All group members meet at the airport in the afternoon and go to the hotel. We check in and go to a Japanese restaurant to have a delicious welcome lunch with fresh seafood.
Then our adventure begins! We go sightseeing in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, admire Japanese buildings and visit the observation point at the "Gorniy vozduh" ski resort. We’ll enjoy the breathtaking views of the whole city and the vast Susunai Valley, surrounded by hills and ridges. After we return to the hotel in the evening you can have dinner in one of the numerous restaurants offering Japanese, Korean, Chinese, European, or Russian cuisine.
Breakfast first and then we are going to the east coast of Sakhalin. It’s a long journey that will take around 3 hours, but we’ll stop on the way to make it comfortable. We’ll see the famous Torii gates that were usually built near Shinto temples. It’s great to relax and breathe salty air here and one can even find a piece of amber on the ground. We’ll also stop at Vzmorye village where you can buy fresh boiled crabs.
As soon as we come to Tikhaya bay, our trekking route will start. It’s going to be an easy one, so you won’t get too tired. There’s still something to see along the trek! The waters are so transparent here that one can observe lace-like emerald seaweeds and fishes shimmering in the sun right from the trail. Seals and cranes also love this place so we might be lucky enough to watch them.
We’ll peep into caves and canyons, climb onto the sea terraces and lie on silky grass and feel the peculiar scent of edelweiss flowers. We’ll watch the waves breaking against the cliffs and carve unusual shapes out of huge black stones. We’ll simply enjoy the silence, interrupted only by the waves and birds. You are welcome to swim, so don’t forget to take a swimming suit with you.
There will be an unusual lunch for us: yummy fish soup on the campfire, caviar and seafood.
We’ll get back to the hotel in the evening.
We’ll have breakfast and head to the southeast coast of the Sea of Okhotsk. The journey will take about 3 hours and won't be the easiest. But the incredible views of Sakhalin are worth it.
Once you arrive, you will enjoy an easy walk along the coastline and explore the capes of Ptichiy and Velikan. Nature has done its best in these places: huge stone arches, cliffs, and majestic columns rise above the land and water. The largest monolith resembles the profile of a giant, which is why the cape was named this way. “Velikan” means “a giant” in Russian. Birds nest in these areas, so you will have the opportunity to observe their habitats. We’ll have lunch with Far Eastern delicacies in a picturesque spot, relax and return to the hotel in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk.
Transfer to the port of Korsakov and boarding the ship are planned after breakfast. We’ll have to get up early as the ship departs at 12:00. There’s a two-day boat trip ahead!
First we’ll sail along the beautiful shores of the Aniva Peninsula, and then the endless waters of the Sea of Okhotsk. Vessels are often accompanied by friendly dolphins and birds circling in the sky. We’ll have enough time to enjoy the sea views and relax. Meals on the ship are available at additional cost.
A ship is the most reliable way to get to Kunashir. You can go there by plane, but the flights are often delayed up to 5 days due to the volcanic activity.
If the weather is fine in the morning we’ll get to observe the majestic Tyatya volcano and soon arrive at Shikotan. You’ll have 1 to 1,5 hours to walk on your own and explore the green slopes, meadows and cozy bays of this mysterious island. Just do not go far so as not to forget about the time.
Then we’ll proceed with our sea route and go to Yuzhno-Kurilsk, where we’ll be met and taken to a hotel. In the evening we´ll take a long walk along the shore of the Pacific ocean. The Devil's Finger sea stack is a main attraction here. It’s a lonely cliff sticking out of the water, as if a huge stone giant pointed his finger at the sky.
Then it’s time to go back to the hotel and have dinner.
Note: Shikotan is a special territory with enhanced border control. Access to the shore is possible only with the permission of the border services.
Another wonder of Kunashir is the fumarole field of Mendeleev volcano, and we are going to see it today. A car will take us closer to the volcano, but then we’ll do some trekking along a beautiful bamboo trail. Don’t worry, we’ll make several stops on the way so that everyone can have a rest and once we reach the field there’ll be a 2-hour break. It’s enough time to explore and enjoy fumaroles — holes in the hardened lava from which steam and gas escape. Feel free to bathe in thermal springs as well.
We’ll return to the hotel in the evening and have a yummy dinner with Sakhalin delicases.
Another fascinating trek, this time to Golovnin volcano. We’ll get to the starting point by car and then walk through the vast fields and dense bamboo and pine forests. Sometimes it is even impossible to turn off the path because of the thickets.
Today our aim is the 4-kilometer caldera with four domes and two lakes at the bottom. The water in Kipyasheye Lake is too hot, but plunging into Goryacheye Lake is a real pleasure. Photographers will be happy with the breathtaking views from the height.
Traditionally, we return to the hotel for dinner.
We’ll visit one of the most unusual places on Earth — Stolbchaty Cape. It was formed from the hardened lava of Mendeleev volcano, which split into five- and six-sided columns.
We will walk along a fabulous eco-trail where bizarre plants grow, and Russian spruces coexist with wild magnolia artificially planted by the Japanese. The trail will take you to mud springs and then to a beautiful coast. Further, we’ll reach majestic rocks of the White Monks and make our way to Cape Stolbchaty itself. The cape is washed by the Sea of Okhotsk on three sides and surrounded by picturesque lagoons with crystal clear water. You can swim and then dine on delicious fish soup cooked over a campfire.
In the evening you'll be transferred to the port and get on a ship to Sakhalin.
You will spend the day on a boat. You can relax after active days in Kunashir and enjoy the open spaces of the sea. If you're lucky, you might spot dolphins overboard.
In the evening you will arrive in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk.
A whole day free from group activities, so you can spend it however you like. For example:
All activities are at extra cost.
Breakfast, check-out from the hotel, group transfer to the airport and departure.
The participants will meet at the airport of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk (UUS). The exact time will be announced later.
You will be met at the airport exit. Group transfer to the hotel is included in the price.
On the last day of the tour you’ll be transferred to the airport of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk (UUS). Group transfer to the airport is included in the price.
Group meeting will take place at the airport of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk (UUS).
We recommend booking flights with arrival at 09:15 and 12:35. Transfer to the hotel is included in the price. Check-in at the hotel is possible from 14:00.
Transfer from the airport will also be arranged for tourists arriving later. However, please note that the excursion program on the 1st day starts at 14:00. If you arrive later, you will miss the city tour and welcome lunch.
Note: Be careful when booking flights, pay attention to the dates of departure and arrival.
Important information: Ferry tickets and flights between the islands are paid additionally. All the tickets are purchased by the organizers!
The managers will inform you of the current prices.
Group transfer to Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk airport on the last day is included in the price. We recommend booking return flights departing at 11:45 or 15:00.
Note: We kindly ask you not to purchase the tickets until the manager sends you a confirmation and guarantees that the tour will take place.
Transfer to Yuzhno-Kurilsk and back is held by one of the ships: "Igor Farkhutdinov", "Admiral Nevelskoy" or "Pavel Leonov".
"Igor Farkhutdinov" is an enhanced ice-class passenger ship designed for 150 people. It was built in 1991. "Admiral Nevelskoy" is an ice-class cargo-passenger ship designed for 146 people. It was built in 2020. "Pavel Leonov" is an enhanced ice-class cargo-passenger ship also designed for 146 people.
Ship tickets are paid extra.
This journey includes accommodation:
Note: The price of the trip is based on double accommodation in hotels. If you are traveling alone, we will try to find a roommate for you from the tourists of our group, but we cannot guarantee this. Usually there is a roommate, but if there is not, you will need to pay extra for single accommodation.
If you need a single room and don't want to stay with anybody, specify this in the comments to your application.
Standard rooms
Deluxe rooms
Deluxe rooms
Average temperature in Sakhalin and the Kuriles:
The weather in the region is very changeable: there may be rains, winds, fogs and frosts, so you need to be prepared for this feature of the Kuril Islands.
The itinerary is suitable for anyone with average physical training. Please check that you don’t have any medical contraindications for moderate physical activity.
We strongly recommend getting vaccinated against tick-borne encephalitis.
Vaccination requires at least 3 weeks: you will need to make 2 injections, two weeks apart. You’ll also need to get a 3rd injection during the year before the tick season starts. Further, it will be necessary to get vaccinated only once in three years.
You will need:
Note: access to Shikotan is possible only with the permission of the border services.
Sometimes, due to bad weather, the ship may arrive in Kunashir later, when the port is already closed. In this case, tourists stay onboard overnight (no extra charge) and get off in the morning.
Since this is a group tour, the food is the same for all participants. Unfortunately, we can’t prepare an individual meal for you. If you have an intolerance or allergy to any products, please let us know in advance. We’ll pass this information to the guide or accommodations. However, we kindly ask you to follow up on this matter during the trip. If you have strict dietary restrictions, we recommend bringing suitable food with you or buying it on the spot.
I would like to note the excellent organization of the tour, everything was clear and well-coordinated! Schedule, transfer, food, accommodation in hotels - the accompanying guys in Yuzhno-Kurilsk even took our shoes to dry. The trip was a delight! It left only the most positive impressions!!!
The work of the accompanying girls and our wonderful guides is impeccable: in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk - the all-knowing regional expert Sergey Lopatin, who simply captivated us with his "memory capacity" about dates and people, knowledge of the geographical and climatic features of the island, the driver Nikita Krupin told a million stories on the way to Cape Ptichiy in Yuzhno-Kurilsk - Vyacheslav Baldin, Alexey Chernets and Andrey (I don't know his last name) - but a huge thanks to all of them for the atmosphere, knowledge of their region, which they generously shared during our excursions. Alexey's fish soup is something incredible! We also thank the team that met us at the pier of Shikotan Island and in a short period of time easily delivered our group to End of the World Cape - it's just a miracle! We will definitely return to Sakhalin and the Kuril Islands to see other sights.
One of the most comprehensive tours of Sakhalin and Kunashir. First, you will explore the sights of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, and then a ship will take you across the restless Sea of Okhotsk to mysterious Kunashir. It is a magical place where boiling mineral springs erupt from the ground, lava cliffs loom over the Sea of Okhotsk, the Pacific Ocean whispers its secrets, and the volcanoes emerge from the clouds on the horizon.
The second part of the route will be dedicated to Sakhalin. We'll explore coasts of the island to enjoy the main local beauties — natural rock formations.
Highlights of the tour:
The route is designed for everyone who likes active recreation and long walks, but does not want to give up the usual comfort.