East Russia is a magical place, where wilderness still reigns and life in outlying areas still has a rhythm all of its own; A place that has changed significantly over the past decades, but where people remain the same, always kind, curious and open towards travelers. The indigenous cultures in Russia are trying to retain their ancient rites and traditions to anchor their culture and to instill in the younger generation a clear sense of identity.
And there is Kamchatka, by far one of the most exciting tourism destinations in East Russia. Volcanoes dotting the horizon as far as the eye can see, and the turquoise waters of the Pacific Ocean make every day a magical and exceptional moment.
Active and dormant volcanoes dominate the landscape, the biggest brown bear in the world roams alongside fast-running rivers that abound with different types of fish; this is a land of contrasts and infinite beauty. All to prove ‘Nature’s’ glory & triumph.
Your Itinerary
Day 1: Wednesday, Arrival in Vladivostok
We arrive in Vladivostok and we meet our guide at the Railway Station or at the Airport if we arrive by air. Our host & driver will take us to our hotel. Overnight: Hotel Gavan, Vladivostok. (2 nights) (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 2: Thursday, Vladivostok
Vladivostok is a seaport and administrative centre of Primorsky Kray (region) at the extreme southeastern part of Russia. It is located around Zolotoy Rog ("Golden Horn Bay") on the western side of a peninsula that separates Amur and Ussuri bays on the Sea of Japan. The town was founded in 1860 as a Russian military outpost and was named Vladivostok ("Rule the East").
The city is today the main cultural center in the Russian Far East. Even by the standards of a country that has undergone extraordinary changes in a few short years, Vladivostok's metamorphosis has been impressive. Its setting is striking: hills rise steeply from the bays and inlets, opening glorious panoramas of the ships and sea. Here the muscle of the old empire blends with the hustle of a newly freed market.
After our breakfast in the hotel we depart for a Sightseeing excursion around Vladivostok. First, we will go to the observation point on the top of the ‘Funicular’ then visit the "Vladivostok Fortress" Museum and the exhibited Submarine S-56. After lunch in a local restaurant, will go to the museum of Old Russian Autos & also visit the Lighthouse. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 3: Friday, Vladivostok / Spassk Dalniy (drive)
After breakfast in the hotel, we’ll check out and depart for Spassk Dalniy with our guide cum driver. En route we stop at the Milogradovka River and by the Elomovsky Waterfalls & walkways. After our picnic Lunch, we continue drive to Spassk Dalniy. Overnight: Hotel "Lotos", Spassk Dalniy. (2 nights) (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 4: Saturday, Khaknaisky National Park
After our Continental breakfast in the hotel, we depart for Khaknaisky National Park with our guide & driver. Here we will observe the nature’s beauty, the fauna and the wildlife, birds, lotuses - a whole day with a local specialist as our guide. The visit here, however, is going to focus on the famous Siberian Tigers habitat.
Later we rest at the sandy beaches of the Park’s lake, while our Lunch is prepared; a charbroiled lake fish (a silver carp, mirror carp or catfish), then we go to meet & communicate with local people, visit their way of life. In the evening, we return to Spassk. Farewell Dinner in the hotel. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 5: Sunday, Spassk Dalniy / Valdivostok (drive) & Vladivostok / Yuzhno - Sakhalinsk (flight)
After Breakfast in the hotel, we check out and drive to Vladivostok. We arrive here in time to reach our flight from Vladivostok to Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk (departure @ 20:00 hrs). We arrive in Yuzhno (at 21:04) where we meet our guide who is going to transfer us to our hotel. Overnight: Hotel Lada, Yuzhno. (1 night) (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 6: Monday, Yuzhno – Sakhalinsk
The small Russian settlement Vladimirovka, and then the capital of the Japanese prefecture of Karafuto, during the next forty years, turned into the modern Russian city of Yuzhno - Sakhalinsk. Patterns of Japanese architecture interlaced quaintly with the architecture of the Soviet times and are present today in this city’s outlook.
Our day here starts with a breakfast in the hotel and continuing with sightseeing tour of the town. There are not many Russian cities, which have experienced a history of development, impacted by such a diverse variety of cultures, especially as different as the European and Asiatic, but Yuzhno - Sakhalinsk is one of few, whose history passed through hard times of territorial issues, and was reflected in the city’s outward appearance.
After lunch at the “Russian Kitchen” restaurant (national Russian dishes), we continue the sightseeing, ending our day by shopping at Sakhalin souvenirs shops. At 17:00 hrs will board train and depart for Nogliki. Overnight: Onboard train. (1 night) (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 7: Tuesday, Nogliki
This morning we’ll arrive at Nogliki Railways Station, where we meet our guide and start our local visit with the museum of Local Lore. Then we take an excursion to see how Native people live in the nearby area and we’ll enjoy the performance of a Nivkhas Folklore Ensemble, also trying out some dishes made by the native people. Overnight: Hotel Nogliki. (1 night) (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 8: Wednesday, Nogliki
After breakfast we are driven to Venskoe, to visit again with Native people, continuing then to Goryachie Kluchi volcanic mountain and area. We will visit the village, meeting with the friendly villagers and later bathing in the hot springs. We’ll return to Nogliki in time to reach our overnight train from Nogliki to Poronaisky (19:33 hrs). Overnight: Onboard train + Sever Hotel. (1 night) (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 9: Thursday, Poronaisk
We will arrive early in the morning at Poronaisk Railways Station and get transferred directly to the hotel (Sever) for rest. After breakfast, will visit Buiukly, Smirnyh and Pobedino - places devoted to the World War II memorial, as well other Native settlements.
We then visit a special place, marked as the “50th Parallel”, and after lunch we return to Poronaisk in time to continue with our train on to Yuzhno. Overnight: Onboard train. (1 night) (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 10: Friday, Yuzhno – Sakhalinsk / Vladivostok / Petropavlovsk (flight)
We will arrive in Yuzhno - Sakhalinsk early in the morning and after our breakfast at a Restaurant, we transfer to the airport for our flight to Vladivostok. In Vladivostok, we change planes and continue flying to Petropavlovsk – Kamchatka, arriving Petropavlovsk at 19:35 in the evening.
Here we’ll meet with our local guide and transferred to the hotel. Overnight: Hotel Avacha, Petropavlovsk. (1 night) (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 11: Saturday, Petropavlovsk / Mutnosky Volcano (drive)
The Kamchatka Peninsula is located in the extreme eastern portion of Russia, north of Japan, bordered by the Pacific Ocean, with an enormous surface area, equal to that of France. Very sparsely populated, with only two million inhabitants for this immense territory, it is a sanctuary for numerous protected species and a paradise for the brown bear, a close cousin to the grizzly.
This is a land of contrasts and infinite beauty, still a wilderness, where for the past 4 billion years Nature is the only ‘Ruler’, creating, shaping or destroying - as he pleases… With its 200 volcanoes (39 still active!), it has the largest concentration of volcanoes in the world.
Geothermal activity is omnipresent, proven by thousands of geysers, lakes and hot springs to be found in this area. Petropavlovsk, the capital city and main hub (350,000 inhabitants), is located on the edge of the Pacific, in a magnificent semi-closed bay, a natural refuge for the Russian navy's strategic submarines. Two volcanoes, Avacha and Koriasky (2750 m), tower above the town.
After breakfast, we will depart by "vakhtovka" and with our guide to Mutnovsky Volcano. En route we’ll stop at Vilyuchinsky Waterfall and Rodnikovy hot springs, to have our first ‘geothermic’ experience while we will be bathing.
After lunch we continue our drive, arriving to our Camp later in the evening. The dinner it will be served by our cook at the campfire. Overnight: Tented Camp at Mutnovsky Volcano Base. (2 nights) (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 12: Sunday, Mutnosky Volcano
After our Breakfast at the camp, we’re going to trek the Mutnovsky Volcano crater (approx. 3 hrs - easy trek). The exploration of the crater, the sulfurous steam holes, the lakes and the beautiful scenery will worth all efforts to admire the different geysers erupting from close up. Light lunch en route and later we return to the camp. Dinner will be served at the camp, and overnight in the tents. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 13: Monday, Mutnosky Volcano / Paratunka (drive)
After our breakfast we depart for Paratunka, a nice valley near Petropavlovsk, with couple of stops en route, also to visit the ethnographical village Sosnovka. In Paratunka we are going to have another bathing experience in the natural thermal water pools then we go to the Rest Base Camp. Overnight: Rest Base Camp "Gelios". (1 night) (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 14: Tuesday, Paratunka
After breakfast at the Rest Base, we are transferred to the Sea Port in Petropavlovsk for the Avacha Bay motorboat excursion. Will visit the rocks called "Three Brothers", then will have some ‘fishing lessons’ (equipment is provided) and have our picnic Lunch with the fish that you caught (ukha). In the afternoon return to the port and transfer to the hotel. Overnight: Hotel Avacha, Petropavlovsk. (2 nights) (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 15: Wednesday, Petropavlovsk
The day is reserved for an optional excursion to the Valley of Geysers (VG) (extra cost). At 10:00 am we are transferred to the heliport for flying over the VG, to see the volcanoes Zhupanovsky, Maly Semyachik & Karymsky.
You won't want to miss the amazing valley of the Geysers, a sort of ancient dreamlike theater, almost unreal, under its magical cloud of sulfurous steam, with mud cauldrons – a replay of the birth of our planet with regular show times. Our 2-hour excursion allows you to admire the different geysers erupting from close up.
After an impromptu snack-lunch in the mountains, we return to Petropavlovsk late in the afternoon. If bad weather prevents helicopter take-off, many other activities are offered -some at an extra charge, like dog sledding, snowmobile outings, fishing and sea excursions - or we’ll have sightseeing tour around the city, visit fish bazaar and the city’s Museum. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 16: Thursday, Petropavlovsk / Vladivostok (flight)
After an early breakfast, we will check out from our hotel and get transferred to the airport for our flight to Vladivostok. Upon arrival in Vladivostok, depending on your homebound flight arrangements, you will either continue flight (via Seoul if using Korean Air), or you are transferred to a hotel. (Breakfast)
Price includes:
- Hotel / Camp or Private accommodations as mentioned
- Meals as per itinerary (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
- All transfers, tours and sightseeing by private car or minivan
- Domestic flights: Valdivostok / Yuzhno – Sakhalinsk & return and Vladivostok / Petropavlovsk & return (except additional/local airport taxes!)
- Avacha Bay motorboat excursion
- All overnight train fares on 1st sleeper class basis and the boat ride fare
- Entrance fees to all Sites, Museums and Performances as mentioned
- Services of English-speaking local guides
- Road taxes, parking fees, drivers’ wages
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
USD: 6,210.00 / CAD: 7,450.00 - per person in double occupancy
Single supplement USD: 1,500.00 / CAD: 1,800.00
Price does not include:
- International flight tickets and airport taxes
- Excursion to the Valley of Geysers (VG, approx USD 500 per person)
- Visa fee and any kind of insurance
- Personal expenses, bar-bills, laundry or phone bills
- Any drinks or beverages with meals
- Tips or other such costs
- All other services not mentioned
Also see tour packages in:
Europe
Russia
Cultural Journey
Ecotourism
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