Sakhalin, Iturup, Kunashir and Shikotan. A trip to another planet

We check out of the hotel early in the morning and go to Busse Lake, where the most delicious tour on Sakhalin awaits us.

The lake 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.  

If we don't stay too long at Busse Lake, on the way back we will see the oldest Russian settlement of Sakhalin, the city of Korsakov. We will visit an observation deck overlooking the seaport, the ruins of a Japanese Shinto temple, a mournful memorial to the Koreans expelled from their places and a memorial sign to the cruiser Novik.

After lunch, we take the ferry (departure at 16:00), 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.

Also, the ferry is a great opportunity to have a good rest and sleep before the next adventure on a new island. In good weather, the pitching is insignificant. We will tell you how to behave correctly on the ferry in order to minimize motion sickness and make the cruise comfortable.

In the morning we will meet the dawn in the open sea, then we will see the panorama of Iturup Island.

In good weather, there will be magnificent views of the Chirip and Bogdan Khmelnitsky volcanoes, as well as the village of Kitovoye, where the port is located. We will try to see the lava fields of Yankito from the water.

We will be met at the port at 14:00 by a team of guides, and we will immediately go to the Baransky volcano. This is the most famous and easiest to visit active volcano on the island of Iturup. The height of the volcano is 1125 m.

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.

Please note that we have scheduled check-in at the hotel only in the evening, after returning from the volcano.

Early in the morning on this day, the most enthusiastic people will have the opportunity to go to the Crying Rocks and look at the wall of dozens of small waterfalls flowing down from an almost sheer cliff. The rest will start from the hotel around 10:00.

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 sights of Iturup, but apart from 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.

Two waterfalls will be waiting for us in the Sail Bay — Maiden's Tears and Maiden's Braids (the second name is Tatiana). We will get very close to one, and we will look at the second, larger one from the shore.

We will see the cemetery of old Soviet military equipment and drive through the old Japanese airfield to Tornaya Bay, look at the Four Brothers rocks and the remains of the Japanese pier, and turning back, away from the sea, we will admire Sopochnoye Lake, surrounded on all sides by low hills.

A delicious lunch with local seafood and fish soup awaits us on the route.

In good weather, we will cross the narrowest point of Iturup — the Wind Isthmus and go to the coast of the Pacific Ocean.

Here we will see pumice slopes similar to White rocks and Cape Konakov, stunningly picturesque in good weather. There are practically no groups here and these places are observed only by local residents, scientists and rare hikers.

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

In the morning we go to see the Yankito lava plateau, located on the slope of the active volcano Bogdan Khmelnitsky. It is located very close to the city of Kurilsk and you can go there on foot, but we will drive by car.

The tangled and chaotic piles of lava rocks formed after the volcanic eruption, when hot lava flows collided with the cold water of the Sea of Okhotsk. Beautiful landscapes, views of the Sea of Okhotsk and the Bogdan Khmelnitsky volcano will not leave you indifferent.

If there is time left, those who wish will be able to visit the local "zoo" with bears.

At lunch, we take the ferry (departure at 14:00) and head to Kunashir. We will walk along the entire coast of Iturup Island, where we will see the highest mountain of Stockap Island (1,634 m) and two active volcanoes — Berutarube and Atsonupuri.

Already at dusk, we will pass through the Catherine Strait and approach Kunashir Island, where two active volcanoes — Rurui and Tyata - will remain on the right side. They are located in the most inaccessible place on the island and we can only look at them from afar.

It's not far to go between Iturup and Kunashir, but night visits to the islands are dangerous, so the ferry will wait for dawn at sea.

This usually happens on the roadstead of Yuzhno-Kurilsk and we will meet the new day with magnificent views of the Mendeleev volcano illuminated by the dawn sun. According to the schedule, we arrive at the port at 09:00, get on the cars and go on new adventures.

The Mendeleev volcano is an active volcano with a height of 888m. It is named after the Russian chemist D.I. Mendeleev. The two largest fumaroles (solfatars) are located on the fumarole field The Kuril Islands, as well as thermal springs.

The age of the solfatal fields is estimated at about 2000 years. Volcanic bombs are scattered across the solfatarny field — remnants of past eruptions.

We will drive up to the beginning of the hiking trail by car. The length of the hike is about 3 km, which is about 1.5 hours each way. We will rise to about half the height of the volcano, to fumarole fields with active bright yellow solfatars.

The route follows a forest path in dense thickets of bamboo, reaching in places above human height.

The trail goes partly along the old Japanese road, along which sulfur was exported from the fumarole field. The remains of a Japanese sulfur plant are located on the route. The route usually does not cause difficulties even for untrained people.

If desired, it is possible to climb to the top of the volcano. Climbing to the top is difficult and requires good physical shape. The ascent takes about 2 hours along a narrow path with steep ledges through thickets of cedar bushes.

Ropes are hung in particularly difficult areas. From the top of the volcano there are magnificent views of the entire island of Kunashir and neighboring Japanese islands.

In the evening we check into the hotel.

If desired, we will take you to the most luxurious restaurant on the island, the chef of which offers unique dishes made from local products, and also provide an opportunity to relax in a modern spa complex with a Russian bath, individual steam programs and cozy hot outdoor pools surrounded by a pine forest on the slope of the Mendeleev volcano.

We also recommend that you take advantage of our offer and take the option with premium accommodation on Kunashir. Access to the spa complex is included in the price.

Early in the morning, we will offer the most active an additional trip to the Golovninsky cliff. The road runs along the narrow edge of the surf and travel is possible only at low tide, so departure will be early in the morning, at dawn.

We will be rewarded with a swim in a picturesque waterfall right on the shore of the Pacific Ocean. The rest of the group starts from the hotel at about 10:00.

A jeep tour to the Golovnin volcano caldera runs through the entire southern part of the island. The road then climbs the hills, then descends to the Pacific Ocean itself.

On the way to the volcano, we stop at an observation deck overlooking the Golovninsky cliff.

In the caldera itself, we will drive along a dirt road through a mixed forest (birch of several species, cedar, Sakhalin fir, Ayanskaya spruce and Glen). Bamboo fields spread out picturesquely along the slopes of the hills.

Golovnina Volcano is the southernmost volcano of the Kuril Islands, one of the four active volcanoes on Kunashir Island. The caldera is a crater destroyed by a strong explosion. At the same time, a basin with a diameter of about 10 km was formed.

Inside the caldera there are two highly mineralized lakes — Hot and Boiling. Goryachee Lake is the deepest (over 60 m) lake on the island. There are active fumaroles and small mud geysers on the shores of the Boiling Lake.

There are observation decks on the crest of the volcano, which offer beautiful views of the caldera. In good weather, the Japanese island of Hokkaido is visible.

We will have enough time to walk around the caldera and climb the inner cone of the volcano. We will also have the opportunity to swim.

Lunch with local seafood is waiting for us in the caldera.

We return to the hotel in the evening. On request, you can visit the spa complex or the open thermal springs on the Sour creek.

In the morning we leave to see the business card of Kunashir Island — Cape Columnar. The cape is located on the coast of the Sea of Okhotsk in the protected area of the Kuril Reserve.

This is a unique object, a reserve of extrusions — volcanic structures formed as a result of slow extrusion of viscous lava, followed by solidification.

The cape is a picturesque steep cliffs up to 50 m high, jutting into the Kunashir Strait with several protrusions, which are composed of layers of basalt lavas of the Mendeleev volcano, frozen in the form of five- and hexagonal columns. In some places, the columns resemble a church organ, in others a pavement and even a turtle.

We will drive up to the cape by car to the shore of the Sea of Okhotsk, then we will trek along the sandy beach for about 40 minutes. Depending on the sea level, you may have to walk a little on the water to see the cape completely. Bring flip-flops and bathing accessories. The water will be quite warm.

After a walk to the cape, we will have lunch with local seafood.

After Cape Columnar, we will drive to the neighboring Lagoon Lake, walk along Bear Beach and climb Dog Mountain, from which picturesque views of Pervukhina Bay will open.

We return to the hotel in the evening. On request, you can visit the spa complex, unequipped thermal springs on the Sour Creek or walk around the surroundings of Yuzhno-Kurilsk.

Today we are going to take a boat trip to the neighboring island of Shikotan. The travel time is about 5 hours. We will admire the Mendeleev volcano again, and in good weather we will see the Tyata volcano in all its glory at the northern tip of the island.

Dolphins are often seen on this small crossing of the Pacific Ocean.

In the evening, check—in at the hotel and rest.

Today we will visit the business card of the island of Shikotan — Cape Edge of the world. A long tongue of rock extends far into the ocean.

Standing at the end of the cape, you can only see the vast expanses of the Pacific Ocean. The nearest land ahead is North America. It is difficult to get to the edge of the cape, but it is possible.

Nearby, at Cape Crab, there is a 30-meter-high active Japanese-built Shpanberg lighthouse. Along the way, there are magnificent views of the island of Shikotan and the vast expanses of the Pacific Ocean. There is a seal rookery under the coastal cliffs in this area.

Let's have a little rest in Mayachnaya Bay (the second name is Soldatskaya Bay) and have lunch with red fish soup.

If time and weather conditions allow, we will walk to Cape Nepokorny. Cape Nepokorny is fighting with the Edge of the world for the title of "the most remote point in Russia from Moscow."

A visit to Cape Nepokorny is not included in the standard program, which is usually offered to tourists in other places and only true connoisseurs and exotic lovers get here.

Next, we will head to Bezymyannaya Bay, which is famous for its scattering of beautiful islets located inside the bay. Its second name is Robinson's Cove. It was here that the Soviet film "The Life and Amazing Adventures of Robinson Crusoe" (1973, dir. Stanislav Govorukhin, starring Leonid Kuravlev).

Those who wish will have the opportunity to swim in the ocean, but the water here is always cool, no more than 15-17 degrees.

A trip to Dolphin Bay is extremely rarely offered to organized tourists, since this is the farthest and most difficult part of the island. During this exciting jeep tour, we will see some of the most beautiful coves and peninsulas.

The name Dolphin Bay was given by American fishermen in 1872, who escaped from a storm in it on the ship Dolphin (there is another version of the origin of the name).

The bay cuts deeply into the southwestern shore of the island of Shikotan. The Ostrovnaya River flows into the top of the bay, forming a large lagoon at the mouth.

From the tops of the hills surrounding the bay, there are very beautiful views of the wide "meadows" of bamboo, from which rare pines and birches stick out. There are many birds in the vicinity of the bay.

It was here, on the shores of Dolphin Bay, that the Japanese took the last Ainu, the indigenous inhabitants of the Kuril Islands, to the camps, where they subsequently almost completely starved.

There are many different buildings of Japanese and Soviet times on the coast. This place is uninhabited now. Several Soviet tanks have been preserved here, converted into coastal guns.

Zvezdnaya Bay and Malaya Zvezdnaya Bay are widely famous for their anomalous phenomena and evil Japanese spirits. We will tell you the real causes of these phenomena and show you the rarest beauty of these places.

Galtseva Bay is the westernmost point of Shikotan. In good weather, the Habomai Islands, the disputed territories closest to Japan, are perfectly visible from it.

It is not possible to drive into the bay in all weather conditions. If it is impossible to travel, we will offer a replacement.

Today we will have time until 12:00. You can relax or, weather permitting, optionally take a walk to Mount Shikotan — the highest mountain of the island, an extinct volcano. The local name is "Sopka-412".

The mountain is located in close proximity to the village. Malokurilskoe. At the western slope of the mountain there are overgrown earth faults formed during the devastating 1994 Shikotan earthquake.

At the top of the mountain there are the remains of buildings arranged in a circle and reminiscent of Stonehenge. From the top, you can see almost the entire island, and in clear weather, the neighboring islands — Kunashir and Iturup.

Sometimes you can drive up the mountain by car (not in every season). A Japanese military observation post was previously located on the mountain, and then Soviet military locators.

Climbing the mountain makes sense only in clear, good weather, so we do not make this hike a mandatory part of the program.

We check out of the hotel and take the ferry to Sakhalin (departure at 14:00). A new cruise begins, during which we will walk along the coast of Kunashir, again see the volcanoes Tyata, Rurui and Berutarube, which are already familiar to us, under different lighting.

If we are lucky with the weather, there should be very beautiful views of these volcanoes in the setting sun.

We arrive on Sakhalin around 12:00 and immediately head to one of the most mystical places on the island — the Frog outlier, located near Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk. Its height is about 400 m above sea level, but climbing along an equipped trail in good weather is not difficult.

According to legend, the ancient Ainu people revered this place 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. In good weather, the Aniva Bay, the Tunaycha and Changeable lakes and several neighboring mountain peaks are visible.

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.

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 try to climb the stairs.

The condition of the stairs is getting worse every year... The lighthouse is currently abandoned and its condition is not very good, to put it mildly, but we love it not only for this.

There are a lot of birds and, alas, tourists here. You may have to wait your turn to enter the lighthouse.

Weather permitting, on the way we will make stops at Cape Marble with excellent views of the picturesque Cape White Stone. The possibility of stopping and going ashore is determined by the captain of the boat: his word is law.

Today we will also have a delicious seafood lunch.

In case of bad weather, which will not allow us to visit the Aniva lighthouse, we will drive to Cape Evstafia, which is difficult to access and infrequently visited by organized groups.

The cape is located on the southern coast of Sakhalin and is one of the most beautiful places on the island. There is a beautiful beach with black volcanic sand.

The bizarre shape of the cape makes it a stunningly beautiful place in any weather. Here we will look for sea urchins, whose caviar is considered a delicacy.

The road to the cape runs past large turquoise lakes, beautiful in any weather. These lakes are of artificial origin, formed as a result of coal mining, so you can not swim in them — the water contains a lot of harmful salts of heavy metals.

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.