12 days on the islands: Sakhalin — Kunashir — Iturup

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Join us on an exciting adventure through the most mysterious islands of Russia: Sakhalin, Kunashir and Iturup.

Explore volcanic landscapes and fumarole fields, enjoy thermal springs, immerse yourself in the rich cultural heritage of the region and experience the magic of the Pacific Ocean.

This trip will be unforgettable and full of discoveries!

Location

Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk

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

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Tour highlights

Thermal springs

Relax and recuperate in the relaxing hot baths

Volcanic splendor

Visit Baransky Volcano and Mendeleev Volcano with their fumaroles and mineral streams, Golovnin volcano with its lakes, as well as the Yankito Plateau with its bizarrely frozen lava flows

Picturesque White Cliffs

Take a walk along the gray-graphite sandy beach and take beautiful photos against the background of the famous rocks that will stand out in your gallery

Delicious cuisine

Discover seafood and Japanese cuisine, enjoy Far Eastern delicacies, fish soup, caviar and Sakhalin sweets

Cape Columnar

Immerse yourself in the magic of this place: the sounds of waves caressing the shore, the fresh sea breeze, the majestic columns of basalt towering over the ocean

Itinerary

Day 1 - Lunch at a Japanese restaurant and sightseeing tour of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk
Arrival in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk.
Meeting at the airport. Transfer to the hotel, we leave our things.
Please keep in mind that check-in at all hotels is at 14:00. Therefore, if necessary, early check-in is booked and paid in advance.
13:00 Welcome lunch at the Japanese restaurant.
Sightseeing bus tour of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, the capital of the Sakhalin region. A modern, beautiful city with a history.
A visit to the viewport at the Mountain Air ski complex, which offers a magnificent view of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, located in a valley surrounded by hills and ridges.
Return to the hotel.
Dinner (on your own).
Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk has many authentic cozy restaurants with Japanese, Korean, Chinese and European cuisine.

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Day 2 - Tikhaya Bay, Noticeable Island, east coast of the Sea of Okhotsk
08:00 Breakfast in the hotel restaurant.
09:00 Departure from Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk by bus. Travel time with stops is about 3 hours, 135 km, paved federal highway.
On the way, we will stop at the amber coast and collect amber, watch the seals resting on the rocks.
We will visit the Japanese Torii gates of the Karafuto governorship period, which were installed in front of Shinto temples.
An intermediate stop in the fishermen's village of the Seaside, where you can buy freshly boiled crabs and taste them during lunch.
There is a quiet walk along the coast in the bay, after which you will have a hot gastronomic lunch – delicious Sakhalin fish soup with red fish, Far Eastern delicacies, caviar, herbal tea, Sakhalin sweets.
19:00 Return to the hotel.
Dinner (on your own).

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Day 3 - Departure by boat to Kunashir island
Breakfast at the hotel.
Transfer to the airport. Departure to Kunashir Island.
The flight schedule for the 2024 season will be released in March, after which the routes on flight days can be adjusted.
Arrival in Yuzhno-Kurilsk. Meeting at the airport, transfer to the hotel, accommodation.
Let's go say hello to the Pacific Ocean! The endless Pacific Ocean ... with a serious character and the most powerful energy. A short walk along the coast – kekur "Devil's finger", "Devil's Gate".
Dinner at the cafe.
Day 4 - The fumarole field of the Mendeleev volcano. Thermal springs of the Mendeleev volcano
09:00 Breakfast at the cafe.
10:00 Departure for the route of medium difficulty "Large fumarole field of the Mendeleev volcano". By car for 30 minutes, then trekking 2-2.5 hours through bamboo with a constant climb, 3 km in one direction. A path with stops for a short rest. Parking on the fumarole field ~ 2 hours.
Fumaroles and solfatars are among the largest, if not the largest in all the Kuril Islands. Portals to the bowels of the earth. From the erupting hum and high-temperature gases, it's even scary to imagine what's going on inside.
Lunch (dry rations).
Bathing in wild thermal springs.
Return to the hotel in the evening.
Dinner at the cafe.
Day 5 - Golovnin volcano. Lakes are Boiling and Hot
09:00 Breakfast at the cafe.
10:00 Departure for the route of medium difficulty "Golovnin Volcano. The Lakes are Boiling and Hot." By car for 40 minutes, then trekking 2.5-3 hours along the path, 7 km in one direction.
The whole way is accompanied by beautiful fields of cedar elfin and Kuril bamboo, completely impassable for humans.
The volcano is a caldera about 4 km in diameter, surrounded by a ridge with a max. the height is 541 m. At the bottom of the caldera there are four small domes and two craters – lakes Boiling and Hot.
The parking time in the caldera is ~ 3 hours.
Lunch (dry rations).
You can not swim in Boiling lake, there are hot springs, mud boilers and hot steam at the bottom of the lake and along the shores. But it's a great pleasure to swim in the Hot lake.
Return to the hotel in the evening.
Dinner at the cafe.

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Day 6 - Cape Columnar. Stolbovsky sources. The White Monks Rocks. The Sea of Okhotsk
09:00 Breakfast at the cafe.
10:00 Departure to the route of medium difficulty "Cape Columnar" is one of the most amazing and unique places on earth. Residents of Kunashir say: "Whoever has not seen Cape Columnar, has not seen Kunashir."
Millions of years ago, as a result of the eruption of the Mendeleev volcano, basalt lava flowed to the sea. Physico-chemical processes have created such columnar structures in the form of five-hexagonal columns. But getting here, it is impossible to accept that nature created it. A mystical place with its own music. The cape, open on three sides, is located on the coast of the Sea of Okhotsk.
A difficult passage through small shelves / fragments of pillars.
Relaxing on the cape, swimming in the sea. There are many sea urchins in the littoral lagoons.
Then 2 km along the shore to the parking lot, where a bonfire lunch will be organized – delicious fish soup.
Return to the hotel in the evening.
Dinner at the cafe.
The total mileage of the walking part of the route is 6 km.

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Day 7 - Golovninsky Cliff is the white cliffs of Kunashir Island. Veslovsky Peninsula. Departure to Sakhalin Island
Room release. Breakfast in the cafe.
Departure by car to the Veslovsky peninsula, Golovnino settlement, the southernmost island. Visit to the memorial sign at the site of the foundation of the Russian settlement on Kunashir Island in 1778.
Golovninsky Cliff is an extremely impressive natural object. The giant outcrops of this unique relief form depict the main stages of the Golovnin volcano's activity and climatic events over the past 2 million years.
The structure of the cliff deposits is very complex: the ashes of ancient volcanic eruptions alternate with strata of marine sediments and include peat bogs of different ages. The cliff is "alive", constantly crumbling and autumn storms play an especially important role in this.
It is possible to drive to the cliff only at low tide. Otherwise, only a visit to the Veslovsky Peninsula, swimming in the Pacific Ocean, rest.
Lunch by the ocean.
Return to Yuzhno-Kurilsk.
Dinner at the cafe.
19:00 Transfer to the port. Registration on the ship.
22:00 Departure to Iturup.
Day 8 - Arrival at Iturup. The fumarole field and thermal springs of the Baransky volcano are a true SPA relaxation
08:00 Breakfast on the boat (on your own).
09:00 Arrival of the ship in Kurilsk. Meeting at the seaport. Transfer to the hotel. We're leaving things.
Departure for the route, 20 km on the way. An interesting educational excursion to the fumarole field (fumaroles, solfatars, mud boilers, steam griffins) – Sannikov Land.
We cook eggs in a geyser – this is our attraction. There is also a delicious lunch and eggs with caviar.
Moving to the thermal complex is a stunningly beautiful paradise, an oasis among volcanoes and taiga. In a natural Jacuzzi with a water temperature of 42 ° and under a hot waterfall, you are truly reborn.
Swimming.
Supper.
Transfer to the hotel.
Day 9 - White rocks, Black rocks, Prostor Bay, Sea of Okhotsk
09:00 Breakfast at the cafe.
10:00 Departure for the route.
White rocks are white crested ridges of bizarre shapes, cut by canyons. The landscape is constantly changing due to the fact that the rock (volcanic glass and pumice) is soft and prone to weathering and erosion. The coast is made of white quartz and black titanium-magnetite sand. "Black Rocks" is a basalt columnar structure – solidified lava.
Lunch is on the route.
On the way back, visit the thermal complex "Hot Waters".
Return to the hotel in the evening.
Dinner at the cafe.

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Day 10 - Yankito Plateau and departure to Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk
Room release. Breakfast in the cafe.
A trip to the Yankito plateau, Kuril Bay – frozen volcanic lava in the form of a pile of rocks on the seashore. Bizarre silhouettes and unusual shapes of once-boiling lava.
Transfer to the airport.
Departure to Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk.
Meeting at the airport and transfer to the hotel.
Day 11 - Free day (reserved in case of late arrival)
Breakfast in the hotel restaurant.
After such a busy program, a free day is necessary.
Walking through the beautiful Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk with a large number of alleys and parks, fragrant flower beds and many fountains will give you pleasure. In the evening, land in one of the cozy restaurants with Japanese, Korean or pan-Asian cuisine.
We also recommend visiting:
Sakhalin Museum of Local Lore.
The Pobeda Memorial Complex with interactive expositions and panoramas using various modern technologies. The Pobeda complex has entered the top of the best military museums in Russia.
Shops with Korean and Japanese goods.
Souvenir shops and a fish market with a wide variety of fresh seafood and Sakhalin delicacies. You can't think of a better gift for your family and friends!
And on the way to the airport, you can pick up orders.
Day 12 - Departure
Breakfast at the hotel restaurant.
Transfer to the airport.
Departure.

Difficulty

Low physical intensity for amateurs and non-experienced travelers

Accommodation

Hotel

10 nights
Cabin on the boat

1 night

Comfort

Midscale
Upscale
Premium

The tour provides accommodation in hotels along the route:

4 nights in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk (rooms with amenities, 2-bed accommodation);
4 nights in Yuzhno-Kurilsk at the Flagship Hotel (partial amenities, 2-bed accommodation);
2 nights in a hotel on Iturup (rooms with amenities, 2-bed accommodation);
1 night on the ship (4-bed cabin with amenities).

The cost of the tour for 1 person, RUB.:

Hotels	Double room*	Surcharge for single occupancy
Gagarin 3* / Belka 3*	187600	22200
Mega Palace 4*	189600	25400

Additional payments on Kunashir are optional (increased comfort level of accommodation):

for a 2-bed suite in the Flagship hotel (with amenities) on Kunashir island 6600 rubles/person/4 nights;
for a single room in Iceberg 2 (with amenities) on Kunashir island 6600 rubles/person/4 nights;
for a 2-bed suite in Iceberg 2 (with amenities) on Kunashir island, 6600 rubles/person/4 nights.

Gagarin Hotel

This hotel is located in a quiet location in the park area of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, a 15-minute drive from Khomutovo Airport. The Gagarin Hotel offers a sauna with a mini-pool.

The rooms of the Gagarin Hotel in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk are decorated using elements of Japanese and European styles. They are equipped with a work desk and a TV with over 100 satellite channels. Featuring a bath, the private bathroom also comes with a hairdryer, bathrobes and slippers.

A full buffet breakfast is served every morning at the hotel. The Gagarin restaurant specializes in European cuisine.

Guests can relax in the karaoke bar. A park named after him is located next to the hotel. Gagarina with a beautiful rock garden.

Free parking is available on site at the Gagarin Hotel. Staff at the 24-hour front desk can arrange a shuttle service for guests.

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Another option

Mega Palace hotel 4*

This hotel is located on the Far Eastern Sakhalin Island of Russia, at the foot of the Susunai Mountains. It offers an international restaurant, a spa and a nightclub. Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk city centre is a 15-minute drive away.

Mega Palace Hotel is a multi-storey building with modern rooms and apartments furnished with antique furniture. All rooms are equipped with cable TV, a safe and a minibar.

It offers a fitness center, a hot tub and a sauna. In the evenings, guests can visit the karaoke bar or a nightclub with a DJ.

A buffet breakfast is served every morning. The Marquis Restaurant serves Russian, European and Japanese cuisine. Serbian cuisine can be enjoyed at the Grill in the Sky restaurant. Asian cuisine restaurant "Asia" and Japanese restaurant Bambu are also available on site. Guests can relax at the Duke Karaoke Bar.

Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk Airport is a 30-minute drive away. Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk Central Station can be reached in 20 minutes by car.

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Another option

Belka Hotel

Built of wooden beams, this hotel is located in the business district, a 10-minute walk from Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk Main Station in the business center of the city. It offers free Wi-Fi and rooms with a flat-screen TV.

Rooms at Belka Hotel are decorated in Alpine style and feature wooden walls and air conditioning. The rooms have a minibar and a bathroom with bathrobes, slippers, a hairdryer and toiletries.

The Belka Hotel's restaurant serves Russian cuisine. Guests can order a buffet breakfast. There are restaurants and bars within walking distance of the hotel.

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Tour conditions

Group

up to 25 tourists

Minimum age

7 years old

Duration

12 days 11 nights

Group meets at

Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk

Included in price

airport – hotel – airport transfer;
habitation:
- 4 nights in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk (rooms with amenities, 2-bed accommodation);
- 4 nights in Yuzhno-Kurilsk at the Flagship Hotel (partial amenities, 2-bed accommodation);
- 2 nights at the hotel "Tomori" in Kurilsk (rooms with amenities, 2-bed accommodation);
services of a tour guide;
Meals: 10 breakfasts, 8 lunches, 7 dinners;
transfer Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk – airport – Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk;
port charges;
bed linen on the ship;
transportation services according to the program;
escort by instructors-guides on the routes;
tickets for the thermal complexes "Sources of the Baransky volcano" and "Hot waters";
a pass to the Kurilsky Nature Reserve;
border crossing to Kunashir Island and Iturup.

Paid extra

flights to Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk and back;
Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk – Yuzhno-Kurilsk air flight/Kurilsk – Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk 15,000 rubles.;
ticket for the ship Yuzhno-Kurilsk – Kurilsk, 4-bed cabin – 2500 rubles/person.;
meals on the ship;
dinners in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk;
early check-in to hotels and late check-out from hotels;
medical insurance.

It's important to know

lightweight headdress for sun protection;
trekking waterproof sneakers/boots (Gore-Tex), or treated with a water repellent + a replaceable pair of shoes;
comfortable sports sandals with a rigid fixation on the foot, in which it is convenient to walk on water and stones (necessary on the route Tikhaya Bay, for visiting thermal springs / baths on the islands of Kunashir and Iturup);
sports trousers are comfortable for trekking (2 pairs). It is also preferable to have waterproof trousers. It is especially convenient on the side zippers to quickly put on over sweatpants if necessary. They are light and do not take up space at all;
comfortable, lightweight, wind and moisture proof(!) jacket;
warm clothes: sweater, fleece jacket or similar warm clothes;
T-shirt with short or long sleeves with moisture-repellent properties for trekking;
lightweight cotton clothing: shorts/capris, T-shirts;
bathing suit;
socks are warm and thick;
a small travel towel (quick-drying);
a small backpack of 25-30 liters for one-day radial routes for water, photo/video equipment, swimsuit, towel, raincoat, etc. It is mandatory to have a waterproof backpack cover;
sunscreen and sunglasses;
a sunscreen adapted for you with a protection factor (SPF) of at least 30 units;
plastic water bottle for routes;
gloves;
telescopic poles for hiking (personal necessity);
photo/video equipment;
mosquito and tick repellents (personal necessity).

Dates and Prices

The tour dates are not confirmed yet. Please, for clarification

from
$2,193

29 Apr – 10 May, 2025 12 days 11 nights

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