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Kamchatka, Wild and Wonderful
Highlights: Kamchatka in summer is glorious, but as anywhere rainy days do happen. Explore the beautiful southern part of the peninsula just below the major city, Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky and climb to the magnificent craters of Mutnovsky and Gorely volcanoes. Spend most of your time in the outdoors hiking, trekking, horseback riding and rafting in the stunning landscape. Logistical details: From Vladivostok fly to Kamchatka. Here you board the truck for the ride to the wondrous Mutnovsky and Gorely volcanoes. Also included is the flight to the Valley of the Geysers when the weather is good. Alternatively there are many other activities planned. On the last two days enjoy the ascent of Avacha volcano, before you return to Vladivostok. Operated by Explore Kamchatka. Can be used as extension to expeditions cruise to the Commander Islands. Introduction Kamchatka is by far one of the most interesting new adventure travel destinations. Partly this is because it offers an incredible wilderness experience that in our day to day world for most people is lacking. It is probably the last destination of its kind. There is only one road that goes up north and even that road turns into a dirt road after only 100 kilometers or so from the main city on Kamchatka, Petropavlovsk. The lack of over the road transportation sometimes delays planned expeditions, specifically those that operate in the months of May and June, when the changes in weather can be dramatic. Kamchatka's weather because of its location between the Bering Sea and the Sea of Ohotsk is changeable. It can be glorious or just like any rainy, gloomy day anywhere. Tours dependent on helicopters are subject to weather delays and even cancellations. The helicopter excursion to the Valley of the Geysers does not operate during May and June. September and October already attract some snow and thus some itineraries that operate during the summer months cannot operate during this time. Itinerary Day 1, Thursday Day 2, Friday Day 3, Saturday Day 4, Sunday Day 5, Monday Kronotsky Reserve Local people with the goal of conserving the sable population created this protected area 123 years ago. One of Russia's largest; an oldest preserve in Russia, Kronotsky is a multi-faceted jewel covering 1,007,134 hectares of land and the 3-mile zone of 152 miles of shoreline. The preserve's mountains, glaciers, active and extinct volcanoes, rivers, lakes, islands, beaches, and rugged shoreline give the preserve a variety of ecosystems and remarkable biodiversity. The protected area abounds with wildlife, marine or terrestrial, to watch and photograph. The preserve plays a major role in preservation of Kamchatka's brown bears as it is home to about 750 bruins. Additionally over 2500 of Kamchatka's last wild reindeer live in the territory, along with Steller sea eagles, and Aleutian terns. The helicopter flight to the Valley of Geysers takes one of two routes. The all-weather eastern route heads round the southern and eastern flanks of Avacha volcano, flying at heights of just a few hundred meters above ground. It continues north up a broad valley to the east of the Zhupanovsky volcano. Flying low affords splendid views of the taiga landscape and as this valley is home to many brown bears, they can easily be observed from above. Continuing its flight over the tundra, the helicopter approaches the coast, where a few hunters' cabins lie among the trees; Karymsky and the two Semlyachik volcanoes lie inland to the left. The flight then turns inland up the valley just before the Kikhpinych volcano, and turns into the lush green tributary which is the Valley of Geysers. The western route heads round the western side of the smaller cones of the Arik and Aag, which continue the line of volcanoes northwest from Koryaksky. It then heads across the interior tundra, keeping west of Zhupanovsky, on its way to Karymsky. Often eruptions can be observed while flying over the Karymsky volcano. The active cone is 700 meters high, and stands inside the old caldera; the even older Dvor caldera is truncated as the higher bowl to the north. Just to the south Karymsky Lake lies the Academia Nauk caldera erupting less frequently. Northwards, the flight goes over Maly Semlyachik volcano with its spectacular crater lake of green water. Past the inactive Bolshoi Semlyachik, the route veers slightly right for the Valley of the Geysers. If the weather does not allow the flight to the Valley of the Geysers, the day will be spent on getting acquainted with the city and surrounding areas of Petropavlovsk. This will include a visit to the museum of the Kronotsky Preserve, visiting the dacha community, the local market and the Kamchatka Unified Museum. For those so inclined, a short hike of Viluchinsky Volcano might get the legs going in preparation for the next couple of days. The hiking is about a 1½ hour away from Yelizovo by car and starts at a waterfall. The hike takes about two hours. Dinner will be at Explore Kamchatka's B & B and preparation for the next three days. Day 6, Tuesday Your campsite is in a beautiful and remote area, with the steep andesite slopes of Mutnovsky rising to the south and the gentler basaltic slopes of Gorely to the north. A short walk to the south reaches the rim of the canyon that drains out of Mutnovsky; it contains some fine waterfalls cut into the volcanic rocks, but its floor is choked with snow many meters deep. Dinner is at camp, and then it probably will be an early night in your tents Day 7, Wednesday The walk up the gorge is largely on banks of hard snow and firm ice that has accumulated in winter avalanches off the gorge walls. Much of the surface is covered in wind-blown ash. The caldera's eastern glacier lies ahead where it melts out on a steep rocky slope, aided by a series of fumaroles. You climb the slopes of volcanic ash and glacial till and pass besides various geothermal vents; these include fumaroles and mud pools. A lake is sometimes dammed up behind the glacier; at other times it drains through the ice, leaving a flatbed of reworked ash pitted by boiling mud pools. Streams emerge from the snow and ice fields and flow back under the glacier toe. You have lunch on the rim of the caldera, take pictures and enjoy the view. In the afternoon you return to your campsite. Thursday, Day 8 Over 100 m down, a hot acidic lake has active fumaroles around its margin and beneath the surface. The recent eruptions of Gorely have been largely steam events produced when vents heat up and increase their output. Return back along the outward route to the trucks by the lake. The trucks head back out of the Gorely caldera and return to Explore Kamchatka's B & B Day 9, Friday For those more inclined to have a cultural experience, an excursion can be made to an Itelmen village about half an hour away from Yelizovo. The Itelmen people have created a village both with summer and winter houses. The settlement is located in a beautiful wilderness area also open for hikes. There will be traditional dances, story telling and souvenir making. You will have a barbeque dinner at the Dacha community. Day 10, Saturday In the afternoon you take a gentle walk up the valley to Camel Mountain, a distinctively humped ridge amid a group of small hills on the saddle between Avacha and Koryaksky. The hills are mainly eroded remains of old cinder cones, with some shoulders and summits. Snow fields drape some of the slopes. Return to camp for dinner and an early night in the bunkhouse. Day 11, Sunday The newer summit cone rises above, and its northern slope overlaps and buries the old caldera rim, so that the easy shoulder does not continue round. There are views south to the cone of Viluchinsky and beyond to the complex peaks of Mutnovsky and the rounded shield volcano of Gorely; as well as to the north where the old degraded cones of the Zhupanovsky volcano are situated. The summit crater yawned hundreds of meters deep until 1991, when it was filled with andesite lava. The black lava now forms a gentle dome - it is the fresh top of a classic plug dome. Steam rises through its fissured surface, and there are even lots of fumeroles. When walking round the rim to the left; giant crescent flow ribs mark the lava's surface where it flowed over the lowest point on the old crater rim. The descent of the summit cone is on a straight steep down-trail alongside the zigzag up-trail; and requires careful attention. Return to Explore Kamchatka's B & B for a farewell dinner Day 12, Monday Option: You can make a stop at the beautiful Arboretum and then a hike in the Kedrovaya Preserve, the home of the Fareastern Snow Leopard. Regretfully there are only twenty species left, so it will be virtually impossible to spot them, however the Reserve has an ecological path that is quite interesting. Option: You can participate in a four hour long city tour, visiting the highlights of Vladivstok, including the Military Fortress... In the evening have a great dinner at a beautiful restaurant overlooking the beautiful port of Vladivostok Day 13, Tuesday Day 14, Wednesday Details Hotel in Vladivostok With its prime location on the Amursky Bay and close to the downtown are, the hotel is situated in a perfect location for both business as well as leisure clients. The hotel is close to the downtown business center, shopping, entertainment and the railway station. The Versailles Hotel offers comfortable rooms with all western amenities. The Lobby is elegant and usually accommodates an excellent exhibition of locate paintings. The restaurant is stylish and offers great food. There is also a nice little souvenir store in the lobby Explore Kamchatka B & B Martha originally is from Alaska and she and her Russian husband have been living in Kamchatka for many years. She has worked with numerous tour companies as a tour coordinator and is very knowledgeable about Kamchatka. Included:
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Visas A visa is required for Russia. We will process your visa for you, as it requires extensive paperwork. You will receive a visa application and information as soon as we have received your deposit. Visa fees for two week processing are $120, not including any express handling charges. Pre- or post itineraries We will be more than happy to add additional days in Russia both pre and post to the offered itinerary. Important Notes This itinerary takes you to one of the most remote parts of the world. All though services have improved in the last couple of years, we will encounter problems with delays, bureaucratic conditions, bad road conditions, uneven surfaces and steps and unavailability of public bathrooms. Please also note that weather circumstances may change each day's activity as to take advantage of good weather. This program requires flexibility and good humor. Every effort will be made to follow the itinerary; however there is always the possibility of changes We work only with tour operators who adhere to the following basic ecotourism principles. Our Ecotourism Guidelines 1. Make tourism and Conservation compatible Weather Summer season is usually warm and sunny in Kamchatka... However, we have no control over weather patterns and so one always has to be prepared for all types of weather Please be prepared by wearing layered clothing, take woolen or silk underwear and certainly raingear and excellent hiking boots or shoes. Need more information, please contact:
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