Tourists reviews of vacations in Russia - Page 10

I’d like to express my sincere gratitude for this Lake Baikal tour. I really enjoyed everything. We were especially lucky with the weather. All five days were sunny. Thank you very much.

I have a feeling it’s going to be hard to enjoy other tours after this one - it was truly outstanding and not easy to top. The team behind it did an incredible job with the planning, organization, and routes, and the sheer number of impressions is beyond words. The places we visited were unbelievably beautiful - I’ve never seen anything like it. At the same time, the itinerary was perfectly balanced, so you not only wanted to see everything, but actually had the energy to do it and make the most of every opportunity. I’d also like to highlight the food - it was amazing. Every meal felt warm and welcoming, almost like being part of a family. Everything was delicious, no matter where it was prepared. Even if you’re not used to Dagestani cuisine, you’ll love it - it’s hard to stop eating :) As the saying goes, it’s better to see something once than hear about it a hundred times - so this is definitely a tour you should experience for yourself (and ideally more than once). And despite what you might expect - there are no aggressive dogs in Dagestan :)

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!

I took the "Legends of Karelia. Winter Trip tour from March 7 to 10, 2026, which included visits to Petrozavodsk, Mount Sampo, Kivach Waterfall, the Girvas Volcano, Ruskeala Mountain Park, the Filina Hills, and more. The program was very diverse: hikes across plains and mountains, walks along beautiful rivers and lakes, stops at scenic viewpoints, and an introduction to the centuries-old traditions of Karelia. The tour fully lived up to the description provided by the "Big Country travel company." I thoroughly enjoyed the trip, thanks in large part to the excellent organization, Svetlana in Moscow, the guides in Karelia (Vera and Tatiana), the tour coordinator Varvara, and the drivers all did a fantastic job. Everything worked together seamlessly. Thank you!

The experience of walking on the ice of a giant frozen lake is truly unlike anything else. Over the course of the week, we saw an incredible variety of ice formations— massive ice splashes on the cliffs, hummocks, and ice in all kinds of colors and shapes. This is the perfect tour for discovering winter Lake Baikal 👍👍👍. A special thank you goes to our guide, Ilya, who is not only highly professional and responsible, but also a genuinely kind and caring person who truly looks after the well-being and spirits of the group. 👍 I would also like to mention the "Naratei" tourist base where we stayed. Of course, not everything was perfect, especially the condition of pretty much all the door handles in the rooms 😄 but the rooms were clean and cozy, and the dining hall served excellent food 🤗. Many thanks as well to the providers for the stylish badges and the warm buffs/scarves, which were absolutely essential in such strong winds.

Everything was great, especially our guide Pyotr.

Everything promised in the tour program was delivered as described. I especially enjoyed staying at the Lavender Hotel, it was a quiet and peaceful place.

This tour is a great way to get acquainted with Dagestan, although a lot depends on the time of year you visit. In my opinion, it’s best to travel either during the off-season or to plan a longer trip if you really want to explore the region in greater depth.

Good prices and very convenient overall, I especially liked that the hotel stay and excursions were all included and well organized. Everything was clear and easy to follow. Most of the guides were wonderful. However, I didn’t really connect with the guide Vladimir. He came across as somewhat distant and cold, and he spent quite a bit of time talking about hotel and sanatorium prices, which wasn’t especially engaging :D

Hello! Everything was wonderful, we’re very happy with the experience! Thank you so much 🙏

The trip was informative, beautiful, exciting and even the food was fantastic. It was my first time traveling to the North, and I was amazed by the beauty of the nature and the sheer scale of everything I saw. The emotions and impressions I experienced there are impossible to put into words. I would highly recommend this trip to anyone who has never been beyond the Arctic Circle!!!

Good afternoon. Overall, everything went great. The only downside was the weather - it was very windy. Thank you for the trip.

Hello. Everything was great!

Good afternoon Everything was nice Thanks

The trip was wonderful! It was a real pleasure booking it through your company. Next year we’re planning to travel to Kamchatka with you as well. We noticed that other travelers who booked through different agencies experienced discrepancies between the tour descriptions and the services they actually received. In our case, everything was exactly as promised and very well organized. Thank you.

Good afternoon!☀️ Everything was wonderful! I was very lucky with my guide and instructor, and I even learned how to ride a horse :) the hotel was lovely, the breakfasts were delicious, and the group was absolutely wonderful🥰 The whole trip was great fun and had such a warm, friendly atmosphere! Thank you for an amazing experience🤗

Good afternoon! The tour was excellent. Everything was well organized, clear, and ran smoothly from start to finish. Thank you! We're already looking into our next tour and can't wait for another trip.

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!

The trip impressed me with its rich cultural, historical, and natural diversity, as well as the excellent service and the professionalism of the guides.

It was a very interesting tour, and Kazan was shown to us in all its beauty. Even the heavy snowdrifts didn’t spoil the overall impression of the trip. Many thanks to “Big Country”.