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

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One of the most atmospheric and fascinating places in Russia is already waiting for you!

A tour to the shores of the Shantar Islands is not just a journey, but a real adventure combining the power of the elements and silent beauty.

Helicopter flights over vast expanses, boat trips among picturesque islands, encounters with whales and seabirds, mysterious coves, jasper shales, cupcakes and indescribable sunrises — all this awaits you on this journey. There is no fuss or connection here — just you, nature and unforgettable impressions.

The tour is only available for groups of up to 12 people.

Location

Khabarovsk city

from

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

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Tour highlights

SUP-walking with whales

Get a unique opportunity to get as close as possible to the marine giants

Picturesque islands

Go to the protected islands of the Shantar archipelago

Accommodation in tents

Enjoy the clean air and the beauty of the starry sky while camping in Wrangel Bay.

Helicopter flight

Spend up to 6 exciting hours on a Mi-8t helicopter en route to Ongachan base.

A special atmosphere

You will be able to test yourself on an expedition-style journey in a remote area with full autonomy.

Diversity of flora and fauna

Discover the places that birds have chosen

Itinerary

Day 1 - Khabarovsk — Ongachan
The journey starts in Khabarovsk, where you need to get to on your own.
You must be in Khabarovsk the day before the start of the program, so you can prepare for a long trip at the beginning of the program.
Depending on the departure time set by the airline, the group will be picked up by a Tourist class bus and taken to the helipad, from where a flight by Mi-8t helicopter will be organized.
Travel time is up to 6 hours, including refueling in Briakan (from 30 minutes to 1 hour).
A snack will be organized in Briakan village.
Upon arrival, the group will be accommodated on the shore of the Sea of Okhotsk at the Ongachan base, which is located 5 km from the Shantar Islands National Park.
Overnight in rooms for 4-6 people.

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Day 2 - Small Shantar Islands
On this day, we will make a trip to Maly Shantar, Belichy Island, visit Abrek Bay, where seals live, Cape Gaikovsky with kekurs, and pass through the Dangerous Strait.
Landings are possible if the weather is good.
If the weather is good, we will visit the islands of Sredny and Yuzhny. Birds have chosen these islands, there are many kekurs and various geological objects on the island, and it all looks majestic.
We will return to Ongachan base in the evening.

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Day 3 - The Big Shantar
On this day, we will take a trip to Bolshoy Shantar Island, visit a weather station, a whale factory of the 19th century, Cape Raduzhny, where you can see semiprecious jasper shales, white quartz and marble veins.
Utichiy Island is a nesting place for hunting seabirds.
We will visit the only marine weather station on Bolshoy Shantar Island, where only 2 people live and work all year round.
The trips to the national park are designed in such a way that in the morning we go out on a full-day excursion by boat, and in the evening we return to the Ongachan base.
Please note! The departure time depends on the ebb/flow phase.

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Day 4 - Cape Wrangel
On this day, we will go to Wrangel Bay.
We will pass through the Academy Bay, visit the small (without disembarkation) Shantar Islands, Yuzhny Island, and the middle eastern shore of Belichy Island.
In the late afternoon, the group will arrive at Wrangel Bay, where they will stay in tents for 2 people.

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Day 5 - Wrangel Bay
From 5 to 7 days we will spend in Wrangel Bay.
If the weather is good, it is possible to go out to sea on SUP boards. This place is one of the recognized places of whale concentration, which are frequent here.
In the bay it is possible to take walking tours of the real Far Eastern taiga, visit the observation decks.
Wetsuits and glanders for sea trips will be provided on the spot.
Important! We would like to draw your attention to the fact that in the presence of fog, wind, and waves at sea, sailing on sap boards is impossible until favorable weather conditions are established.

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Day 6 - Wrangel Bay
If the weather is good, it is possible to go out to sea on SUP boards. This place is one of the recognized places of whale concentration, which are frequent here.
In the bay it is possible to take walking tours of the real Far Eastern taiga, visit the observation decks.
Wetsuits and glanders for sea trips will be provided on the spot.

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Day 7 - Wrangel Bay
If the weather is good, it is possible to go out to sea on SUP boards. This place is one of the recognized places of whale concentration, which are frequent here.
In the bay it is possible to take walking tours of the real Far Eastern taiga, visit the observation decks.
Wetsuits and glanders for sea trips will be provided on the spot.

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Day 8 - Ongachan — Khabarovsk
On this day, before lunch, we will go out to sea again, and the passage to Ongachan awaits us.
After lunch, flight to Khabarovsk.
Helicopter flight for up to 6 hours with helicopter refueling in Briakan.
In Khabarovsk, you will be met by a bus that will take everyone to the hotels.
It is necessary to plan a flight from Khabarovsk a day later after the end of the program (the end time of the program is considered to be the time of return to Khabarovsk). This way you can relax after a long trip.

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Difficulty

Involves moderate physical activity

Accommodation

Tent

4 nights
Camp Site

2 nights

Comfort

Basic

The tour includes accommodation at Ongachan base and Wrangel Bay base.

The cost of the tour is 6,900,000 rubles for a group of up to 12 people. The tour is only for groups and the cost does not change depending on the number of people in the group.

Accommodation for 4 or 6 people in rooms.

For sleeping, there is a wooden shelf with a mattress, bed linen, a blanket, and a pillow.

The base has electricity, a sauna, showers with hot water, toilets with sanitary ware, a clothes dryer, a dining room, a campfire area, a gazebo, and ecological trails.

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Tour conditions

Group

up to 12 tourists

Minimum age

5 years old

Duration

8 days 7 nights

Group meets at

Khabarovsk city

Included in price

accommodation at tourist bases and campsites;
meals specified in the program (three meals a day);
Khabarovsk – Okhotsk Sea – Khabarovsk transfer (Mi-8t helicopter);
transfer on the day of departure/arrival helipad – hotel;
the work of a cook, instructor, guide;
obtaining permission to visit the national park;
daily hiking and boat trips (except in bad weather);
group equipment and tour equipment;
boats, boats, sapboards;
daily sauna at all bases;
electricity is available at all bases.

Paid extra

air and railway tickets to Khabarovsk and back;
accommodation in Khabarovsk before the start of the program and after its completion (in case of delays, it is paid for independently);
meals in transit in populated areas (even in case of delays)4
accident insurance;
equipment rental;
Personal equipment;
airport — hotel and city transfer;
preponderance or additional Luggage;
alcohol.

It's important to know

To move to the sea:

storm clothes, a storm suit (overalls or a jacket and trousers);
high rubber boots or waders (needed for boarding and disembarking the boat). Vaders should be without spikes.;
shoes with warm insoles;
a windproof hat;
thermal socks or insulated socks (2 pairs);
waterproof gloves (preferably neoprene);
buff or balaclava.

For light trekking and camping:

a light jacket (preferably a GORE-TEX with a hood in case of rain);
light shoes for the camp: sneakers or, for example, crocs;
trekking pants or encephalitis suit;
a baseball cap or a light beanie;
lightweight gloves;
thermal underwear (2 pieces of different degrees of warmth, so that you can choose the best option for each type of application);
sleeping bag insert;
fleece (2 pieces of different degrees of warmth);
underwear, T-shirts, socks (required quantity);
camping towel;
bathing accessories (in case you want to get into the water);
sleeping bag (+5°With comfort). If there are not enough clothes for your head, stock up on a pillow (an airplane inflatable horseshoe pillow will do);
DRYBAG type air bag (waterproof bag for all things);
a headlamp with spare batteries;
hob (seat);
a lightweight trekking backpack (if you are not a photographer) to pack the necessary small items (a bottle of water, a thermos, insulated clothes, etc.).

For swimming on boots:

Wetsuits and glanders for sea trips will be provided on the spot.

For photographic equipment:

waterproof backpack or camera bag;
A lightweight DRYBAG for the boat, so you don't have to put your camera in your backpack every time you cross the sea.

Other:

personal first-aid kit, hygiene kit (cosmetic bag, toothbrush, wet wipes, etc.);
a knife or a multitool.

Dates and Prices

from
$7,087

16 – 23 Jul 8 days 7 nights

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No need to pay now
from
$7,087

6 – 13 Aug 8 days 7 nights

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No need to pay now

Reviews

M
Marina

about provider

4 Mar, 2025

Thank you so much! Everything was wonderful.. The only downside was that we didn’t have a dedicated guide for our group.. Instead, the staff at Gorbusha Camping Resort took it upon themselves to explain everything and show us around, just like the administrator Nastenka at Wrangel Bay.

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Shantar Islands — archipelago of discoveries