View bears

and other wildlife

Kamchatka is one of the best places in the world to view brown bears in their natural habitat. Perhaps the best place in Kamchatka to view bears is Kurilskoe Lake, a remote area where salmon come to spawn, and bears come to feed, late each summer. If seeing bears is your primary interest, you can choose from two options: Trip 106 is a 7-day trip to Kurilskoe Lake. Trip 101 starts with the 7-day Kurilskoe itinerary, and then adds on one of our volcano tours, trip 805. The result is a 10-day trip that lets you experience the geologic and animal wonders of the Peninsula. You will also likely see bears on any of our trekking trips

Two itineraries to choose from:

Trip 101: Bears and Volcanoes

SEASON: May 1 - June 15
2008 Tour Dates (for individuals looking to join larger groups): August 3, August 19

Ringed by mountains and situated in an ancient volcano crater, Kurilskoye Lake is one of Kamchatka's trademark destinations. Stay in a comfortable wooden lodge on the lake's shores and take part in some of the best bear viewing on the peninsula. Watch the massive pink salmon run and take boat excursions on the lake to view Stellar Sea Eagles nesting. 

After Kurilskoye Lake you'll join trip 805 (Geologists and Volcanologist tour of Kamchatka) in progress on the plateau of Mutnovsky Volcano. At the end of this trip you will take a spectacular helicopter flight to visit the famous Valley of Geysers and Uzon Caldera.

Day 1. Arrival in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. Transfer from the airport to a hotel. Meet your guides and prepare for the trip. Welcome dinner in a city restaurant.

Day 2. Flight by MI-8 helicopter to Ksudach Volcano (1hr). Make an excursion to the crater lake of Schtubelya (situated inside Ksudach Volcano) and visit a lovely waterfall where water cascades out of the crater. Visit hot springs that create a "hot beach" on the lake's shore. Short flight to Kamchatka's famed Kurilskoye Lake. Accommodation in a small cozy wooden lodge on Grassy Point. The lodge is two stories with 2 bunk rooms of 5 people each on the second floor. One, 5 person bunk room and a dining room are situated on the first floor. A "wrap around" deck affords a gorgeous view of Kurilskoye Lake and surrounding mountains. Often it is possible to watch bears fishing along the lakeshore without even leaving the territory of the lodge. Make an excursion along the lake's pumice rock beach. In-camp instruction.

Days 3-4 View Kamchatka brown bears, Stellar sea eagles, salmon spawning places from a motor boat. Take walking excursions with local wardens to a nearby bear view platform (250 meters from the lodge) that is located at the mouth of the many rivers that drain into Kurilskoye Lake. Here you'll have a good chance of taking great, close-up shots of bears fishing for migrating salmon. The salmon pause briefly in the lake and then make their way from the lake into the streams where they spawn. Take longer walking excursions to a large meadow where bears feed on wild berries and visit other spawning streams farther from the lodge. Along these streams you'll see spawning salmon and many signs of the large number of bears in the area. There's a good chance you'll see bears fishing just a few yards away as you walk along the banks of streams.

Day 5. Take walking excursions with local wardens to a nearby bear viewing platform (250 meters from the lodge). Evening helicopter MI-8 flight to stop for a soak in the thermal hot water of the Khodutka River. This is the largest wild hot springs on Kamchatka. The water bubbles out on a section of tundra located just under Khodutka Volcano and forms a small stream. Farther from the source the water slowly cools and you can find the location where the temperature is right for you to take a swim. The helicopter will then take us to the tent camp on Mutnovsky Volcano plateau, where our 4 or 6WD truck and Russian team awaits you. Overnight in tent camp.

Day 6. Trek into Mutnovsky Volcano crater.

Day 7. Trek to Gorely volcano. In the evening, return to a hotel in the Paratunka Valley. Rest and swim in pool with thermal hot water.

Day 8. Breakfast in hotel, then return to Petropavlovsk Boat excursion in Avacha Bay.

Day 9. Breakfast in hotel. Helicopter flight to Valley of Geysers. Excursion in Valley.

Day 10. Depart Kamchatka

Price includes:

• Full board
• Double accommodation in cabins, hotels in city and Paratunka resort
• Airport departures and arrivals met by English-speaking rep.
• Transfers by coach and helicopter
• City tour and museum entrances
• Visit to Valley of Geysers and Uzon Volcano caldera
• Guide, interpreter and cook services
• Visa invitation and visa registration
• Permits, Kronotsky Reserve visitor and photography fees

SEASON: July 1 - September 15
2008 Tour Dates: August 3, August 19

This tour gives you the opportunity to observe and photograph Steller's sea eagles, brown bears, and other wildlife at the height of summer and salmon spawning season. This short, one-week, tour combines well with our other Kamchatka tours. We have scheduled this trip to allow you to add this destination to your itinerary either before or after your main tour.

Day 1. Arrival in PK. Transfer from airport to hotel. City tour including visit to a local museum. Meet your guide and prepare for the trip.

Day 2. Flight by MI-8 helicopter to Ksudach Volcano (1hr). Make an excursion to the crater lake of Schtubelya (situated inside Ksudach Volcano) and visit a lovely waterfall where water cascades out of the crater. Visit hot springs that create a "hot beach" on the lake's shore. Short flight to Kamchatka's famed Kurilskoye Lake. Accommodation in a small cozy wooden lodge on Grassy Point. The lodge is two stories with 2 bunk rooms of 5 people each on the second floor. One, 5 person bunk room and a dining room are situated on the first floor. A "wrap around" deck affords a gorgeous view of Kurilskoye Lake and surrounding mountains. Often it is possible to watch bears fishing along the lakeshore without even leaving the territory of the lodge. Make an excursion along the lake's pumice rock beach. In-camp instruction.

Days 3-4.  View Kamchatka brown bears, Stellar sea eagles, salmon spawning places from a motor boat. Take walking excursions with local wardens to a nearby bear view platform (250 meters from the lodge) that is located at the mouth of the many rivers that drain into Kurilskoye Lake. Here you'll have a good chance of taking great, close-up shots of bears fishing for migrating salmon. The salmon pause briefly in the lake and then make their way from the lake into the streams where they spawn. Take longer walking excursions to a large meadow where bears feed on wild berries and visit other spawning streams farther from the lodge. Along these streams you'll see spawning salmon and many signs of the large number of bears in the area. There's a good chance you'll see bears fishing just a few yards away as you walk along the banks of streams.

Day 5 Take walking excursions with local wardens to a nearby bear viewing platform (250 meters from the lodge). Evening helicopter MI-8 flight to stop for a soak in the thermal hot water of the Khodutka River. This is the largest wild hot springs on Kamchatka. The water bubbles out on a section of tundra located just under Khodutka Volcano and forms a small stream. Farther from the source the water slowly cools and you can find the location where the temperature is right for you to take a swim. Accomodation in hotel

Day 6 Boat excursion around Avacha Bay with fishing and Ukha (fish soup). Visit Starichkov Island to view sea birds and mammals (6 hours in total). This tour is a unique opportunity to see the fascinating surroundings of Petropavlovsk from the sea, to explore the shores of the Avachinskaya Bay, and to watch colonies of seabirds in their natural habitats.

Day 7. Shopping for souvenirs. Departure.

Price includes:

• Full board
• Double accommodation in cabins, hotels in city and Paratunka resort
• Airport departures and arrivals met by English-speaking rep.
• Transfers by coach and helicopter MI-8
• City tour and museum entrances
• Tents
• Guide, interpreter and cook services
• Visa invitation and visa registration
• Permits