Tour Kamchatka - Volcanoes, Geysers, Salmon, Bears and the Inhabitants of the Peninsula

Preliminary Tour Itinerary

Itinerary: Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Paratunka Valley, Sea of Okhotsk, Pauzhetka, Lake Kuril, Avacha Volcano, Mutnovsky Volcano, Gorely Volcano, Valley of Geysers, Avacha Bay, Pimchakh
Duration: 13 days

Day 1: Arrive in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky and tour Paratunka 
On morning arrival to Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, the capital of Kamchatka Region, an IBEX representative will greet you. Transfer by bus to Paratunka, a resort village located about 15 miles from the airport, which is famous for its numerous thermal springs. The Paratunka Valley, just a 45 minutes drive from Petropavlovsk- Kamchatsky, is a splendor of geothermal activity including hot springs, mineral pools and sprouting geysers.  After lunch, tour the city of Paratunka, with an optional visit to the Museum of Local Lore or to the visitor center of the Kronotsky Nature Reserve. In the evening, dine at a local restaurant and afterwards, relax in the thermal pool. Overnight in the luxury resort Hotel Antarius.

Day 2: Drive alongside the Sea of Okhotsk on the way to Lake Kuril
After breakfast, you will set out on a two-day drive to Lake Kuril. A bus will drive along the coast of the Sea of Okhotsk on uneven terrain. On the way, ferry across several major reveres, explore the coastal terrain and see abandoned fishing villages.
Overnight in a tent camp.

Day 3: Visit Pauzhetka and tour a geothermal power plant
Continuing south along the coast of the Sea of Okhotsk, you will arrive to Pauzhetka. We will visit the geothermal power plant operating since 1966 to learn about local green energy resources and visit fumaroles or you can stay back and relax at the camp.
Overnight in a tent camp.

Day 4: Tour Lake Kuril 

Start the morning with a hike to Lake Kuril, a 6.5 miles scenic path along the river that brings you to the base camp on Lake Kuril. Your luggage will be transferred to the base camp on the lake. In the afternoon, a guide will lead an ecological excursion along Lake Kuril.

Lake Kuril, the second largest freshwater lake in Kamchatka, located on the territory of the South Kamchatka Nature Sanctuary, is the biggest salmon spawning ground in the peninsula. Every year from August to December, about 2.5 to 5 millions specimens of the most valuable Ozernovsky population of red salmon come to the lake to spawn along the River Ozernaya. Since 1964, when the scientific station of the Kamchatka Institute for Fishery and Oceanography was established, censuses and population studies of salmon are taken. In August, the visitors can observe masses of red salmon in shallow water before going to the spawning grounds. This is a fantastic sight not only for ecologists and naturalists, but also for Kamchatka dwellers. The spawning grounds of red salmon are located along the lakeshore and in numerous rivers and streams flowing into the lake. They attract a great number of birds of prey and waterfowl (including the Steller’s sea eagles and mergansers) and mammals (bear, otter, fox, ermine, and glutton). During this period, the animals feed almost only on salmon.

The shores of Lake Kuril and surrounding areas are known for having the highest concentration of Kamchatka brown bears. According to the results of air censuses of local bear population, there are more than 100 individuals! During the excursions on the lake, visitors will have an opportunity to observe bear behavior in their natural habitat and film unique shots of bear fishing. There is also an opportunity to observe pairs of Steller’s sea eagles nesting on the lake.

During the forthcoming days, you will explore the unique ecosystem of the South of Kamchatka and various aspects of sustainable nature use. In the afternoon, arrive to the source of the Ozernaya River at Kuril Lake, where the field station of the Kamchatka Institute for Fishery and Oceanography and the rangers’ lodge are located. Excursion to the scientific station, learn about the work of ichthyologists and rangers of the Nature Sanctuary engaged in protecting the salmon spawning grounds and bear population. Observe the mass salmon migration from the observation bridge with viewing grounds.

Day 5: Guided Tour of Lake Kuril 

Today a guide will take you on an excursion on Lake Kuril to the South Kamchatka Nature Sanctuary
Photograph brown bears fishing salmon. Depending on the weather and other local factors, the excursion program may include:

• motor boat cruise along the lake shore (in small groups) and visit areas with the highest concentrated bear population to observe their activity and behavior
• observe bears from stationary “observation grounds” (it is usually possible to observe the behavior of several males and females with cubs at very close range
• optional hiking excursions or ascend to the Ilyinsky Volcano (the ascend is moderate, although there is no distinct trail and it is sometimes necessary to cut through the thickets of cedar creeper).

Some changes in the excursion program may be made depending on weather conditions and other local factors.

Day 6: Guided Tour of Lake Kuril
In the morning, continue your guided excursion on Lake Kuril in the South Kamchatka Nature Sanctuary.
After lunch,  you will fly to Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky by charter helicopter.
Accommodations at the Antarius Paratunka Valley Hotel.

Day 7: Tour Avacha Volcano
Today you will take a bus trip to the Avacha volcano (Avachinsky volcano; Avachinskaya Sopka).  Drive along the Sukhaya River to the Avacha Volcano plateau.  The trail ascends the Avacha Volcano (8953ft) by a gradual slope to the top (estimated time needed 5-6 hours for slow ascent). Walk at your own pace climbing about 5900 ft on a well-marked single trail. You may have lunch on the edge of the crater of the volcano with a stunning panorama of the Pacific Ocean, Petropavlovsk, Koryaksky Volcano and Nalycheva Valley. Easier options with spectacular views are also available.
Accommodations at the Antarius Paratunka Valley Hotel.

Day 8: Tour the Gorely Volcano
In the morning you will have breakfast at the hotel. Transfer by bus to the caldera between the Mutnovsky and Gorely Volcanoes (about 4 hrs). The road passes by Vilyuchinsky Volcano, a favorite place for downhill skiing for Kamchatka dwellers (quite often snow lays there even in July). Picnic lunch. An afternoon hiking excursion will lead you to the chain of craters of the Gorely Volcano.

Gorely Volcano presents a unique collection of craters – a chain, which lies across the top. The chain begins with the West crater, no longer active and surrounded by rather low rocky walls. A glacier occupies the crater’s bottom. Most of the volcano's activity is concentrated in the Central crater. On its walls and bottom, there are permanently active fumaroles; their deposits color the crater's walls. The biggest and the most beautiful crater is the Blue Lake. Its bottom is filled with tender-blue water where blocks of ice float. The last in the chain of top craters is the Cup. This crater is on the top of a rather low and perfectly regular cone. On its bottom is a shallow lake of violet water. All the craters can be visited in a single day, when the weather is favorable. The hiking distance is 12 miles; the route is not complicated. The excursion takes about 8 hrs; however, visitors may return to the base camp earlier.
Accommodations at the Antarius Paratunka Valley Hotel.

Day 9: Tour the Valley of Geysers
Today, you will take a helicopter tour to the Valley of Geysers, including a flight over Karymsky (4875 ft) and Maly Semyachik Volcanoes (5118 ft).

Stroll through this wonder world of nature’s treasures hidden deep in the mountains of Kamchatka. A lunch-picnic is included.

The helicopter flight to the Valley of Geysers takes about 75 minutes. The cluster of geysers, fumaroles and hot springs in this valley were only discovered in 1941. They lie above the marginal fractures of the oldest Uzon Caldera. The hot water that emerges is largely recirculated rainfall, mixed with some juvenile water from magma. The magmatic heat source is probably the roots of the Uzon Volcano and/or the Kikhpinych Volcano. The Geysernaya River has cut its valley into bedded andesitic tuffs that were deposited in a lake in the first Uzon Caldera; the southeastern valley slope is the heavily eroded caldera wall, broken into older volcanic. Some dacite lavas and intrusions occur in the tuffs, and all the exposed rocks have been altered hydrothermally. Some slopes have been gullied to leave earth pillars. There are extensive deposits of opaline siliceous geyserite, some built into large banks and terraces below the main vents. The valley's geysers include a few with large but brief periodic eruptions, and many more which produce hot water spouts frequently or almost continuously. The boardwalk snakes over the Valley.
Accommodations at the Antarius Paratunka Valley Hotel.

Day 10: Tour Mutnovsky Volcano 

In the morning, the tour will a daylong hike, without backpacks, to the Mutnovsky active volcano and further into its crater through a crack in the volcano's edge. The view is alarming and fantastic: eastward a glacier descends the crater's wall to end in a bluff eaten by fumaroles; opposite, a sheer rock rises, here with columns of water vapor curling upward. The appearance of this crater is changeable. The crater contains a lake of bitter highly mineralized whitish water and two groups of powerful fumaroles. One of the fumaroles throws off small drops of melted sulphur, the other – powerful jets of vapors, water and sulfurous. Nearby are vast mud pits. The excursion into the crater takes about 4 hrs.

The Mutnovsky active volcano, a nest of merged craters, is perhaps the most beautiful volcanic phenomenon of Kamchatka. The view from its top is magnificent. Steep walls surround the vast and deep crater cavity, glittering of firm and sparkling glaciers split by cracks, torches of fumaroles oscillating far below and drawing a translucent view over the northern crater. The southern craters under its armor-ice and above all this a column of vapor rising from the Active Funnel crater, surrounded by a cogged crest.

Day 11: Cruise Avacha Bay

The city Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky grew next to the almost ideal deep-water seaport the Avacha Bay. The bay is large and deep, with a narrow opening that keeps out foul weather and ice.

The harbor is well protected from storms and dreaded tsunami waves and open to shipping year round. Enjoy spectacular views of the Northwest part of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky along with a variety of boats that make their home in the port.  Both Koryaksky and Avacha Volcanoes are clearly seen behind the city.

Explore nesting places of sea birds at the Babushkin Kamen (Old Woman’s Stone) Island, Tri Brata (Three Brothers) Island.

Day 12: Visit Itelmens (Kamchadal) village of Pimchakh

Travel to Itelmens (Kamchadal) village of Pimchakh, 25 miles from the regional capital Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. The indigenous population of Kamchatka, Itelmens, is less than 1000 in present time.

The ethnic community of Pimchakh maintains a traditional life style, language, customs, dances and food.  We will Visit the ethnography museum, talk to local people living there, and taste traditional cuisine and phyto-teas. There is an opportunity to see a performance of the folk ensemble.
Accommodations at the Paratunka Valley Hotel.

Day 13: Departure from Kamchatka 
Departure from Yelizovo Airport.