Winter on Sakhalin and Iturup

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Discover the unique beauty of Sakhalin and the Kuril Islands! Immerse yourself in the atmosphere of a real adventure — breathtaking nature, majestic mountain landscapes, rich history and unique culture.

You will get acquainted with Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, its cozy atmosphere and rich historical heritage. On New Year's Eve, you will plunge into the festive atmosphere with an unforgettable show, and winter sports enthusiasts will have the opportunity to ride on the slopes of the ski complex. A mysterious world of volcanoes will open on Iturup: hot springs and breathtaking landscapes of the Baransky volcano are waiting for you!

Every day of the tour is a new amazing adventure, a combination of outdoor activities and gastronomic discoveries.

Location

Russia, Sakhalin region, Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk

Sightseeing tours

from

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

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Tour highlights

Interesting tastes

You can try interesting seafood dishes from them.

Scenic icefalls

Appreciate the beauty of the blue-white snow caps on the sheer cliffs and see the needles of the ice waterfalls.

Two amazing islands

Explore the islands of Sakhalin and Iturup, the most famous in the Kuril Ridge

Relaxation and recovery

Visit the "baths" of the Baransky volcano on the Boiling River — a stunningly beautiful place, an oasis among volcanoes and taiga

Active leisure

In your free time, take the opportunity to go skiing or snowboarding at the Mountain Air complex

Scenic Yankito Plateau

You will visit the Yankito lava plateau, where you will see solidified volcanic lava in the form of a pile of rocks on the shore.

Itinerary

Day 1 - Arrival in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk. The peak of the mountain "Bolshevik"
Arrival in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, meeting at the airport, transfer to the hotel.
Hotel accommodation starts at 14:00, early check-in is possible for an additional fee.
After the accommodation, we go for lunch to one of the best Japanese seafood restaurants.
Immediately after lunch, we will introduce you to our cozy city.
The guide will tell you about our region and its rich historical past.
We will visit the top of the mountain "Bolshevik" (STK "Mountain Air") and enjoy the views with a glass of mulled wine.
At the end of the tour, transfer to the hotel, free time.
Dinner (on your own).

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Day 2 - Korsakov. Okhotsk coast. New Year's Eve Celebration
Breakfast at the hotel restaurant.
10:00 Departure to the port city of Korsakov from Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk (38 km in one direction).
On the way, we will tell you about the history of the discovery and development of the Sakhalin region.
Upon arrival in the city of Korsakov, we will visit:
The observation deck offers views of the city's ports.;
monument of "Separated families" (the monument is dedicated to the Korean population — victims of Japanese militarism, called "The Mountain of Sadness");
the location of the former Japanese temple of Merey Jinja;
monument to the Japanese landing force that landed on July 7, 1905 in Aniva Bay;
LNG plant for the production of liquefied gas (without visiting inside).
Then transfer to the Okhotsk coast.
Lunch at the seafood recreation center.
Return to Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, transfer to the hotel.
21:00 We will meet in the restaurant of the city, a festive show program happy New Year 2026!

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Day 3 - Free day
Hello, 2026!
Breakfast at the hotel restaurant.
Free time to go on your own to the Mountain Air sports and tourism complex and go skiing or snowboarding, or just enjoy your vacation.
Lunch and dinner (on your own).

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Day 4 - Icefalls of Tikhaya Bay
Breakfast in the hotel restaurant.
09:00 Departure to Tikhaya Bay, one of the most impressive places in winter.
Travel time with stops is approximately 3 hours (143 km one way).
On the way, we will visit the Japanese Torii Gate, which was installed in front of Shinto temples.
Stop at the seaside village, where you can buy freshly caught crabs (boiled).
From the west, Tikhaya Bay is covered by the spurs of the most beautiful and majestic Zhdanko Ridge.
In winter, the sea terraces are covered with snow, and ice rises on the sea in the coastal zone.
But all this does not make the bay any less attractive than in summer — blue hummocks, blue-white snow caps on steep cliffs, needles of icy waterfalls, ringing sea air.
Lunch on the coast, Far Eastern delicacies, tea with Sakhalin herbs and berries.
Return to the hotel.
Dinner (on your own).
Free time. Those who ski or snowboard can spend it on the mountain "Bolshevik" (STK "Mountain Air").

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Day 5 - Departure to Kurilsk on Iturup. Baransky Volcano
Breakfast at the hotel restaurant, transfer to the airport.
Check-in and baggage check-out.
Departure to Kurilsk (O. Iturup).
Arrival on the island Iturup (Kurilsk).
Meeting at the airport, transfer to the hotel, accommodation.
An all-terrain vehicle ride to the volcano "Baransky".
The baths of the Baransky volcano on the Boiling River are a stunningly beautiful place, an oasis among volcanoes and taiga.
Baths with a water temperature from 42° to 70° can also be enjoyed standing under a hot waterfall.
Return to Kurilsk.
Dinner at the hotel.
Free time.
Please note that the tour program may change places, depending on arrival/departure to Iturup.

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Day 6 - Bay "Kasatka". Hot Waters thermal springs
Breakfast at the hotel.
Departure by prepared jeeps to Kasatka Bay.
Along the way, there are stops at the Bolshaya Horseshoe and Kuibyshevka observation decks.
Kasatka Bay (Japanese name — Hitokappu).
In addition, there is an interesting geological feature in the bay — the Devil's Rock (Chertovka) — an extrusive outcrop of volcanic rocks forming an impassable cape (Tunnel), in which the Japanese dug tunnels for through passage, as well as for military purposes.
The remains of these structures are still preserved.
The sandy shore of the bay has several local names — Mirror Beach, Low Tide, and until recently — Kuril asphalt.
Visit to the Hot Waters thermal springs.
Neutral sodium chloride siliceous water, suitable for bottling as a therapeutic canteen.
The water temperature of the Hot Waters spring exceeds +60°C.
The diseases for which courses of hydrotherapy and balneotherapy are indicated are very wide: joint healing, kidney treatment, improvement of blood circulation, metabolic processes, sleep, well-being, tissue regeneration, stress resistance, immunity, etc.
An all-terrain vehicle may be used on this route (if the road is impassable).

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Day 7 - The lava plateau "Yankito". Departure to Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk
Breakfast in the hotel cafe.
A trip to the lava plateau "Yankito" Kuril Bay — frozen volcanic lava in the form of a pile of rocks on the shore.
Extraordinary landscapes and mysterious, exciting silhouettes.
Transfer to the airport.
Check-in and baggage check-out.
Departure to Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk.
Meeting at the airport of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk named after A.P. Chekhov, transfer to the hotel.

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Day 8 - Conquering the Sakhalin Mountains on snowmobiles
Breakfast at the hotel restaurant.
11:00 Departure from Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk to the village. Christmas trees.
12:00 Arrival in the village. Christmas trees, safety instructions.
We are going to the Sakhalin Mountains, from where you can enjoy unparalleled views of the entire south of Sakhalin Island.
15:00 Return to the camp, snack, departure to Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk.
Arrival in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, transfer to the hotel.
Dinner (on your own).
Free time for those who ski or snowboard can be spent on the mountain "Bolshevik" (STK "Mountain Air").

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Day 9 - Transfer to the airport
Breakfast at the hotel.
Room release.
Transfer to the airport.
Check-in and baggage handling.
Departure.

Difficulty

Suitable for everyone

Accommodation

Hotel

8 nights

Comfort

Upscale
Premium

The tour includes accommodation in a hotel of your choice in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk and in the Kamelia Hotel on Iturup.

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

Hotel	Double occupancy	Extra charge for a single room
"Gagarin" 3+*	157 800	17 600
Mega Palace 4*	166 000	23 600
"Belka"	157 800	17 600

Hotel accommodation starts at 14:00, early check-in is possible for an additional fee.

The Gagarin Hotel

Located in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, Gagarin Hotel offers its guests accommodation in a quiet and comfortable atmosphere. The variety of services provided will appeal to even the most demanding of them.

Here you will find modern furniture and appliances.

The friendly and caring staff serves breakfast in the restaurant every morning. At any time of the day in the city, you can find an institution where you can have a snack or have fun.

The airport is just a few minutes away from the complex.

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Another option

Mega Palace Hotel

The Mega Palace Hotel is located on the Far Eastern Russian island of Sakhalin, at the foot of the Susunai Mountains. The city center is 1.2 km away.

The multi-storey hotel offers modern rooms and apartments with antique-style furniture. All rooms are equipped with beds, a large table where you can work or tidy up. There is a cable TV, a safe. The bathroom has all the necessary plumbing, towels, and cosmetics.

There is a tea set and a mini-bar in the rooms. The Marquis Restaurant serves Russian, European and Japanese cuisine, while Serbian cuisine can be enjoyed at the Grill on the Sky Restaurant. There is also an Asian cuisine restaurant "Asia" and a Japanese BamBoo restaurant. Guests can relax at the Duke Karaoke Bar.

Nearby you can also visit the Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ, the park. Gagarina, the Northern Ring ecotrope. The distance to Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk Airport is 9.2 km, and to Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk Railway Station is 2.2 km.

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Another option

The Belka Hotel

A three-star hotel with an interesting name "Belka" is located in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk. For guests there are such services as parking, free Internet, safe deposit box, laundry. Guests who want to take a break from the routine are invited to visit the sauna.

The room stock is represented by 46 categories, which vary in roominess and comfort, but despite this, each room is equipped with comfortable furniture, so that even a long stay would be as comfortable as possible. Also, each room has its own bathroom and shower.

Breakfast is served every morning at the on-site restaurant. Lunch and dinner can be ordered by residents for an additional fee, or they can eat in nearby cafes and public catering places.

Nearby attractions include the Regional Museum of Local Lore, the Chekhov Theater Center, as well as the Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ.

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Tour conditions

Group

From 6 to 15 tourists

Minimum age

6 years old

Duration

9 days 8 nights

Group meets at

Russia, Sakhalin region, Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk

Included in price

transfers according to the program;
accommodation in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk in a selected hotel;
Sakhalin sightseeing program;
New Year's Eve show program at the restaurant;
accommodation at the Camellia Hotel (Iturup);
nutrition. specified in the program (8 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 1 dinner);
transportation services on the routes;
accompanying instructors and guides on the routes;
registration of a border pass on Iturup;
the thermal complex "Baths".

Paid extra

air and railway tickets to Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk and back;
flight Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk — Kurilsk (Iturup) — Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk (we purchase for you independently) - 15,000 rubles —;
alcoholic beverages;
meals not specified in the program;
tips;
hot springs of the volcano "Baransky".

It's important to know

Backpack or travel bag. On long snowmobile routes (from 3 days), it is highly undesirable to bring things in a suitcase, because it does not fit into the trunk of a snowmobile and is inconvenient to transport.
A form of clothing for an active snowmobile day:
- Thermal underwear (pants and jacket).
- Comfortable warm sportswear. The best option is a snowboard or downhill ski suit. We recommend that you do not wear jeans, as they restrict movement and do not warm you up.
- Fleece jacket or sweater.
- Socks should be on your feet (thin cotton + necessarily warm wool socks);.
- Gloves and a hat. During the snowmobile route, the travel agency provides: insulated boots, snowmobile overalls, gloves, balaclava, helmet. The jumpsuit fits on top of your clothes. If there are no severe frosts, then the jumpsuit can be worn over thermal underwear + sweatpants and a fleece jacket / sweater.
Clothing for an active day on skis: everything is the same as on a snowmobile day, but we recommend having a small backpack in which you can put a warm vest or an extra jacket. While skiing, you should be dressed according to the weather (usually a suit for skiing or snowboarding), however, you may feel cool during stops. At these moments, an additional vest or jacket will be useful. We recommend wearing ski boots over wool socks.
A set of spare underwear.
Slippers or warm socks.
For a trip to the sauna:
- A swimsuit (if you need one).
- Slates/sandals for sports.
Shoes — comfortable warm shoes without heels.
Personal items:
- Personal hygiene products.
- Individual first aid kit.
- If you wear glasses, it should be remembered that the arches under the helmet can put pressure and cause discomfort. Also, your breathing under the helmet makes the glasses fog up, and they freeze quickly in the cold. Glasses also fog up when you enter a warm room from the cold. If possible, lenses should be provided.
Documents:
- Passport.
- Medical insurance policy (photocopy is available).
Money — we recommend that you always have a small amount of cash with you, so that, if desired, you can quickly buy the necessary things at stops along the route.

Dates and Prices

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

$2,175

29 Dec, 2026 – 6 Jan, 2027 9 days 8 nights

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Reviews Leave a review

AK
Andrei Konovalikov

about provider

7 Aug, 2025

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one downside was that the voucher with the contact details of the local host was only sent a few hours before the tour started, and that was after multiple requests. On my previous trip (the 2023 Baikal Tour), I received the voucher two days before the tour began.

Big Country Travel

Hello Andrei, Thank you for your feedback, we’re glad to hear that you enjoyed the trip overall! We apologize for the inconvenience caused by the delay in sending the documents and will definitely address this issue. We hope that despite this, you’ll consider booking with us again for your next trip to Russia!
Y
Yuri

about provider

7 Aug, 2025

The tour operator met all the terms of the agreement, which is already a great sign. I’d give it a solid four stars, maybe even a 4+. The guides were very professional, and the tour was well-organized overall. Everything went smoothly without any major issues. I’d definitely recommend this tour operator to friends and acquaintances.

Big Country Travel

Hello Yuri, thank you very much for your feedback! We're happy to hear that you enjoyed the trip overall. We’d be delighted to welcome you on one of our other tours around Russia!
P
Pavel

about provider

30 Jan, 2025

Thank you for a captivating trip to Kunashir! I got exactly what I was hoping for: stunning views, hiking, and swimming in the sea, lake, river, and thermal springs. The weather treated us to a full range of experiences, from pleasant sunshine to a storm on the way back. A huge thank you to our guide, Mikhail, for his care, patience, attentiveness, and the great atmosphere he created throughout our stay on Kunashir.