Tourists reviews of vacations in Buryatia

The tour was organized at the highest level. Special thanks to our guide, Leonid. We had an international group, and he made sure to give attention to everyone. The ice on Lake Baikal is truly stunning, you could admire its beauty forever.

The Baikal Crossing tour was love at first sight! We were incredibly lucky with the weather: a true Siberian frost of -30 °C outside, yet bright sunshine overhead. The feeling was absolutely indescribable! A huge thank you to our guide, Pyotr. He is a true professional who not only knows the region inside and out, but genuinely loves it and that passion is contagious. The organization was excellent, with every detail carefully thought through. We stayed in a beautiful hotel in Maximikha: cozy, modern, and designed with guests’ comfort in mind. The food was also fantastic - delicious and very filling! Special thanks to our group as well - we had an amazing team, and the whole trip was full of fun, warmth, and great emotions. I would highly recommend this tour to anyone who wants to experience the real Lake Baikal!

I went on a winter tour to Lake Baikal from February 28 to March 4, 2026, which I booked through “Big Country.” I absolutely loved the trip! 🥰 Everything was incredibly well organized, the schedule was clear, the program was thoughtfully planned, and there was a great balance between activities and free time. Even though we never felt rushed, we still managed to see a huge number of amazing locations. What made the experience even more special was that our group often had these places entirely to ourselves, without crowds of tourists, so we could truly enjoy the beauty of Lake Baikal. The food was also fantastic :D We had three meals a day, always plentiful and surprisingly varied. The menu constantly changed and included salads, hot soups, freshly cooked meals over the fire, omul fish, lard with black bread, pickles, compote, tea, homemade tinctures, and desserts. Everything was delicious!!! The drivers were amazing as well and kept surprising us throughout the trip. At many stops they prepared snacks and warm alcoholic tinctures to help us stay warm in the freezing temperatures - it was around -33C outside. Special thanks to the drivers of the UAZ vans, true professionals. They spotted cracks in the ice well in advance, drove very carefully, and in difficult areas even asked tourists to get out beforehand to ensure everyone’s safety. I highly recommend this tour to everyone!

There were four of us: two adults and two teenagers, aged 16 and 18. We all absolutely loved it. It was our first time in Siberia, and we completely fell in love with it. We’ll definitely be back!

A very interesting tour that left a lot of positive impressions. The cultural charm of Buryatia, the warm waters of Lake Baikal, and the delicious local cuisine were truly delightful.

Good afternoon! 🌞 Thank you so much for organizing the tour and assisting me with purchasing tickets 🎫. Overall, the tour was fantastic—despite the rainy weather. In Arshan, the rain actually added a pleasant atmosphere. I came away with so many positive impressions. I enjoyed everything—well, except for the weather :D but, of course, that’s beyond your control! 😊

The most comprehensive winter Baikal tour I found online, from Buryatia to Irkutsk, covering both the eastern and western shores, as well as Olkhon. I’d definitely recommend adding an extra day or two on Olkhon to fully enjoy the experience.

I’d like to express my sincere gratitude for organizing the "Listvyanka, Arshan, Olkhon" tour! I truly enjoyed everything - from the program and the guides to the overall organization. I booked the tour through Big Country. I’d especially like to thank the manager, Yulia, who was incredibly patient and attentive to our changing plans and requests. She offered several tour options and answered all our questions in detail. The local team handled everything flawlessly: small groups, well-organized transfers, and excellent timing. A special highlight was the trip to Olkhon, which involved three different modes of transport - all perfectly coordinated. We never had to wait, the drivers stayed in touch, and everything ran smoothly, while still giving us enough time at each stop without feeling rushed. Many thanks as well to Elvira, who was always available and quickly arranged a private transfer on the first day when our flight was delayed by 5 hours. That really helped us avoid any stress about missing the start of the tour. The program was well balanced, we were specifically looking for more than just ice, and this tour delivered: Baikal, Buryatia, museums - it was a lot to fit into three days. + we also added a city tour of Irkutsk on an extra day, which was definitely worth it. The Baikal Forest Hotel was excellent, and having a shopping center nearby was a nice bonus. Special thanks to all the guides. Kristina has a great sense of humor, which made her already engaging stories even more enjoyable. We were especially touched when she brought us lunch that we had missed - after a flight without breakfast, it meant a lot. Tatiana is an outstanding organizer - we managed to do even more than planned, and the hot air balloons were the perfect highlight. Everything was timed perfectly; even the fish was pre-ordered so we could quickly pick it up along the way without losing time. It may seem like a small detail, but it makes a big difference. Natalia was wonderful - her genuine love for her homeland really came through in everything she shared. She was very attentive and always happy to show and tell us more than what was planned, just by request. That kind of passion is truly inspiring. Lyudmila is a fantastic storyteller who clearly loves her city. In just 3 hours, we saw so many places and learned a lot of fascinating and unexpected facts about each one. Overall, it was a fantastic trip with nothing but positive emotions. This was my second time at Lake Baikal, and I wanted to bring my mom along this time, she was absolutely thrilled. I enjoyed it just as much (most of the places were new to me), and I’m really glad I made time for this trip despite a busy work schedule. Thanks again to everyone involved!

Everything was great, especially our guide Pyotr.

This is a great tour for seeing the most famous and beautiful places around Lake Baikal in winter within a short period of time. Just be prepared for long hours on the road almost every day but the breathtaking scenery and incredible nature make it absolutely worth it!

From June 20 to June 29, 2024, we journeyed from Arshan to Lake Baikal, and the experience left us with unforgettable memories of the stunning nature of Buryatia and Lake Baikal. We thoroughly enjoyed the tour, as it featured a rich variety of natural and historical landmarks, including the Circum–Baikal railway, the Taltsy Museum, Olkhon Island, and more.

The tour exceeded all expectations. Lake Baikal has truly captured my heart. I witnessed incredible beauty and felt recharged with an energy I couldn't have imagined. In just ten days, you can fully experience the essence of Lake Baikal. If you're looking to reset and rejuvenate, this is the place to go.

The tour was fantastic! The weather was a bit unpredictable, but it didn’t dampen the mood or the overall experience. Our guide, Leonid, was incredible! He knew everything—history, traditions, flora, fauna—and was full of energy, always attentive, and genuinely invested in making sure we enjoyed our time. We learned so much about the local way of life and even played a traditional board game, which was great fun. Leonid is such a knowledgeable guide 👍👍👍—with him, you feel confident climbing any mountain. The natural scenery was absolutely breathtaking. Before the tour, I was a bit concerned about the food, but it turned out there was no need to worry—everything was excellent. Our group was also amazing, full of positivity and great energy. Thank you for such a refreshing and uplifting experience!

We enjoyed everything! The excursions , transfers , and guides were all top-notch. I would especially like to highlight our curator, Tamara, as well as the guides Yekaterina, Yelizaveta, and Albina—unfortunately, we don’t know their last names. The support from the curators, both for the group and individually, was flawless. You’re doing an amazing job! If you come up with any interesting offers in the future, we’ll definitely consider them. Wishing you all the best, and see you next time! 👏👏👏👍

The tour was fantastic, surrounded by the stunning natural beauty of Lake Baikal. Most importantly, our guide Leonid made the experience truly unforgettable. Leonid is incredibly knowledgeable—well-versed in history, local customs, wildlife, and plants—and has a great sense of humor. He made our trip exceptional and was always ready to help organize activities during our downtime after the hikes. Thank you so much for the positive energy!