Attraction

A very clean freshwater lake with a sandy bottom surrounded by pine and larch forests. People come here to camp, fish and use the banya (sauna). The mud from Lake Arey has medicinal properties confirmed by research at the Tomsk research institute; it has been used to treat skin conditions (psoriasis, dermatitis). There used to be a mud‑treatment facility but it is now closed, so locals simply smear the lake mud on themselves on the shore and let it dry. There are a few tourist bases, but most are run‑down; most visitors come with tents or in RVs. You can walk around the lake—about a two and a half hour walk. How to get there: two buses a day run from Chita to the settlement of Arey at 08:45 and 15:30; the trip takes about four hours.