Kamchatka – Spring Awakening

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Kamchatka – Spring Awakening

Day 1: Welcome to Kamchatka

Welcome to Kamchatka! You will be met at the airport, before transferring to Paratunka, a health resort zone 30km from the capital of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. Spend the day relaxing in and around the secluded resort. Soak in the stunning geothermal outdoor pool, with a stunning view of nearby volcanoes.

Day 2: Avacha Bay cruise and a city tour

Today we start a day with a cruise to Avacha Bay. Enjoy breathtaking scenery of the twisting coastline, try your fishing skills from the boat, or relax on a deck and enjoy sweeping views of the peninsula and its many volcanoes from the shores of Kamchatka. 

The trip will meet the Pacific Ocean and visit Starichkov Island, a nature reserve in the bay, which abounds in puffins, loons, and other forms of waterbird. With a picnic board on deck, the cruise will include an outlook onto the Pacific Ocean and a chance (if lucky enough) to see many of the bay’s sea life including otters and sea lions.

Later in the afternoon, we explore the city on a bus tour of Petropavlovsk - the capital of Kamchatka, with visiting the Kamchatka museum of local lore, the viewpoint, fish market and the historical city centre.

Day 3: Camel mount hike

Today, you will see Kamchatka from a different perspective as we head to Avachinsky volcano (2,751m). One of the most active volcanoes in Kamchatka, the Avachinsky volcano is filled with hardened lava above which you can see rising clouds of fumaroles.

In the morning you jump into the truck for a 2h drive to the volcano’s base camp. After a quick lunch, get ready for an easy hike (3h) to the nearby Camel Mountain (1,200m), which is actually situated between two volcanoes: Koryaksky and Avachinsky. From the top of the mountain, you will enjoy the beautiful views of the Avachinskaya bay and the surroundings of Petropavlovsk, the Avacha river and Nalychevo valley.

There is still much snow at the volcano foothill at the beginning of summer, but at the place where it melts, the sand is beautifully covered with the first multi-coloured alpine flowers.

Day 4: Meet native people of Kamchatka

Kamchatka is home to several ethnic groups, among them the semi-nomadic Koryak, Itelmens and others. Today we visit a nomad camp, which is situated in an open area with a picturesque view of the volcanoes.

We start with an excursion around the dog kennel and learn the history of the dog sledding sport in Kamchatka. Then sit around the fire and listen to traditional Koryak folk songs and sample native dishes. You’ll have the opportunity to purchase handmade crafts. 

Day 5: Vilyuchinsky volcano

This day will start with 1,5h transfer to the Vilyuchinsky volcano. Here we enjoy a nice walk to the Vilyuchinskiy waterfall situated at the slope of the volcano, it is a beautiful cascade of falling water formed by melting snow. One of the volcano icecaps gives a start to a small river which in summertime turns into 40 meters waterfall.

At the north-eastern slope of the Goryachaya hill (Hot hill), not far from the Vilyuchinsky volcano, we will enjoy a dip in the Verkhneparatunskiye hot springs, which include about twenty outcomings with the temperature up to 70°С.

Day 6: Departure

Check out from Paratunka before transferring to Petropavlovsk Kamchatsky Airport for your journey home. 

Included