Sakhalin Kaleidoscope and Kunashir Island

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Such distant and inviting islands are Sakhalin and Kunashir. Do not miss the opportunity to visit two islands of the Kuril Ridge at once.

An unforgettable journey awaits you — a meeting with sea lions, a trip to Lake Busse and oyster tasting, a meeting with the Pacific Ocean and a rest in the thermal springs of the Mendeleev volcano.

Location

Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk

Sightseeing tours

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

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Tour highlights

Amazing sea lions

You will sail by boat to the rookery of red—book sea lions - the largest representatives of eared seals

Delicious oysters

You will visit a unique reservoir where you will stand on an oyster "jar"

Fumarole field

Explore the fumaroles and solfatars of the Mendeleev volcano and swim in the natural thermal springs

Lakes are Boiling and Hot

Admire the incredible beauty of the two craters of the Golovin volcano – Boiling and Hot lakes

Cape Columnar

You will reach Cape Columnar, one of the most amazing and unique places on earth

Far Eastern delights

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

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).
Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk has many authentic cozy restaurants with Japanese, Korean, Chinese and European cuisine.

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Day 2 - Tikhaya Bay, Noticeable Island, east 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 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 - Flight to Kunashir. A walk along the Pacific Ocean coast
Breakfast in the hotel restaurant.
Transfer to the airport.
Departure to Kunashir.
The flight schedule for the 2024 season will be released in March, after which the routes on flight days can be adjusted.
Arrival in Yuzhno-Kurilsk.
Meeting at the airport, transfer to the hotel, accommodation.
Let's go say hello to the Pacific Ocean!
The endless Pacific Ocean with a serious character and the most powerful energy.
A short walk along the coast — kekur "Devil's finger", "Devil's Gate".
Dinner at the cafe.

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Day 4 - The fumarole field of the Mendeleev volcano. Thermal springs
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 ration).
Bathing in wild thermal springs.
Return to the hotel in the evening.
Dinner at the cafe — the freshest seafood.

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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."
By car for 40 minutes, then trekking for 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 max. the height is 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 ration).
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 — we are surprised!

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Day 6 - Cape Columnar. Stolbovsky sources. White Monks Rocks
09:00 Breakfast at the cafe.
10:00 Departure to 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 five-hexagonal 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 hotel in the evening.
Dinner at the cafe — we continue to please!

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Day 7 - Excursion to the Museum of local lore. Flight to Sakhalin
Breakfast in the cafe.
Excursion to the Museum of local lore.
Transfer to the airport.
Departure to Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk.
Arrival, meeting at the airport, transfer to the hotel.
Dinner (on your own).
Day 8 - Free day
Breakfast at 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, land in one of the cozy restaurants with Japanese, Korean or pan-Asian cuisine.
We 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, on the way ~2.5 hours 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 Aniva Bay.
Busse Lake is a storehouse of natural gifts!
A unique reservoir where 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 - A unique meeting with sea lions, Nevelsk, west coast of Sakhalin Island — 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 11 - Transfer to the airport
Breakfast at the hotel.
Transfer to the airport.

Difficulty

Low physical intensity for amateurs and non-experienced travelers

Accommodation

Hotel

10 nights

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*	150 000	19 200
Mega Palace 4*	152 000	24 400

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;

The cost of one additional. overnight 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 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.

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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 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

Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk

Included in price

airport — hotel — airport transfer;
accommodation in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, 2-bed accommodation;
transfer hotel — airport — hotel;
meals on Sakhalin specified in the program;
accommodation in Yuzhno-Kurilsk, in the Flagship hotel, 2-bed accommodation (b/w);
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;
air tickets Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk — Yuzhno-Kurilsk — Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk — 15,000 rubles/person.;
dinners in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk;
early check-in to hotels and late check-out from hotels;
surcharge for single accommodation in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk;
additional payment for an increased level of comfort of living on Kunashir;
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

from
$1,754

29 Apr – 9 May, 2025 11 days 10 nights

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