Island Trip: Kunashir and Shikotan

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We invite you to visit and see the most famous Kuril Islands!

You will visit the Kunashir — Shikotan islands, swim in thermal springs, climb volcanoes and visit picturesque capes and coves.

You will find a boat trip between the islands, the most interesting trekking routes and, of course, gastronomic delights — you can enjoy the taste of the freshest seafood and Far Eastern delicacies.

Location

Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk

from

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

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Tour highlights

Lunch on the coast

We are waiting for a bonfire dinner — delicious fish soup

Jeep tour of Shikotan

We will visit the "Edge of the World", the filming locations of the film "Robinson Crusoe" and the lighthouse of Spanberg

Relaxation in the thermal baths

Let's relax and recuperate in the relaxing hot baths

Sea kayaking trip

We will go to Dolphin Bay, where we will take a relaxing walk surrounded by incredible landscapes

Cape Columnar

We will visit one of the most amazing and unique places on earth, where we will relax, swim in the sea and taste delicious fish soup

Itinerary

Day 1 - Departure of the ship to Yuzhno-Kurilsk
09:00 Transfer to Korsakov port. Registration on the ship.
12:00 Departure of the ship to Yuzhno-Kurilsk.
The ship leaves the port of Korsakov and follows the coastline of the Tonino-Aniva Peninsula for 4 hours. From the ship you can see the Aniva lighthouse, and during the passage through the Sea of Okhotsk you will probably see dolphins and killer whales.
Lunch and dinner on the boat in a cafe (independently).

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Day 2 - The fumarole field of the Mendeleev volcano. Thermal springs
Breakfast on the ship (on your own)
09:00 The ship's approach to the port of Yuzhno-Kurilsk.
Meeting at the port. Transfer to the hotel. We're leaving things.
Departure for the route of medium difficulty "The 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 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.

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Day 3 - 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 for 2.5 - 3 hours along the path, 7 km in one direction. The whole way is accompanied by the most 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 4 - Cape Columnar. Stolbovsky sources. The White Monks Rocks. The Sea of Okhotsk
09:00 Breakfast at the cafe.
10:00 Departure for 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.
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 5 - Golovninsky Cliff is the white cliffs of Kunashir Island. The Veslovsky Peninsula. Pacific ocean
09:00 Breakfast at the cafe.
10:00 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 the hotel in the evening.
Dinner at the cafe.

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Day 6 - Mount Doggy. Lagunnoe Lake
09:00 Breakfast at the cafe.
10:00 Departure for the route.
Today is a day without trekking, relaxing in a beautiful bay and small
walking on the mountain of the Dog and the neighboring peaks, from where you can enjoy picturesque views.
Kostrova's lunch is an ear.
Dinner at the cafe.
Day 7 - Departure of the ship to Shikotan Island
Room release.
Breakfast in the cafe.
10:00 Transfer to the port. Registration on the ship
13:00 Departure of the ship to Shikotan Island.
Lunch on the boat in a cafe (on your own).
17:00 Arrival at Shikotan Island, Malokurilskoye settlement. Meeting at the port, transfer to the hotel, accommodation.
A short trip to the surrounding area.
Supper.
Shikotan is a special place, a small Kuril island in the ocean unlike any other.
Shikotan is a poem! If the island has a soul, then it is here, among bamboo expanses, meadow terraces, juniper thickets and inaccessible rocks with edelweiss blooming on them.
There are no volcanoes, thermal springs, bears and snakes on Shikotan.
Day 8 - Jeep tour of the most iconic places of Shikotan Island with local hiking
Breakfast at the hotel.
Jeep tour of the most iconic places of Shikotan island with local hiking.
Cape Edge of the World is long (protruding into the ocean at 800 m) and the flat surface of the cape breaks off into the ocean on three sides with 40-meter walls. And you realize that you are really at the edge of the world, both literally and figuratively. There are 7,000 km of the Pacific Ocean ahead…
Bezymyannaya Bay — in these places S. Govorukhin in 1972 shot the film "Robinson Crusoe" starring Leonid Kuravlev.
Cape Crab, the Spanberg Lighthouse (1943) is the last lighthouse built by the Japanese on the Kuril Islands from the remaining large lighthouse construction program that was not implemented due to the war.
The name of the lighthouse is given in honor of the brave traveler and navigator Martin Petrovich Shpanberg, who explored the Kuril Islands.
Lunch is hot on the coast – ukha.
Return to the hotel in the evening.
Supper.

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Day 9 - Dolphin Bay. Sea kayaking trip
Breakfast at the hotel.
Departure by car to Dolphin Bay — the opposite part of the island from Malokurilskoye settlement.
Due to the fact that the bay cuts deeply into the land, the water here is calm and extremely comfortable for sea kayaking (a safe, inflatable, very comfortable vessel).
On Shikotan, there are incredibly beautiful coves with sandy beaches surrounded by steep cliffs and protruding capes, with multiple kekurs and arches.
A walk along one of them — Dolphin Bay — will give you great pleasure from the pristine splendor and endless Quiet.
Lunch on the coast.
Return to the village in the evening.
Supper.
Transfer to the port.
22:00 Departure of the ship to Sakhalin.
Day 10 - Departure of the ship to Sakhalin
Breakfast and lunch on the ship in a cafe (independently).
Meet the dawn on the deck of the ship!
Amazing views will open up to your eyes.
And you may be lucky enough to see dolphins and killer whales.
20:00 The ship's approach to the port of Korsakov.
Transfer to the hotel.

Difficulty

Involves moderate physical activity

Accommodation

Hotel

9 nights
Cabin on the boat

2 nights

Comfort

Midscale
Upscale
Premium

The tour includes accommodation in hotels.

The cost of the tour is for 1 person. for double occupancy: 144 000 rubles.

Surcharge for single accommodation throughout the tour: 13,500 rubles.

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

for a double suite in the Flagship hotel (with amenities) on Kunashir island 8,200 rubles/person/5 nights;
for a single room in Iceberg 2 (with amenities) on Kunashir Island 8,200 rubles/person/5 nights;
for a double suite in Iceberg 2 (with amenities) on Kunashir island 8,200 rubles/person/5 nights.

The hotel occupies the second floor in a 2-storey building. There are 7 rooms in total.

Shower, sauna — separately on the floor. Breakfast is served in the cafe of the village, as there is no separate restaurant.

Number of rooms:

four 2-bed rooms (sink and toilet);
two single rooms (sink and toilet);
one 3-bed suite (2-room, two 1.5-double beds in one room and a pull—out sofa in the living room, all amenities in the room).

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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 the 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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Another option

Santa Risot Hotel

The Santa Risot Hotel is located in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk at the foot of the mountain, which offers picturesque views. The hotel provides a wide range of services and entertainment so that every guest feels comfortable and can appreciate the high level of service, thanks to the highly qualified, attentive and friendly staff.

Each room is designed in a classic style that combines comfort and refined taste. It has everything you need for a comfortable stay, namely comfortable and high-quality furniture, modern appliances, a bathroom with a set of individual hygiene products and bathrobes.

The on-site restaurant prepares amazing dishes of not only national, but European and Japanese cuisines. You can also visit the bar, which offers a wide range of drinks.

The airport is 9 km from the hotel, the train station is 3 km away.

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Tour conditions

Group

up to 25 tourists

Minimum age

7 years old

Duration

10 days 9 nights

Group meets at

Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk

Included in price

transfer Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk – Korsakov port – Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk;
accommodation in Yuzhno-Kurilsk at the Flagship hotel (b/w), 2-bed accommodation;
3 meals a day on Kunashir;
accommodation in a hotel on Shikotan, 2-bed accommodation;
3 meals a day on Shikotan;
port charges;
bed linen on the ship;
kayak and equipment rental;
transportation services according to the program;
escort by instructors-guides on the routes;
a pass to the Kurilsky Nature Reserve;
border crossing to Kunashir Island and Shikotan Island.

Paid extra

flights to Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk and back;
accommodation in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk before and after the tour;
ticket for the Korsakov- Yuzhno-Kurilsk/Malokurilskoye - Korsakov motor ship, 4-bed cabin 10,800 rubles/person.;
ticket for the ship Yuzhno-Kurilsk - Malokurilskoye, 4-bed cabin 2,500 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
$1,518

20 – 29 Sep, 2025 10 days 9 nights

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Island Trip: Kunashir and Shikotan

Location

Tour highlights

Itinerary

Accommodation

Tour conditions

Included in price

Paid extra

It's important to know

Dates and Prices

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