Russia
Russia – Kamchatka Discovery Tour – an 8 day Small Group Tour from £1655 per person.
Kamchatka is a wilderness that everyone should visit at least once. And if you don’t like multi-day trips with a lot of camping, then that is not an excuse to give up the dream. Undiscovered Destinations’ Kamchatka in Comfort tour takes you to one of the most pioneering travel regions of the world but without the discomfort sometimes associated with travel in the wilderness.
During this trip you will see the best that stunning Kamchatka has to offer, every evening returning to a comfortable hotel.
Kamchatka is a vast wilderness perched on Russia’s far eastern frontier, jutting out into the Pacific Ocean. Renowned for its unspoilt landscapes, its fantastic wildlife and its spectacular natural phenomena, it represents one of the most untouched, and certainly least visited, places on our planet.
On this trip we take in the very best of the region, with opportunities to visit the breathtaking Valley of the Geysers and walk along the spurs of active volcanoes. The region is also a fantastic place for spotting brown bear.
Kuril Lake, which was formed about 8,000 years ago as a result of a series of enormous volcanic explosions, has one of the largest population of spawning sockeye salmon in Eurasia. To feed on this abundance, up to 200 bears can travel to the lake from mid-July to mid-September. This is definitely one of the worlds best places for observing these beautiful animals, along with foxes and otters which also come here to feed on salmon.
Kamchatka is certainly one of the last frontiers of travel. Explore it with us in comfort now.
- Fitness
- Off the beaten track
- Culture
- History
- Wildlife
Tour Pace
Busy
Tour style
Pioneer
Relaxed Pace
Relaxed tours are easy paced with plenty of leisure time built in. The tour will in all probability still be off the beaten track, with the occasional early start and there may still be occasional long drives. In general on a relaxed pace tour you can enjoy easy-going activities and experiences with opportunities to absorb the sights and immerse yourself in the local surroundings.
Moderate Pace
Moderate pace tours are ideal if you want a tour experience that combines activities and experiences with some time to relax. Typically you will be active and busy for part of the day but then also have time to rest and recharge your batteries. In general on a moderate paced tour there may be some long journeys involved but the tour is not an expedition or a road trip. On a moderate paced tour it will be necessary to have some early starts.
Busy Pace
A busy paced tour means that you can expect to be doing, seeing or experiencing something new almost every day, and moving on from place to place to pack in as much as possible. There may be early starts, long journeys and tiring days along the way, but you’ll return home feeling you’ve really experienced as much as you possibly could.
Pioneer Class Tours
On our Pioneer tours, you will be amongst an elite group of intrepid travellers and some of the first to explore a country that few have been privileged enough to discover. Of course, exploring such areas of the world will come with its challenges; it may mean several nights camping, long journeys by 4WD and the need to maintain a degree of flexibility for when carefully laid plans change. These are challenging tours in countries and areas that may have poor infrastructure, high levels of poverty and illiteracy. This can translate in to low standards in hotels, bad roads and poor driving standards among other issues. We try and smooth out as much of these issues as we can but you should be prepared to experience the bad with the good.
Traveller Class Tours
Our Traveller itineraries are at the core of our programme. These journeys are designed for travellers who still want to discover a land away from the tourist crowds but expect minimum standards. Accommodation will be primarily hotel based, although you could still find yourself camping, or the guest of a local family. Depending on the destination and itinerary, you’ll likely be travelling in a private vehicle, with occasional use of public transport. This is adventure travel with some of the rough edges smoothed out.
Itinerary.
Day 1 - Arrival in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky
Arrive in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky and transfer to your hotel. This afternoon we take part in a shamanic tea ceremony, held by Valery Malakhov, a follower of Kamchatka shamans. During this ceremony we will taste Kamchatka wild plants and traditional teas and listen to the harp and guitar. We return to the hotel after dinner. Overnight at Commander Hotel or similar (D)
Day 2 - Valley of Geysers optional excursion or day at leisure
Today you can take an optional helicopter excursion to Geyser Valley (additional local charge – see below). Walk along the Uzon Caldera and have lunch in the valley. We return to our hotel in the evening. For those not wanting to take the helicopter ride, you can visit observation points, a museum and historical sights. Alternatively, you can visit an ethnic settlement (additional charges apply). Overnight Commander Hotel or similar (B)
Day 3 – Volcanic Spurs
Today we take an off-road trip to the high plateau, located between Avachinsky and Koryaksky volcanoes, where we walk for approx. 2-3 hours along the volcanic spurs. We ascend camel mountain and admire the beautiful scenery and mountain flowers and see the colonies of ground gophers. We return to the hotel in the evening. Overnight Commander Hotel or similar (BL)
Day 4 - Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky – Pacific Coast and the Black beach
Today we take a city tour of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. Visit the viewing points and learn about the history of Kamchatka in the museums and visit the fish market. Later, we head to the Pacific coast and walk along the famous Khallaktvrsky beach with its black volcanic sand. We then take a swim in the healing waters of the Zelenovskie Ozerki springs before returning to our hotel in the evening. Overnight Commander Hotel or similar (B)
Day 5 - Mutnovsky Volcano and "Small Geysers Valley"
Today we travel through the plateau of Vilyuchinsky and Gorely volcanoes to the foot of Mutnovsky volcano. You will enjoy a guided walk to the Dachny hot springs, called by locals the Small Geysers Valley. En route, visit the Upper Paratunsky hot springs and the Vilyuchinsky waterfall. We return to our hotel in the evening. Overnight Commander Hotel or similar (BL)
Day 6 – Avacha Bay – Starichkov Island – Paratunka
Today enjoy a boat trip to the Avacha Bay. See the picturesque rocks and Tri Brata (Three Brothers) Island which is considered to be one of the main symbols of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. We also watch the sea birds on Babushkin Kamen (Old Woman’s Stone) Island. We then head to Starichkov Island with the largest sea bird rookery in Kamchatka. If wanted, you can take part in some sea fishing. This afternoon we travel to the resort area of Paratunka with its thermal water pools where it is possible to take a swim. Return to your hotel in the evening. Overnight Commander Hotel or similar (BL)
Day 7 - Malkinsky Hot Springs or optional Kuril Lake Helicopter excursion
Today you can choose to take a helicopter tour to Kuril Lake to observe the bears (additional local charge see below). If you do not wish to go to the lake, we can visit Malkinsky hot springs and swim in the reputedly healing waters. Overnight Commander Hotel or similar (B)
Day 8 – Departure
This morning there is time to visit the fish market and to buy souvenirs before you are transferred to the airport for your departure flight (B)
Please note that extra accommodation can be arranged post tour if you wish to extend your stay in Kamchatka
Dates & Price.
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Tour CodeStartEndTrip StatusPricing
Tour Notes
Important Information
/!\ Please note that the order of the itinerary may change locally. Changes often occur en route due to the nature of travel in these remote areas and this itinerary is only a guideline of the activities possible on each day.
/!\ These departures are based on a mixed group, with travellers joining the tour from other companies and countries. The tour will include an English-speaking guide, but may also be guided in other languages. In the event there are 6 or more English-speaking travellers in the group, the tour will be exclusively English-speaking guided.
/!\ 2021 dates are provisional, and could change by a few days. Please contact us to register your interest in your preferred departure.
Single Supplement
Single supplement is £265.
Flights
Return flights from London to Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky start at £1,000 or cheaper options could be found, depending on the time of booking.
The earlier the better ! The demand for flights is high and therefore we strongly recommend that you enquire and book your flights at the same time as confirming your place on the tour, or at the earliest once you decide to go. Please contact us for a quotation.
Transfers
Airport transfers are included if you are booking pre and/or post tour accommodation at the hotel mentioned in our tour dossier.
Extra Accommodation
Extra night accommodation pre and/or post tour in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky costs from £100 per person, per night sharing a twin/double room and £90 per person in a solo occupancy room.
Please note that the prices quoted above are for the category of accommodation and hotel used for this particular tour. Depending on the hotel eventually confirmed there may be some difference in the rate advertised by the hotel, and the prices available through Undiscovered Destinations. It should be noted we will not apply a surcharge should more expensive accommodation be used. At the same time in the event that a lower rate is available for the confirmed hotel we are unable to offer a refund.
Private and Tailormade Tours to Kamchatka
If you prefer not to travel as part of a group then this tour can be arranged on a private basis. The price starts from £2,695 per person based on 2 people travelling and sharing a room. Private tours with larger group sizes or a solo person can also be arranged – please contact us for details.
Undiscovered Destinations can also tailor a tour to your requirements in the Kamchatka region. Please contact Estelle to discuss your requirements and to organise your adventure.
Download PDF.
Download the full tour dossier for this trip here.
For expert advice get in touch now with our passionate,
well-travelled team.
+44(0) 191 296 2674 from THE UK
1-800-614-2967 from THE US & CANADA
1-300-956-415 from AUSTRALIA
Tour inclusions.
- Arrival and departure transfers
- Transport throughout
- All accommodation
- Services of English-speaking guide / tour leader
- Meals as listed (B – Breakfast, L – Lunch, D – Dinner)
- Entrance fees for sites listed as part of the itinerary
Tour exclusions.
- International flights
- Any airport taxes
- Travel Insurance
- Visas
- Optional activities, eg. helicopter excursions
- Drinks
- Tipping (at discretionary)
Read more about our tours in Kamchatka, Russia and our other tours
Undiscovered Destinations
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