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The Best of Kamchatka All in One Trip - Bears and Volcanoes (KK-06)
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This truly unique tour for wild life and nature lovers will take place only once a year – in August, the best time to observe so many natural species in one place. You will travel to Kurilskoye Lake, which is one of Kamchatka's trademark destinations, situated in the crater of an ancient volcano. The lake is recognized as the biggest spawning-ground for salmon in the world, and you will see the massive pink salmon swimming, as well as amazing scenes of bears fishing. When they come to feast on fresh fish, brown bears - the largest in the world - are pretty safe to watch at this time of the year, as they are too busy to pay attention to people.
As well as all this, the numerous active volcanoes and geysers are of course essential points in our tour. Indulge yourself by bathing in a hot thermal spring, walk within the crater of an active volcano, and enjoy the breathtaking view of Kamchatka from the helicopter on your way to the famous valley of the geysers! The wild and enchanting land of Kamchatka never ceases to surprise and if there is ever a time to discover this amazing piece of Earth, it is in August. So why not this August?..
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PRICES
LAND-ONLY PRICE: £3095
PACKAGE PRICE: £3745
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ITINERARY
Day 1. Arrival in Moscow. Transfer to the hotel. Your first night in Moscow.
Day 2. Check out from the hotel. After breakfast in the hotel, a bus tour around the city. Our tour guide takes you to the “Sparrow Hills” with an observation platform which provides a fantastic panoramic view of Moscow; then we will go to “Poklonnaya Hills” - the most significant monument constructed in honour of victory in the Great Patriotic War (World War II). Our bus will take you through the main streets of Moscow - huge, busy and elegant at the same time. We will have time to explore the major highlights of Moscow – the city of great Russian history and culture. Transfer to the airport to catch your flight to Kamchatka.
Day 3. Arrival in Petropavlovsk, where you will be introducted to your English-speaking local guide. Check-in at the hotel. After a welcome lunch in a restaurant, you will have some time to rest after the long flight and to start preparing for the trip.
Day 4. We will go by helicopter to the Ksudach Volcano (1hr). An excursion to the Schtubelya Crater Lake, inside the Ksudach Volcano, is followed by a visit to the beautiful waterfall which starts from the crater. We’ll also see the hot springs which have formed a hot beach on the shore of thelake.. Short helicopter flight to the pearl of Kamchatka, Lake Kurilskoye . Accommodation in a cosy wooden lodge on the lake shore. From the upper floor you have gorgeous views of Lake Kurilskoye and the surrounding mountains. Sometimes you can observe bears without even leaving the lodge – they fish right in front of the it! After settling in, an excursion along the pumice beach of the lake . Safety briefing in the evening.
Day 5-6. The next few days are spent observing Kamchatka’s abundant wildlife: brown bears, Steller sea eagles, spawning salmon and many other species. We’ll travel around the lake by motorboat and on foot. Accompanied by the lake wardens, you’ll visit a bear observation platform (250 meters from the lodge) very close to the Lake Kurilskoye delta. Here you'll have a good chance of taking some great pictures of bears fishing. Lake Kurilskoye is also recognized as the biggest spawning-ground for salmon in Eurasia, and is one of the best places in Kamchatka to observe salmon spawning. Biologists estimate that a sixth to a quarter of the world's Pacific salmon originate in Kamchatka! Migrating salmon travelling from the Pacific pause briefly at the lake and then make their way into the streams to spawn. We’ll also walk to meadows where bears feed on wild berries, and visit other spawning streams further from the lodge. There's a good chance that you'll see bears fishing just a few meters away as you walk along the banks of streams.
Day 7. After breakfast you’ll have the chance to say goodbye to this stunning lake. For the last time, we’ll walk with the local wardens to a nearby bear observation platform (250 meters from the lodge) to see more of the amazing wildlife. Later in the evening we’ll go by helicopter to the hot springs of the River Khodutka, the largest in Kamchatka. Water bubbles out of the earth just below the Khodutka Volcano, and forms a small stream that cools down a bit further downstream, to provide pleasantly warm thermal baths . You can also swim in the thermal pool! After in the relaxation of the thermal springs, we head to our camp near the plateau of the Mutnovsky Volcano. Accommodation in tents.
Day 8. After breakfast we prepare for our day out at the volcano. You’ll need to take extra warm clothing and a water bottle. We’ll go by 6WD to get closer to the volcano, and then hike up it. Today we’ll reach the crater of the Mutnovsky volcano (2,323 meters). You’ll experience firsthand the thundering power of an active volcano - a cantankerous, belching 7,200 ft behemoth. You’ll feel as if you’re on another planet when you stand on the rim of its colossal, craggy crater. You’ll see a surreal blue crater lake wreathed in an ethereal cloak of mist, hear the deafening roar of the savage volcano all around you, and see sulphur-encrusted fumaroles emitting jets of steam. We complete this unforgettable experience by hiking along the narrow canyon to the crater. You’ll see the steep walls of the deep, vast crater, with its glittering glaciers split by cracks and the torches of fumaroles (A fumarole is an opening in Earth's crust which emit steam and gases such as carbon dioxide, hydrochloric acid, and hydrogen sulphide). Snack lunch in the crater. Return to the camp. Overnight in tents.
Day 9. After breakfast we’ll pack up and get ready for our day’s walk. You’ll need to take extra warm clothing and a water bottle. As on the previous day, we first use a 6WD to get closer to the volcano, and then hike up. Today’s destination – the Gorely volcano, a great geological phenomenon, which attracts professional geologists from all over the world.
The Gorely volcano is a chain of 11 craters, side by side, with lakes, fumaroles, and about 40 secondary slag cones with torrents of lava. Here you’ll feel like a scientist studying the volcanic transformation process - the geological history of our planet!
Afterwards we’ll visit the Paratunka thermal resort. Here we will be able to bathe in a natural pool with thermal water which can reach 40 C°. There is a warm waterfall 70 meters from the source of the stream. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 10. After breakfast, return to Petropavlovsk by coach. On arrival we have a boat tour around Avacha Bay, Petropavlovsk's historic gateway to the world. Try Russians’ favourite leisure activity – fishing, and taste Ukha, the famous Russian fish soup,. We go on to the island of Starichkov to watch sea birds and mammals. This trip is a unique opportunity to see the beautiful countryside around Petropavlovsk from the sea, explore the shores of Avachinskaya Bay, and watch colonies of seabirds in their natural environment. Return to Petropavlovsk for lunch. In the afternoon we visit Petropavlovsk Volcanology Institute, where you’ll have a brief introduction tothe volcanic history and development of Kamchatka. You’ll hear about the relatively recent eruption of the Tolbachik volcano in 1975/1976, which made Kamchatka instantly famous. Overnight in a hotel.
Day 11. After breakfast we will get ready for today’s trip. You will need to take with you warm clothing. A helicopter trip to the Valley of Geysers. We will enjoy a breathtaking helicopter flight, skimming over Kamchatka's spine of towering volcanoes, and finally landing in the UNESCO World Heritage-Listed Valley of Geysers. Here we will see more than twenty active geysers and numerous mud pools, surrounded by beautiful and powerful water-and-steam fountains. Lunch will be provided during the day. Return to the helicopter base and then to Petropavlovsk. Overnight in a hotel.
Day 12. Breakfast in the hotel. Departure to the airport. Flight to Moscow. Due to the time difference, arrival in Moscow is on the same date. Transfer from the local airport to the international airport to catch your flight back home.
Optional: If you take a flight to the UK in the late evening you can enjoy Moscow for one more day. At your request we can organise for you one of the following activities:
- If you are an art-lover, then you will be impressed by the world famous masterpieces displayed in the Tretyakov Gallery and in the Pushkin Museum;
- Another option in Moscow would be a visit to the large and interesting Izmailovo Park, where you will find traditional wooden houses and churches as well as authentic Russian souvenirs;
- You can also visit the Novodevichy Convent, which is included on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The Convent was used by women of the Tsar’s family and of the aristocracy. Many members of the Tsar’s family and some very famous Russian artists, writers, politicians have been buried in its cemetery. The Convent provides an example of the highest accomplishments of Russian architecture with rich interiors and an important collection of paintings and artefacts.
 Some places you visit in this journey are inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Please click here to view the UNESCO review page:
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