Sakhalin Kaleidoscope and Iturup Island

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As part of this trip, you will visit two of the most famous islands of the Kuril Ridge — Sakhalin and Iturup, striking in their beauty and grandeur.

You will walk through the frozen volcanic lava, see the "Devil's Rocks" with the remains of Japanese fortifications, relax in the thermal complex, try oysters and meet sea lions.

And also enjoy delicious fresh seafood and bring home the warmest memories of the Far East.

Location

Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk

Sightseeing tours

from

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

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Tour highlights

Amazing sea lions

You will sail by boat as close as possible to the rookery of the red Book sea lions

Delicious oysters

Stand on an oyster "jar", and then taste them

Thermal springs

Relax body and soul in a Jacuzzi with a water temperature of 42 ° and under the hot waterfall of the Baransky volcano

The most famous rocks of Iturup Island

You will see the White rocks, which are famous for their unusually snow-white color

Far Eastern delights

You will taste excellent Sakhalin fish soup with red fish, Far Eastern delicacies, caviar, herbal tea

Pacific Coast

Explore the bay of Kasatka and find an abandoned ship

Itinerary

Day 1 - Sightseeing tour of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk
Arrival in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk. Meeting at the airport.
Transfer to the hotel, we leave our things.
Please keep in mind that check-in at the hotel is 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.
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).
There are many authentic cozy restaurants in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk 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 - A unique encounter with sea lions. Nevelsk. The West coast of the island Sakhalin — Tatar Strait
The Tatar Strait separates Sakhalin Island from mainland Eurasia.
09:00 Breakfast in the hotel restaurant.
10:00 We are heading to Nevelsk with a guide, federal paved highway, 90 km.
On the serpentine through the Lovetsky pass, beautiful decays and island hills will open to the eye.
Nevelsk is a small port city. Perhaps the only city that has been both a Russian city and a Japanese city for twenty years. From 1855 to 1875, Honto (as Nevelsk was then called) had a dual administration.
This is one of three cities in the world where red—book sea lions, the largest representative of long-eared seals, arrange their rookery in the city on the wake from February to July.
And a boat trip to the breakwater will enhance emotions.
A few meters away from you, these roaring sea lions will swim.
City tour.
Lunch at the cafe.
18:00 Return to the hotel.
Dinner (on your own).

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Day 4 - Flight to Iturup. Fumarole field and thermal springs of Baransky volcano
Breakfast at the hotel restaurant.
Transfer to the airport. Departure to Iturup.
The flight schedule for the 2024 season will be released in March, after which the routes on flight days can be adjusted.
Arrival at Iturup.
Meeting at the airport, transfer to the hotel. We're leaving things.
Fumarole field and thermal springs of the Baransky volcano.
Departure for the route, 20 km on the way.
A visit to the geothermal station, fumarole field (inspection of fumaroles and mud "volcanoes"), boiling small lakes "Blue Eyes", giving rise to the sulfuric acid river "Boiling".
The thermal baths of the Baransky volcano are a stunningly beautiful paradise, an oasis among volcanoes and taiga.
In a Jacuzzi with a water temperature of 42 ° and under a hot waterfall, you are truly reborn.
Swimming.
Lunch.
Return to the hotel in the evening.
Supper.
Day 5 - White rocks. Black rocks. The Bay is open. The Sea of Okhotsk
09:00 Breakfast at the cafe.
10:00 Departure for the route.
White rocks are white crested ridges of bizarre shapes, cut by canyons.
The landscape is constantly changing due to the fact that the rock (volcanic glass and pumice) is soft and prone to weathering and erosion.
A wild deserted beach in white and black watercolor (white quartz and black titanium-magnetite sand), azure-colored water and volcanoes on the horizon.
"Black Rocks" is a basalt columnar structure — solidified lava.
Lunch on the coast.
On the way back, visit the thermal complex "Hot Waters".
Return to the hotel in the evening.
Supper.

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Day 6 - Kasatka Bay. A rock massif in the Bay of Kasatka. Pacific ocean
09:00 Breakfast at the cafe.
10:00 Departure for the route, 60 km south to the Pacific coast.
On the way there is a Japanese cemetery (on the site of a Japanese settlement).
Inspection of the "Devil's Rock" with the remains of Japanese fortifications and an underground hospital.
Tunnels were cut through the rocks by the Japanese for military purposes.
It was from here, from Kasatka Bay, that the Japanese aircraft carrier squadron moved out in November 1941 to strike the American naval base Pearl Harbor.
Lunch is on the route.
Rest.
Supper.
Transfer to the hotel.

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Day 7 - The Yankito Plateau. Flight to Sakhalin
Room release.
Breakfast in the cafe.
A trip to the plateau Yankito, Kuril Bay is a frozen volcanic lava in the form of a pile of rocks on the seashore.
Bizarre silhouettes and unusual shapes of once-boiling lava.
Transfer to the airport.
Departure to Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk.
Meeting at the airport and transfer to the hotel.

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Day 8 - Free day
Breakfast in the hotel restaurant.
Free day (reserved in case of late arrival).
Walking through the beautiful Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk with a large number of alleys and parks, fragrant flower beds and many fountains will give you pleasure.
In the evening, visit one of the cozy restaurants with Japanese, Korean or pan-Asian cuisine.
We also recommend visiting:
Sakhalin Museum of Local Lore.
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.
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 9 - To visit the oysters. Lake-lagoon "Busse". Gastronomic tour
08:30 Breakfast in the hotel restaurant.
09:00 Departure with a guide from Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk by bus, ~ 2.5 hours on the way with sightseeing stops (the first half of the way is asphalt, the second is a primer).
Lake "Busse" is a lagoon brackish lake connected by a channel to the Bay of Aniva. O
Busse Lake is a storehouse of natural gifts! A unique reservoir in which crabs, giant oysters, trepangs, sea urchins, trumpeter, scallops, shrimp, various types of fish live.
You will have a unique opportunity to stand on an oyster "jar", see how these shellfish live in nature and, of course, try them.
It is possible to get to the oyster "jar" only by boat at low tide.
A hot lunch will be waiting for you on the shore — Sakhalin gastronomic seafood specialties.
19:00 Return to Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk. Dinner (on your own).

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Day 10 - Transfer to the airport
Breakfast at the hotel.
Transfer to the airport.

Difficulty

Involves moderate physical activity

Accommodation

Hotel

9 nights

Comfort

Midscale
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*	166 000	25 200
Mega Palace 4*	168 000	30 300

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

Gagarin 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.

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Another option

Mega Palace Hotel

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 in 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.

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Another option

Belka Hotel

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 the 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

10 days 9 nights

Group meets at

Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk

Included in price

airport – hotel – airport transfer to Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk;
airport – hotel – airport transfer in Kurilsk;
accommodation in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk;
meals on Sakhalin according to the program;
accommodation at the hotel "Tomori" on Iturup;
meals on Iturup 3 times a day;
transportation services according to the program;
services of a tour guide;
entrance tickets to the thermal complexes:
- "Sources of the Baransky volcano";
- "Hot waters";
registration of a border pass on the island Iturup.

Paid extra

flights to Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk and back;
flight Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk — Kurilsk — Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk — 15,000 rubles/person.;
dinners in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk;
early check-in and late check-out;
surcharge for single accommodation in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk;
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;
socks are warm and thick;
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;
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

The tour dates are not confirmed yet. Please, for clarification

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29 Apr – 8 May, 2025 10 days 9 nights

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14 – 23 Jun, 2025 10 days 9 nights

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25 Jun – 4 Jul, 2025 10 days 9 nights

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