Hiking and ascending volcanoes

Five itineraries to choose from:

• Trip 801: A 19-day trek through the lush volcanic landscape of southern Kamchatka
• Trip 802: A 14-day trek to the rumbling heart of Kamchatka's volcanic belt, including Eurasia's largest active volcano, Kluchevskoy.
• Trip 803: A 14-day trip that will take you through all of Kamchatka's diverse climate zones, from the glaciers of Mutnovsky Volcano to the Pacific coastal zone.
• Trip 901: A 16-day trip to the most unique region on Kamchatka: the Kronotsky Biosphere Reserve. You will visit the magnificent Uzon Valley, with its rainbow-colored bubbling cauldrons; the Valley of Geysers, unknown to outsiders until the 1940's; as well as erupting volcanoes, brown bears, birds, deer and the spectacular blue crater lake of Maly Semyachik volcano.

#801. Volcanoes of South Kamchatka

SEASON: July 15^th - September 15^th
2008 departure date: August 3

An intermediate-level trek within everyone's abilities, this tour brings you to three of the most unique places in Kamchatka: the enormous caldera and two lakes of Ksudach Volcano; the peninsula's largest hotsprings, at Khodutka Volcano; and Kamchatka's most beautiful volcano, Mutnovsky.

Day 1. Arrival in PK. Transfer to hotel. Welcome dinner in city restaurant

Day 2. Helicopter flight to Ksudach Volcano (1.1 hours). Excursion to beautiful waterfall that flows out of a crater lake. Relax in hot springs.

Day 3. Explore the area around the two volcanic lakes, fish for Koho salmon, and climb Lukina Mountain (1900m) to admire the wonderful panorama of volcanoes beyond.

Day 4. Trekking to Khodutka Volcano (15km). During the hike you can observe the devastating results of the catastrophic eruption of 1907, when the entire forest for many miles was leveled by the force of the explosion. The forest still has not regrown, providing open space habitat for bears, deer, foxes and rabbits.

Day 5. Continue trekking to Khodutka Volcano (20km).

Day 6. Continue trekking to Khodutka Volcano (10km). Approaching Khodutka Volcano over the mountain ridge which surrounds it, a magnificent view opens up. In the background, the rocky cones of Khodutka and Priemysh are seen. Around the caldera itself there is a thick forest. A large green valley stretches into the distance. Here and there the thin line of the Pravaya Khodutka River is seen. The river is heated by thermal springs, and steams in the cool air as it flows into a picturesque birch forest. Base camp. Rest and swimming in the hot river water.

Day 7.A rest day on Khodutka Hot Springs where you can either relax at camp or make a day climb of Khodutka Volcano (2087 m above sea level) or Priemysh Volcano (1200m), with more terrific views of the mountainous scenery. Return to the base camp after the climb.

Day 8. Hike to the Asacha River (18 km). You will pass a picturesque valley where you can observe bears eating wild berries.

Day 9. Hike along Asacha River to the Asacha Volcano (18 km). On this day you will travel through richer vegetation with abundant wildlife, including birds and salmon.

Day 10. Hiking along a trail to Gribnaya River (23 km).

Day 11. Hiking to Gorely Volcano plateau (20 km). We leave the forest behind as we enter the alpine tundra zone.

Day 12. Hike to Gorely Volcano caldera (12km). Lava fields and volcanic ash. Make base camp.

Day 13. Ascent of active Mutnovsky Volcano (2323m). Day trip. Mutnovsky Volcano's nest of merged craters is perhaps the most beautiful volcanic phenomenon of Kamchatka. The view from its top is magnificent: steep walls surround the vast and deep crater cavity, with glittering glaciers split by cracks, and torches of fumaroles oscillating far below. Above all this a column of vapor rises from the active funnel crater.

Day 14. Ascent of Gorely Volcano (1829m) or rest day. Day trip.

Day 15. Hike to Dachnye hot springs through Pioneer pass (9 km).

Day 16. Reserve day in case of bad weather.

Day 17. Drive by 6WD to Paratunka resort. Accommodations in hotel. Rest and swimming in thermal hot-water pool.

Day 18. Return to PK. Hotel. Visit the local museum. City tour (by bus).

Day 19. Transfer to airport. Departure.

Price includes:

• Full board
• Double accommodation in hotels in city and Paratunka resort
• Airport departures and arrivals met by English-speaking rep.
• Transfers by coach, 6WD bus and helicopter
• City tour and museum entrance
• Guide, interpreter and cook services
• Visa invitation and visa registration
• Permits

SEASON: July 15^th - September 15^th
2008 departure date: July 5, July 26

A trek of stunning vistas, the route of this trek passes through the most active volcanic zone of the peninsula and along a high-mountain (1000 meters above sea level) plateau, surrounded by 9 of the highest volcanoes on Kamchatka. .Passing through a variety of volcanic scenery, some formed only 20 years ago, you will witness the beauty of the largest active volcano of Eurasia, Kluchevskoy (4850 m), and you can see where a new dome is forming in the crater of Bezymyanny Volcano. This trek will be mainly through tundra, where there are plenty of marmots, ground squirrels, foxes, and bird life, and there should be multiple possibilities to see bears.

Day 1. Arrival in PK. Transfer to hotel. Welcome dinner in city restaurant.

Day 2. Travel by 6WD bus to the old Cossack settlement of Milkovo (306 km). Here lunch will be prepared in a local restaurant and there will be a chance to stroll around the village to get a feel for Russian rural life. Continue driving north of Milkovo and camp out in the wilderness in a mixed evergreen and deciduous forest along the banks of the Kamchatka River (Kamchatka's largest river which runs northward through the central valley of the peninsula).

Day 3. Drive to Lunakhodchikov base camp (150km). The stark landscape here resembles that of the moon, and it was here that the first Soviet lunar rover was tested.

Day 4. Excursion (day trip) with visit to the lava fields created during the great eruption of 1975.

Day 5. Ascent of Plosky Tolbachik (3085m). From its summit you will be rewarded with a circular panorama featuring the Kluchevskaya volcano group and more than 50 cinder cones from the famous Holocene eruption of Tolbachik.

Day 6. Hike to Bezymyanny volcano (12 km).

Day 7. Continue trek to Bezymyanny volcano (12 km).

Day 8. Continue trek to Bezymyanny volcano (12km). Base camp near Plotina Hill. You can see Polenitsa Hill, Mars and Jupiter craters.

Day 9. Ascent of active Bezymyanny volcano (2860m).

Day 10. Hike along Studenaya River, with visit to lava canyons. View wild fauna (10km).

Day 11. Hike down to Kopyto Hill (14km).

Day 12. Drive to the Even settlement of Esso. Accommodation in private flats. Excursion to local museum. Welcome dinner with Even folk concert.

Day 13. Return to PK by 6WD bus. Hotel.

Day 14. Departure.

Price includes:

• Full board
• Double accommodation in hotels in city and Esso settlement
• Airport departures and arrivals met by English-speaking rep.
• Even folk concert in Esso settlement
• Transfers by coach and 6WD bus
• City tour and museums entrances
• Guides, interpreter and cook services
• Visa invitation and visa registration
• Permits

SEASON: July 15^th - September 15^th
2008 departure date: August 30

In two weeks you will pass through all the climatic zones of Kamchatka: from glaciers on Mutnovsky Volcano onto high mountainous tundra. Make ascents of active volcanoes, then relax in hot geothermal springs in the afternoons; gradually descend to the Pacific Ocean through subalpine, forest, and savannah areas. Encounter the bird species of each zone, see bears along the way, and watch salmon swimming up rivers to spawn.

Day 1. Arrival to PK. Transfer to hotel. Welcome dinner in city restaurant.

Day 2. Drive by 6WD bus to the Gorely Volcano caldera at the base of Mutnovsky Volcano. This caldera is an otherworldly landscape of dry ash and scattered volcanic rocks from the many eruptions of Mutnovsky and Gorely Volcanos. Here base camp is made between the two volcanos. Take short walks up the encircling ridge lines to see the large mountain marmots that inhabit the area. See the Kamchatka rhododendrons and a variety of other mountain flowers.

Day 3. Day trip to Mutnovsky volcano (2323m). Mutnovsky Volcano's nest of merged craters is perhaps the most beautiful volcanic phenomenon of Kamchatka. The view from its top is magnificent: steep walls surround the vast and deep crater cavity, with glittering glaciers split by cracks, and torches of fumaroles oscillating far below. Above all this a column of vapor rises from the active funnel crater.

Day 4. Hike down to Voinovskye hot springs (18km). The route will take us through a spectacular gorge cut by the Zhirovaya River. The alpine vegetation we have been hiking through is replaced by subalpine flora, with bushes and trees dominating the landscape. Overnight in miner's camp.

Day 5. Trek to Zhirovaya bay (16km). Hike through a birch forest along the valley of the Mutnovskaya River to its confluence with Zhirovaya River. Continue along Zhirovaya River until it opens up into the picturesque lowlands of Zhirovaya Bay. Make camp on Zhirovaya Bay.

Day 6. Rest day on the shore of the Pacific Ocean. Stroll along the expansive crescent moon beach of Zhirovaya Bay. Visit the fishing station at the mouth of the Zhirovaya River to see how Kamchatka fishermen live and work during the summer salmon run. Watch for seal heads popping up in the surf and sea birds gliding on the ocean breezes overhead.

Day 7. Hike to Zhirovskye hot springs (12km). The hike will pass through grass 2-3 meters in height.

Day 8. Trek to Viluchinskye hot springs through pass (9km). On the upper half of the ridge break out of the vegetation into high alpine meadows. A marvelous view of the Pacific Ocean and the Zhirovskye hot springs opens up below. From the pass Viluchinsky Volcano, hidden to this point in the hike, stands massive and imposing over the landscape. Descend the pass down a steep ravine and into the valley of Viluchinsky River. Make camp in the lowlands next to Viluchinsky hot springs.

Day 9. Rest at Viluchinskye hot springs (located at the foot of Viluchinsky Volcano). Visit a beautiful waterfall and look for bears.

Day 10. Drive by 6WD bus along Sukhaya River to Avacha Volcano plateau (140km). Make base camp between Avachinsky and Koryaksky Volcanoes (960m).

Day 11. Ascend Avacha volcano (2748m). Have lunch at the edge of an active volcanic crater, and take in magnificent panorama of the Pacific ocean, the city of Petropavlovsk, Koryaksky Volcano and Nalycheva Valley.

Day 12. Reserve day in case of bad weather.

Day 13. Return to Paratunka resort by bus. Accommodation in hotel. Rest and swimming in pool.

Day 14. City tour & departure.

Price includes:

• Full board
• Double accommodation in hotels in city and Paratunka resort
• Airport departures and arrivals met by English-speaking rep.
• Transfers by coach and 6WD bus
• City tour and museums entrances
• Guides, interpreter and cook services
• Visa invitation and visa registration
• Permits