The way to the heart of Kamchatka: a hike around Tolbachik

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Do you dream of visiting Mars? Or at least on the moon to begin with? Then you should go hiking in Tolbachik.

We are going to the very heart of Kamchatka: to the most powerful, highest active and extinct volcanoes of the peninsula — the volcanoes of the Klyuchevskaya group.

Let's look into the huge crater of Flat Tolbachik, visit the Dead Forest, see with our own eyes the consequences of the 2012 eruption, climb into the lava caves.

The hike will start with a trip to the Pacific Ocean, where we will watch the sea lions sticking out of the water, take a dip and recharge our batteries for the upcoming hike. And at the end of the trip, we will make rafting on the Bystrica River, go fishing and eat fish soup from freshly caught fish.

Location

Kamchatka Territory, Yelizovsky district, Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky airport (Yelizovo) named after Vitus Bering

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Weekends: 8am - 7pm (GMT +3)

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Tour highlights

The Dead Forest

Let's walk through the forest, the trees in which experienced a volcanic eruption in 1975

Climbing a volcano

A dizzying picture opens up to us: a huge crater with walls breaking inwards

Moonscapes

Let's evaluate the unusual territories in the area of the Tolbachik volcano, resembling the Lunar surface

An exciting alloy

We will go along the Bystrica River to picturesque places where we will go fishing, have lunch and take many beautiful pictures

The endless Pacific Ocean

We will walk along the volcanic sand of the Khalaktyrsky beach and, if desired, plunge into the salty waves of the ocean

Camping romance

Let's enjoy our time away from civilization: we will spend the main part of the route in tents under the starry sky of Kamchatka

Itinerary

Day 1 - The meeting of the group. Transfer to Halaktyrsky beach
We will meet at Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky airport and move to Khalaktyrsky beach.
We will hear the roar of the Pacific Ocean waves. We will see the endless expanses of black sand…
You can dive into the salty ocean waves. Running and screaming loudly. Paradise.
We'll cook a dinner of fish soup, have lunch and return to the city.
We spend the night in a hostel near the bus station.
Dinner at the cafe is not included in the price.

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Day 2 - Transfer to Kozyrevsk
Transfer from Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky to the village of Kozyrevsk. We take a regular bus all day (about 10 hours).
On the way, we stop in the village of Sokoch.
Divine pies are sold here. The whole of Kamchatka is famous for them! Everyone who cares comes here to get them. There is a wide choice of them — for every taste and color.
Further along the way, we have lunch at the canteen-cafe in the village of Milkovo. The dining room has been preserved since the days of the Soviet Union, but the food in it is excellent.
After Milkovo, we roll along the gravel road a little more.
We'll reach the parking lot by evening.
Overnight in cabins.
A sauna is optional, not included in the price.
Day 3 - Transfer to the parking Table, transfer to the "Edelweiss Glade"
The active part of the hike begins. The attendants get up early and by the time the whole group gets up, breakfast is almost ready.
We have breakfast, pack our things and set off towards the giant volcanoes.
By off-road vehicle, we will drive along the forest road from the village of Esso to the parking lot of the Table, which is located under Mount Hoof (distance ~ 125 km, travel time 4-5 hours, depends on the traffic situation).
There's no water in the parking lot, so we'll just have a bite to eat and move on.
The final point of the third day of the hike is the parking lot of the Edelweiss Glade. We go with backpacks for 8 km, we set up camp near the place where the famous flower grows.
Next to the parking lot there is a beautiful waterfall on the Baraniy stream, and 3 km downstream there is another natural attraction — the Barany Rocks. We'll go there after lunch, stopping by the Edelweiss on the way.
We return, have dinner, share our impressions and go to bed — an eventful day awaits us!
Day 4 - Transfer to the parking lot of the Field of Mars
Backpacking is 16 km, climbing 330 m. We leave the Edelweiss Glade for the Champ de Mars parking lot. We walk through the canyon of the Studenoy River, a unique place formed by the rapid flow of the river in volcanic rocks.
Further along the way we pass a mountain with the "talking" name Woodpile. I can't even believe that this is a natural landmark, and not a pile of bricks prepared for construction purposes.
If we are lucky and the weather is clear, then on the way to the Field of Mars we will see Klyuchevskaya Sopka, the highest active volcano in Eurasia.
We set up camp, have dinner.
We are surrounded by alien species: the cones of Mars and Jupiter are located next to the parking lot — the result of the 1945 eruption, around huge pieces of lava, already overgrown with grass. Fantastic!
Day 5 - Through the Tolbachinsky pass to the Ovalny Zimina volcano
Backpacking ~10 km, climbing 150 m, dropping 300 m. We continue the hike: according to the plan, we have the Tolbachinsky pass 1572 m. It's simple, but a lot depends on the "wayward" Kamchatka weather.
We are accompanied to the pass by black-capped marmots—tarbagans - they are everywhere.
The pass offers spectacular views of the nearest volcanoes: Bolshaya Udina, Ovalny Zimina, Kamen, and Bezymyanny.
Martian landscapes are replaced by alpine vegetation. We set up camp under the Ovalny Zimina volcano, have dinner, share our impressions and prepare for a new day.
Day 6 - Moving to the Tolud database
Backpacking 15 km, climbing 80 m, dropping 370 m. We continue our hike through the valley of giant volcanoes.
Today, the scenery will change from alpine meadows to volcanic fields, we will walk along a dry riverbed.
We set up camp at the Tolud base. The first half of the hike is over.
Day 7 - Transfer to the parking lot of the Claw
Backpacking 10 km, climbing 550 m, dropping 200 m. Today is the last day under the backpack: we are moving from the Tolud parking lot to the Kleshnya parking lot under the Tolbachik volcano.
Along the way, we cross bright green meadows and come to a lava field that formed very recently: during the eruption of 2012-2013. In some places, volcanic heat can still be felt from under the lava.
We set up tents at the Kleshnya parking lot. There is an equipped kitchen-dining room, where we will prepare dinner.
We are resting, gaining strength: an eventful day awaits us.
Day 8 - Climbing the Plosky Tolbachik volcano
Today we will climb to the highest point of this route — the active volcano Plosky Tolbachik (3140 m).
The ascent will not be easy, you will have to walk 7-8 hours (12 km). But the picture that awaits above is worth our efforts: a huge crater (3 km in diameter and 400 m deep) with walls ending inwards.
If the weather permits, we will see panoramas of the volcanoes of the Klyuchevskaya group and all the places where we passed. We will admire and photograph a lot, and then we will start the way back to the camp.
Tired but satisfied, we have dinner, chat and go to the tents for a well-deserved rest.
Day 9 - Northern breakthrough of BTTI, Dead forest, moving to Esso village
Today we have an equally busy day than the previous ones: we are going to the Northern Breakthrough in an all-terrain vehicle. This is the result of the Great Fractured Tolbachinsky Eruption (BTTI) in 1975 — a complex, diverse and the largest volcanic eruption in Kamchatka in the 20th century. The total area of the eruption is 800 sq km.
We will see the active cones of Tolbachik, make a stop in the Dead Forest. The tree trunks were covered with volcanic ash very quickly and they did not have time to burn. Vegetation is already appearing in the Dead Forest: mosses and shrubs.
Next, we move to the village of Esso, where we stop at the recreation center from where we started the route.
Day 10 - Rafting on the Bystraya river
The final day of our trip is rafting on the Bystrica River.
We will go to very picturesque places where we will go fishing, have lunch and take a lot of beautiful pictures.
Day 11 - Transfer to Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky
Early rise, packing.
Today we have a long road to Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky.
On the way, we will have lunch again at the dining room in Milkovo village (not included in the price), pick up pies in Sokoch, and finally reach the hostel in Yelizovo.
Day 12 - Farewell to Kamchatka and hiking friends
We're having breakfast.
Warm hugs and goodbyes. Our journey has come to an end.

Difficulty

Does not require specific skills, but one must be in good health

Tour organizer's comments

This route is not the most difficult in terms of physical exertion and any physically healthy person can go through it, however, a lot depends on your physical and psychological preparation: whether you look into the shoes of the person in front and count the time until the next halt, or enjoy the surrounding beauty and enjoy the hike.

We recommend running, swimming, skiing, as well as contrast treatments to prepare for a hike.

Also, if you have never been hiking with backpacks, we recommend that you go at least on a weekend hike: check your strength and equipment.

Accommodation

Guest House

2 nights
Camp Site

2 nights
Tent

7 nights

Comfort

Basic

Accommodation in a hostel, cabins on the route, as well as in tents.

Tour conditions

Group

up to 11 tourists

Minimum age

14 years old

Duration

12 days 11 nights

Group meets at

Kamchatka Territory, Yelizovsky district, Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky airport (Yelizovo) named after Vitus Bering

Included in price

three meals a day on the route;
snacks on the route;
passage from the village. Esso to the starting point of the route;
travel from the end of the route to the village of Esso;
tickets for the regular bus on the Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky — Esso — Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky route;
accommodation in cabins on the route;
rafting on the Bystraya River;
group equipment rental (tents, campfire equipment, saws, axes, cooking utensils, gas, group first aid kit);
flares and other means of repelling wild animals;
environmental contributions for the use of recreational resources;
instructor services;
accident insurance.

Paid extra

flights to Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky and back;
meals on the road Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky — Esso and Esso — Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky;
rental of personal equipment: backpack, sleeping bag, foam;
any personal expenses (souvenirs, caviar, fish).

It's important to know

It is very important to choose the appropriate equipment for hiking in Kamchatka. The climate of Kamchatka is characterized by extreme diversity and instability of the weather, due to its geographical location, the influence of the surrounding seas and the Pacific Ocean, the movement of air masses, and relief.

Personal equipment should weigh no more than 9-13 kg and take up about 65% of the backpack volume. Do not forget that you still have to carry some of the public equipment and modules with food. The average volume of the public module is a full large bag of supermarket groceries, it should easily fit into your backpack.

Equipment:

assault backpack (20-35 liters);
backpack for a long hike (90 l for men, 70 l for women) with a belt;
a cape on a backpack;
foam (travel mat, polyurethane foam mat, karemat);
spring-autumn sleeping bag (comfort temperature -5 * C);
hoba (tourist seat);
headlamp LED flashlight;
trekking poles;
tent.

Clothes:

sleep clothes;
lingerie;
swimming suit (swimsuit, swimming trunks);
thermal underwear;
upper running trousers (windproof and waterproof);
warm pants for the evening (fleece);
socks or thermal socks;
wool socks;
flashlights (gaiters, shoe covers);
T-shirt;
long sleeve shirt;
warm fleece jacket with a neck (thick wool sweater);
the jacket is windproof and waterproof (membrane);
down jacket (warm jacket);
work gloves;
gloves;
the cap is light;
headdress (panama hat, bandana, cap, hat);
trekking boots;
flip-flops/crocs/sandals;
sneakers.

Personal items:

polyethylene or other waterproof bags;
passport;
money;
a set of dishes (KLMN);
toilet paper;
individual first aid kit;
sunscreen and lipstick;
personal hygiene items;
a light towel;
medical policy;
sunglasses;
mosquito repellent.

We recommend adding:

thermos flask (1 l);
wristwatches;
photo camera;
dress;
the mosquito net;
The whistle.

Dates and Prices

$1,107

20 – 31 Jul 12 days 11 nights

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Reviews

A
Anastasia

about provider

29 Mar, 2025

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The tour was excellently organized. We were well-fed with delicious meals, taken everywhere, treated to tea, and genuinely cared for.