Necklace of the Kuril Ridge: Sakhalin, Kunashir, Shikotan, Iturup

Breakfast in the hotel restaurant. 

12:00 Check-in of rooms. 

12:30 Departure to the seaport of Korsakov.

14:00 Check-in and boarding the ship.

16:00 Departure to Kunashir Island (t\x "Admiral Nevelskoy" or t/x "Pavel Leonov"). Travel time is ~22 hours.

14:00 Approach to Kunashir island. Disembarkation. 

14:30 Transfer to the hotel. Placement.

15:00 Departure to the ecological trail and the Stolbovskiye mud therapeutic thermal springs.

15:30 Arrival at the parking lot. Exit to the trail. 

The flora of the island is rich and includes species distributed from the subtropics to the northern latitudes. Along the forest path there are thick hedges of white and stone birches, gray trunks of velvet trees, mountain ash, Sakhalin fir with whitish trunks. The Ayanskaya spruce glows with blue needles up the slope. 

The gaze stops at the trunk with a red stripe drawn by a caring human hand. This is a warning: beware — magnolia! You will be lucky if you come in June, you will be able to see how it blooms and the fragrance of its large white flowers fills everything around!

Along the trail we descend to a tangle of streams of different temperatures. The water from the streams is mixed in a depression in the ground, here you can take a warm sodium chloride mineral bath. Nearby, a larger recess is filled with hot mineral mud. The place is called Stolbovsky thermal springs. 

It is necessary to soak up in the lake with thermal mud, rinse with the mineral water of the stream! All the fatigue of the past days will be removed by hand!

16:30 Rest in the springs. 

Camping snack (tea, vegetable, meat, fish, bread, cookies, apple).

17:30 Departure on the way back along the path to the motor transport.

18:30 Boarding the transport, departure to Yuzhno-Kurilsk.

19:00 Arrival in Kurilsk.

19:30 Dinner at the hotel cafe.

Important information: Driving to the exit point of the route, then walking 3 km along the path downhill.

Recommendations: on this route, it is advisable to have comfortable sneakers or trekking shoes, mosquito repellent, bathing accessories, a towel, in case of adverse weather conditions, do not forget to take a raincoat and raincoats for shoes or rubber boots.

09:00 Breakfast in the hotel cafe.

09:30 Departure for an excursion to the Caldera of the Golovnin volcano, Boiling Lake, Hot lake.

Golovnin Caldera (caldera is a cauldron—shaped depression with steep slopes and a flat bottom, formed as a result of the collapse of the top of the volcano). 

The diameter of the caldera along the ridge is more than four kilometers. One can imagine the force of the explosion that occurred here during the eruption of the volcano. 

Inside the caldera, at an altitude of 130 meters above sea level, there are two lakes: Boiling and Hot.

Jets of hydrogen sulfide and sulfur dioxide gases — solfatars, hot water emissions, thick steam and constantly changing water color create an impressive picture!

Another excursion for hiking enthusiasts (don't forget to take trekking poles)! 

A lot of emotions are waiting for you: admiration for the views, surprise at new knowledge, pleasure from swimming in the warm mud of a boiling lake, cheerfulness from the coolness of a hot lake!

10:00 Stop at the observation deck overlooking the Golovninsky cliff.

10:30 Arrival at the beginning of the trail. 

Exit to the caldera on foot.

During the crossing, stop at the observation deck overlooking the caldera and the Japanese coast across the strait! 

Don't forget to turn off the mobile transmission on your smartphone — you may receive a substantial bill for using the mobile Internet in Japan.

13:00 Arrival at the cordon of the reserve. 

Camping snack (tea from a thermos, vegetable, meat, fish cuts, bread, cookies, apple). 

14:00 Exit to the lakes in the caldera.

Visual inspection. Ascent to the observation deck. 

Passage along the "hot" trail of the Boiling Lake.

15:00 Reception of mud baths in the Boiling lake. 

Swimming in the Hot lake.

16:00 Departure on the way back to the parking lot. 

18:00 Departure to Yuzhno-Kurilsk.

19:00 Return to the hotel.

20:00 Dinner at the hotel cafe.

Attention! In the area of the fumarole zone on the lake. When boiling, precautions must be taken, it is necessary to step in the wake of the accompanying person — you can fall into hot mud, get chemical burns. You can swim and take mud baths only in certain places. 

Important information: from Yuzhno-Kurilsk to the reserve, we travel by car, then follow on foot to the caldera of the Golovnin volcano. The total duration of the walking trip is ~ 16 km (round trip).

Recommendations: on this route, it is advisable to have comfortable sneakers or trekking shoes, mosquito repellent, bathing accessories, a towel, in case of adverse weather conditions, do not forget to take a raincoat and raincoats for shoes.

09:00 Breakfast in the cafe of the Iceberg hotel.

10:00 Departure for the tour: fumarole field of the Mendeleev volcano. 

An active volcano in the southern part of Kunashir Island. It was named in honor of the outstanding Russian chemist D. I. Mendeleev in 1946. 

A complex stratovolcano with a central extrusive dome. The height is 886 m (according to other sources — 888 m). 

The cone of the volcano is surrounded by a vast caldera, which was formed as a result of the destruction of the cone of an older volcano. Steam-gas emissions and increased fumarole activity in 1880, 1901, 1946, 1977. 

There are many fumaroles and hot springs on the slopes of the volcano, the surface of the slopes is covered with coniferous-deciduous forests with dense undergrowth of Kuril bamboo and cedar elfin. 

The status of a state monument of nature was assigned to it in 1983.

10:30 Arrival at the beginning of the trail. Exit to the fumarole field on foot.

Despite the difficulty in climbing the field, the path leading to it is very interesting:

• We walk among the thickets of tall bamboo, taller than a man;
• we climb steep, protracted ascents, as if on steps, walking along the roots of trees;
• we cross the murmuring streams over a thrown log;
• we will stop, and our guide will point out the insidious mustard gas (a very poisonous plant!), offer to admire the beauty and majesty of the Ayan fir tree;
• let's go down into the ravine, and we will move from one side to the other, gradually rising to the goal of our excursion: a spacious field on which big and small fumaroles "breathe" in pairs here and there!

12:00 Arrival at the fumarole field. 

 Visual inspection. A walk through the field. PHOTOSESSION. 

13:00 Bathing in the thermal stream of the Mendeleevo volcano.

14:00 Camping snack (tea brewed in nature, vegetable, meat, fish, bread, cookies, apple). 

15:00 Departure on the way back to the parking lot. 

16:30 Departure to the coast.

17:00 Walk along the coast, sightseeing of the coast, kekura Devil's finger and Devil's Gate.

18:30 Return to the hotel.

19:00 Dinner at the hotel cafe.

Attention! In the area of the fumarole field, precautions must be taken, be sure to follow the instructions of the attendant — you can fall into the fumarole, get chemical burns. 

Important information: The route is of medium difficulty: 17 km by road from Yuzhno-Kurilsk, 3 km from the road to the fumarole field over rough terrain, mostly climbing (one way). The duration of the tour is 6-7 hours. 

Recommendations: on this route, it is advisable to have comfortable sneakers or trekking shoes, mosquito repellent, bathing accessories, towel, cotton gloves, in adverse weather conditions, do not forget to take a raincoat and raincoats for shoes or rubber boots.

09:00 Breakfast in the hotel cafe.

10:00 Departure to Cape Columnar.

Cape Columnar is a unique place where the natural paving stones of the "Red Square" are replaced by views of stone pencils weighing 40 tons and deep—sea fjords. 

The bizarre rocks in which you hear the sound of organ music are true thousand-year-old monuments.

After all, they were the first areas of the earth that appeared from the depths of the ocean, and were preserved almost in their original form until our era. 

Dear ladies, do not forget to take your favorite dress with you and have an amazing photo shoot among the stunning views of Cape Columnar!

13:00 Lunch of fresh Kuril delicacies by the sea.

Relaxing by the sea. Those who wish can swim!

Boarding vehicles. Transfer to the port.

Exit from Yuzhno-Kurilsk on a flatbed.

The approach to Shikotan Island. Disembarkation. 

Transfer to the hotel.

Accommodation at the hotel.

Dinner at the hotel.

Important information: Driving to the exit point of the route, then walking along the seashore for about 40 minutes to Cape Columnar in one direction.

Recommendations: on this route, it is advisable to have comfortable sneakers or trekking shoes, rubber slippers for walking on a rocky bottom in water, mosquito repellent, bathing accessories, a towel, in adverse weather conditions, do not forget to take a raincoat and raincoats for shoes or rubber boots.

Attention! When approaching the island of Shikotan, prepare documents in advance for disembarkation from the ship: a passport and documents allowing you to stay in the border zone (a pass or a contract).

09:00 Breakfast in the hotel cafe.

Departure to Snezhkov Bay.

Shikotan Island is an ideal place for lovers of hiking tours!

Snezhkov Bay is located far from highways. To see the beauty of the bay, you need to walk about two hours in one direction.

But the path itself leading to the sea is beautiful with the views. A stone-birch stunted forest with intricately curved tree branches. An open hilly landscape, seemingly plush because of the green-yellow stunted bamboo.

Islets of juniper thickets: you just want to lie down in the very middle and breathe in plenty of useful aromas. So imperceptibly we will reach the top of the hill, from which a breathtaking panorama will open, covering the entire south-eastern coast of the island!

You cannot do without an escort: you will not turn off the path, and you will find out that that shrub in the form of a Christmas tree is a juniper (not every city dweller knows this), and will tell you which hill a miracle awaits us.

13:00 Hiking lunch (lunch box) in the bay. 

18:00 Return to the village.

Excursion to the Fault. 

A crevice with ragged edges and a narrow entrance, formed here in a matter of seconds during an earthquake in 1994, cuts through the slope of the hill. 

The length of the shovel is about 200 m, the depth is up to 10-15 m. The width is about the same. 

At the bottom of the fault are well-established pillars of flagstone, forming a fantastic landscape attractive to any tourist group coming to the island. 

An interesting tragic story. How many stories this island knows. The guide will tell us all which ones he knows.

20:00 Dinner at the hotel cafe.

Important information: The route starts from the village of Krabozavodskoye, it is difficult because of the hilly terrain. The distance there and back is 14-15 km. 

The travel time there is ~ 2-2.40, back up to 3 hours.

It will be much easier to walk along the trail with trekking poles.

Recommendations: on this route, it is advisable to have comfortable sneakers or trekking shoes, mosquito repellent, in adverse weather conditions, do not forget to take a raincoat and raincoats for shoes or rubber boots.

09:00 Breakfast in the hotel cafe. 

10:00 Departure to Cape World's Edge. 

Perhaps the most popular place on the island of Shikotan. 

It is a rocky outcrop extending far into the sea and ending in 40-meter walls. 

When you get here, the meaning of the name immediately becomes clear. A breathtaking view of the vast expanses of the Pacific Ocean opens from above, and the thought involuntarily comes that you are really at the edge of the earth!

At a distance of just over 1 km southeast of the legendary Cape World's End is Cape Crab, which got its name because of its external similarity to the arthropod of the same name. 

In September 1943, the Spanberg Lighthouse was built on this cape, named after the captain who discovered more than three dozen islands of the Kuril Ridge in the 18th century, including Shikotan. 

It became the last lighthouse built by the Japanese on the Kuril Islands.

14:00 Camping lunch (lunch box) in the bay. 

Not far from the cape "Edge of the world" there is an Unnamed bay. 

According to many eyewitnesses, this bay is the most beautiful natural place on the island because of the scattering of islets located inside the bay. 

It was there, in 1972, that the film "The Life and Adventures of Robinson Crusoe" starring Leonid Kuravlev was filmed. In the bay you will see the most famous log, which was cut by Robinson Crusoe. 

Our escorts will show you the most successful angles for creating photos!

19:00 Dinner at the hotel cafe.

The distance of about 24 km there and back is covered by transport, the transition between the bays up to 4 km is planned on foot. The duration of the tour is 6-7 hours. 

Recommendations: on this route, it is advisable to have comfortable sneakers or trekking shoes, who uses trekking poles, mosquito repellent, in adverse weather conditions, do not forget to take a raincoat, put on waterproof shoes.

07:30 Breakfast in the hotel cafe. 

08:00 Room check-in. Check out of the hotel.

08:00 Excursion to Mount Shikotan. 

The highest mountain on the island of Shikotan is 412 meters. 

It is located near the village of Malokurilskoye. 

At the time of Karafuto, a Japanese sea observation post was located on the mountain, and later, during the Soviet era, military locators were abandoned at the present time. 

Most of the island is visible from the mountain. A fault is clearly visible at the foot of the mountain. In clear weather, the islands of Kunashir and Iturup are visible. 

11:00 Transfer to the port.

11:15 Boarding the ship.

13:00 Departure to Iturup Island (t\x "Igor Farkhutdinov"), travel time ~ 20 hours.

Important information:

• meals on the ship are paid additionally;
• stock up on drinking water and snacks for the trip. Drinks can be purchased on the ship, but much more expensive;
• payment by card on the ship is accepted, but the connection may "hang up", so always have cash with you.

09:00 Arrival at the island. Iturup. 

Disembarkation. Transfer to the cafe for breakfast.

10:00 Breakfast in the cafe.

10:45 Transfer to the Museum of Local Lore.

11:00 By tradition, we begin our acquaintance with the island at the Museum of local lore, where you will be met by professionals who love their region and know the history of the island. Iturup people.

12:00 Departure towards the Pacific Ocean, to Kasatka Bay.

The first stop is at the observation deck near the Kuibyshevka River: inspection of the quarry, military equipment. Next, let's stop at the "mirror" beach, which looks like an endless sea mirror. A stranded fishing vessel, the most popular photo object among the guests of the island.

14:00 We will definitely drive to the Devil's rock.

At one time, the Japanese punched tunnels in it for through passage for military purposes, which have survived to the present day. 

You will walk (somewhere you will crawl) through the places of military operations, you will see the site of the former "hospital", the so-called laboratory where the Japanese worked on the development of bacteriological weapons. 

In good weather, those who wish to swim in the Pacific Ocean.

15:30 Lunch on the shore of the Pacific Ocean (Iturup fish soup, tea, sliced fish, vegetables, cheese).

16:30 Rest on the shore.

17:30 Transfer to the thermal springs.

19:00 Visit to the thermal springs "Baths" (Rybaki village). 

20:30 Transfer to the hotel.

Dinner in a cafe in the city.

Recommendations: 

• To visit the thermal springs, take bathing accessories, rubber slippers, sheets (you can take them at the hotel reception). 
• In case of adverse weather conditions, do not forget to take a raincoat and rubber boots.

09:00 Breakfast in the cafe of the Iturup hotel.

10:00 Transfer to Olya Bay (village of Reidovo). 

Boarding boats for a boat trip.

11:00 Boat trip along the coast of the Sea of Okhotsk to the beach with White cliffs. 

The length of the rocks is about 28 km. They consist of porous volcanic glass and pumice, frozen as a result of a colossal eruption of a red-hot gas cloud. 

The sand of the beach consists of white quartz and black titanium-magnetite sand. Due to the mixture of these two sands, an extremely beautiful gray-graphite sandy beach is formed.

13:00 The first bay of our excursion is Sailing. We are disembarking.

In the depths of the bay, in a picturesque canyon, there is a waterfall "Maiden braids" with a height of 10 m. 

Disembarkation in the area of a beautiful lake Sopochnoe (disembarkation is impossible at high waves, in this case a boat trip along the coast).

The individuality of the lake is in its horseshoe shape and incredibly beautiful landscapes, stunning in any weather.

14:00 Disembarkation on the beach with White cliffs. 

A walk through the canyon. 

Departure by boat to the Black Stones.

15:00 Lunch on the seashore near the Black stones (Iturup fish soup, tea, sliced fish, vegetables).

16:30 Boarding the ground transport. Departure to the thermal springs. 

17:00 After a boat trip, you will enjoy a rest in the thermal springs "Hot Waters" (1 hour).

18:30 Return to the hotel. 

Dinner (on your own).

Recommendations: on this route, on the way by boat by sea, there is a chance to get wet, do not forget to take a raincoat, you can wear ordinary shoes, high rubber boots (they will be given before going on a boat trip), a hat, gloves, bathing accessories, sheets (you can take them at the hotel reception).

Attention! In case of bad weather conditions and inability to go to sea, the boat trip will be replaced by an auto tour.

09:00 Breakfast in the restaurant of the Iturup hotel.

10:00 Departure to the Baransky volcano by car (duration 5 hours).

Baransky Volcano (height 1132 meters) is one of the most accessible active volcanoes on Iturup Island with hot lakes of unusual turquoise color, fumaroles, mineral streams and healing springs. 

We will enjoy the beauty and relaxation in the thermal baths, taste eggs with caviar boiled directly in volcanic water.

10:30 Visit to the observation deck.

10:45 Visit to the mud kettle field. 

We cook eggs in a thermal stream and taste them with caviar.

12:45 Departure to the complex with thermal springs.

13:00 Arrival at the thermal complex. 

A walk along the ecological trail to the turquoise lakes. 

PHOTOSESSION. 

14:00 Return to the thermal complex.

Camping snack (tea, coffee, sliced fish, cheese).

15:00 Swimming in thermal springs. Rest.

17:00 Transfer to Kurilsk. 

18:00 Arrival in Kurilsk.

Dinner (on your own).

Attention! In the area of fumarole fields, precautions must be taken — you can fall into hot mud, in the area of mineral springs — get chemical burns. You can swim only in springs with a certain water temperature. 

Recommendations: on this route, it is advisable to have bathing accessories, rubber slippers, sheets (you can take them at the hotel reception). The tour takes place by car.

09:00 Breakfast in the cafe of the Iturup hotel. Check-in rooms.

11:00 Departure for an excursion to the foot of the Bogdan Khmelnitsky volcano in Yankito, which is a plateau of frozen lava flows of bizarre shape. 

Beautiful landscapes that open from any point of view. Bright, spectacular photos, unique impressions! 

Dear ladies, feel like a fashion model, take your favorite dress with you and have an amazing photo shoot among the frozen lava flows!

13:30 Stop at the observation deck in the village. Whale.

Transfer to the airport.

Check-in for the flight.

Departure from Kurilsk.

Arrival in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk. 

Meeting. Transfer to the hotel. Placement. Free time.

Recommendations: in case of adverse weather conditions, do not forget to take a raincoat, raincoats for shoes or rubber boots.

05:45 Car pickup at the hotel, departure to the place of the general gathering of the group at the Aniva lighthouse.

Important! The night before, order your breakfast with you at the hotel reception.

06:00 Departure from Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk to Novikovo village.

08:30 Arrival in the village. Novikovo. Briefing, preparation for going to sea.

09:00 Departure from Novikovo village on PVC motorboats.

11:00 Arrival at Aniva Lighthouse.

The Aniva Lighthouse (yap. Naka — Siretokomisaki) was established in 1939 on a small Sea Lion rock, near the inaccessible rocky cape Aniva. 

It is not only the most original and complex technical project of the Karafuto period, but also an outstanding world achievement in the practice of lighthouse construction at that time. 

The need to build a lighthouse was due to unpredictable treacherous currents, mixing the waters of the Sea of Okhotsk and the Bay of Aniva, frequent fogs and rocky banks.

12:00 Transfer to Cape Marble. 

During sea crossings, we can meet sea lions, seals, dolphins and killer whales.

13:00 Arrival at Cape Marble. A walk, a photo shoot.

13:30 Departure to the village. Novikovo.

14:30 Arrival in the village. Novikovo. Preparation for departure to the village of Muravyovo (laguna Busse).

14:45 Transfer to Busse Lagoon.

15:15 Stay on the lagoon coast. 

A master class on opening oysters. PHOTOSESSION.

Lunch of freshly caught seafood and wild oysters. There will be a lot of oysters!

You will have an exciting journey to a unique "restaurant" of seafood cuisine with tasting of wild oysters, completely unique in their taste qualities, which you can try only on Sakhalin.

On the menu: ½ glass of wine, fresh scallop, red caviar, sliced fish, wild oysters with lemon and branded oyster sauce, baked oysters with cheese and garlic, Sakhalin Childhood dish (seasonal fish baked in burdock leaves), Sakhalin ear, fresh vegetables, fruit drink, tea/Coffee.

18:00 Transfer from Busse Lagoon to Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk.

20:00 The end of the excursion to Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk. 

Return to the hotel or to the gathering place.

Dinner on your own.

Attention! While on board a swimming vehicle, you must adhere to generally accepted norms of behavior, not create dangerous or threatening situations. A life jacket must be worn, if you are seasick, you must take a medication for motion sickness. During excursions, take care of cultural and historical monuments, as well as take care of nature.

A boat trip depends entirely on the mercy of the sea. In case of bad weather conditions and inability to go to sea, the boat trip will be canceled or replaced with an auto tour to Cape Evstafia.

Recommendations:

• Aniva Lighthouse — on this route, on the way by boat by sea, do not forget to take a raincoat, hat, cotton gloves.
• Lunch with oysters: take your favorite wine with you. Dry white wine, prosecco and brut go well with oysters.

07:00 Breakfast in the hotel restaurant or cafe (if breakfast is included in the room rate). 

Transfer to the airport with the possibility to stop by (by prior arrangement) to the fish market. 

Check-in time is until 12:00 (late check-out is possible with an additional 50%/room/day).