A trip to Sakhalin and Kunashir

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On this tour, you will visit Sakhalin and Kunashir, the southernmost island of the Great Kuril Ridge.

Here, the earth breathes hot steam, the grass is taller than a man, and the foothills of volcanoes are lined with bamboo.

You will taste Far Eastern delicacies, go to the island by boat, see the fumarole field of the Mendeleev volcano and swim in wild thermal springs.

Location

Russia, Sakhalin region, Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk

Contact the tour coordinator

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

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Tour highlights

The mysterious Cape Columnar

Explore a mystical place with your own music

The multifaceted Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk

Take a sightseeing tour of a modern, beautiful city with a history

Majestic Cape

Take a walk along the coast and explore the coves and grottoes, bird markets

Rest and recovery

Have the opportunity to swim in the warm waters of the thermal springs of the Mendeleev volcano

The nature of Kunashir

You will see the most beautiful fields of cedar elderberry and Kuril bamboo

Tastes of the Far East

Enjoy Sakhalin fish soup, local delicacies and caviar

Itinerary

Day 1 - Arrival in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk. City Sightseeing Tour
Arrival in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk. Meeting at the airport.
If arrival is at 09:15, then transfer to the hotel, leave your things.
Free time ~2.5-3 hours.
Please keep in mind that check-in at the hotel is at 14:00. Early check-in can be booked and paid in advance, if necessary.
If arrival is at 12:30, then we immediately go to the restaurant.
Welcome lunch at one of the best Japanese restaurants.
Sightseeing bus tour of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, the capital of the Sakhalin region.
A modern, beautiful city with a history.
Return to the hotel.
Dinner (on your own).

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Day 2 - Departure by boat to Kunashir
08:00 Breakfast at the hotel.
09:00 Transfer to Korsakov port.
Registration on the ship.
12:00 Departure of the Pavel Leonov motor ship to Kunashir Island.
The ship leaves the port of Korsakov and follows the coastline of the Tonino-Aniva Peninsula for 4 hours.
You can see the Aniva Lighthouse from aboard the ship, and dolphins and killer whales are likely to be seen during the passage through the Sea of Okhotsk.
Lunch and dinner on the boat in a cafe on your own.

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Day 3 - Arrival in Yuzhno-Kurilsk. Fumarole field and thermal springs of the Mendeleev volcano
09:00 The ship's approach to the port of Yuzhno-Kurilsk, Kunashir Island.
Meeting at the port.
Breakfast at the cafe.
Transfer to the hotel. We leave our things.
Route: Fumarole field of the Mendeleev volcano. Thermal springs of the Mendeleev volcano
Departure to the route of medium difficulty "Large fumarole field of the Mendeleev volcano".
By car for 30 minutes, then trekking for 2-2.5 hours through bamboo with a constant climb, 3 km in one direction.
A path with stops for short rest.
Parking on the fumarole field ~ 2 hours.
Fumaroles and solfatars are among the largest, if not the largest, on 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 ration).
Bathing in wild thermal springs (optional).
Dinner at the cafe.
Return to the hotel.

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Day 4 - Cape Columnar. Stolbovskie springs. White Monks Rocks
09:00 Breakfast at the cafe.
10:00 Departure for the route of medium difficulty "Cape Columnar" — 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 towards the sea.
Physico-chemical processes have created such columnar structures in the form of five-hexagonal columns. But once you get here, it's 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 of broken pillars.
Relaxing at 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.
The total mileage of the walking part of the route is 6 km.
Dinner at the cafe.
Return to the hotel.

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Day 5 - Golovnin volcano. Lakes are Boiling and Hot
09:00 Breakfast at the cafe.
10:00 Departure for the route of medium difficulty "Volcano Golovnina. The Lakes are Boiling and Hot."
40 minutes by car, then trekking 2.5–3 hours along the path, 7 km in one direction.
The entire journey is accompanied by beautiful fields of cedar elderberry and Kuril bamboo, completely impassable to humans.
The volcano is a caldera about 4 km in diameter, surrounded by a ridge with a maximum height of 541 m.
There are four small domes and two crater lakes at the bottom of the caldera, Boiling and Hot.
The parking time in the caldera is ~3 hours.
Lunch (dry ration).
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. It's possible and necessary to have hot things in the lake.
Dinner at the cafe.
Return to the hotel.

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Day 6 - Golovninsky cliff. Veslovsky Peninsula. Pacific ocean
09:00 Breakfast at the cafe.
10:00 Departure by car to the Veslovsky peninsula, Golovnino settlement, the southernmost part of the island. Visit to the memorial sign at the site of the founding of the Russian settlement on the island of Kunashir in 1778.
Golovninsky Cliff is an extremely impressive natural site. The giant outcrops of this unique relief form capture 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 a particularly important role in this.
Please note! It is possible to drive to the cliff only at low tide.
Lunch by the ocean.
Dinner at the cafe.
Return to the hotel.
If it is impossible to travel to Golovninsky cliff due to a strong tide, a landslide on the coast, etc., the route will be replaced with another route: Dog Rock, Lagunnoe Lake.
Day 7 - Departure to Sakhalin
Breakfast in the cafe.
Registration on the ship.
13:00 Departure of the ship "Pavel Leonov" or "Admiral Nevelskoy" to Sakhalin.
17:00 Arrival at Shikotan Island. The vessel is parked for 4 hours, but is allowed ashore only for 2 hours strictly if there is a border pass.
Meeting at the port and an organized tour of the surrounding area.
Lunch and dinner on the boat on your own.
Day 8 - A day on the ship and arrival on Sakhalin
Breakfast and lunch on the boat on your own.
20:00 Arrival at the port of Korsakov.
Transfer to the hotel.
Day 9 - Cape Bird and Cape Giant. The southeastern coast of the Sea of Okhotsk
08:00 Breakfast in the hotel restaurant.
09:00 Departure from Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk with a jeep guide. The journey time is 3 hours, during which we will travel 100 km, the first half of the way is a federal paved highway, the second half of the way is a difficult road through the pass.
After Okhotsk, rush along the seashore, then through the Sakhalin taiga through the pass, and in front of you soar majestic stone arches, columns and kekurs-giants created by wind and sea waves.
Beautiful coves and grottos, bird markets.
A walk along the coast will be a great pleasure, one Cape Bird is worth it.
A walk through the sea terraces and Sakhalin taiga will introduce you to the diverse world of flora. The guide will tell you a lot of interesting things.
Lunch — lunch box (Japanese cuisine), Far Eastern delicacies, tea with herbs and berries.
19:00 Return to the hotel.
Dinner (on your own).

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Day 10 - Free day
Breakfast in the hotel restaurant.
Free day.
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.
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.
Stores 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!

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Day 11 - Departure
Breakfast at the hotel.
Transfer to the airport.

Difficulty

Involves moderate physical activity

Tour organizer's comments

The tour includes hiking trails of moderate difficulty, including those with constant climbing, as well as jeep rides.

Accommodation

Hotel

8 nights
Cabin on the boat

2 nights

Comfort

Upscale
Premium

The tour includes accommodation in hotels and a cabin on the ship.

The cost of the tour for 1 person is 182,000 rubles.

The surcharge for single occupancy on the tour is 25,000 rubles.

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

for a double suite at the Flagship Hotel (with amenities) on Kunashir Island – 9,000 rubles/person (4 nights);
for a single room at the Iceberg 2 hotel (with amenities) on Kunashir Island – 9,000 rubles/person (4 nights);
for a double suite at the Iceberg 2 hotel (with amenities) on Kunashir Island – 9,000 rubles/person (4 nights).

The Mega Palace Hotel is located in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk and is one of the largest urban hotels with a developed infrastructure.

The hotel offers more than a hundred rooms of different categories — from standard to apartments and presidential rooms. Many rooms offer views of the city, mountains and hills, and one of the hotel's features is a panoramic terrace on the top floor.

The categories "Standard", "Deluxe", "Residential Apartments", "Mega Apartments", "Residential family", "Royal Comfort", "Royal Apartments" and "Presidential Apartments" are available for accommodation.

The rooms vary in size and layout: there are both classic options for one or two guests, as well as more spacious apartments with a kitchen, living room, several bedrooms and work areas. All categories include Wi-Fi, climate control, TV, refrigerator, kettle, safe and daily housekeeping.

There are several restaurants and bars on site. The Grill on the Sky restaurant, the Asia restaurant, the BamBoo Japanese restaurant, the Baron lobby pastry shop, as well as the Duke nightclub and karaoke are available to guests.

Breakfast is served from 07:00 to 10:00, and room service is also available.

It offers a fitness center, sauna, spa treatments and additional relaxation areas. For residents, access to the fitness club is provided free of charge, as well as free admission to the Duke nightclub.

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Tour conditions

Group

From 15 to 25 tourists

Minimum age

7 years old

Duration

11 days 10 nights

Group meets at

Russia, Sakhalin region, Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk

Included in price

airport – hotel – airport transfer;
hotel accommodation in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk;
transfer hotel – Korsakov Seaport – hotel;
meals specified in the program:
- on Sakhalin according to the program;
- on Kunashir, three meals a day;
accommodation in Yuzhno-Kurilsk at the Flagship Hotel (partial facilities);
transportation services according to the program;
accompanying instructors-guides on the routes;
tour guide services;
Kurilsky Nature Reserve pass;
border pass to Kunashir Island and Shikotan Island.

Paid extra

flights to Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk and back;
tickets for the Korsakov – Yuzhno-Kurilsk – Korsakov motor ship (four-person cabin) – 20,000 rubles (cost may vary);
surcharge for single occupancy;
additional payment for an increased comfort level of living on Kunashir (optional);
meals not specified in the program or specified "independently":
- meals on the ship;
- dinners in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk;
early check-in and late check-out of 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

$2,440

29 Jun – 9 Jul 11 days 10 nights

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$2,440

13 – 23 Jul 11 days 10 nights

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$2,440

27 Jul – 6 Aug 11 days 10 nights

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$2,440

10 – 20 Aug 11 days 10 nights

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$2,440

24 Aug – 3 Sep 11 days 10 nights

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$2,440

7 – 17 Sep 11 days 10 nights

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$2,440

21 Sep – 1 Oct 11 days 10 nights

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