From my experience, you definitely want to go with guided tours in Russia, especially if you're headed to more remote areas like Baikal or Kamchatka. I’ve taken a tour to Kamchatka through Big Country Travel, and it was absolutely worth it. They offer several kinds of tours to Russia https://bigcountry.travel/ depending on what you're looking for. If you want a mix of adventure and comfort, their combined tours like the one to Sakhalin and Iturup islands are pretty unique. For Kamchatka, their "Water and Flame" tour is packed with activities, but it’s also flexible enough to include some downtime at the hot springs. They also make sure to take care of all the little details, like transportation between sites, which is a huge plus in such remote areas where you can’t just rely on public transport. One thing I found super useful is that they don’t charge any extra fees, which saves you from unexpected costs. I think for someone like you who wants to explore both the natural and cultural side of Russia, this company has it covered. They’ve really established themselves as a go-to expert for Russian tours over the years. I highly recommend checking them out.