Popular route on the Great Baikal Trail. A favourite hike for many is to walk for a full day along the trail from the port town of Listvyanka, up north along the coast of Baikal, to the village of Big Cats (Bolshiye Koty).

Well, let's say that you might like to visit Baikal. You love being out in the wild. And you also like hanging out with new friends that you meet along the way. Maybe also you'd like to help us protect Baikal and all its beauty.

Lake Baikal is almost entirely surrounded by national parks or other specially protected areas. So it might help here to talk more about all of these parks, and what laws and restrictions apply to each of the protected territories in Russia.

Some helpful rules and norms while you hike along trails in nature.