Due to ever-growing cities and the parasitic urbanization of natural lands, it can be hard to find remote backpacking destinations these days.

Luckily, there are still some places where the natural beauty of the untamed wilderness is all you can see for miles.

Here are some of the top locations for backpackers looking to get as far away from civilization as possible.

1. Lake Baikal, Russia

Baikal is the oldest and deepest freshwater lake in the world. It stretches 400 miles through south-eastern Siberia, just north of the Mongolian border, within the cleft where Asia is splitting apart. This split will become an ocean in many years to come.

Camping on beautiful Lake Baikal

Stunning Sights

Seals frequent the waters and rocky sides of the lake, basking in the open sun to watch visitors meander by. Olkhon Island is home to a rock formation, which used to be a cave, known as Shamanka Rock.

This site was once the place where shamans carried out sacrifices to the spirits of the island.

To this day, people continue to visit to experience its beauty and captivating history.

How to Get There

Lake Baikal is a breathtaking destination surrounded by the Siberian taiga forests and large snow-capped mountains. However, it is not the easiest place to reach.

The closest international airport is located in Irkutsk, which is also a stop on the famous Trans-Siberian Railway. From there, backpackers can travel to the nearby town of Listvyanka and hop on the Great Baikal Trail, which is still being completed by residents of the surrounding towns.

The shores of beautiful Lake Baikal from Olkhon Island…

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