A trip to the islands of Sakhalin, Iturup and Kunashir

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Incredible Sakhalin, Iturup and Kunashir are already waiting for you on this exciting journey! Discover the amazing world of wildlife, volcanoes, thermal springs and mystical shores.

This tour is a real challenge for the born explorer, eager for adventure, pristine landscapes and gastronomic discoveries.

You will find picturesque beaches, warming waters of thermal springs, bird markets, giant cupcakes and mystical natural sculptures.

Location

Russia, Sakhalin region, Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk

Sightseeing tours

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

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Tour highlights

Impressive Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk

Have lunch at one of the best Japanese restaurants and go on a sightseeing tour of a beautiful city with an interesting history.

Diversity of flora and fauna

You can collect amber and watch the seals, and take a walk along the coast in Tikhaya Bay.

Majestic Plateau

Explore the Yankito Plateau, where frozen volcanic lava has taken on the appearance of bizarre silhouettes and unusual shapes.

The White Cliffs of Iturup

Go on a boat trip, where you will see beautiful views of snow-white ridges, as if created by a great artist.

Swimming in natural jacuzzis

You will visit a kind of oasis among volcanoes and taiga, where you can relax in the warming waters.

Lots of tastes and impressions

Visit Cape Columnar, plunge into the sea waters and enjoy the taste of fragrant fish soup cooked over a campfire.

Itinerary

Day 1 - Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk Sightseeing Tour
Arrival in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk. Meeting at the airport.
If arrival is at 09:15, then transfer to the hotel, we leave our 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 - Flight to Iturup. Kasatka Bay
Breakfast at the hotel.
Transfer to the airport.
Departure to O. Iturup.
The flight schedule for the 2025 season will be released in March, after which routes on flight days can be adjusted.
Arrival in Kurilsk.
Meeting at the airport, transfer to the hotel, accommodation.
Route: Kasatka Bay, rock massif in Kasatka Bay. Pacific ocean.
Departure for the route, 60 km south to the Pacific Coast.
Inspection of the "Devil's rock", visit to the caves. Tunnels were cut through the rocks by the Japanese for military purposes.
Dinner at the cafe.

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Day 4 - Boat trip, Chirip Peninsula. White Rocks
Breakfast at the cafe.
Departure to the pier, briefing, boarding the boat.
During the boat trip, you will see the most beautiful landscapes of the Chirip Peninsula, picturesque lava shores, bird markets, seal and sea lion deposits, Cape Chirip and Cape Spur. Then go to the White Cliffs.
A boat trip along the White Cliffs is a wonderful opportunity to see this unique natural site from the sea.
Disembarkation, walk.
Lunch on the coast.
The white cliffs are white crested ridges of bizarre shapes, cut by canyons.
The landscape is constantly changing due to the fact that the rock formations (volcanic glass and pumice) are soft and prone to weathering and erosion.
The beach consists of white quartz and black titanium-magnetite sand.
Dinner at the cafe.
According to the weather, the route can be arranged on another day. Boats provide an opportunity to disembark in the most attractive locations.

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Day 5 - Flight to Iturup. Fumarole field and thermal springs of Baransky volcano
Breakfast at the cafe.
Departure for the route, 20 km on the way.
An interesting educational tour to the fumarole field (fumaroles, solfatars, mud boilers, steam griffins) – Sannikov Land.
We cook eggs in a geyser – that's our attraction.
There is also a delicious lunch and eggs with caviar.
Transfer to the thermal complex – a stunningly beautiful paradise, an oasis among volcanoes and taiga.
In a natural Jacuzzi with a water temperature of 42 ° C and under a hot waterfall, you are truly reborn.
Bathing.
Dinner at the cafe.

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Day 6 - The Yankito Plateau. Departure to Kunashir
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 lava that was once boiling.
Transfer to the port.
Registration on the ship.
14:00 Departure of the motor ship "Igor Farkhutdinov" to Kunashir.
Lunch and dinner on the boat on your own.

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Day 7 - Parking on the island of Shikotan. Arrival on Kunashir Island. 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.
17:00 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.

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Day 8 - The fumarole field of the Mendeleev volcano. Thermal springs
09:00 Arrival in Yuzhno-Kurilsk.
Meeting at the seaport, breakfast at the cafe, transfer to the hotel.
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 a 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 (optional).
Dinner at the cafe.

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Day 9 - 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 when 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.
Return to the hotel in the evening.
Dinner at the cafe.

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Day 10 - 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. Swimming in the Hot lake is a great pleasure.
Dinner at the cafe.

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Day 11 - Golovninsky cliff. Veslovsky Peninsula. Departure to Sakhalin
Room release.
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 cliff sediments 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.
It is possible to drive to the cliff only at low tide.
Lunch by the ocean.
18:00 Dinner at a cafe.
19:00 Registration on the ship.
22:00 Departure of the Pavel Leonov motor ship to Sakhalin.

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Day 12 - Arrival on Sakhalin
Breakfast and lunch on the ship.
20:00 Arrival at the port of Korsakov.
Transfer to the hotel.
Day 13 - Free day
Breakfast at the hotel restaurant.
Free day (reserved in case of late arrival).
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. And you can spend the day and say: "Goodbye, Sakhalin!" at the top of the "Mountain Air" with a view of the city and the setting sun with caviar and champagne.
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 14 - Completion of the program
Breakfast in the hotel restaurant.
Transfer to the airport.
Departure.

Difficulty

Involves moderate physical activity

Tour organizer's comments

The tour provides hiking trails of moderate difficulty.

Accommodation

Hotel

11 nights
Cabin on the boat

2 nights

Comfort

Midscale
Upscale
Premium

The tour includes accommodation in hotels.

The cost of the tour for 1 person is 271,000 rubles.

The surcharge for single occupancy on the tour is 36,700 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 tour provides double accommodation (4 nights) in a hotel in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk.

Tour conditions

Group

From 15 to 25 tourists

Minimum age

7 years old

Duration

14 days 13 nights

Group meets at

Russia, Sakhalin region, Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk

Included in price

airport – hotel – airport transfer;
accommodation in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk (double occupancy);
tour guide services;
meals included in the tour program, including three meals a day on Kunashir and Iturup;
Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk Airport/port Korsakov – Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk transfer;
port charges;
bed linen on the ship;
accommodation on Kunashir at the Flagship Hotel (partial facilities);
accommodation on Iturup in a hotel/guest house;
boat and equipment rental;
transportation services according to the program;
accompanying instructors-guides on the routes;
entrance tickets to the thermal complex "Springs of Baransky volcano";
Kurilsky Nature Reserve pass;
border crossing to Kunashir Island, Iturup 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):
- air ticket Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk – Kurilsk and tickets for the motor ship Kurilsk – Yuzhno-Kurilsk, Yuzhno-Kurilsk – Korsakov (four–person cabin) - 43,000 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 necessary 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

$3,194

6 – 19 Jul 14 days 13 nights

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$3,052

1 – 14 Sep 14 days 13 nights

Tour option - A trip to the islands of Sakhalin — Iturup — Kunashir

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