A trip to Sakhalin and Kunashir islands

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Embark on an unforgettable journey through beautiful Sakhalin and Kunashir! Unspoilt landscapes, majestic volcanoes, hot springs and the mighty Pacific Ocean await you here.

This tour is a great opportunity to touch the true wonder of nature, taste the delicious seafood and feel the powerful energy of the mysterious lands.

Location

Russia, Sakhalin region, Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk

from

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

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Tour highlights

The Magic of Columnar

Visit one of the most mysterious places in Kunashir, where basalt columns seem to have been carved by a skilled craftsman.

Picturesque Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk

Enjoy the beauty of the Sakhalin Oblast capital and have dinner at an authentic Japanese restaurant.

Stone Giants

You will see majestic stone arches, columns and giant kekurs created by the sea and the wind.

The Breath of the Earth

Head to the fumarole field of the Mendeleev volcano, where hot gases escape from the depths, reminding of the hidden power of nature.

Unusual lakes

See the volcanic crater lakes Boiling and Hot – one with mud cauldrons and hot steam, and in the other you can swim

The animal world

Get the opportunity to watch seals, and if you're lucky, killer whales and dolphins.

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 - The bay is Quiet. The island Is Noticeable. The eastern 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 approximately 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 governorate period, which were installed in front of Shinto temples.
An intermediate stop is 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, tea with herbs, Sakhalin sweets.
19:00 Return to the hotel.
Dinner (on your own).

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Day 3 - Cape Bird and Cape Giant. The southeastern coast of the Sea of Okhotsk. Jeep Tour
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 4 - Departure to Kunashir
08:00 Breakfast in the hotel restaurant.
09:00 Transfer to Korsakov port. Registration on the ship.
12:00 Departure of the Admiral Nevelskoy motor ship to Kunashir Island.
The vessel 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 5 - Parking on the island of Shikotan. Arrival on Kunashir. A walk along the Pacific coast
Breakfast and lunch at the cafe on the ship on your own.
09:00 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.
You can also enjoy freshly brewed coffee in the cozy cafe.
18:00 Arrival in Yuzhno-Kurilsk, Kunashir Island.
Meeting at the seaport, transfer to the hotel, accommodation.
Let's go say hello to the Pacific Ocean! Endless Quiet... with a serious character and a powerful energy.
A short walk along the coast — kekur "Devil's finger", "Devil's Gate".
Dinner at the cafe.
Return to the hotel.

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Day 6 - Fumarole field and thermal springs of the Mendeleev volcano
09:00 Breakfast at the cafe.
10:00 Departure for the medium-difficulty route "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.
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 is optional.
Dinner at the cafe.
Return to the hotel.

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Day 7 - 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 8 - 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.
Coming 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 at the cape, swimming in the sea.
There are many sea urchins in the littoral lagoons.
Then 2 km along the shore to our cozy parking lot, where a bonfire lunch will be organized — delicious fish soup.
Dinner at the cafe.
Return to the hotel.

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Day 9 - Departure to Sakhalin. Stop at Shikotan
Room release.
Breakfast in the cafe.
11:00 Registration on the ship.
13:00 Departure of the Admiral Nevelskoy motor ship to Sakhalin.
Another transit stop at Shikotan at 17:00. Now we will show you another Shikotan.
Lunch and dinner on the boat on your own.
Day 10 - 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 11 - Free day
Breakfast in the hotel restaurant.
Free day (reserve).
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:
1. Sakhalin Museum of Local Lore.
2. 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.
3. Shops with Korean and Japanese goods.
4. 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 12 - Departure
Breakfast at the hotel.
Transfer to the airport.
Departure.

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

9 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 177,000 rubles.

The surcharge for single occupancy on the tour is 27,000 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/Iceberg 1 hotel (with amenities) on Kunashir Island – 9,000 rubles/person (4 nights).

The tour provides accommodation for 5 nights in a 4* hotel in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk.

Tour conditions

Group

From 15 to 25 tourists

Minimum age

7 years old

Duration

12 days 11 nights

Group meets at

Russia, Sakhalin region, Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk

Included in price

airport – hotel – airport transfer;
accommodation in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk in hotel 4*;
tour guide services;
meals specified in the program, including three meals a day on Kunashir;
Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk – Korsakov Port – Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk transfer;
accommodation in Yuzhno-Kurilsk at the Flagship Hotel (partial facilities);
port charges;
bed linen on the ship;
transportation services according to the program;
accompanying instructors-guides on the routes;
Kurilsky Nature Reserve pass;
border pass to Kunashir Island and Shikotan Island.

Paid extra

flights to Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk and back;
tickets (the price is preliminary, the exact price will be announced in April):
- tickets for the Korsakov – Yuzhno-Kurilsk – Korsakov motor ship (four–person cabin) - 24,000 rubles.;
meals on the ship;
surcharge for single occupancy;
additional payment for an increased comfort level of living on Kunashir (optional);
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

$2,202

15 – 26 Jul 12 days 11 nights

Tour option - A trip to Sakhalin and Kunashir

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No need to pay now
$2,142

23 Aug – 3 Sep 12 days 11 nights

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$2,215

16 – 27 Sep 12 days 11 nights

Tour option - Sakhalin and Kunashir Tour

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No need to pay now