PETROPAVLOVSK-KAMCHATSKY- MUTNOVSKY AND GORELY VOLCANOES- AVACHINSKY VOLCANO- VALLEY OF GEYSERS
Highlights
Kamchatka is one of the most pristine destinations in the world. Barely touched by the civilization, it sees only a handful of visitors each year. Getting around by a helicopter is not the easiest thing to do, but Travel All Russia will make it easy. Discover Kamchatka volcanoes, geysers and remote mountain valleys. This is one of our most unique tours and probably the best deal for traveling to Kamchatka that you can find. Spend most of your time in the outdoors hiking, trekking, horseback riding and rafting in the stunning landscape.
Kamchatka's weather because of its location between the Bering Sea and the Sea of Ohotsk is changeable. It can be glorious or just like any rainy, gloomy day anywhere. Tours dependent on helicopters are subject to weather delays and even cancellations. The helicopter excursion to the Valley of the Geysers does not operate during May and June. September and October already attract some snow and thus some itineraries that operate during the summer months cannot operate during this time.
Logistical details
Drivel will meet you in the airport and drive you to hotel. This day you will rest after the flight and get ready for your journey. Nex day you will board the truck for the ride to the wondrous Mutnovsky and Gorely volcanoes. Upon return you will have an option of staying in the hotel and exploring Petropavlovsk - Kamchatskiy on your own, or taking a taking an optional excursion to famous Valley of the Geysers. Alternatively there are many other activities planned. On the last two days enjoy the ascent of Avacha volcano.
Hotels
Hotel Bel-Kam-Tur ****
One of the best hotels of Kamchatka
Important Notes
This itinerary takes you to one of the most remote parts of the world. All though services have improved in the last couple of years, we will encounter problems with delays, bureaucratic conditions, bad road conditions, uneven surfaces and steps and unavailability of public bathrooms. Please also note that weather circumstances may change each day's activity as to take advantage of good weather. Good physical condition will be beneficial for making this journey.
This program requires flexibility and good humor. Every effort will be made to follow the itinerary; however there is always the possibility of changes.
We work only with tour operators who adhere to the following basic ecotourism principles.
Our Eco-tourism Guidelines
1. Make tourism and Conservation compatible
2. Support the preservation of wilderness and biodiversity.
3. Use natural resources in a sustainable way
4. Minimize consumption, waste and pollution
5. Respect local cultures
6. Respect historic and scientific sites
7. Communities should benefit from tourism
8. Trained staff is the key to responsible tourism
9. Make your trip an opportunity to learn about the destination and its people
10. Follow safety rules
Weather
Summer season is usually warm and sunny in Kamchatka. However, the weather in Kamchatka is extremely changeable and runs from storms, to heavy rain, to fog or glorious weather. We have no control over weather patterns and so one always has to be prepared for all types of weather
Please be prepared by wearing layered clothing, take woolen or silk underwear and certainly raingear and excellent hiking boots or shoes
Itinerary
Day 1: Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky
Today you will arrive at the capital city of Kamchatka, world's famous home of volcanoes. At it's relatively small territory of 270,000 square kilometers there are more then 12% of worlds active volcanoes.
Driver will meet you in the airport and take you to your hotel. You can explore a city on your own, but we would recommend to take a rest before the start of you amazing journey around the Kamchatka Volcanoes.
Day 2: Viluchinsky Volcano
Drive by trucks to Veluchinsky Volcano. Viluchisky volcano is situated to the south-west of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatski. The volcano is extinct. It elevates 2,175 m. above the sea-level. In winter it is a good place for alpine skiing and snowboarding. In the south-east part of the foot there are hot springs.
Mutnovsky Volcano is one of the biggest volcanoes in the South of Kamchatka. It has a complex structure and a long history of development. The most astonishing thing that differs the ascent on Mutnovsky Volcano from other ones is that the path goes in the break inside the volcano itself.
Day 3: Ascent Mutnovsky
Mutnovsky Volcano is one of the biggest volcanoes in the South of Kamchatka. It has a complex structure and a long history of development. The most astonishing thing that differs the ascent on Mutnovsky Volcano from other ones is that the path goes in the break inside the volcano itself.
The walk to the crater is a single trail and back. No one should wander off alone, because the grounds are very unstable and potentially hazardous. The walk is nearly 7 km from the camp site with a rise of less than 600m into the main caldera. The trucks go as far as possible. On the way you pass the two hills of Skalisty and Dyugorby, which are actually very old volcanoes. Beyond the trail one can observe past old bore holes spouting steam.
Day 4: Gorely Volcano
Depart the camp after breakfast towards Gorely. From the lake flats, walk up the volcano, climbing steadily to gain 750 m in height. You trek over a mixture of rough grassy tundra with very low dwarf willow and bare stripes of basaltic lava. Some lava flow structures are recognizable and there are also patches of volcanic ash redistributed by the winds. Higher up, long gently graded snow-fields provide the easiest route up (and certainly the best way to come back down). The first large crater contains a cold lake about 100 m below; its surface has ice floes from a small glacier on its internal slope. The walls of all the craters expose profiles through thick sequences of lava flows. You will have a picnic lunch on the edge of the crater. Over 100 m down, a hot acidic lake has active fumaroles around its margin and beneath the surface. The recent eruptions of Gorely have been largely steam events produced when vents heat up and increase their output. Return back along the outward route to the trucks by the lake.
Day 5: Free day in Petropavlosvk-Kamchatsky, or the Valley of Geysers
This is a free day for you to take rest after the Mutnovsky and Gorely Volcano excursion. You can enjoy the city of Petropavlovsk - Kamchatsky on you own, or take a chance to explore one of the famous Kamchatka sights - The Valley of Geysers.
There are no roads that lead to the Kronotsky natural Reserve, the place of this natural wonder. You will travel to the site on the helicopter.
Day 6: Avacha Base Camp
Avachinsky volcano (2,751 m.) – is one of the most active volcanoes, tenderly called “domestic” by the residents of Kamchatka. You’ll see it sitting in a plane making turn and giving you a sight of a big steaming volcano. An ideally-shaped snow-white cone, steaming fumarole and Koryaksky volcano in the background, which by the way, activated in 2008 and three big fumaroles started to steam. While ascending Avachinsky volcano, you’ll realize the meaning of “walking over clouds”…
Day 7: Avacha Climb
A majestic view opens from the edge of the crater. To the south there are towns of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatski and Elizovo, Gorely and Mutnovsky volcanoes, to the North there is the valley of Nalychevo river. Besides, the weather permitting, while ascending a view of a massive cone of Koryaksky volcano opens. It activated in 2008 and a dense white-grey cloud of fumaroles gas rises very high.
Day 8: Departure
The morning is free for last minute shopping. Your incredible adventure in Russia came to its finish line.
Your driver will meet you in the hotel lobby and take you to the airport.
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