Tourists reviews of vacations in Russia - Page 11

My son and I visited Dagestan and Chechnya in February, and we absolutely loved it! The nature there is incredible!!! Mountains, gorges, waterfalls, and lakes everywhere. The experience was truly unforgettable and impossible to put into words! The hospitality of the people, the warm welcome, and the delicious cuisine of the North Caucasus will stay in our hearts forever! One thing is certain: this definitely won’t be our last trip to these regions!

The “Baikal Ice” tour left us with truly wonderful memories. Even though we are Siberians ourselves, this trip allowed us to see winter Baikal in a completely new light. The landscapes were unlike anything we had experienced before :) stunning, unique, and absolutely breathtaking. A special thank-you goes to our guide, Leonid, who introduced us to the beauty of Lake Baikal and showed us some of the most spectacular and fascinating places both on the lake and along its shores. He adapted the program skillfully to the weather conditions and other logistical factors, ensuring that everything ran smoothly and at the highest level. We are very grateful to Leonid for making this trip so memorable and for all the wonderful impressions we will take home with us! :)

The trip left us with countless unforgettable memories! We began by exploring Yakutsk, including its historic center, the Treasury, and the Mammoth Museum. Then came a journey along the famous ice road on the Lena River and a climb to the breathtaking Lena Pillars. There, we experienced the full power of a Siberian winter—intense cold, vast snowy landscapes, and strong winds. Afterward, we warmed up with a delicious dinner in a cozy café. The next day, we set off for the ultimate destination of our journey: Oymyakon, known as the Pole of Cold. After two days traveling along the legendary "Kolyma" Highway, one of Russia’s most scenic roads, and crossing the Verkhoyansk Range, we finally arrived! Fortunately, the weather was on our side. Temperatures ranged from minus 55°C to 59°C, allowing us to fully experience the extreme cold. Even our cold-weather challenges, including outdoor bathing, went perfectly! Overall, the trip was absolutely incredible and gave us memories that will last a lifetime! The only minor drawback was that the toilet facilities in Oymyakon were outdoors, but we were aware of that in advance and were prepared for it. Now we're already dreaming of returning to these remarkable places one day!

It was just great!

Overall, I enjoyed the tour. However, there were some organizational issues that raised questions. It’s a shame the hotels weren’t specified in advance, that would have allowed us to make other plans if needed. The tour was rich in activities and we saw a lot, but the overall impression still felt a bit chaotic.

We took this tour from July 19 to July 23 and had a great time. The guides were excellent, and the buses were very comfortable. Tatarstan is beautiful, and you get to discover so many fascinating things.

The tour was excellent, and we’re very satisfied. The excursions were engaging and well-planned, with itineraries designed to be enjoyable and accessible for travelers of all ages.

I really enjoyed the tour. Special thanks to Denis, who accompanied us throughout the 5-day trip. The time flew by, it was both fun and very informative. The hotels were excellent, and the cities we visited left a deep impression. I highly recommend experiencing this rich historical atmosphere.

A good sightseeing tour. Now I know exactly which places I’d like to return to and next time for a few days. I would have liked a bit more history, perhaps some local stories or ethnographic insights. The "look to the right / look to the left / this house belongs to so-and-so / souvenirs over there" format didn’t feel very informative to me. On the other hand, I completely understand how difficult it is to present material in such a large group. I really enjoyed the Rock Café for lunch in Nizhny Novgorod, but in Kazan the meal was rather plain and uninspiring. In Yoshkar-Ola everything was fine, but if they had included something from the local cuisine, it would have been perfect. On a tour like this, the taste of regional food makes a big difference.

I had a wonderful time. Everything was perfectly organized. We stayed at a small, cozy hotel called "Villa Nadezhda," conveniently located near the excursion meeting point. All pick-ups and drop-offs ran strictly on schedule, exactly as outlined in the itinerary we received beforehand. The buses were comfortable and air-conditioned. The routes are designed for the average tourist, with relaxing bus tours replacing long walks. All the guides were excellent, sharing a wealth of fascinating information about everything we saw. I would especially like to mention guides Maya, Anna, and Ekaterina. They led their tours with a genuine love for the Kaliningrad region, enriching them with interesting details and anecdotes. They were incredibly friendly and attentive, happily answering all our questions. After each excursion, they gave us great recommendations for places to visit on our own in the evening, suggesting where to find delicious and affordable dinners or where to buy souvenirs. A particularly special moment was our trip to the Curonian Spit. Maya described what a similar tour was like in Soviet times, which really took me back. Exactly 40 years ago, my husband and I - then very young - traveled a similar route: from the Kaliningrad region along the Curonian Spit, stopping in Rybachy and Nida, then taking the ferry to Klaipeda before moving on to Tallinn, Kaunas, Druskininkai, and Vilnius... Thank you for the wonderful memories..

Good evening, Alexandra! I really enjoyed the tour. Thank you so much! It was both moving and informative!

Good evening, everyone! We just got back from Kaliningrad yesterday. Our tour "In the faraway kingdom" ran from July 13th to 20th, 4 days of excursions and 3 days of free time. We’re so glad we discovered the Baltic Sea. The guides were amazing, you can feel how much they love their city, their work, and the people!!! I’m passionate about history, and on this trip I was able to dive right in and completely immerse myself. A special thank-you to the "Big Country" team!!! Don’t be put off by the outside of the Kaliningrad Hotel. Inside everything was wonderful! The rooms were cleaned daily, fresh towels provided every day, and the breakfasts were delicious and kept us full even during tours lasting up to 8 hours. Right next to the hotel there’s a cafeteria where you can get tasty and inexpensive lunches and dinners. Everything was within walking distance: shops, the Amber Museum, the harbor with its ships, cafés, cheese tastings, etc. It was a truly wonderful and eventful trip. To the girls from "Big Country": thank you so much for your care, clear organization, and for making all our wishes come true! For Dagestan, we’re traveling only with YOU!!!

Hello, I really enjoyed the tour, it had a rich program, comfortable accommodations, and a wonderful guide

The organization of our trip was excellent. We were picked up at the train station right on time and taken to the hotel. The tour program was full and engaging, so there was never a dull moment. The young guides spoke about the region’s history in such an interesting and informative way that it was clear they truly know and love their homeland. The hotel served delicious breakfasts and even better lunches and the Ossetian pies deserve a special mention on their own. I highly recommend visiting this wonderful and welcoming region. Many thanks for the great organization

A very interesting and well-rounded program. I enjoyed everything - the beautiful nature, the visit to the springs, the food, and the guided tours.

Thank you so much, it was a fantastic tour! Special thanks to our guide Sergei and our driver Viktor.

Good evening, Julia!!! I am absolutely thrilled with the tour!!! It was simply amazing!!! Our guide, Anastasia, is a true professional, everything she shared was fascinating!!! A huge thank you to everyone for organizing such a fantastic trip!!!!! I feel so lucky to have found you online!!! The entire experience was wonderful!!!!!! I really hope to travel with you again!! Thank you so much 💕

Good afternoon! Thank you for the tour! Everything was very well organized, the program was interesting, the hotels were excellent, and I really enjoyed the food. My only concern was with the guide in Dagestan, Gamzat. He came across as overly religious and somewhat aggressive. All the other guides did a great job! We learned a lot of new things. I will definitely turn to your company again for future trips.

Visiting the north of Russia was a fascinating experience with so many impressions. I especially enjoyed Kargopol, the excursions to Kenozero National Park, and Malye Korely. My favorite souvenir is traditional Kargopol toys. The tour service was excellent, and the food along the routes was delicious

Overall, we were very satisfied with the trip and came back full of impressions. Kazan is a beautiful city, although there are some issues with the public infrastructure. The streets are not well cleaned, and there are many long-standing but unfinished road and sidewalk repairs, which makes walking around the city a bit difficult. The Kristall Hotel fully lives up to its three stars: spacious, clean rooms, tidied up daily. The only downside was the rather "cold" reception at the front desk, a bit more warmth and hospitality would have been nice. The number of excursions included in the tour was just right. Our guide was a real professional, pleasant and very engaging to listen to. I especially appreciated the completely free third day, which gave us the chance to spend as much time as we wanted at the beach and enjoy a refreshing swim on a hot day. I recommend a 4-day tour to Kazan, you’ll come back feeling like you’ve been away for a whole week!