Visit the southernmost island of the Bolshoy Kuril Ridge to see real natural wonders: bizarre cliffs, thermal lakes, majestic volcanoes and the Sea of Okhotsk.
This trip is a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in the atmosphere of pristine nature and discover one of the most unusual places in our country!
You will see a steaming fumarole field and picturesque lakes.
Boat trip
Take an exciting journey through the waters of the Sea of Okhotsk
Amazing Cape Columnar
Explore the impressive volcanic rocks
Itinerary
Day 1 -
Departure to Kunashir
Gathering of travelers at 08:40 on the porch of the Gagarin Hotel (133 Komsomolskaya St.).
09:00 Transfer to Korsakov seaport.
10:00 Registration on the ship.
12:00 Departure of the ship to the Southern Kuril Islands.
Lunch, as well as dinner on the ship (independently).
Flocks of dolphins accompany the ship all the way to the islands. Sometimes you can see killer whales and even whales.
Important! Please note that tickets for the ship are issued according to the quota (block system). The tour operator does not select seats or assign passengers to cabins. If you are traveling with a company, the carrier does not guarantee accommodation in one cabin.
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Day 2 -
Arrival on Kunashir. Pervukhin Bay
Breakfast on the boat on your own.
10:00 Arrival of the ship at the port.
Check-in at the hotel (upon release and cleaning of rooms).
12:00 Visit to the local history Museum.
After the tour, departure to one of the most picturesque bays of the island – Pervukhina Bay. Many travelers call it a piece of Ireland on Kunashir. Hills covered with lush greenery, crystal clear water and a pebble beach.
There is another attraction in this place – the Dog's Head Mountain. It is a large kekur, covered with perennial grasses, which has not yet separated from the island, and resembles the head of a spaniel in shape.
During the time of Japanese rule, there was a Japanese temple on the mountain. Right now, a trail built by the military leads up the mountain.
Come upstairs. It offers incredible views of the bay surroundings.
Lunch on the shore.
After lunch, visit the Devil's Finger and Devil's Gate Kekura, as well as the old lighthouse on the South Kuril Cape.
Return to the hotel in the evening.
Dinner at the hotel cafe.
Day 3 -
The fumarole field of the Mendeleev volcano. Cascade of waterfalls of the Sour stream
08:00 Breakfast in the hotel cafe.
09:00 Departure for the route "The Great fumarole field of the Mendeleev volcano".
By public transport up to 17 km, then 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 the 17th kilometer. Then drive to the cascade of small waterfalls of the Sour stream.
The stream descends down the slopes of the Mendeleev volcano, forming small cascades. The water in the stream is at a pleasant temperature. If desired, you can swim.
Return to Yuzhno-Kurilsk in the evening.
Dinner at the hotel cafe.
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Day 4 -
Golovninsky cliff and Golovnina volcano caldera
In the south of Kunashir Island is the caldera of Golovnin volcano, the southernmost volcano of the Kuril Ridge. This is an active volcano, the last eruption of which occurred already in historical times — around 1848. After a powerful eruption, the volcano exploded, forming a huge caldera, which eventually filled with water and formed two incredible lakes.
08:00 Breakfast in the hotel cafe.
09:00 Departure for the route to the Veslovsky Peninsula.
The first stop is at the observation deck, which offers a fascinating panoramic view.
Then a trip to Golovninsky cliff. Amazing sheer cliffs, black volcanic sand and hundreds of shells.
Departure to the hiking route of medium difficulty "Volcano Golovnina. Boiling and Hot lakes", 2.5–3 hours walk along a dirt road, 7 km in one direction.
The entire journey is accompanied by beautiful cedar elderberry fields.
The parking time in the caldera is about 2 hours.
Lunch (lunch box).
The volcano is a caldera about 4 km in diameter, surrounded by a ridge (541 m). There are four small domes and two crater lakes at the bottom of the caldera, Boiling and Hot.
The Golovnin volcano caldera is unique in its volcanic activity. A jet of superheated steam and boiling water can suddenly strike from the bottom of a Boiling Lake — an incredible sight! One of the solfatarny fields of Goryachy Lake once spewed out a stream of liquid sulfur, which poured into the lake and froze there with a bizarre tongue.
Bathing in hot springs.
Return to the hotel in the evening.
Dinner at the cafe.
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Day 5 -
Cape Columnar
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, "Whoever has not seen Cape Columnar has not seen Kunashir."
09:00 Breakfast at the cafe.
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 (lunch box, tea).
Swimming is possible in good weather.
Return to the hotel in the evening.
Dinner at the hotel cafe.
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Day 6 -
Departure to Sakhalin
Breakfast.
Transfer to the port of Yuzhno-Kurilsk.
Check-in and boarding the ship.
Departure to Sakhalin at 14:00. The ship goes to Sakhalin via the island of Shikotan.
Meals on the ship are self–catering.
Day 7 -
Arrival to Sakhalin
Arrival at the port of Korsakov at 20:00.
Transfer to Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk (to the meeting place of the group).
The end of the tour.
Difficulty
Involves moderate physical activity
Tour organizer's comments
The tour includes hiking.
Accommodation
Accommodation
Hotel
4 nights
Cabin on the boat
2 nights
Comfort
Midscale
The tour provides double accommodation in a Yuzhno-Kurilsk hotel and in the cabin of the ship (according to the tickets purchased).
The cost of the tour for double occupancy is 125,200 rubles/person.
The surcharge for single occupancy is 15,500 rubles/person.
Hotel in Yuzhno-Kurilsk 4 nights
Yuzhno-Kurilsk is a small village with a very limited number of rooms.
Accommodation in the hotels of the Municipal Unitary Enterprise "Doker" ("House of Friendship", "Breeze", "Representative Center"), as well as in a guest house near the coast and the Iceberg Hotel.
According to the availability of seats on the selected date.
Not all hotels have room facilities, but they are shared by several rooms.
The cabin of the ship 2 nights
Accommodation in a four-person cabin with amenities.
Tour conditions
Group
From 6 to 17 tourists
Minimum age
6 years old
Duration
7 days 6 nights
Group meets at
Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk
Included in price
transfers according to the program;
services of tour guides;
hotel accommodation in Yuzhno-Kurilsk;
meals specified in the program;
transportation services on the routes;
accompanied by instructors and guides (on Kunashir Island);
registration of a border permit.
Paid extra
flights to Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk;
transfer from Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk airport and to the airport;
meals on the ship;
accommodation in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk;
ticket for the ship on the route: Korsakov — Yuzhno-Kurilsk — Korsakov (4-bed cabin of the second category with amenities) — 19,600 rubles/person. In case of a price change, the difference is paid additionally.
It's important to know
Personal equipment you need for the tour
headdress;
sports sandals;
comfortable sports sandals in which you can walk on water and rocks;
trekking shoes with fluted soles, as well as replaceable dry shoes;
trekking poles;
towel;
sunscreen (SPF) of at least 30 units;
backpack;
a small backpack for day trips (hands should be free!);
windbreaker;
comfortable wind- and moisture-proof jacket;
bathing accessories;
mosquito and tick repellents;
gloves;
long sleeve shirt or sweatshirt;
individual first aid kit;
personal hygiene items.
Are plane tickets included in the price of the tour?
Air tickets are not included in the price of the tour. You can purchase them yourself or contact us for help.
What documents are required to obtain a pass to the Kuril Islands?
The following documents are required to obtain a pass to the islands:
For adults, a passport is required (the first page and the registration page). Both pages must be fully spread, without foreign objects, glare, etc.;
for children, a birth certificate and a certificate from the housing Department of registration at the place of residence are required.
How is the catering organized on the ship?
Meals on the boat are not included in the price of the tour. There is a cafe on all ships to the Kuril Islands, the food there is very modest, it is better to take it on board.
Is insurance included in the price of the tour?
Insurance is not included in the tour program. You can purchase additional travel insurance on the website of a Large Country without commission directly from insurance companies.
What else is important to know?
Please note that tickets for the ship are issued according to the quota (block system). The tour operator does not select seats or assign passengers to cabins. If you are traveling with a company, the carrier does not guarantee accommodation in one cabin.
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.
Many thanks to the tour providers, and special thanks to our guide Mikhail for creating such a wonderful experience and atmosphere. Kunashir is magical ❤️
AK
Andrei Konovalikov
about provider
7 Aug, 2025
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one downside was that the voucher with the contact details of the local host was only sent a few hours before the tour started, and that was after multiple requests. On my previous trip (the 2023 Baikal Tour), I received the voucher two days before the tour began.
Big Country Travel
Hello Andrei,
Thank you for your feedback, we’re glad to hear that you enjoyed the trip overall! We apologize for the inconvenience caused by the delay in sending the documents and will definitely address this issue.
We hope that despite this, you’ll consider booking with us again for your next trip to Russia!
Our Chinese department: 
