SAKHALIN – ITURUP – KUNASHIR
Tour Itinerary
Day 1. Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk (lunch)
Arrival to Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk. Transfer to the hotel. Accommodation at the hotel after 14:00 (early check-in is possible with a surcharge of 50%).
14:30 Welcome lunch in Sakhalin style. We will begin our journey with acquaintance with Sakhalin cuisine. At our lunch you will taste the famous hemultan soup, salads from Sakhalin wild plants (fern, burdock), seasonal fish dishes, and caviar sandwiches for tea. At lunch we will discuss the details of the trip and present you with the necessary attributes for a trip to Sakhalin and the Kuril Islands. The weather in Sakhalin and the Kuril Islands changes very quickly and to make your trip comfortable, we have prepared raincoats and raincoats for your shoes. Your shoes and clothes will always stay dry, even in the most inclement weather.
City tour (3 hours).
As part of the excursion, tourists visit the Sakhalin Regional Museum of Local Lore, get acquainted with the beautiful, spectacular, significant objects of the city, such as: GC " Mountain Air '', Pobeda Ave., pl. Victory, Walk of Fame, railway museum, monument-busts of the discoverers of Fr. Sakhalin, Kommunistichesky Prospect, Victory Memorial Complex, Church of the Nativity of Christ.
End of the excursion, return to the hotel. Rest.
Day 2. Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk – river Vestochka – rocky outlier Frog – Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk (Southern part of Sakhalin Island) (breakfast, lunch)
Breakfast.
Departure to the route, 30 minutes (12 km) by transport to the village. Vestochka, then departure to the route on foot.
It is believed that the area Vestochka – energy center of Sakhalin.
Rock « Frog » – the unique nature of 70 million years old, a very unusual energetic place.
Travel time along the ecological path to the foot of the mountain takes approximately 20 minutes. Further, a short, but steep ascent to the " Frog '' outlier, which takes 20 to 30 minutes.
An amazing landscape opens up from the top, and in good weather it is possible to see Aniva Bay, lakes Tunaicha and Chastichivoe. You will see magic stones in the form of the Sphinx, " Solar '' and " Lunar '' glades, stones of " questions and answers '' and you can take a dip in the " energy '' Aichka river).
Snack (dry lunch).
Departure to the city.
Arrival. Free time. We recommend an independent visit to the museums of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk: Museum and Memorial Complex " Victory '', Museum of the Book. A.P. Chekhov " Sakhalin Island '', the historical park " Russia '' my story '', Sakhalin Regional Art Museum.
Day 3. Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk – Iturup island – Baransky volcano (breakfast, lunch, dinner)
Breakfast.
Transfer to the airport. Departure to Kurilsk (flight time ~ 1 hour).
In case of a late departure, in our free time we recommend visiting the museums of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk:
-Museum-memorial complex " Victory '';
-Museum of the book. A.P. Chekhov's " Sakhalin Island '';
-Historical Park " Russia – my story '';
-Sakhalin Regional Art Museum.
Arrival in Kurilsk (Iturup Island). A light snack.
By tradition, we begin our acquaintance with the island with the local history museum, where we are met by professionals who love their land and who know the history of Iturup Island.
Departure to Baransky Volcano (dulunch 5 hours)
Baransky volcano (height 1132 meters) – one of the most accessible active volcanoes of Iturup Island with hot lakes of unusual turquoise color, fumaroles, mineral streams and medicinal springs. We will climb the volcano, enjoy the beauty and relaxation in the thermal baths, taste eggs with caviar, boiled right in volcanic water, and drink delicious Kuril tea. Named in 1946 in honor of Professor N. N. Baransky. Many eruptions of Baransky have been recorded in history. The most memorable and last one was in 1951.
Today, at the foot of the volcano, we can observe picturesque volcanic landscapes: mud pots, fumaroles, hot lakes with acid of an unusual turquoise color, hot mineral streams, medicinal springs gush from the bowels of the earth.
The excursion ends with a visit to the volcano's thermal springs!
You can only swim in springs with a certain water temperature.
The excursion takes place by transport.
Transfer to the hotel. Accommodation at the hotel.
Dinner.
Day 4. Iturup Island – boat trip along the coast – Japanese old fish factory – excursion along the bay (breakfast, lunch, dinner)
Breakfast. Transfer to Olya Bay (Reidovo settlement). Boarding boats for sending for a boat trip.
Boat trip along the coast of the Sea of Okhotsk. The picturesque coastline amazes with its diversity: steep cliffs with waterfalls, lush vegetation, trees hanging over the coast, rockfalls, calm bays. In the sea you will be watched by curious, friendly seals and accompanied by noisy seagulls.
Arrival in the Bay " Canning '', a former Japanese village and a canning factory, where there are still Japanese ovens for the production of canning products, the foundations of houses and a factory.
Going to the beach from White rocks . The length of the rocks is 28 km. They consist of porous volcanic glass and pumice, frozen as a result of a colossal eruption of a hot gas cloud. The sand of the beach consists of white quartz sand and black titanomagnetite sand. Due to the mixture of these two sands, an unusually beautiful gray-graphite sandy beach is formed.
The next bay of our excursion is – Parusnaya Bay . Deep in the bay, in a picturesque canyon, there is Maiden's Tears waterfall 10 m high.
Disembarkation and lunch in the area of a beautiful lake on Iturup – Lake Sopochnoe . The individuality of the lake lies in its horseshoe shape and incredibly beautiful landscapes, stunning with their beauty in any weather.
Lunch by the sea (iturup fish soup, tea with Kuril rosehip and herbs, smoked fish).
Return to bay " Olya '' by sea, transfer to land transport.
After the boat trip, you will enjoy relaxation in the hot springs .
Return to the hotel.
Dinner at the cafe.
Day 5. Iturup Island – Kasatka bay – Japanese old airport – ghost village – Yankito plateau (breakfast, lunch, dinner)
Breakfast. Departure for an excursion towards the Pacific Ocean.
Kasatka Bay . First stop at Miami at an unusual art object in the form of abandoned military equipment, collected in one place. It is put in order and placed on a common site. In the center of the composition there is a stand with signs of the names of some cities and the distances to them.
The second stop is on the " mirror '' beach , similar to the endless sea mirror. A grounded fishing vessel – the most popular photo object among the guests of the island. We will definitely drive to Devil's Rock . At one time, the Japanese made tunnels in it for a through passage for military purposes, which have survived to this day. You will pass through the places of hostilities, you will see the site of the former " hospital '', the so-called laboratory where the Japanese worked on the development of bacteriological weapons. Weather permitting, those wishing to swim in the Pacific Ocean.
Light snack (tea, coffee, sandwiches with fish).
Directions to Burevestnik military airfield and military town – the village of Gornoe, which are located in the southern part of the Kasatka Bay. The first airfield on the shore of Kasatka Bay was built by the Japanese in the 40s of the 20th century. The Japanese carrier-based aviation was based here. According to the Potsdam Agreement, Iturup Island came under the jurisdiction of the USSR, since that time the airfield began to be used by Soviet aviation.
The military town in the village of Gornoye was one of the largest in Soviet times military towns throughout the Kuril ridge, and now many consider it a " ghost village ''; and we will reveal the secret of such a mysterious place.
Arrival in Kurilsk. Lunch at the cafe.
Excursion to the foot of the Bogdan Khmelnitsky volcano in Yankito, which is a plateau of frozen lava flows of bizarre shape. Beautiful landscapes from any vantage point. Bright, spectacular photos, unique impressions! Dear ladies, feel like a fashion model, take your favorite dress with you and have an amazing photo session among the frozen lava flows!
We will finish a busy day with rest in the thermal springs 'Baths' (Rybaki village).
Dinner in a cafe with halibut barbecue and karaoke.
Day 6. Iturup Island – Kunashir island (breakfast)
Free day from excursions.
Breakfast in the hotel cafe. Transfer to the port.
Boarding the ship.
Departure to about. Kunashir (travel time ~ 19 hours).
Day 7. Kunashir Island – fumarole field of Mendeleevo volcano (lunch, dinner)
Arrival at the port of Yuzhno-Kurilsk, about. Kunashir.
Transfer to the hotel « Iceberg » . Accommodation in rooms with convenience you on the block.
Visit to the fumarole field of Mendeleevo volcano (medium difficulty route). An active volcano in the southern part of Kunashir Island. Named after the outstanding Russian chemist D.I. Mendeleev in 1946 (the dulunch of the excursion is 6-7 hours).
A complex stratovolcano with a central extrusive dome. Height 886 m (according to other sources – 888 m). The volcano's cone is surrounded by a vast caldera, which was formed as a result of the destruction of the cone of an older volcano. Steam-gas emissions and increased fumarolic activity in 1880, 1901, 1946, 1977 There are many fumaroles and hot springs on the slopes of the volcano, the surface of the slopes is covered with coniferous-deciduous forests with dense undergrowth of Kuril bamboo and dwarf cedar. At the foot of the resort there is a recreation area called Hot Beach, where water from volcanic springs is used as natural healing baths. The status of a state natural monument was assigned to it in 1983. Mendeleev volcano belongs to specially protected natural areas and is a complex regional natural monument with a total area of 30,000 hectares (III category according to the classification).
Walk along the coast, sightseeing of the coast: kekkurs " Devil's finger '', " Devil's gate. ''
Camping lunch (packed lunchs).
Dinner.
Day 8. Kunashir Island – Caldera of Golovnin volcano – Lake Boiling – Lake Hot (breakfast, lunch, dinner)
Route of medium difficulty, dulunch of the excursion 8-9 hours.
Breakfast. According to our tradition, we visit the local history museum of Yuzhno-Kurilsk.
Departure to the route by transport up to 43 km, then walk 8 km in one direction. Inspection of the Golovnin volcano caldera, Kipyashchee and Goryachee lakes. Swimming in Lake Hot, (swimming is prohibited in the Boiling Lake).
Golovnin Caldera (caldera is a cauldron-like depression with steep slopes and a flat bottom, formed as a result of the collapse of the top of the volcano). The diameter of the caldera along the ridge is more than four kilometers. You can imagine what force the explosion occurred here during the eruption of the volcano. Inside the caldera, at an altitude of 130 meters above sea level, there are two lakes: Boiling and Hot. Jets of hydrogen sulfide and sulfurous gases – solfatars, hot water emissions, thick steam and constantly changing water color create an impressive picture.
Camping lunch (dry lunchs).
Dinner at a cafe.
Day 9. Kunashir Island – ecological trail – springs Stolbovskiy – Cape Columnar (breakfast, lunch, dinner)
Breakfast in the hotel cafe.
Departure to the ecological trail and therapeutic mud thermal thermal springs Stolbovskiye springs .
(Driving 15 km, then walking on a downhill trail 1.5 km, swimming in the springs).
The flora of the island is rich and includes species spread from the subtropics to northern latitudes. White and stone birch trees, gray velvet tree trunks, mountain ash, Sakhalin fir with whitish trunks stand along the forest path with a dense hedge. On the slope upward, the blue needles of the ayan spruce glows. The gaze stops on the trunk with a red stripe drawn by a caring human hand. This is a warning: be careful – magnolia! High into the sunlight she raised branches with large leaves, at the time of flowering, the scent of her large white flowers fills everything around.
Cape Columnar – a unique place where the natural paving stones of the 'Red Square' replaced by views of stone pencils weighing 40 tons and deep-sea fiords. Bizarre rocks where you hear the sound of organ music, true thousand-year-old monuments & hellip; After all, it was they who were the first plots of land that emerged from the depths of the ocean, and survived almost in their original form until our era. (Walking along the seashore for about 40 minutes to Cape " Column '', " detour '' along the cliff above the sea of cliffs, going ashore on the other side of the cape, then on foot along the seashore for about 40 minutes, boarding transport, returning to Yuzhno Kurilsk).
Camping lunch (dry lunchs).
Dinner of fresh Kuril delicacies on the ocean shore.
On this day, it is advisable to have comfortable sneakers or trekking shoes, rubber slippers for walking on a rocky bottom in water, mosquito repellent, bathing accessories, a towel, in adverse weather conditions do not forget to take a raincoat and raincoats on your shoes.
Day 10. Kunashir Island – Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk (breakfast)
Breakfast. Airport transfer. Departure from Yuzhno-Kurilsk.
Arrival to Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk. Transfer to the hotel. Hotel accommodation.
Free time.
Day 11. Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk – Cape Bird – Cape Giant – Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk (breakfast, lunch)
Breakfast. Departure to Cape Velikan. Travel time 2.5 hours (135 km one way).
Cape Giant – a natural monument, one of the most beautiful and amazing Sakhalin sea coasts. Bizarre rocks, in the outlines of which someone sees a lion emerging from the sea, someone is a mysterious castle, and someone is the head of a giant hero who dozed off at the water's edge, rise along the entire coast from Cape Bird to Cape Giant. Stone arches, created by the greatest architect – By nature. On the tops of rocks and arches, screaming gulls scurry about, cormorants proudly sit and swifts scurry. Spruce and fir forests stretch along a narrow strip of sandy beach on the sea terrace, where fir trees carefully hide from the cold sea wind, " turning '' to the Sea of Okhotsk with his " back ''. And here you can also observe one of the most amazing natural phenomena – spawning run of Pacific salmon, namely pink salmon, if your trip falls between July and August.
Hot Sakhalin-style lunch on the seashore (Sakhalin-style fish soup, seafood, Sakhalin tea with herbs and berries).
Departure to Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk. Arrival in the city.
Day 12. Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk (breakfast)
Breakfast. Transfer to the airport with the ability to drop in (by prior arrangement) at the fish market.
Overview
Itinerary: Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk–river Vestochka–rocky outlier Frog–Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk (Southern part of Sakhalin Island)–Iturup island–Baransky volcano–Iturup Island–boat trip along the coast–Japanese old fish factory–excursion along the bay–Kasatka bay–Japanese old airport–ghost village–Yankito plateau–Kunashir island–Kunashir Island–fumarole field of Mendeleevo volcano–Caldera of Golovnin volcano–Lake Boiling–Lake Hot–ecological trail–springs Stolbovskiy–Cape Columnar–Cape Bird–Cape Giant–Yuzhno-SakhalinskDays: 12 days / 11 nights
Group: от 1 pax
Accommodation: 2★, 3★ or 4★
Visa: citizens of 58 states that hold all types of passports are eligible for visa-free entrance to Russia for a period up to 14 days (you can see the list on the official website), citizens of the 52 countries will be able to obtain a single e-visa of up to 16 days (you can see the list on the official website)
Children: Tour restrictions by age:
– with parents – from 09 years old and older;
– without parents – from 18 years old.
Required Physical or Special Preparation: No special training required, but good physical condition is desirable. Daily mileage: no more than 8 km.
Features of the route: all routes of medium difficulty, you cannot deviate from the route yourself, do not touch unfamiliar plants with your hands without the permission of the guide (the plant is dangerous. ), you should have bathing accessories with you, since in good weather it is possible to receive water procedures in the sea, lake, river, springs.
Luggage transportation (personal and public equipment): Escort teams are responsible for public equipment.
Other: The tour program may be changed due to weather conditions, the level of training of participants, other factors beyond the control of the Tour Operator. The decision to change the route is made by the guide / instructor on the spot, with the notification of the tour participants.
In the event of a free time due to a change in the schedule of the ship and flights between Fr. Sakhalin and the Kuril Islands, excursions not included in the program, are provided for an additional fee.
Please inform us at the time of booking about any chronic diseases or contraindications to participation in a trip with physical activity and overnight stays in the field.
Routes pass through sparsely populated and uninhabited territories deprived of the benefits of civilization, so you must be ready to travel and not be afraid of hiking conditions and adversity of the weather. It is not recommended to travel on active routes for persons requiring constant medical supervision.
Kuril Islands – one of the most inaccessible places in Russia. They are lost in the Pacific Ocean in the Russian Far East. It's not easy to get here: a long and expensive flight to Sakhalin, flights or nights on a motor ship to the islands themselves. The traveler who has not spared money and time will discover truly fantastic landscapes: volcanoes and hot springs, ships washed ashore and abandoned armored vehicles, monuments – traces of the presence of the Japanese, low trees and tall, human-sized grass. Get ready for the seafood tasting on the menu. Shrimp, crab, scallop and salmon – everything is truly fresh, everything is prepared according to their own local recipes.
Schedule
Available departure dates in 2024: нет
Available departure dates in 2025:
Fees
The price of the tour per pax (without airfare), USD:2★ | 3★ | 4★ | |
½DBL (double accommodation) | 3,280 | 3,310 | 3,370 |
SNGL (single accommodation) | 3,540 | 3,600 | 3,690 |
Special payment schedule: 5% – at booking, 95% – 60 days prior to arrival
Payment schedule: 5% – at booking, 95% – 15 or 30 days prior to arrival.
Payment methods:
- bank transfer in USD, EUR, GBP, JPY, AED, ILS, DKK etc.
- credit/debit card online on our website
Fees include
- guided tours
- transfers
- airfare and ferries between the islands
- accommodation in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk in a selected hotel:
hotel « Yunost » 2★ (breakfast is not included)
hotel « Lotus » 3★ (breakfast is not included)
hotel « Protein » 3★
hotel « Gagarin » 3★
hotel « Anniversary » 3★
hotel « Santa » 4★
hotel « Pacific Plaza » 4★
hotel « Mega Palace » 4★
- hotel accommodation « Iturup » on Iturup Island, double rooms with private facilities, with one or two beds
- hotel accommodation « Iceberg » on Kunashir Island, single or double rooms with amenities per block, twin beds for double occupancy
- food according to the program
- transport service on routes
- accompaniment by professional instructors on all routes
- registration of the border pass on the island Iturup and island Kunashir
- accident insurance
- necessary permits to visit specially protected natural areas
- the language of excursions is Russian but the guides speak English.
Fees exclude
- airfare to Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk city and return
- meals on the ship (à la carte)
- personal spending
- early check-in or late check-out in hotels
- hotel accommodation in case of delay or cancellation of the sailing of the ship or the departure of the plane
- expenses for the exchange of air tickets from the place of residence to Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk and back in the event of a change in the schedule of the ship or plane
- not included in the program or indicated as additional excursions
- personal English/Spanish guide: 200 USD per required day.
Travel tips
Sports and adventure tourism along the routes of the Sakhalin Region involves physical activity, and a number of directions (for example, climbing a volcano) require good physical shape, as well as the right clothes, shoes and a number of others things listed below.
We also recommend getting vaccinated against tick-borne encephalitis!
List of necessary items
Headgear (lightweight headgear to protect from the sun)
Sports sandals (comfortable sports sandals that fit firmly on the foot, in which you can comfortably walk on water and rocks)
30 units)
Photo equipment
Backpack (a small backpack for day trips (hands must be free!) For carrying water, photography equipment, bathing suit, etc.)
Warm clothing (jacket, sweater, etc.) warm clothing)
Jacket (comfortable wind and waterproof jacket)
Swimwear (swimwear and swimming trunks for men)
Mosquito repellent
Gloves (cotton gloves to protect hands from small work)
Long-sleeved shirt or jacket (light long-sleeved outerwear is required dima for climbing Mendeleev volcano, so as not to cut yourself on bamboo and, at the same time, not suffer in hot weather)
First aid kit (tourist first aid kit with first aid and personal hygiene)
Fishing tackle (for avid fishermen if you want to have your own fishing tackle)
The program was drawn up taking into account the published timetable for the movement between the islands of the Sakhalin region of the motor ship "I. Farkhutdinov". This type of transportation is subsidized and is used in priority for residents of the Kuril Islands. The current schedule may be further changed by the Ministry of Transport of the Sakhalin Region in order to improve the quality of life of the residents of the Kuril Islands. Please take this information into account when making a tour and buying air tickets to Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk: order air tickets at tariffs that provide for the possibility of exchanging flight dates! The company does not compensate for the costs of exchanging air tickets on passenger routes from the mainland of the Russian Federation to Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk and back in the event of a change in the schedule of the ship.
To obtain a pass to the Kuril Islands, documents are required:
– for citizens of the Russian Federation. High-quality copy of the passport of the Russian Federation: full spread with passport data, full spread with registration;
– children under 14 years old (copy of birth certificate);
– a copy of a passport and a copy of a visa to the Russian Federation for foreign citizens.
Tourist information:
Mobile phone number (required!)
Terms of submission of documents for registration of a pass:
– for citizens of the Russian Federation no later than 15 days before arrival.
– for foreign citizens no later than 30 days before arrival.