Volcanoes, Rivers and Bears of Kamchatka

Arrival in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. Meeting at the airport. Transfer to the hotel and check-in. Lunch at the hotel. A brief city-tour around Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky (drive to the viewing point and some historical sites of the town). The city, founded by Danish navigator Vitus Bering in 1740, has always been a strategic port in the Far East of Russia. Many round-the-world expeditions of the XVIII – XIX centuries visited Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky with the refreshment purposes. During the 1854–1855 Crimean War the city was put under siege by the Anglo-French forces but never fell. On return to the hotel you meet with the guide to discuss the program in detail. Dinner at the hotel. Overnight stay at the hotel.

Breakfast. Transfer to the sea quay in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. Cruise along the bay Avachinskaya to a natural preserve – the Island Starichkov. Lunch on board. The way to the island Starichkov goes along the Avacha bay passing the so called ID-card of Kamchatka the rocks ``Three Brothers`` and lava rock ``Devil's finger``. You will see the rookeries of the sea mammals and bird colonies. On the way back we make a stop to catch some sea fish in the Tikhaya bay. Return to the town. Transfer back to the hotel. Dinner. Overnight stay at the hotel.

Breakfast. Transfer by all-terrain bus to the foot of Avachinsky volcano to the altitude of 860 m asl. Part of the route is through the bed of a dry river. The drive to the distance of 30 km takes 2 – 2,5 hours depending on the road conditions. Accommodation in huts for 4 – 10 persons in the base camp or in double tents in a tent camp. Walking excursion to the mountain Camel (1200 m asl.) will take us 3 – 4 hours. Lunch en route. The natural monument – ``Mountain Verblyud`` (Camel) located on the mountain pass between the volcanoes Avachinsky and Koryaksky – is a small rocky massif with two sharp peaks. The mountain was formed during the eruptions of both volcanoes. As a result of earth crust movement and activity of the volcanoes incandescent lava flowed that later became the mount Verblyud. Return to the camp. Dinner. Toolbox talk for the next day. Overnight stay in huts in the base camp.

Breakfast. Ascent of Avachinsky volcano. We get to the summit along the western slope by the ascending path with the level of difficulty 1A. The ascent to Avachinsky volcano and return to the base camp take as a rule 9 - 12 hours depending of the participants’ physical fitness. The difference of the altitude is almost 1900 m. The most difficult part of the ascent is the last 100 m. Lunch on the volcano slope at the altitude of about 2000 m. Climb the young volcanic cinder cone to the crater. Walk around the crater. From the edge of the crater you will catch the beautiful view of Nalychevo valley, the southern volcanic group and the Pacific coast. Here you may approach the fumaroles and touch the lava cork that sealed up the crater in 1991. Descent back to the base camp. Dinner. Drive back to Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. Overnight stay at the hotel.

Breakfast. Transfer by all-terrain bus to the foot of Vilyuchinsky volcano. The route goes south gaining height along the valley of the river Paratunka. As we go up the road we stop to make photos and video at the height of 1100 m on top of the highest automobile mountain pass of Kamchatka - Vilyuchinsky pass. You will admire the formidable view of the valley of the river Paratunka and volcanoes Gorely and Mutnovsky. Then we go south along a volcanic plateau. Arrival at the destination. Set up camp at the stream Spokoyny. Lunch. Walking excursion to the waterfall Kosy Veroniki. Return back to the camp. Dinner. Toolbox talk for the next day. Overnight stay in tents.

Breakfast. Drive to the foot of the volcano Mutnovsky. Hiking inside the active crater of the volcano. Excursion around the fumarole zone – observe of the ``Falling glacier``, pulsating springs, fumarole outlets, mud pots... The biggest crater of the volcano is located at the altitude of 1600 m, it is considered to be one of the most beautiful in Kamchatka. Thus in order to get into the crater you don't have to climb to the top of the volcano (2323 m). The ascent is rather easy, you walk on the path of a 1A category in a crust fracture. It takes usually 2 - 3 hours to get to the crater, depending on the physical fitness of the participants of the tour. Lunch en route in the volcano crater. Return to the automobile. Transfer to the canyon Opasny. Observing the 90 meters deep canyon and a waterfall. Return back to the camp. Dinner. Toolbox talk for the next day. Overnight stay in tents.

Breakfast. Packing up the camp. Transfer by all-terrain bus to the caldera of Gorely volcano. Ascent of Gorely volcano up to its top (1829 m). The ascent is rather easy and takes approximately 2 – 4 hours depending of the tourists’ physical fitness. The steepness of the slope at the top makes up to 25°. The elevation difference is about 900 meters. You will see a lot of solidified lava rocks of whimsical forms on your way called kekur. Lunch on top of the volcano. From the top of the volcano Gorely you can see up to 16 volcanoes. Walk around the carters. Descent to the vehicle. Drive back to Petropavlovsk. Stop at the foot of Goryachaya hill. Lunch. Transfer to the hotel. Dinner. Overnight stay at the hotel.

Breakfast. Transfer to the helipad. Helicopter flight to Kuril Lake. Flight time about 1 hour. Arrival at the lake. Trekking excursion on the lake. Bears and salmon spawning viewing. Trek to fish-counting weir. Boat trip to Severnaya bay of Kuril Lake. Lunch: salmon with rise, tea/koffee, juice. Duration of the excursion is 1 hour 30 minutes. Flight (15 minutes) to the next stop - the caldera of Ksudach volcano. Trekking excursion in the caldera. Hot Beach viewing. Duration of the excursion is 15 - 20 minutes. Caldera of Ksudach volcano is the Monument of Nature due to its geological construction. The eruption resulting in the volcano collapse took place in 1907 so that its volcanic ash is still recognized 200 km away from the epicenter of eruption. Flight to the next stop - about 20 minutes. Landing at the foot of Khodutka volcano. Bathing in the unique hot river, where temperature of water reaches 40°С. Transfer to the hotel. Dinner. Overnight stay at the hotel. If you’d like to abstain from the helicopter excursion you spend this day on your wish. An optional program may be organized for additional fee.

Breakfast. Departure from the hotel to the river Bystraya . The drive to the distance of 120 km takes 2 hours. Arrival at the rafting start point. Preparing the equipment for rafting. Safety measures instructions. Beginning of rafting and fishing. The duration of rafting is 4 - 5 hours. We float down the river without riffles. Each tourist gets fishing tackle. An experienced guide controls each raft. At the end of rafting, we cook lunch using the caught fish. Packing up the raft. Return to the hotel. Dinner. Overnight stay at the hotel.

Breakfast. Visit to the local fish market and a gift shop. Transfer to the airport.