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This was my fourth adventure with Strannik. After the very first one, I decided I wouldn’t look for other options, and I’ve never been disappointed since. As for Kamchatka - well, I wasn’t expecting anything “better,” I just knew I’d get a perfectly organized trip. But twelve days in Kamchatka turned out to be a whole new level! Every detail of this demanding journey was arranged flawlessly - meals on the route, accommodations, logistics.
Now about the people. First of all, our guides, who are now friends - Alexey and Dmitry. On such a tough route, with a group so mixed in age, character, and fitness, it’s not easy to find the right pace for everyone, but they managed it brilliantly. They shared with us an incredible amount of knowledge about the places we visited and truly infected us with their love for Kamchatka. There were 18 of us, and every single person felt cared for throughout the trip. We really became a team - maybe even a family - for those 12 days. A few words about the accommodations. Everywhere was great, but Sukhaya Rechka Base became my home on the tour. Alexander, thank you for the warm welcome! And Lyudmila… oh, Lyudmila! Your breakfasts and dinners - I miss them, I’m losing weight without them, I dream of coming back!
This was my second journey through Kyrgyzstan. Last year we explored the north, around Issyk-Kul. This time - new mountains, completely different, but no less amazing. Enough to make your knees tremble and give you goosebumps.
We spent several days at 3000 meters, managed to acclimatize well, enjoy the lakes, cross our first pass, photograph marmots, and get used to camp life. It also gave us time to prepare - physically and mentally - for a long trek. By the time we reached Travelers’ Pass at 4150 m, our legs were strong, our breathing had improved, and our spirits were high. When we finally crossed it, I didn’t even realize the first part of the journey was behind us. Where there’s an ascent, there’s also a descent - so we tumbled down with relief, giving our legs a break, before heading on toward the Lenin Glacier. The path wasn’t always easy, but under the attentive guidance of our wonderful guide, Ivan Nikolaev, the group of cheerful trekkers handled it all. Personally, the last 3 km before the camp were the hardest of the entire trek. The camp seemed to be right there, in front of us, yet it kept “moving away” as we walked.
What they’ve built at 4000 m is incredible. It’s such hard work to set it all up! Everything was arranged so everyone had space and comfort. I especially liked the board games - chess helped us stay awake after the transition.
And then came the highlight - the ascent of Yukhin Peak. I’d been preparing for six months - running, swimming, even yoga. But when I saw the trail upwards, I wanted to hide and pretend we weren’t supposed to go there. Yet legs carried me forward. Step by step, following Ivan’s boots in front of me. After 3-4 hours of steady climbing, we finally reached a small platform - the last stretch. And there it was, the summit. The panorama took my breath away. Lenin Peak seemed closer, the surrounding mountains opened their crowns to us… pure joy. The descent was a whole separate story. Thanks to the practice on Petrovsky Pass, we were ready - sliding down the scree was both fun and funny.
Back to base camp surprisingly quickly - maybe we had found our rhythm, or maybe the drop in altitude gave us wings. The next day, before the buses, we still had time to rest and explore the Valley of Lakes - a real gift at the end. Just like last year, Kyrgyzstan won me over. A country full of sun, warmth, and kind people. The landscapes are breathtaking. If you want to discover something new, or if you’re ready to “aim for 5000 m,” Yukhin Peak is perfect. Thank you to all the organizers and guides for bringing the mountains closer!
An amazing tour - thank you, Strannik, for the chance to see Lake Baikal in all its beauty. I joined the 11-day “Around Lake Baikal” tour with my son, from June 18 to 28. We loved absolutely everything. We were constantly surrounded by care, the guides gave fascinating excursions, and the beauty of the places left us speechless. Baikal is magnificent - so diverse that in every spot you want to stay longer. We stayed in lovely hotels and guesthouses, always cozy and delicious.
I especially enjoyed Ust-Barguzin, at Sindbad Base. We had half a day of free time there and visited “Baba Yaga.” It was great fun - interesting for both adults and kids, with a chance to dress up in traditional and shamanic costumes. And if you’re into spiritual practices, Yaga even gives personal guidance - yes, she’s a real shaman. It was also fascinating to visit Buddhist shrines and a real Buryat yurt, learn about local customs, and taste traditional dishes.
The boat trip to Olkhon will stay in my heart forever - it was unbelievably beautiful. Olkhon itself is pure love. You can’t put it into words - you have to be there. It was wonderful to have a free day on the island. And in Bolshiye Koty, the hike along the Great Baikal Trail was a real highlight.
Oh, and I almost forgot - the Ushkanyi Islands and the nerpas! Watching them was such a joy. And how stunning Baikal is in the early morning light.
Thank you, dear Strannik team - you are the best!
Thank you, Strannik, for a wonderful trek in the Pamir Mountains! Excellent organization, the beauty of the highlands, a ton of positive emotions, and unforgettable impressions. A fantastic journey that I can recommend to all mountain lovers!
I want to express my deep gratitude to all the staff at Base Camp and Camp 1 - tremendous work has been done. It’s hard to believe that at over 3500 meters, such comfortable conditions can be created. Without a doubt, in terms of comfort, these are the best high-altitude camps. Cozy tents with comfortable beds and bedding, electricity and heating, hot showers and flush toilets, Wi-Fi, delicious three-course meals (four dishes per meal with desserts and fruit), a bar-restaurant at Base Camp (on par with city ones), a yurt lounge with games, books, and guitars, as well as storage rooms and safes.
Excellent organization at every stage, hospitality, top-notch comfort, and assistance with any issues throughout the expedition. Special thanks to our mountain guide Nina for her care and attention to each participant, her support, and her warm and thoughtful attitude toward everyone. I’m already dreaming of coming back - Nina made absolutely every day memorable. She took into account the individual abilities of each participant, adjusted the pace and route accordingly, and did her best to make it interesting, comfortable, and safe for everyone. I especially liked that on the way back she often chose a different route so we didn’t walk the same trail twice. Nina takes safety very seriously and did everything possible to make the acclimatization go smoothly so we felt as comfortable and safe as possible at altitude. I will definitely come back here again.
