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

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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

Contact the tour coordinator

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

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Tour highlights

Juicy seafood

We will taste seafood dishes, Far Eastern delicacies, tea with Sakhalin herbs and berries.

Icefalls of Tikhaya Bay

Let's admire the blue hummocks, blue-white caps on steep cliffs and needles of ice waterfalls

Two amazing islands

We will explore the islands of Sakhalin and Iturup, the most famous in the Kuril Ridge

Comprehensive health improvement

Let's restore health in the thermal springs "Hot waters"

Active leisure

In our free time we can go skiing or snowboarding at the Mountain Air complex

Lava plateau "Yankito"

We will see the frozen volcanic lava in the form of rocks on the shore of the Sea of Okhotsk

Itinerary

Day 1 - Arrival in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk
Arrival in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, meeting at the airport, transfer to the hotel.
Accommodation at the hotel starts at 14:00, early check-in is possible for an additional fee.
After accommodation, we go for lunch to one of the best Japanese restaurants — seafood dishes.
Right 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).
Important! It is necessary to have WhatsApp at the beginning of the tour and provide an up-to-date phone number. All information is sent to the chat group.

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Day 2 - Korsakov. Okhotsk. New Year's Eve
Breakfast in 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;
the 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 Merei Jinja Temple;
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 2025!

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Day 3 - Free day
Hello 2025!
Breakfast in the hotel restaurant.
Free time to go on your own to the sports and tourist complex "Mountain Air" 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 at the hotel restaurant.
09:00 We leave for Tikhaya Bay, one of the most impressive places in winter.
The journey time with stops is about 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 in the village of Vzmorye, 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 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 - Kasatka Bay, Hot Waters thermal springs
Breakfast at the hotel.
Departure by prepared jeeps to Kasatka Bay.
Along the way, stops at the observation decks Bolshaya Horseshoe, Kuibyshevka.
Killer Whale Bay (Japanese name — Hitokappu).
In addition, there is an interesting geological object in the bay — the Devil's Rock (Chertovka) — an extrusive outlet 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.
A visit to the thermal springs "Hot waters".
Neutral sodium chloride siliceous water is suitable for bottling as a therapeutic canteen.
The water temperature of the Hot Water source exceeds +60°C.
The diseases in 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 enhancement, etc.
An all-terrain vehicle may be used on this route (if the road is impassable).

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Day 7 - 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-Sakhalinskaya 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 incomparable 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 check-out.
Departure.

Difficulty

Suitable for everyone

Accommodation

Hotel

8 nights

Comfort

Upscale
Premium

The tour provides 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+*	140 800	17 600
Mega Palace 4*	149 000	23 600
"Squirrel" 3*	140 800	17 600

Accommodation at the hotel starts at 14:00, early check-in is possible for an additional fee.

Gagarin Hotel 3+*

The rooms are decorated with elements of Japanese and European styles. They are equipped with a work desk and a TV with more than 100 satellite channels. Featuring a bath, the private bathroom also comes with a hairdryer, bathrobes and slippers.

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Another option

Mega Palace Hotel 4*

The 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. 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 3*

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

up 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 the selected hotel;
excursion program on Sakhalin;
New Year's Eve show program in the restaurant;
accommodation at the Kamelia Hotel (Iturup);
meals specified in the program;
transportation services on the routes;
accompanied by instructors and guides on the routes;
registration of a border pass on the island Iturup;
thermal complexes for every day of your stay on Iturup.

Paid extra

air and railway tickets to Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk and back;
flight Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk — Kurilsk (Iturup) — Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk (luggage included, we purchase for you on our own, tickets are non-refundable) - 14,800 rubles —;
alcoholic beverages;
meals not specified in the program;
tips.

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 suit for snowboarding or downhill skiing. We recommend that you do not come in jeans, because they restrict movement and do not warm you.
- A 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 is put on top of your clothes. If there are no severe frosts, then the jumpsuit can be worn on thermal underwear + sweatpants and a fleece jacket / sweater.
The form of clothing for an active day on skis: Everything is the same as in a snowmobile day, however, we recommend having a small backpack in which you can put a warm vest or an additional jacket. While skiing, you should be dressed according to the weather (usually a suit for downhill skiing or snowboarding), however, during stops you may feel cool. At these moments, an additional vest or jacket will be useful. We recommend wearing ski boots on 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 are comfortable warm shoes without heels.
Personal items:
- Personal hygiene products.
- Individual first aid kit.
- If you wear glasses, then you should remember that under the helmet the shackles can press and cause discomfort. Also, your breathing under the helmet makes the glasses fog up, and they freeze quickly in the cold. Also, the glasses 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

from
$1,450

29 Dec, 2025 – 6 Jan, 2026 9 days 8 nights

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Reviews

M
Marina

27 Jan, 2025

about provider

Thank you to the host team for their professionalism, warmth, and hospitality. Special praise goes to the guides Tatiana and Antonina - they were absolutely outstanding! Amazing job, ladies! Cherish and protect your beautiful islands!

27 Jan, 2025
M
Maria

6 Dec, 2024

about provider

The team offers not only a variety of tours but also individual one-day excursions.

6 Dec, 2024

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Winter on Sakhalin and Iturup