Private Expeditions

Three Expedition Formats

Kamchatka Expedition Programmes

Choose the eight-day core route, the expanded Ultima expedition, or the February–April winter Volcano Frontier scenario. Route order can shift with weather and helicopter logistics.

Day 1

Arrival in Kamchatka

Transfer to the hotel. An evening cultural programme with representatives of Kamchatka’s Indigenous communities.

Day 2

Whales, Orcas and Pacific Fishing

Take a boat into Russkaya Bay and toward Cape Kekurny to look for orcas, humpbacks and Steller sea lions, then fish the Pacific waters.

Day 3

Kronotsky Biosphere Reserve

Helicopter access to the Valley of Geysers, Uzon Caldera, Kronotskoye Lake and the remote Kronotsky Liman. Stay at Aurora field lodge.

Day 4

Klyuchevskoy Nature Park and Tolbachik

Helicopter overflight of Ostry and Plosky Tolbachik and Klyuchevskaya Sopka, followed by a walk through lava fields and the Dead Forest.

Day 5

Kamchatka River Fishing

Travel by motorboat to salmon-spawning grounds on the peninsula’s main river.

Day 6

Return to Paratunka

Transfer from Aurora field lodge to the Country Hotel Secrets of Kamchatka in Paratunka.

Day 7

Mutnovsky Volcano

Travel by 4×4 to the foot of active Mutnovsky Volcano. Walk to the crater viewpoint, then visit the canyon and the Opasny Waterfall.

Day 8

Departure from Kamchatka

Transfer to the airport with a stop at the fish market.

Accommodation

The programme uses Aurora field lodge on the Kamchatka River and the Country Hotel Secrets of Kamchatka in Paratunka, with its thermal pool.

Day 1

Arrival in Kamchatka

Transfer to the hotel.

Day 2

Whales, Orcas and Pacific Fishing

Take a boat into Russkaya Bay and toward Cape Kekurny to look for orcas, humpbacks and Steller sea lions, then fish the Pacific waters.

Day 3

Kuril Lake and Bear Country

Fly into the South Kamchatka Sanctuary for Kuril Lake, the Kutkhiny Baty cliffs and bear watching. End the day fishing the river.

Day 4

Northern Kuril Islands

Fly around the volcano island of Alaid, land on Shumshu, then continue over Ebeko Volcano and Onekotan with Krenitsyn Volcano.

Day 5

Mutnovsky Volcano

Travel by 4×4 to the foot of Mutnovsky Volcano. Walk to the crater viewpoint, then visit the canyon and the Opasny Waterfall.

Day 6

Kronotsky Biosphere Reserve

Helicopter access to the Valley of Geysers, Uzon Caldera and Kronotsky Liman, with an overnight at the Airfield ranger station in the heart of the reserve.

Day 7

Klyuchevskoy Nature Park and Tolbachik

Helicopter overflight of Tolbachik and Klyuchevskaya Sopka. Lava flows, vast cinder fields and a walk through the Dead Forest.

Day 8

Reindeer Herders’ Camp

Fly north across Kamchatka to watch reindeer herds and meet Even and Koryak families.

Day 9

Kamchatka River Fishing

Travel by motorboat to salmon-spawning grounds on the peninsula’s main river.

Day 10

Weather Reserve Day

A reserve day protects the programme against Kamchatka’s changeable weather and helicopter logistics.

Day 11

Departure from Kamchatka

Transfer to the airport with a stop at the fish market.

Accommodation

The route combines Aurora field lodge, a guest house at the Airfield ranger station in Kronotsky Reserve and the private Khetik base in southern Kamchatka.

Day 1

Arrival and First Contact with Kamchatka

Airport meet-and-transfer to the Snezhaya Dolina mountain base. Settle in, meet the guides, complete the briefing, then ride snowmobiles for three hours. The evening ends in a thermal-water pool.

Day 2

Heli-Skiing on Volcanoes

Fly into the ski zone. Weather and group ability determine descents on Vilyuchinsky, Avachinsky, Aag, Arik, Mutnovsky or Zhupanovsky volcanoes, including a line toward the Pacific. Lunch is served in the field.

Day 3

Snowmobile Safari to Mutnovsky

A snowmobile loop through mountains and volcanoes. Visit Mutnovsky’s crater, walk among fumaroles and sulphur fields, have lunch in the field, then return to base.

Day 4

Indigenous Camp and the Pacific

A cultural programme at the Kainyran camp: dance, song and time with Indigenous traditions. After lunch, travel to Khalaktyrsky Beach and walk the Pacific shore.

Day 5

Programme Close

Breakfast, ground transfer to the airport and departure. Activity order may change with weather and snow conditions.

Accommodation

Stay at the Snezhaya Dolina mountain base. The programme runs from February to April and adjusts to group ability, weather and snow conditions.