Kamchatka Expedition

Arrive Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky

Upon arrival in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky you will meeting with your guide. You will be transferred to the city or Paratunka resort area hotel. After checking in you can rest and unwind. In the evening there will be a briefing with a mountain guide and an equipment check.Overnight: Paratunka Resort Hotel or similar

To Kozyrevsk Village

After breakfast we will have a transfer to the village of Kozyrevsk in a specialist expedition vehicle. Lunch will be in the old Cossack settlement of Milkovo. If the weather is fine, on your way there you will have the opportunity to enjoy great views of the highest volcanoes of Kamchatka: Krestovsky (4057 m), Ushkovsky (3903 m), Klyuchevskoy (4750 m), Kamen’ (4579 m), Plosky Tolbachik (3082 m) and Ostry Tolbachik (3672 m). Upon arrival we'll check into our traditional local guesthouse and sit down to a hearty evening meal. Drive: 502km, 8-10hrsOvernight: Local guesthouse

Tolbachik Dead Forest

Following an early breakfast this morning, we begin our travels with a transfer to the foot of the Ostry and Plosky Tol¬bachik Volcanoes – the area of the Great Tolbachik Fissure Eruption in 1975–1976 years. The road runs through abandoned fields, forest and ancient lava field, covered with pine trees, cedar elfin wood, berry fields and rises to the boundaries of the Dead Forest. Further, through the Dead Forest, our tour to the cones of the North breach of the Great Tolbachik Fissure Eruption. We will set up camp and enjoy lunch before an excursion to the cones. Return to the camp. Hot dinner by the fire. Drive: 4-5hrsOvernight: Tented camp

Tolbachik Volcano Trek

This morning begins with an early breakfast, after which we depart for the foot of the volcano Plosky Tolbachik (2.5 km). We will make an ascent of the crater of the volcano Plosky Tolbachik (3082m) and have a box lunch at the top. We have about an hour to tour round the crater and surrounding landscapes. Plosky Tolbachik features a wide area of its apex with a shallow caldera which is 3.7 km in diameter and filled with ice. In its western part there is an active crater. The crater is about 2000m in diameter with the depth of about 500m. From the top there is a circular panorama of the volcanoes of Klyuchevskaya group and a hundred of scoria cones located on the Southern slope. This is where the Great Tolbachik Fissure Eruption of 1975–1976 years occurred. Return to the camp for dinner around the camp fire. Trekking: ~8hrsOvernight: Tented camp

Tolbachik Lava Fields

After breakfast we will trek to the New Tolbachik Fissure eruption of 2012–2013. Here we walk through lava fields and take in the cones of the New Tolbachik Fissure eruption of 2012–2013. We'll have time to observe the lava caves and fresh lava flows, both already solidified and still hot. From here we will return to the camp for a hot dinner by the fire. Overnight: Tented camp

To Esso Village

Today after breakfast we will transfer to an ESSO settlement - the cultural center of indigenous people of Kamchatka. We can enjoy a rest and unwind from the journey. Bathing in thermal pool under the open sky. Dinner. Overnight: Local guesthouse

Kamchatka's Indigenous Peoples

Today is a rest day. After breakfast we will have an excursion to the Ethnographic (Even/Koryak) Museum & art galleries. We will stop by the info-center of Bystrynsky park to see an old documentary from 1920ies shot by a Swede Sten Bergman during his expedition to Kamchatka. In the afternoon after lunch we will visit Evene's ethnic-center, which provides an introduction to the culture of the indigenous peoples of Kamchatka. Hosts will talk about the history of Aboriginal people, show a colorful local ethnic dance program, and you will taste local dishes & herbal tea with pies. We finish the day with a transfer to our accommodation and we can rest in a thermal pool.NB: Optional (own expense): transfer to the helipad and flight to the reindeer herd. The route runs over the vast expanses of wild tundra, surrounded by picturesque mountain ranges. Arrival to the herd, meeting with the nomads, learning about their unique culture and way of life, traditions and skills of reindeer herding. Tasting of fresh deer meat cooked on the fire. Rest in the Yurt. Return to Esso.Overnight: Local guesthouse

Rafting Day - Bear spotting

After an early breakfast, we transfer to the start point of our rafting adventure down the Bystraya River. Your expert guide will provide a safety briefing and answer any questions after which it will be time to launch the raft and start the adventure. This is an easy day of rafting downstream and does not require any previous rafting experience. There are a few gentle rapids along the route but the vast majority is very much a time to relax and take in the beautiful surrounds. The brown bears are attracted to the river to fish and so rafting is one of the very best ways to see the bears. Lunch on the shore will be a Russian fish soup “ukha”. The end point of the rafting adventure is in Anavgay settlement (25km from Esso). We will be met on the banks of the river and transferred to our accommodation where you can relax in the thermal pool.Overnight: Local guesthouse

Return to Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky

After breakfast we will drive back to Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky city with a stop in the old Cossack settlement of Milkovo for lunch. We will make our way to our hotel accommodation where we can rest and unwind from the days travel. Drive: 530km, 8-10hrsOvernight: Paratunka Resort Hotel or similar

Southern Volcanoes

We will have an early breakfast before departing by cross-country vehicles to the area of the Mutnovskaya geothermal station. Here we will enjoy an excursion to the Dachnye Thermal Springs, known as the Mini Valley of Geysers. Transfer to the plateau of the Mutnovsky Volcano. Upon arrival we will set up camp and have a hot dinner by the campfire. Drive: 120km, 4hrsOvernight: Tented camp

Mutnovsky Volcano Trek

Once we're done breakfast we will make our way to the crater of the Mutnovsky Volcano (2323m). The path runs through a pumiceous pass, from where there is a magnificent view on the caldera and Gorely, Opala and Asacha Volcanoes. Further, we will trek to the crater through the gorge along the snow patches with a slight ascending (6km, 3hrs). Life here is boiling in the ordinary sense of the word. Active fumaroles, steam emissions, mud pools, a fantastic volcanic landscape as well as formation of minerals and volcanic sulfur place the Mutnovsky Volcano on the same footing as the best volcanic rocks of the world. Observation of fumarol fields and emissions of native sulfur (2hrs). After lunch (lunch box) we will trek to the picturesque waterfall in the canyon “Opasny”. Return to the camp.Trekking: ~7-8hrsOvernight: Tented camp

Gorely Volcano Trek

Our transfer leaves after breakfast. This morning we will journey to the foot of the Gorely Volcano (1829m), which is a ridged massif formed of numerous confluent cones. It has several active craters. One of the most beautiful craters of the volcano is the Chasha crater, with a cold glacial lake of a greenish-blue color inside. Caldera of the Gorely Volcano is a geological natural monument. (Ascent 3–4hrs) Lunch will be at the top (lunch box) where we can explore the craters and admire a beautiful panorama. Descent. After dinner we will return to the city hotel.Trekking: ~6hrsOvernight: Paratunka Resort Hotel or similar

Mount Verblud Trek

Our departure after breakfast is to the foot of the Avachinsky Volcano. We will arrive at the tourist base, located at the height of 740 m above sea level. Check-in (2-4 people per room, sleeping bags). From here we will undertake an acclimatization trek to Mount Verblud (Camel) (1250m), located on the pass between Avachinsky and Koryaksky volcanoes. In fact, it is solidified lava flows, the result of eruptions and Earth’s crust motion. The mountain has two sharp peaks, that is why it got its name. It is a geological natural monument. Watching panoramic views of the volcanoes Avachinsky (2751 m), Koryak (3456m), Zhupanovsky (2300m), Vilyuchinsky (2175m), Dzenzur (2923m). There is time for taking photos and watching marmots (tarbagans). Return to the camp. Hot dinner. Drive: 50km, 2-3hrsOvernight: Base camp (multi-share)

Avachinsky Volcano Trek

Our day starts with an early breakfast and ascent of the crater of the Avachinsky Volcano (2751m). The path runs along the western slope of the volcano and the ridged crest of the ancient stratovolcano. The jamb of the slope in the pre-hill reaches 30°. From the top there is a beautiful view on the volcanoes of the Zhupanovskaya group, the Kozelsky Volcano, vast expanses of the Pacific Ocean, the massive cone of the Koryak Volcano (3456m). Lunch on the top (lunch box). After dinner we will drive back to the city.Trekking: ~10hrsOvernight: Paratunka Resort Hotel or similar

In Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, trip concludes

After breakfast it will be time to check out and take your transfer to the airport, where the trip concludes.