2 nights in the nature reserve

We leave Petropavlovsk very early, around 5:30–6:00 a.m. We will travel across the entire Kamchatka Peninsula, first to the west coast to the Sea of Okhotsk, and then almost to the southernmost tip of the peninsula to the village of Pauzhetka. On the way, we will pick up some of our tourists from the Nachiki Hotel, who are taking the full “Bears, Volcanoes, and Killer Whales” tour.

During this day, we will pass endless tundras, drive through the villages of Oktyabrsky and Ust-Bolsheretsk, see fishing on the seashore, and possibly spot our first bears. We will reach our destination by nightfall, around 10:00-11:00 p.m. We will check into a lodge, where we will share rooms.

Rest after a long journey. No difficult excursions are planned for the day. We will learn how people live far from big cities in the southernmost settlement of Kamchatka. One of the items on the program is a visit to the Pauzhetskaya geothermal power plant, the first in Russia and one of the oldest in the world. The power plant generates electricity to power several villages and fish processing plants using the earth's energy.

After visiting the power plant, we head to the fumarole fields, which are actually the reason why it works. These are natural hot steam vents from cracks in the ground. You can smell the characteristic smell of sulfur in the air, and the ground is colored bright orange and yellow.

We conclude the excursion with a swim in a hot river, which is fed by thermal springs and maintains a comfortable temperature even in winter.

We will travel to the reserve border in our own transport, and from there we will be met by the reserve's transport, which will be accompanied by an armed inspector. The inspectors monitor the safety of tourists. We will stay in a tent camp surrounded by an electric fence.

Today, there is a planned excursion to the fish counting barrier, where scientists keep track of the fish entering Kuril Lake. A bridge has been built across the river, from which the group will be able to observe the bears fishing up close. Experts will explain how they conduct scientific research, how they record passing fish, their life cycle, and how they overcome obstacles on their way from the ocean.

This is the first night in the reserve itself. There is already a fully equipped kitchen and toilet facilities here.

In the morning, we will go on an excursion to one of the shores of Kuril Lake. Participants will find themselves right in the middle of the action. Here, at the mouths of small rivers, many bears gather, sometimes several dozen. They come to the lake for spawning sockeye salmon, and you can watch these huge predators deftly hunting fish, solving conflicts with each other, or simply sleeping on the shore. Thanks to specially equipped observation platforms and the guidance of experienced reserve inspectors, guests can feel safe while being very close to wild animals.

We will spend the second night in the nature reserve, surrounded by wilderness.

The last day of the trip is dedicated to one of the places of power – Kutkha's boats. They are located on the banks of the Ozernaja River and are tall white pillars of volcanic tuff, which resemble giant boats placed vertically. This is why a legend of the indigenous peoples associated with the boats of the Kamchatka raven Kutkha originated here.

We will also travel the remaining distance to the reserve boundary by transport. We will spend the night in a familiar cottage in Pauzhetka.

Today we have a long journey to Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. Filled with impressions and emotions, the return road will seem shorter to us. Along the way, we enjoy the views and landscapes that we did not see on the first day. We arrive very late, around 11:00 p.m. to midnight.