VLADIVOSTOK - KHANKA LAKE
Highlights
Every inch of East Russia can be considered a natural paradise. There are a few cities in the southern part of Primorsky Krai, but most of the territory is a vast arboretum. Some of these territories are set aside as national parks and some are set aside for scientific purposes.
Kedrovaya Pad is closest to the city of Vladivostok. This is the territory of the Siberian Snow Leopard, of which less than twenty are left. Lake Khanka is well known for its variety of cranes and is also close to the private reserve for the Amur Tiger, overseen by Victor Yudin. More to the south is the Pearl of Prirmorye, the Far Eastern Marine Preserve, a beautiful area known for its shorebirds.
See pictures and videos of the
Russian Far East
Logistical details
Arrival to Vladivostok is on Saturdays. These itineraries are for any type of travelers and include walking and hiking, but not a lot. Accommodations except for those in the city of Vladivostok are wooden cabins or cottages that might necessitate sharing a bathroom. Transportation is by four-wheel drive and in some cases may be on unpaved roads.
Included:
• All transportation by ground and on water, transfers, etc.
• All excursions as noted in the itinerary
• English speaking Tour Managers
• All meals as noted in the itinerary
• All accommodations as noted
• All other entrance fees to preserves and reserves
Excluded:
• International airfare
• Communication costs and other personal items
• All alcohol if not provided by the local Tour Manager
Hotels
Hotel Primorye (Vladivostok)
With its prime location on the Amursky Bay, this hotel is situated perfectly for both business as well as leisure clients. It is close to the downtown business center, shopping, entertainment, and the railway station. The hotel offers comfortable rooms with all western amenities.
Other accommodations will be in cozy cabins and small country lodges. There will be no single rooms available other than in the city of Vladivostok.
Important Notes
This itinerary takes you to one of the most remote parts of the world. Although services have improved in the last few years, we will encounter delays, bureaucracy, bad road conditions, uneven surfaces, and the unavailability of public bathrooms. Please note that weather circumstances may change each day's activities.
This program requires flexibility and good humor. Every effort will be made to follow the itinerary, but there is always the possibility of changes
Our Ecotourism Guidelines
We work only with tour operators who adhere to the following basic ecotourism principles:
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
Weather during the summer season can be warm and sunny but also rainy. Please be prepared for walks in the forest by bringing rain, sports gear, and excellent hiking boots or shoes.
Itinerary
Day 1: Saturday, Vladivostok
Welcome to Vladivostok, one of eastern Russia’s gems! The drive from the airport to the city will take approximately one hour depending on traffic. On the way you will travel through the outskirts of the city, passing the Satornaya District with its colorful dachas. You will arrive at the Hotel Primorye in the middle of town take a refreshing walk to one of the oldest cafés in Vladivostok, Nostalgia, where you will feast on a delicious Russian dinner.
Vladivostok
A city of more than 600,000 inhabitants spread over rolling hills, Vladivostok may remind some of San Francisco. It is one of Russia’s largest ports, and though most of its activity has changed from military to trade, its rusty naval ships still make fascinating tourist attractions. The pockets of lush green parks between newly renovated architectural wonders establishes the city's magnificent ambiance.
Day 2: Sunday, Ussurisky Reserve
Take a scenic ride through to the Ussurisky Reserve, a lush natural haven filled with unique flora and fauna. On the western edge of the southern Sikhote-Alin mountain range, the reserve lies in the basin of two rivers, the Komarovka and the Artemovka. The coniferous broadleaf forest that surrounds the Ussurisky Reserve is among the last remaining intact habitats of the Siberian (Amur) tiger, the largest cat in the world. Your next stop is Victor Yudin's Tiger Reserve, dedicated to the protection and preservation of the Amur Tiger. You may make a small contribution to the reserve by purchasing one of their vibrant tiger photos. You will continue to the Khankaisky Reserve, where you will overnight in cozy wooden cabins.
*All meals included
Day 3: Monday, Khankaisky Reserve
Small boats will take you into the Khankaisky Reserve where you will observe an incredible variety of birds. Lake Khanka will be the site of your picnic lunch, a stunning backdrop with its vibrant expanse of crystal-blue water. Five low ridges extend parallel to the eastern shore of Lake Khanka, previous coastlines of the lake separated by swamplands. Because the lake is surrounded by marshlands, it presents a unique opportunity to observe rare bird species. Lake Khanka received the status of a Ramsar Wetland of International Importance in 1971, nearly twenty years before the reserve was established. In 1996, Russia and China signed a bilateral agreement to create the Lake Khanka International Nature Reserve, combining the Khanka Reserve with the Chinese Sinkai-Khu Nature Reserve.
*All meals included, Country Cottage accommodation
Day 4: Tuesday, Country side
Today is a day of leisure in the countryside. You may go for a hike around the picturesque lake, visit with the neighbors, or return to Lake Khanka for more bird watching.
*All meals included, Country Cottage accommodation
Day 5: Wednesday, Kedrovaya Pad Reserve
Today you will return to Vladivostok to visit the nearby Kedrovaya Pad Reserve, the oldest in East Russia. When you arrive you will take the "Leopard’s Trail,” designed to show the most scenic parts of the Reserve. You will stay within the Reserve at their Hotel Yelena and enjoy a typical Russian Banya in the evening.
Kedrovaya Pad Reserve
Located east of the Amursky Bay and on the Chinese border, the Kedrovaya Pad Reserve includes all types of Ussurisky taiga. More than 900 kinds of diverse plants grow on the Reserve, half of them from other parts of the region. You will find eight kinds of maple trees and five kinds of birch trees in the Reserve, with some plants that can only be found in this unique place. There are altogether 240 different kinds of birds on the premises, as well as roes, spotted deer, wild boars, raccoon dogs, and Himalayan bears. The main pride of the Reserve is the Far Eastern leopard, which can only be found on this specific reserve. The population of this rare predator totals only thirty, including a few families who are a constant feature.
*All meals included, Hotel Yelena accommodation
Day 6: Thursday, Far Eastern Marine Reserve
Today you will explore the islands of the Far Eastern Marine Reserve and spend the night on the Rimsky-Korsakov Islands in the Reserve’s special cabins.
Far Eastern Marine Reserve
The Far Eastern Marine Reserve was the first in Russia to protect the marine ecosystem. The Reserve sits in the extreme southern point of the Russian Far East, in the Peter the Great Bay. The Peter the Great Bay is the most biologically rich part of the Sea of Japan and has the highest level of marine diversity of any sea in Russia. The unique, biologically-rich environment is partly explained by the climatic conditions, as the Reserve is located at the meeting point of warm and cold maritime currents. Regular mammals in the bay include porpoises and seals, while whales, killer whales, and sea lions migrate to the waters occasionally. More than 360 species of birds can be found in the terrestrial area, which only occupies 2% of the Reserve.
Day 7: Friday, Far Eastern Marine Reserve
Today you will explore the Reserve and head back to Vladivostok late in the afternoon. A hearty farewell dinner waits at one of the restaurants overlooking the bay.
*All meals included, Hotel Primorye accommodation
Day 8: Saturday, Departure
After breakfast you may enjoy either a city tour or relax in your room. You will leave at noon for the airport.
*Breakfast and Lunch are included