The Kamchatka Volcanoes Trek (Russia)

The Kamchatka Peninsula is one of the most active volcanic regions along the Pacific Ring of Fire. At least a dozen or more of all volcanoes there have currently active vents. A majority of the volcanoes are composite stratocones, and the youngest are located along the eastern half of the peninsula. Kliuchevskoi, one of the most active and renown volcanoes in the world, dominates Kamchatka's main cluster of volcanoes: the Kliuchi Group. Two major volcanic ranges lie in a north, north-eastern line, the older, less active range occupies the central and western half of Kamchatka. The younger, more active belt begins at the southern-most point of the peninsula and continues upward along the Pacific coastline. Kamchatka's immense volcanoes, calderas, lava flows and ash deposits are testament to this region's volcanic nature. Kamchatka is the most spectacular region in Russia where wildlife nature was preserved. The land of fire and ice where a brilliant mountains, glaciers, hot mineral springs, active volcanoes and the mighty Pacific Ocean are found in a harmonious combination.

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Itinerary:

Day 1. Arrival to Kamchatka. Meeting at the airport. Transfer into Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky (30-40 min). Accommodation in a hotel. ~ 14:30-15:00 City tour (3 hours). Meal: -/-/-

Day 2. Drive to vehicle of the raised passableness on a volcanic plateau at bottom of the Mutnovskybvolcano (120 km). On a way of a stop at stream «Zaikin key» («Silver stream»), on Viljuchinsky pass. If road and weather conditions the walking tour on Dachnie hot springs (3 km, 2 hours) is possible allow. Setting up a tent camp. Overnight in tents. Meal: B/L/D

Day 3. Walking tour to the crater of the Mutnovsky volcano by one of two routes: long (12 km in one direction) or short (3 km in one direction). The route is selected depending on the state of the snow cover and the possibility of driving before the start of the short route. The deep crater is surrounded with cliffs. From the eastern side to the very bottom of the crater a glacier descends from the top. Mighty jets of steam and gas are released through glacier cracks. There is a lot of boiling mud pots, fumaroles, and beautiful deposits of burnstone on the crater bottom. Hiking to the crater (6 km, 3 hours). Level difference is about 800 meters.Observation of the crater. (2 hours). Snacks (packed lunch). Return to the camp at the same way. On the way observation of the waterfall in Opasny (Dangerous) Canyon. Duration 8-10 hours. Overnight in tents. Meal: B/L/D

Day 4. Drive to Gorely volcano on a truck . Ascent of Gorely volcano (800 m > 1829 m). Ascend of the volcano is not difficult. The path lies on old lava flows, slag fields. Kekurniks – hardened lava remains of various shapes are very interesting. Ascend takes 3 hours. Level difference is about 900 meters. Snacks on the top. Observation of main craters of the volcano. (1-1.5 hours). The whole trip takes 6-7 hours. Return to the truck on the same way. Dinner. Drive back into Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky with visiting of Paratunka hot springs and bathing in a water pool. Accommodation in a hotel. Meal: B/L/-

Day 5. Departure to the moorage. Sea trip to Russian Bay (9-10 hours). Observing panorama of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, the Avacha Bay. Entering the Pacific Ocean to Starichkov Island named after murrelet birds pronounced in Russian as «Starik», which nest there. Observing of bird colonies, mixed with guillemot, kittiwake and cormorant. The next stop is Kekurny cape, Russkaya bay. We meet another one sea habitant - sea lions on Kekurny cape located at the entrance of water area. There is their area of rookery. The large boars weighing up to one tone always watch over their harem and sometimes they may fight with each other. The little baby animals which already have a weight of 15-20 kilograms at birth, move to and fro close by. Sea fishing greenling, lenok, flat fish. Lunch on board. Return.
~ 18:00-19:00 Dive to Avacha volcano in volcanic plateau area, between Avacha and Koryaksky volcanoes, located on 900 meters about sea level. Time driving 2,5-3 hours. Accommodation in a tourists’ shelter. Dinner. Overnight in a house (4-6 persons in a room, sleeping bags). Meal: B/L/D

Day 6. Ascent of Avacha volcano (2751 m). Ascent of the western slope of the volcano and range like crest of the ancient strato volcano. The remains of the ancient volcano round the young cone as «a collar». Angle of the slope in pre-top part is up to 30°. A fine view opens from the top to Zhupanova group of volcanoes, Kozelsky volcano, spaciousness of the Pacific Ocean, Koryaksky volcano massive cone. Snacks on the top, observation of the crater. Return to the camp at the same way. Ascent distance – 8 km. Duration of ascent 6- 8 hours; descent takes 3-4 hours. Dinner. Overnight in a house. Meal: B/L/D

Day 7. A walk to the Camel Mountain. Departure to the Khalaktyrsky beach. Black sand, the power and energy of the Great Ocean, sea air, peace. Return to Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. Overnight at the hotel. Meal: B/L/D

Day 8. Transfer into the airport. Departure. Meal: B/-/-

Tour highlights: Kamchatka is a peninsula comparable in size to Japan. It is washed by the Pacific Ocean and the Bering and Okhotsk Seas. Russia's large volcanic belt, made up of 29 active craters, stretches along its shore.Tolbachik volcano - its eruption of the century is called the Big Cleft Tolbachinsky eruption and it is considered one of the largest basalt eruptions ever known in the volcano belt of the Kuril Islands and Kamchatka. It lasted for one and a half years (July, 1975 - December, 1976) and was included in the list of the six most powerful cleft eruptions ever happened on the Earth. The lava has been thrown to a height of 2,5km in the skies. All surrounding woods have been buried and many rivers and lakes disappeared. Uzon Caldera (this is a term to specify a ring-like hollow) developed 40 thousand years ago on the site of a huge volcano destroyed by a set of bursting eruptions. The last cataclysm inside the kaldera (8,500 years ago) left its trace as a blasting crater about one kilometer in diameter. Gorely volcano is like chain from 11th craters lying one by one, with lakes, fumaroles, and also a great number (about 40) of secondary slag cones with lava torrents; in expose parts of ancient construction you can clearly study the process of transformation of volcano products, in particular, transformation of crumbly pumice. Gorely is great geologist object. Mutnovski volcano is a compound volcanic massif of height 2323 m. above sea level. It has numerous and various fumarolic fields where one can see all different forms of modern gas-hydro-thermal activity with magnificent structures of volcanic sulfur of 2,5 m. high and 5 m. in diameter. Some of these structures contains rare minerals, such as markazite and metacinnabarite. Not far from the active craters, glaciers and lakes, thermal springs are located.

Recommended travel period of the year: July - August

Necessary equipment:   Backpack for personal belongings, a small backpack to 30 liters for excursions and climbing, sleeping bag(for temperatures up to -5 ° C), polyurethane pad (karemat), sturdy shoes with corrugated soles, removable shoes, a windbreaker or a cheater, wind-proof pants, set of warm clothes (sweater or fleece jacket, socks, hats, gloves), rain cover, light cap, bathing accessories, personal care products, sunglasses, flashlight, protection against blood-sucking insects, protection against sunburn, individual first aid kit.

 

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Price Includes:
Transfers
accommodation and boarding as described above
English-speaking guide
all ground transfers
visa support
cook services
camping equipment (tents
mattresses
pots for cooking)

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Not Included:
Flight tickets
tourist visa
travel insurance
drinks and meals not mentioned
optional tours
tips
personal expenses

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Vacation Extensions:
World Class Fishing In Kamchatka (Russia)

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Gallery

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