Big Country Travel: Trips to Russia, Adventure Tours & Vacation Packages

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We invite you to travel to the southernmost island of the Great Kuril Ridge — Kunashir. Here the earth breathes hot steam, the foothills of volcanoes are lined with bamboo, there are boiling fountains and proud cliffs open to all winds.

You will also be able to get acquainted with the modern and beautiful Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, collect amber, walk along the coast of the Sea of Okhotsk and admire the giant kekurs, grottoes and bird bazaars

Location

Russia, Sakhalin region, Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk

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

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Tour highlights

Towards volcanoes

Visit the fumarole field of the Mendeleev volcano and the Golovnin volcano caldera

Local delicacies

Enjoy Sakhalin fish soup with red fish, Far Eastern delicacies and caviar

Cape Columnar

You will see basalt lava frozen in the form of 5-6-faceted columns

Japanese Torii Gate

Take memorable photos at the gates of the Karafuto governorship period

Relaxation in the thermal springs

Swim in the wild springs of the volcano and Lake Goryachy

Incredible landscapes

Admire the fields of cedar elfin and Kuril bamboo and picturesque lagoons

Itinerary

Day 1 - Sightseeing tour of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk. Lunch at a Japanese restaurant
Arrival in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk.
Meeting at the airport. Transfer to the hotel, we leave our things.
Check-in at the hotel at 14:00, early check-in is booked and paid in advance if necessary.
Welcome lunch at a Japanese restaurant.
Sightseeing bus tour of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, the capital of the Sakhalin region. A modern, beautiful city with a history.
A visit to the viewport at the Mountain Air ski complex, which offers a magnificent view of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, located in a valley surrounded by hills and ridges.
Return to the hotel.
Dinner (on your own).
Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk has many authentic cozy restaurants with Japanese, Korean, Chinese and European cuisine.

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Day 2 - The bay Is Quiet. The Island Is Noticeable. The eastern coast of the Sea of Okhotsk
08:00 Breakfast in the hotel restaurant.
09:00 Departure from Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk by bus. Travel time with stops is about 3 hours, 135 km, paved federal highway.
On the way, we will stop at the amber coast and collect amber, watch the seals resting on the rocks.
We will visit the Japanese Torii gates of the Karafuto governorship period, which were installed in front of Shinto temples.
An intermediate stop in the fishermen's village of the Seaside, where you can buy freshly boiled crabs and taste them during lunch.
In the bay there is a quiet walk along the coast, after which you will have a hot gastronomic lunch — delicious Sakhalin fish soup with red fish, Far Eastern delicacies, caviar, herbal tea, Sakhalin sweets.
19:00 Return to the hotel.
Dinner (on your own).

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Day 3 - Departure by boat to Kunashir
08:00 Breakfast in the hotel restaurant.
09:00 Transfer to Korsakov port. Registration on the ship.
12:00 Departure of the ship to Kunashir.
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. And, of course, incredible ocean sunrises and sunsets.
Lunch and dinner on the boat in a cafe (independently).

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Day 4 - Arrival on Kunashir. The fumarole field of the Mendeleev volcano. Thermal springs
Breakfast on the boat in a cafe (on your own)
The ship's approach to Yuzhno-Kurilsk, Kunashir Island.
Meeting at the seaport, transfer to the hotel.
Route: The fumarole field of the Mendeleev volcano. Thermal springs of the Mendeleev volcano
09:00 Breakfast at the cafe.
10:00 Departure for the route of medium difficulty "Large fumarole field of the Mendeleev volcano".
By car for 30 minutes, then trekking 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 5 - 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."
40 minutes by car, then trekking 2.5–3 hours along the path, 7 km in one direction.
The whole way is accompanied by 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 maximum height of 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 6 - Cape Columnar. Stolbovsky sources. The White Monks Rocks. The Sea of Okhotsk
Room release.
09:00 Breakfast at the cafe.
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 5-6-sided 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 village.
Supper.

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Day 7 - Golovninsky Cliff is the white cliffs of Kunashir Island. 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 founding 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, rest.
Lunch by the ocean.
Return to the hotel in the evening.
Dinner at the cafe.

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Day 8 - The Museum of Local Lore. Flight to Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk
Room release.
Breakfast in the cafe.
Excursion to the Museum of local lore.
Transfer to the airport.
Departure to Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk.
Meeting at the airport and transfer to the hotel.
Day 9 - Free day
Breakfast at the hotel restaurant.
Free day (reserved in case of late arrival).
We recommend visiting:
The Zoo Botanical Park is a place where you can meet representatives of the animal world gathered from different parts of the world. Two hundred species of different animals and birds are located on 8 hectares;
The Pobeda Memorial Complex with interactive expositions and panoramas using various modern technologies. The Pobeda complex has entered the top of the best military museums in Russia;
Sakhalin Museum of Local Lore;
Shops with Korean and Japanese goods;
Souvenir shops and a fish market with a wide variety of fresh seafood and Sakhalin delicacies. You can't think of a better gift for your family and friends! And on the way to the airport, you can pick up orders.

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Day 10 - Cape Ptichiy and Cape Velikan, the southeastern coast of the Sea of Okhotsk. Jeep Tour
08:00 Breakfast in the hotel restaurant.
09:00 Departure from Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk by jeep.
Travel time is 3 hours, 100 km, the first half of the way is a federal paved highway, the second half of the way is a difficult road through the pass.
A walk along the coast of the Sea of Okhotsk, 1-1.5 km in one direction — magnificent stone arches, columns and giant kekurs created by wind and sea waves, grottoes, bird bazaars of amazing beauty.
You are already returning along the sea terraces, you will get acquainted with the Sakhalin flora, represented here in a variety.
Lunch boxes, Far Eastern delicacies, tea with Sakhalin herbs and berries will be waiting for you on the coast.
19:00 Return to the hotel.
Dinner (on your own).

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Day 11 - Transfer to the airport
Breakfast at the hotel restaurant.
Transfer to the airport.

Difficulty

Involves moderate physical activity

Accommodation

Hotel

9 nights
Cabin on the boat

1 night

Comfort

Upscale
Premium

The tour includes accommodation in hotels.

The cost of the tour for 1 person, RUB.:

Hotels	Double occupancy	Surcharge for single occupancy
Gagarin 3* / Belka 3*	153 000	17 000
Mega Palace 4*	155 000	21 200

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

for a double suite at the Flagship hotel (with amenities) on Kunashir Island — 6,600 rubles/person/4 nights;
for a single room in the Iceberg 2 hotel (with amenities) on Kunashir Island — 6,600 rubles/person/4 nights;
for a double suite at the Iceberg 2 hotel (with amenities) on Kunashir Island — 6,600 rubles/person/4 nights.

Extra day of stay in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk (if necessary), RUB.:

Hotels	Double Room	Single Room
Gagarin 3* / Belka 3*	7 200	5 800
Mega Palace 4*	8 300	7 200

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.

The cost of the tour for 1 person with double occupancy in the Mega Palace 4* hotel: 115,200 rubles.

Additional payment for single accommodation on the tour: 16,000 rubles.

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Another option

Gagarin 3 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.

The cost of the tour for 1 person with double occupancy in the Gagarin 3* hotel: 113 000 rubles.

Surcharge for single accommodation on the tour: 11,800 rubles.

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Another option

Hotel Belka 3*

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 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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Tour conditions

Group

up to 25 tourists

Minimum age

7 years old

Duration

11 days 10 nights

Group meets at

Russia, Sakhalin region, Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk

Included in price

airport — hotel — airport transfer;
accommodation in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, 2-bed accommodation;
transfer Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk — Korsakov port — Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk;
port charges;
bed linen on the ship;
accommodation in Yuzhno-Kurilsk, in the Flagship hotel, 2-bed accommodation (b/w);
meals on Sakhalin according to the program;
meals on Kunashir 3 times a day;
transportation services according to the program;
escort by instructors/guides on the routes;
services of a tour guide;
a pass to the Kurilsky Nature Reserve;
border pass to Kunashir Island.

Paid extra

flights to Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk and back;
ticket for the Korsakov— Yuzhno-Kurilsk train (4-bed cabin) — 5,400 rubles/person.;
air ticket Yuzhno-Kurilsk — Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk — 7,500 rubles/person.;
meals on the ship;
dinners in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk;
early check-in to hotels and late check-out from hotels;
surcharge for single occupancy;
additional payment on Kunashir for an increased level of comfort of living (optional);
additional day of stay in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk (if necessary);
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;
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;
socks are warm and thick;
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

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$1,446

21 Jun – 1 Jul, 2025 11 days 10 nights

Tour option - A trip to Sakhalin and Kunashir

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23 Jul – 2 Aug, 2025 11 days 10 nights

Tour option - A trip to Sakhalin and Kunashir

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$1,536

2 – 12 Oct, 2025 11 days 10 nights

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9 – 19 Oct, 2025 11 days 10 nights

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Sakhalin and Kunashir Tour