Big autumn expedition to the Kuril Islands: Sakhalin, Iturup, Kunashir and Shikotan

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Four islands, hundreds of photos and a million impressions — briefly about our incredible trip to the Kuril Islands.

You will see volcanoes live and feel the hot "breath" of the earth, swim in thermal springs, visit the White Rocks, Cape Giant and Kasatka Bay, see the Pacific Ocean.

And, of course, enjoy the incredible nature with Japanese maples, purple mustard vines and bright lemon larches, as well as taste dishes from the freshest seafood.

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

Let's try Sakhalin delicacies

Let's try Sakhalin fish soup, crab, oysters and caviar and tea with island herbs and berries

Let's talk to the marine life

During the trip to the Southern Kuril Islands, we will see dolphins, killer whales and whales

Let's relax in the thermal baths

We will visit various thermal baths on the islands, including the Mendeleev and Baransky volcanoes

Let's admire the creation of nature

Once under water, the fossilized lava divided into regular five-hexagonal columns and rose to the surface

Let's go to the "Edge of the World"

We will enjoy the beauty of the Pacific Ocean, and then we will go to Nameless Bay and swim in the ocean in warm weather

Let's go to the oyster jar

We'll go on a catamaran to an oyster jar and cook everything we can catch in the lake over a campfire

Itinerary

Day 1 - Arrival in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk and city tour
Arrival in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, meeting at the airport (meeting the recommended flights at 09:15 and 12:35), transfer to the hotel.
Hotel accommodation starts at 14:00 (early check-in is possible for an additional fee).
After the accommodation, we go to one of the best Japanese restaurants for lunch and try seafood dishes.
Immediately after lunch, we will introduce you to our cozy city.
The guide will tell you about our region and its rich historical past.
At the end of the tour, transfer to the hotel or to the STK "Mountain Air" funicular station to meet the sunset on Mount Bolshevik (optional).
Free time.
Dinner (on your own).

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Day 2 - Tikhaya Bay
Breakfast at the hotel (if provided at the hotel).
10:00 Departure from Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk by bus.
Travel time with stops is approximately 3 hours (143 km one way). On the way, we will visit the coast in the village of Starodubskoe, where the sea throws up pieces of amber on the shore.
Next, we'll stop by to see the Japanese Torii gates, which were installed in front of Shinto temples.
Stop at the seaside village, where you can buy freshly caught crabs (boiled).
Arrival at Tikhaya Bay.
A walk along the coast — lagoons, caves, gorges, bird markets, the island of "Noticeable". Weathering rocks and bizarrely shaped lava boulders create an alien landscape.
Lunch — traditional Korean Hemultang soup, freshly boiled crab, caviar, oriental salads (made from local wild plants), Sakhalin tea with herbs and berries.
In the evening, return to Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk (approximate time of return is 19:00).
Dinner (on your own).

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Day 3 - Capes "Bird" and "Giant"
Breakfast in the hotel restaurant (if provided in the hotel).
09:00 Departure from Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk by off-road vehicles.
Travel time is approximately 3 hours (100 km one way, difficult road) with stops at observation decks.
Walking along the coast of the Sea of Okhotsk – magnificent stone arches, columns and kekurs created by wind and sea waves, grottos and bird bazaars of Cape "Bird". Climb up to the sea terraces, which offer incredible views of the Sea of Okhotsk and Cape Giant, jutting into the sea like a green cone.
Lunch — traditional Sakhalin table: rich ear, traditional Russian snacks with a Sakhalin accent. Fragrant tea made from island herbs and berries.
Free time.
15:30 Departure to Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk.
The approximate time of return to the hotel is 19:00.
Dinner (on your own).

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Day 4 - Departure to Shikotan Island
Breakfast at the hotel (if provided at the hotel).
Room release.
09:00 Transfer to Korsakov port.
Registration for the ship.
12:00 Departure to the Southern Kuril Islands. During the passage between the islands, flocks of dolphins, as well as killer whales and even whales can be seen from the deck.
Day 5 - Arrival at Shikotan
18:00 The approach of the ship to the port of Malokurilskoye. Transfer to the village of Krabozavodskoye.
Check-in at the hotel, dinner.
A short walk to the Krabozavodskaya Bay.
Rest.
Day 6 - Cape "Edge of the World" — Nameless Bay
This is the most Southeastern place in Russia, which many travelers dream of visiting.
This is a different world, unlike either the mainland or the nearby Sakhalin.
Shikotan lies in the Pacific Ocean, just a few dozen kilometers from Japan and, interestingly, is located east of it (the sun rises earlier here). And there are no volcanoes, poisonous snakes and bears.
Breakfast at the hotel (if provided at the hotel).
10:00 Departure to cape "Edge of the World".
When you get here, the meaning of the name immediately becomes clear.
From above, you can enjoy a breathtaking view of the vast expanses of the Pacific Ocean, and you can't help but think that you are really on the edge of the earth!
This is the farthest point in Russia from the capital — a distance of 7,400 km in a straight line.
A walk to Cape Crab, where the lighthouse of Shpanberg is located.
Then transfer to Bezymyannaya Bay.
According to many eyewitnesses, this bay is the most beautiful natural place on the island due to the scattering of islands located inside the bay.
Lunch — lunch boxes.
Free time to relax.
In warm weather, you can sunbathe and swim in the Pacific Ocean. The water temperature is 13-16 degrees.
Return to the hotel in the evening.
Rest.
Dinner at the cafe.

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Day 7 - Aivazovsky Bay (Church)
Breakfast at the hotel (if provided at the hotel).
10:00 Departure for the route "Tserkovnaya Bay", "Notoro" and "Tomari" mountains.
Tserkovnaya Bay impresses with its islands and coves.
It is also interesting for its history and nearby sites: the larch forest, the site of a former Japanese settlement, the Notoro and Tomari mountains.
The route is on foot, about 8 km in one direction through the protected area.
Along the way, there are thickets of giant burdock, spiraea and creeping junipers.
Arrival at the bay.
A walk along the beach.
Optional swimming in the ocean.
Lunch — lunch box.
Free time, rest.
Return to the hotel in the evening.
Dinner at the cafe.

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Day 8 - Departure to Kunashir Island
Breakfast at the hotel. Room release.
Transfer to the port of Malokurilskoye. Registration for the ship.
14:00 Departure to Kunashir. The journey takes about 4 hours.
18:00 Arrival at the port of Yuzhno-Kurilsk. Getting to know the guides.
Accommodation at the hotel.
Supper.
Day 9 - The fumarole field of the Mendeleev volcano
At the foot of this active volcano, overgrown with bamboo, there are still Japanese thermal baths, where, according to legend, Emperor Hirohito bathed. And now it's a landmark in Russia.
The Mendeleev volcano, located in the southern part of Kunashir Island, belongs to a specially protected natural area and was awarded the status of a state natural monument in 1983.
Since 1946, when the island became ours after the Second World War, it has been named after the Russian chemist D.I. Mendeleev. But until now, people often refer to him as the Sleeping Beauty. Indeed, visually, this almost 890-meter volcano resembles a sleeping woman.
However, sometimes the sleep of this "beauty" becomes sensitive, and then others can observe how hot volcanic gas and steam escape from cracks or channels (fumaroles) to the surface. However, the "hot lady" woke up seriously more than 100 years ago — in 1880.
09:00 Breakfast at the cafe.
10:00 Departure for the route "The Great fumarole field of the Mendeleev volcano".
Transportation is 17 km, followed by a trekking route of about 3 km in one direction.
The route passes through a protected area. The nature of these places is unique.
Centuries-old trees with trunks up to 2 meters in diameter, thickets of Kuril bamboo, the purest mountain streams.
Approach to the fumarole field
Here you can feel the hot "breath" of the earth.
Its surface looks more like a Martian landscape.
Small and large smoking fumaroles, cedar elderberry and a view of the Hokkaido Mountains.
Parking is 2 hours.
Lunch — lunch box.
Optional bathing in wild hot springs.
Return to Yuzhno-Kurilsk in the evening.
Dinner at the cafe.

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Day 10 - Cape Columnar. Departure to Iturup
Cape Columnar on Kunashir is one of the most amazing and unique places on earth, it is a unique geological formation that arose as a result of the petrification of basalt lava.
Having poured out of the mouth of the Mendeleev volcano more than 6 million years ago, lava got into the water column and, under the influence of certain temperatures, divided into absolutely regular five-hexagonal columns, and then rose from the ocean to the surface.
Residents of Kunashir say: "Those who have not seen Cape Columnar have not seen Kunashir."
Breakfast at the hotel.
10:00 Departure for the route. Exit to the coast.
Inspection of rocks of volcanic origin.
The cape, open on three sides, is located on the coast of the Sea of Okhotsk.
Beautiful "aquariums" and lagoons with crystal clear azure water.
Majestic "organs" made of solidified lava.
Lunch on the route.
15:00 Return to the hotel. Room release.
17:00 Registration for the ship.
20:00 Departure to Iturup Island.

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Day 11 - Iturup — Yankito Lava Plateau — Kuril Baths Thermal Complex
09:00 Arrival at Iturup Island (Kurilsk). Meeting at the seaport, transfer to the hotel and accommodation.
After accommodation, departure to the Yankito lava plateau. An incredible maze of frozen lava formed after the eruption of the Bogdan Khmelnitsky volcano. Noisy waves, incredible piles of stones and figures that excite the imagination.
After departure to the Kuril Baths thermal complex. Swimming in thermal springs overlooking the Sea of Okhotsk.
After returning to the hotel.
Free time.
Supper.
Please note that the sequence of excursions on Iturup Island may vary depending on the departure time of the aircraft. Changing the sequence does not affect the execution of the program in any way.

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Day 12 - "White rocks" — "Black rocks" — bay "Prostor" — thermal complex "Hot waters"
Breakfast in the hotel cafe.
10:00 Departure for the route.
The "White Rocks" are white ridged 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.
A wild deserted beach in white and black watercolor (white quartz and black titanium-magnetite sand), azure-colored water and volcanoes on the horizon.
The white cliffs have long been a real hallmark of Iturup Island.
The "Black Rocks" are a basalt columnar structure of solidified volcanic lava in the form of regular-shaped diamonds.
Lunch on the coast of the Sea of Okhotsk.
After lunch, departure to the waterfall "Maiden braids".
A horseshoe-shaped canyon covered with a carpet of mosses and lichens, into which the river breaks, breaking up into several separate streams.
Next, visit the Hot Waters thermal complex in the village of Reidovo.
Fonts with a water temperature of about 50-60 ° C in the middle of a volcanic swamp.
Return to Kurilsk, transfer to the hotel.
Supper.
Free time.

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Day 13 - Kasatka Bay
Kasatka Bay, a rocky massif in Kasatka Bay, Pacific Ocean.
Breakfast in the hotel cafe.
Departure to the route. The journey is 70 km.
The first stop is in the bay of the "Devil's Rock" with the remains of Japanese fortifications and an underground hospital.
Tunnels were cut through the rocks by the Japanese for military purposes.
Then we will drive along the "mirrored" beach to Kasatka Bay.
It was from here that the Japanese aircraft carrier squadron moved out in November 1941 to attack the American naval base Pearl Harbor.
Lunch on the shore of the Pacific Ocean.
Return to Kurilsk in the evening.
Supper.

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Day 14 - Baransky volcano. Departure to Sakhalin
Breakfast at the hotel.
Room release.
Departure to the route.
The journey is 20 km with stops at observation decks. Arrival at the foot of the Baransky volcano.
You can already feel the "hot breath of the earth" here.
There are two small turquoise-colored "Blue Eyes" boiling lakes in the thickets of the Kuril bamboo.
The sulfuric acid waters of these lakes burst out of the bowels of the earth and give rise to the Boiling river with bubbling "boilers" and clouds of hot steam.
The thermal complex of the Baransky volcano on the Boiling River is a unique, stunningly beautiful place.
Natural stone bowls and baths with water temperatures from 42°C to 70°C and a hot waterfall are a real oasis among volcanoes and taiga.
Rest.
Bathing (paid separately, optional).
Transfer to the airport.
Departure to Sakhalin.
Transfer to the hotel.
Check-in.
Dinner (on your own).

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Day 15 - Free day
Free day (reserve, in case of late arrival from Kurilsk).
In our free time, we suggest visiting the unique Pobeda Memorial and Museum complex (on Victory Square) on your own.
As well as the Sakhalin Museum of Local Lore.
It is located in a building built in 1937 for the museum of the Karafuto Governorate in the forms of Japanese medieval architecture, built in the style of "teikan-zukuri" — this is the only building in this style in Russia.
Cathedral of the Nativity.
Admire the giant mosaics made of Jerusalem stones, and the mosaic painting of the Savior is the largest in the world.
The frescoes were made by the best Russian icon painters, and you can use them to study the entire history of Christianity.
Souvenir shops and a fish market are also mandatory.
Lunch, as well as dinner on your own.

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Day 16 - Busse Lake
Breakfast at the hotel restaurant.
Departure from Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk the route length is about 150 km.
Attractions: the oldest Russian settlement of Sakhalin, Korsakov, the site of the founding of the Muravyevsky Post (1853), the Utes observation deck, a memorial sign to the Novik cruiser, the remains of the Japanese temple of Mary Hachiman Jinja, Russia's first LNG plant, the Vavai Lakes.
Upon arrival, visit an oyster can (on a rowing catamaran).
A delicious seafood lunch, baked and raw oysters, fish soup cooked over a campfire and everything that we can find and collect in the lake.
During the Busse Lake tour, you will see a unique lake (lagoon). Busse and Aniva Bay.
Visit the oyster jar and see how giant Sakhalin oysters live in their natural environment. You will see the island of seals and observe these animals.
We will show you where the spizula shell and the grass shrimp live. Try the freshest Sakhalin seafood prepared by our chef.
Return to the hotel in the evening.
Dinner (on your own).

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Day 17 - Departure
Breakfast at the hotel.
Room release.
Visit to the fish market (optional).
Transfer to the airport.
Check-in and baggage handling.
Departure.

Difficulty

Involves moderate physical activity

Tour organizer's comments

The tour includes hiking, crosswalks and routes of medium difficulty (3 km one way).

Accommodation

Hotel

14 nights
Cabin on the boat

2 nights

Comfort

Upscale
Premium

The tour includes accommodation in hotels and cabins of the ship.

The cost of the tour for 1 person, depending on the accommodation in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, RUB.:

Hotel	Double occupancy	Surcharge for single occupancy
*"Gagarin" 3+**	247 800	44 500
"Mega Palace"	253 000	57 000
"Commander"	239 400	39 500

Important: during the transition between the Kunashir-Shikotan islands, a sitting place can be provided (the transition takes 3 hours).

"Gagarin" 3*

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

This hotel is located on the Russian Far Eastern island of Sakhalin, 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.

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Another option

"Commander"

This hotel is located in the center of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, just a 10-minute walk from the central train station. It offers air-conditioned rooms with a flat-screen TV. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel.

The bright and elegant rooms are decorated with classic furniture. The floor is carpeted. The rooms are equipped with a fridge and a kettle. The private bathroom comes with a hairdryer and slippers.

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Tour conditions

Group

From 6 to 15 tourists

Minimum age

8 years old

Duration

17 days 16 nights

Group meets at

Russia, Sakhalin region, Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk

Included in price

transfers according to the program;
accommodation in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk;
excursion program on Sakhalin;
services of tour guides;
hotel accommodation in Yuzhno-Kurilsk (Kunashir island);
hotel accommodation in Kurilsk (Iturup island);
accommodation in the Shikotan Island hotel;
excursion program on Kunashir, Shikotan and Iturup;
meals according to the Sakhalin program (breakfast and lunch);
meals according to the program on Kunashir, Iturup, Shikotan (full board);
passage to the South Kuril Islands Protected Area;
transportation services on the routes;
accompanied by instructors and guides on the routes;
border crossing to Kunashir Island, Shikotan Island, Iturup Island.

Paid extra

air and railway tickets to Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk and back;
early check-in (in case of early arrival in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk);
tickets for the Korsakov—Malokurilskoye—Yuzhno-Kurilsk—Kitovoye motor ship (13 500 — 4- local cabin with amenities);
Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk — Kurilsk air ticket (baggage included, non—refundable tickets) - 7,400 rubles;
meals on the ship;
a visit to the thermal complex "Thermae of the Baransky volcano" is optional — 2000 rubles.;
meals not specified in the program;
personal expenses.

It's important to know

On Sakhalin Island and on the Kuril Islands, weather changes occur very often. There are thunderstorms, rains, intense heat, heavy fogs, strong winds. Therefore, it is very IMPORTANT to bring clothes for any weather.

It is mandatory to have a waterproof and non-draughty jacket and trousers (they are necessary for boat trips). A warm lightweight fleece jacket and sweater are needed. For warm weather, be sure to take light T-shirts and shorts. It is also necessary to have several pairs of shoes. One pair is for tracking (comfortable, lightweight), the second pair is waterproof (for walking through wet areas). A raincoat is required.

Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk is a modern city where it is possible to purchase absolutely everything that is necessary for everyday life, but on the routes and the Kuril Islands we immerse ourselves in the wild nature of the Sakhalin region and not all settlements have normal shops, so we recommend taking all the extremely necessary personal hygiene products with you.

The sun is active on the islands from May to September, so it is necessary to use sunglasses and sunscreen. It is mandatory to have a headdress.

The guide guides have a first-aid kit with the necessary set of medicines for the campaign. Personal and specific medications (allergic, asthmatic, hypertensive, etc.) must be carried with you. It is also necessary to inform the organizer in advance about the presence of allergies to food.

Important items for each island:

Sakhalin:

a small backpack for trips. (you can put water, a raincoat, a camera in it);
sunscreen;
tick repellents.

Iturup:

trekking poles;
bathing accessories and a small towel, slippers. (necessary for bathing in hot springs). There are 3 bathing springs on Iturup. Two springs are included in the tour price (Hot waters and Kuril baths). The water from the bowels of the earth here is sodium bicarbonate. Therapeutic. The water temperature can be adjusted by adding cold water. The third source "Thermae of the Baransky Volcano" is not included in the price. The water at this source from the sources of the river is "Boiling", sulfuric acid. It is not diluted with cold water.

Kunashir:

it is necessary to have a small backpack (for water, lunchbox, raincoat);
trekking poles;
Lightweight comfortable trekking shoes are required;
cotton gloves (ordinary gardening gloves) are required for walking through bamboo thickets;
a shirt (T-shirt, turtleneck) with long sleeves is required;
to swim in wild hot springs, take bathing accessories;
trousers and socks should completely cover the legs.

Shikotan

Shikotan is the farthest island of the Kuril Ridge and the smallest of the islands on the trip.

it is necessary to have a small backpack (for water, lunchbox, raincoat);
trekking poles;
We recommend purchasing at least 1 shoe dryer per family (portable). There are many wet places on the island where you can get your shoes wet. The environment of the Pacific Ocean gives strong humidity (fogs are also frequent). It is mandatory to have replaceable dry socks;
trekking to Aivazovsky Bay about 8 km in one direction;
We recommend purchasing tick repellents;
trousers and socks should completely cover the leg.

In the Kuril Islands, breakfast/dinner meals are served in hotels. Lunch is on the route. If you need to purchase something extra, then you can do it in grocery stores. Please note that the opening hours of most stores are until 18:00-19:00. Most products are more expensive than on the mainland and even than on Sakhalin.

If you smoke, we recommend that you purchase a sufficient number of cigarettes in advance for a trip to Sakhalin or St. Petersburg. On the islands (Iturup, Shikotan, Kunashir), the choice of cigarettes is minimal.

The passage between the islands takes place on the new cargo and passenger ships Pavel Leonov and Admiral Nevelskoy. Four-person cabins with shower and toilet. Each passenger is given a set of bed linen, a towel and a mug. There is also a cooler with cold and hot water for passengers in the lobby of the ship. There is a cafe on the ships. There is a set breakfast, lunch and dinner. The cost of breakfast is 450 rubles, lunch is 650 rubles, dinner is 550 rubles. Before sending the ship, we definitely stop at a store where you can buy food, tea, coffee, and a snack on the road. If you get seasick when traveling by sea, we recommend that you purchase the drug Dramina.

Open drinking of alcoholic beverages is prohibited on the ship. There is a smoking deck and a 5th deck with a wonderful view of the sea.

The flight between the islands of Iturup and Sakhalin takes place on board the AK Aurora. Canadian Bombardier DASH — 8 aircraft Luggage 23 kg, hand luggage 5 kg.

Island tours, except for climbing, do not require special training and everyone can participate in them, including children accompanied by parents or persons who are fully responsible for them. Unaccompanied children under 16 are not allowed on active routes.

The Sakhalin region is a place where poisonous plants are found: mustard gas, aconite, hogweed, hellebore, mayberry, kupena, lily of the valley, so you need to be careful and ask the guides about the poisonous properties of certain plants, herbs, berries. Mustard gas is the most dangerous plant from the above list.

You can also meet wild animals on the routes, among which the most dangerous is the owner of these places — a brown bear (a bear with cubs is especially dangerous). Therefore, you can not move away from the group and report all your excommunications to the instructors.

Reviews

P
Pavel

about provider

30 Jan, 2025

Thank you for a captivating trip to Kunashir! I got exactly what I was hoping for: stunning views, hiking, and swimming in the sea, lake, river, and thermal springs. The weather treated us to a full range of experiences, from pleasant sunshine to a storm on the way back. A huge thank you to our guide, Mikhail, for his care, patience, attentiveness, and the great atmosphere he created throughout our stay on Kunashir.
A
Andrey

about provider

29 Jan, 2025

A diverse and well-organized itinerary, knowledgeable guides, skilled drivers, and continuous support.
IP
Irina Posnikova

about provider

28 Jan, 2025

I would like to thank all the managers of the tour to Sakhalin and Iturup Island. Everything was top-notch, and the experience was amazing. If possible, please send a discount for the 5-day tour. Thank you so much.