Reboot on Iturup

In the morning we head to one of the most mystical places on the island – the Frog outlier, located near Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk. Among the ancient Ainu, this place was revered as a temple of wisdom. The frog is not just a beautiful rock, but an ancient place of power. From the top there are magnificent views of the surrounding area.

There is a real rock garden here where you can build your pyramid of luck, a stone of questions and answers, a stone of wish fulfillment. At the top of the cliff, you will receive answers to long-standing questions, you will be able to make wishes or be inspired by a new idea.

At the foot of the Frog flows the Komissarovka River (Ayichka), whose water has medicinal properties. Bathing in the river is one of the obligatory rituals before climbing the mountain. 

After the Frog hike, we will have a small picnic and a master class of cooking fish in Sakhalin style with baking it in a large burdock leaf.

After lunch, we take the ferry, where a cruise to Iturup Island awaits us. During the cruise, we will have a good chance to meet flocks of dolphins, killer whales and whales. We will pass by the Aniva Lighthouse, beautifully illuminated by the setting sun, and go out into the Sea of Okhotsk, where we will meet the sunset far from the shores.

We will be met at the port of Iturup by a team of guides, and we will go to see the Yankito lava plateau, located on the slope of the active volcano Bogdan Khmelnitsky. The confusing and chaotic piles of lava rocks formed after the eruption of the volcano, when hot lava flows collided with the cold water of the Sea of Okhotsk.

The plateau is located very close to the city of Kurilsk, and you can go there on foot, but we will drive by car. Beautiful landscapes, views of the Sea of Okhotsk and the Bogdan Khmelnitsky volcano will not leave you indifferent. The Yankito Plateau is especially beautiful in the setting sun. Those who wish can stay here longer.

After the plateau, we will visit the picturesque observation deck on Olya Bay.

In the evening we check into the guest house.

Today we have a jeep tour through very difficult terrain, replete with obstacles. Let's look at the skill of our drivers.

The White Cliffs are one of the most famous attractions of Iturup, but besides the White Cliffs themselves there are many more things to see in the surrounding area. If the weather does not mind, we will try to show the maximum. The peculiarity of this place is that travel is possible only at low tide and in relatively good weather, since we will have to ford two rivers in jeeps.

The white rocks consist of soft white pumice stone – the consequences of the eruption of the Baransky volcano. The soft pumice stone is gradually washed out and mixed with the black volcanic sand of the coast, forming bizarre patterns on the sand. The top of the white rocks is topped with green grass caps. The white cliffs stretch for 28 km along the shore of the Prostor Bay. 

On the way to the rocks, we will stop at the "Black Rocks" – a small rocky massif on the seashore of columnar formations of hexagonal shape. We will show you the area with the best preserved columns, where there are few tourists.

Lunch on the shore of the Sea of Okhotsk, rest, swimming.

After lunch, we will visit the wall of the Crying Rocks waterfalls, where dozens of small waterfalls flow down a stone wall overgrown with green moss.

In the evening, optional bathing in the thermal complex "Hot waters" in the village of Reidovo.

Today we will spend the whole day on the most famous volcano of Iturup – Baransky volcano. On the way to the volcano, we will make a stop at the beautiful Goryachevodsky pass with picturesque views of the surrounding area.

A geothermal power plant has been built at the foot of the volcano. Off the road, among the bamboo thickets, there are two beautiful miniature turquoise lakes with very hot, scalding water. They are called "Blue Eyes", "Blue Eye" or "Emerald Eye". A Boiling river flows out of these lakes, the water in which cools down only after a few kilometers. If you walk further along the river, you can reach a high waterfall of scalding hot water.

In the area of the volcano, we will see small mud geysers and fumaroles. There are several bathing areas in the vicinity – both luxurious equipped multi-level terraces with places to relax and change clothes (bathing is optional), and wild baths in streams.

In one of the streams, we cook eggs and taste them with red caviar, washed down with champagne.

If desired, it is possible to climb to the top of the volcano. Climbing to the top is difficult and requires good physical shape. We will be accompanied by rangers. We will walk along a barely visible narrow path with steep ledges and crumbling slopes. The trail is unequipped and very rarely used. From the top of the volcano there are magnificent views of Iturup.

Early in the morning we leave for the other side of the island, to the coast of the Pacific Ocean, to the Bay of Kasatka. It was from here in 1941 that the Japanese aircraft carrier fleet headed for the Hawaiian Islands to attack Pearl Harbor. It is no coincidence that the Japanese chose this place to form a squadron, because this bay is well hidden from prying eyes. The Japanese called this bay Hitokappu. 

There are two roads leading here – a broken military road through the surrounding hills and a second straight through the black volcanic sand of the bay. That's where we're going. Due to the thin layer of water remaining on the sand at low tide, the sky is perfectly reflected here, and therefore this place is called the Mirror Beach. 

On the beach, we will drive past a local landmark – a tugboat, half covered with sand. We are interested in the tugboat not only for its picturesque view, but also for the pictures that open from the top of its cabin.

The Japanese stay in the bay is reminiscent of a complex of underground tunnels cut in one of the most mysterious places on the Kuril Islands – Mount Chertovka. The rock is riddled with many galleries, many of which are still not fully explored. We will go through all the tunnels and exit from the other side of the mountain, looking at several picturesque coves along the way.

Lunch on the shore of the Pacific Ocean, swimming in the ocean, rest. 

After lunch, we will take you to a little-known location on the coast of the Sea of Okhotsk.

In the evening, optional bathing in the thermal complex "Baths".

We recommend to meet the dawn on the shore of the Sea of Okhotsk and begin to prepare for departure.

At lunch we have a departure to Sakhalin. In good weather, from the ferry we will have magnificent views of the Chirip and Bogdan Khmelnitsky volcanoes, as well as the village of Kitovoe, where the port is located. We will try to see the lava fields of Yankito from the water.

In the morning we meet the most beautiful sea dawn, and after lunch we go to Lake Busse, where the most delicious tour on Sakhalin awaits us.

Lake Busse is located on the shore of the Aniva Bay and is connected to the sea by a narrow but deep enough channel, so the lake has salt water. The unique microclimate and the absence of predators have led to the fact that many marine life live in the lake – oysters, scallops, sea urchins, crabs and many other tasty and nutritious animals.

We will take you to an oyster jar, and you will see how giant Sakhalin oysters live in their natural environment. Then, with your own hands (if you want, of course), catch yourself everything you want. We will show you the places allowed for fishing, since it is possible to collect local tasty animals only in strictly defined places and certain species.

Your catch will be immediately prepared by our chef. Some types can be eaten raw, and it is very tasty. 

Today we are visiting the visiting card of Sakhalin Island – Aniva Lighthouse. The image of the lighthouse is decorated with many souvenirs, and its unique shape is easily recognizable at first glance.

The lighthouse can only be reached by sea, so we reach the village of Novikovo and transfer to boats that will take us to the very edge of the Tonino-Aniva Peninsula, to Cape Aniva. We will drive and see the lighthouse first from the outside, and then we will disembark and walk along the Sea Lion rock on which the lighthouse stands, go inside and climb the stairs.

Weather permitting, on the way we will make stops at Cape Marble with excellent views of the picturesque Cape White Stone.

Today we will also have a delicious seafood lunch.

Today is the day of departure. We will not only take you to the airport for the departure of the plane, but also help you buy Sakhalin souvenirs and delicacies.

Tell us about your preferences and we will take you to the best places.