Fiery Peaks of Kamchatka

Breakfast. Transfer to the place from which we will start to ascend the volcano.

Safety training after which we will start climbing the Mutnovsky Volcano crater (the volcano is 2323 m high – we will climb to 1650 m which we will overcome in 1.5-2 hours).

Mutnovsky Volcano is a natural monument partially located in South-Kamchatka Nature Park. In 1996 the volcano entered the list of the UNESCO World Natural and Cultural Heritage List in the “Kamchatka Volcanoes” category. The volcano consists of 4 merging sequentially formed cones of stratovolcanoes. 

The heart of the volcano – the so-called “Active Crater” in which fumaroles activity takes place – is the largest crater of all active volcanoes in Kamchatka.

The route is unique since it goes across a fault inside the volcano. The path will take us to the crater commanding astounding views. The beauty and uniqueness of this place matches those of the famous Valley of Geysers.

Walking excursion across stream vents and mud pots to the “active crater”. 

Returning to the foot of the volcano – there we will visit a powerful 80-meter waterfall in the Opasny Ravine.

Returning to the camp. Supper. Bedtime.

Breakfast.

9:00 – Loading into the car (KAMAZ) and departure to the area of ​​the Mutnovsko-Gorely group of volcanoes.

Stop at the observation deck on the Vilyuchinsky Pass on the way.

Walk with small ascents and descents to Dachnye springs (about 1.5 km one way).

There are more than 100 thermal manifestations at Dachnye springs - boiling boilers, hot springs, large and small steam-gas jets.

Dachnye springs are sometimes called the Small Valley of Geysers, but this name is erroneous because there are no real geysers here –  it is not boiling water that comes out of the ground, but hot gas that heats the water on the surface, imitating a geyser.

Lunch –  snack, hot tea.

Transfer to the parking place, setting up a camp.

Walk to the 16-meter waterfall on the Spokoyny stream.

Return to the camp.

Dinner.

Breakfast. After breakfast our bus will take us to the place from which our excursion will start.

Safety training. We will climb Gorely Volcano (1829 m within 3-5 hours).

Gorely Volcano is 75 km to the south-west of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky and would hardly attract anyone’s attention. However, this “modest master” is a natural monument for a good reason. 

It includes an unmatched ensemble of craters, each of which has its own unique features. Once upon a time this volcano was huge – it was 20-25 km wide. 

But most powerful eruption destroyed the ancient volcano and it went down forming a caldera about 12 km from which the contemporary Gorely Volcano rose.

Transfer to Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky of Paratunka village. Checking-in. Bedtime.

Breakfast.

Free day or ptional excursions (for extra fee):

1. helicopter excursion to Lake Kurilskoe (7 hours). We will watch brown bears and salmon spawning grounds. On our way back we will land in the Ksudach Volcano caldera and Khodutka hot springs (we will have lunch and go swimming there);
2. helicopter excursion to the Valley of Geysers and the Uzon Volcano caldera (6-7 hours) – we will also fly over active Karymsky and Maly Semyachik volcano craters. We will walk to geysers and mud pots. On our way back we will land on the Zhupanov River – we will have lunch and go swimming in hot springs.

Breakfast. Transfer to the sea quay.

We will have a boat trip over the Avachinskaya Bay entering the Pacific Ocean (5-6 hours). We will go by the Tikhaya Bay, Babushkin Kamen Island, Cape Stanitsky, “Three Brothers” rocks, and rocks by Cape Sredny. 

A unique “Ancient” island named after ancient murrelet birds will be our destination. Ancient Island (“Ostrov Starikov”) has been declared a wildlife sanctuary to preserve the colonies and create conditions for normal nesting and breeding of the birds.   

A thrilling sea fishing, fish soup and freshly fished seafood delicacies are waiting for us! 

After the excursion we will return to the sea port.

Transfer to Mutnovsky and Gorely Volcanoes (100 km). We will arrange a tent camp and have supper.

Breakfast. Departure to the Klyuchevskaya group of volcanoes by specially equipped 4x4 vehicle (590 km).

The Klyuchevskaya group consists of 14 active and extinct volcanoes, including the famous Klyuchevskaya Sopka, Shiveluch, Bezymyanny, Tolbachik. This is the largest group of volcanoes in Russia.

On the way there's lunch in a cafe in the village of Milkovo.

Crossing the bridge across the largest river of the peninsula, the Kamchatka.

Accommodation in the guest house in Kozyrevsk. Dinner.

Overnight at the guest house.

Breakfast. Transfer to the foot of Plosky Tolbachik Volcano (about 4-hour drive in forest);

Safety training. Excursion to cones of the Northern Eruption (2-hour walk).

Tolbachik is a truly strong place by its energy. The greatest eruption of the 20th century – the Great Tolbachik Fissure Eruption ‒ took place here in 1975-1976. The unrivalled power was raging during one year and a half. Million tons of ash and slag erupted from fissures and covered everything alive within dozens of kilometres.

We will climb one of the cones of the Northern Eruption – Gorshkov Cone (about 300 m high – the ascent will take 30-40 minutes) overlooking the astounding Tolbachinsky Dale. There we will have lunch and hot tea.

Transfer to the “Dead Forest”. The eruption of 1970s destroyed once richly green pastures and all vegetation within some kilometres. Today there are only tops of dead trees protruding from the 7-meter ash layer.

We will stop at a helicopter crash site. A fragment of the crashed helicopter is still there making the place more dramatic.

Excursion to lava caves in Zvezda crater (1 to 1.5 hours). You will have an opportunity to descend to a solidified lava channel where a fiery river of glowing lava once flowed.

We will arrange a tent camp near the “Dead Forest”, have supper and go to bed.

Breakfast. Our bus will bring us to Kleshnya Sopka where the path leading through recent lava flows which erupted in 2012-2013 starts;

Safety training. We will climb Plosky Tolbachik Volcano (the volcano is 3140 m high – we will climb to 2850 m for 5-7 hours). There we will have a light snack and hot tea.   

Great lava flows are characteristic of fissure eruptions, which are also known as “tourist” eruptions since they are relatively safe and truly picturesque flowing lava rivers. 

That’s how it was back in 2012 – enormous amounts of lava flowed across the valley and covered two scientific and tourist stations, drinking water springs, roads and the nearby forest.

We will return to the camp, have supper and go to bed.

Breakfast. We will pack our tents and move on.

Transfer to Malki village (430 km). We will have lunch in a café in Milkovo village.

Checking-in at a holiday camp, swim in a hot spring swimming pool and have supper.

Breakfast. Transfer to the Bystraya River to the place from which rafting will start.

We will prepare rafts and pack our bags. Then we will start rafting on one of the greatest rivers in Kamchatka with picturesque banks, cross riffles and go char fishing. In a while we will stop to have a light snack.

We will arrange a tent camp on the river bank, have supper, and go back fishing.

Breakfast. After breakfast we will pack our bags and continue rafting and fishing. When the rafting is over, we will have lunch on the river bank.

Transfer to Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky or Paratunka village.

Checking-in and bedtime.

Breakfast.

We will go to a fish market and souvenir shops.

Transfer to the airport.