Ulan Ude to Listvianka (Baykal Lake) - 540kms

After a quiet night in Ulan Ude it was time to head for one of the highlights on the list, Lake Baikal (Baykal) just over 500kms down the road.

The night before we had been told about the Rally Raid event due into Ulan Ude the next day. A quick look online showed us that the Silk Way Rally was leaving Irkutsk at the bottom of the lake heading our way so we saw a multitude of vehicles heading east including the Rally Trucks, Cars, Buggys and there related support vehicles - some of the trucks were very expensive looking bits of kit. When we saw a buggy refueling we decided to stop for a quick look.

The Silk Way Rally is one of the most large-scale competition in the world of cross-country rallies.
The first edition took place in 2009 and connected Russia, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan. At that time the rally was conducted at the initiative of the presidents of these three countries, who were also personally present on the award ceremony. The rally name “Silk Way” represents the Eurasian nature of the race and its meaning for the connection of all countries in the area of the ancient Silk Way. From 2010 to 2013 about one thousand racers on their cars and trucks represented 30 world countries on the rally.

In 2016, thanks to the support of rally general partner Gazprom, Silk Way Rally reached a new level: rally route for the first time in its history crossed Russia, Kazakhstan and China from Moscow to Beijing. Such decision was made to emphasize the active development of diplomatic, social and economic relations between Russia and China.
Since 2016, the rally has taken form of a transcontinental rally marathon, uniting the sportsmen from dozens of countries on the unique route along the ancient Silk Road.

In 2019 Silk Way Rally sets off from Irkutsk on July 6. After that the competitors will proceed to the world’s deepest lake, Baikal, and reach the first bivouac. While the racers are exploring new regions, TV audience gets an opportunity to follow them on their way across East Siberia, Russian taiga forests, Mongolian steppes, Chinese plains and the sands of Gobi desert. Finish ceremony will take place on July 16 in a picturesque town of Dunhuang right at the foot of the high dunes.

Video of some of the Silk Way Rally Raid Vehicles here

Time for fuel and then lunch

Is that bloody Gopro working

First glimpse of the Lake?

Here comes John

The lake and a nearby town

Our accommodation for the next two nights: Legend of Baikal

Some things are mandatory and posting a picture of a Volga is one of them