rock. According to local legends, the first Buryat shaman received his gift on the island.

Akademicheskaya Bay is one of the most beautiful places on Lake Baikal. This is the territory of the Pribaikalsky National Park. The sides of the Bay are limited by picturesque rocks – Large and Small Bell Towers. These places is called "Baikal Riviera" due to the azure, incredibly beautiful color of the water and a long sandy beach. 

Listvyanka is an urban locality (a work settlement) in Irkutsky District of Irkutsk Oblast, Russia, located 70 kilometres (43 mi) from Irkutsk, near the point where the Angara River leaves Lake Baikal.

Population: 1 882 residents

Local time: Moscow time + 5

Irkutsk is the largest city and administrative center of Irkutsk Oblast, Russia. Irkutsk is the 25th largest city in Russia by population, the 5th largest in the Siberian Federal District, and one of the largest cities in Siberia. Many distinguished Russians were sent into exile in Irkutsk for their part in the Decembrist revolt of 1825, and the city became an exile-post for the rest of the century. Some historic wooden houses still survive. When the railway reached Irkutsk, it had earned the nickname of "The Paris of Siberia." The city was the center of bitter fighting in the Russian Civil War of 1918–20. Afterward, in the Soviet period, its architecture was dominated by the mandatory squared-up style. The city became a major centre of aircraft manufacture. The historic centre of Irkutsk is located on UNESCO's tentative list of World Heritage Sites.

Geographical location. Located in the south of the eponymous oblast, the city proper lies on the Angara River, a tributary of the Yenisei, about 850 kilometres (530 mi) to the south-east of Krasnoyarsk and about 520 kilometres (320 mi) north of Ulaanbaatar. The Trans-Siberian Highway (Federal M53 and M55 Highways) and Trans-Siberian Railway connect Irkutsk to other regions in Russia and Mongolia.

Territory: 277 (sq. km)

Population: 617 473 residents

Local time: Moscow time + 5