Kamchatka in July: In The Edge of the Earth
Day 1 - Meeting at the airport and hotel accommodation
After flying over the whole Russia, you land at the airport of Elizovo city where our guide picks up you and transfers to the hotel which is located in the riverhead of Paratunka river, in the village of the same name. This health resort zone is famous for its therapeutic thermal springs. There are a lot of resort zones there.
Day 2 - Kamchatka in July
This day the chief guide makes a decision depending on the weather conditions to climb the top of Avachinsky volcano or neighboring Camel mountain if Avacha cone is ice-covered.
Day 2.1 The climb of Avachinsky volcano
Avachinskay sopka is one of the most active volcanos located in close proximity to Petropavlovsk-Kamchatski city. It has a height of 2741 meters. This is one of the most favorite and visited place for citizens. Every year in summer a festival named “The day of Volcano” is held at the foot of the volcano and hundreds of mountaineering lovers come to celebrate this day there.
We leave the city about 7 a.m. The ascent is a protracted one but has no technical complexity; it doesn’t require a special physical training. But it’s not just country walk. You need to show courage and fortitude. A special attention should be given to that the professional equipment isn’t required but telescopic trekking poles will be an invaluable aid to your joints during ascend and descend which takes about 8-10 hours.
The guides accompanied the group will set the right climbing pace in order that every participant manage to climb to the top. Let fortune and good weather smiles upon you! The ascent starts from the base which is located at the foot of the volcano. The path passes through the tangle of creeping pine and alder. While climbing higher we can see a distant view of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatski and the edge of ocean waters merges with dazzling blue sky on the horizon. Avacha’s majestic neighbor - Koryaksky volcano is accompanying you for the whole day.
We have halt at a height of 2000 meters, have a snack and rest. We need to gather strength for the next step of our climb – the main cone. Finally, here is a top! You are proud of yourself because you could cope with doubts, feebleness and fears. It was worth it! After having a brief respite we go to observe the crater. It looks like a large cavity which is filled to the brim by solidified lava. We can admire numerous fumaroles actively emitting clouds of sulfides into the air. Let’s take a stroll along the edge of crater and feel our smallness in front of immensity and magnificence of wild nature. Sit down and feel how warm the surface of volcano is. This is just a miracle! Boiling magma and volcano activity is only 5 kilometers from the surface.
We return back through the descending slag path. You need to take care of your feet. The little parts of slag may be a cause for unpleasant problems. Therefore we recommend you to wear good trekking shoes during climb. Have a night in the hotel.
Day 2.2 The second variant is a climb of Camel mountain and a walk along the foot of Avacha volcano.
The mountain is situated next to Avachinsky volcano and has a height of 1200 meters above sea level and a relative height of 200 meters. Upon arrival our guide conducts safety briefings and then our group can go on a route. The route to Camel mountain passes between Koryaksky and Avachinsky volcanoes. Surroundings are enough unusual and picturesque. You can snap a lot of terrific photos for memory. After trekking we return back to the hotel by 6 p.m.
Day 3 - Trip to Viluchinsky volcano and waterfall, bathing in wild hot springs
This day is devoted to Viluchinsky volcano. This is a dormant stratovolcano. It has a height of 2175 meters. It is situated at the crossroads of Vilucha and Bolshaya Sarannaya rivers, at upper reaches of Paratunka river. Viluchinsky volcano is very beautiful. Its slope is indented by deep barrancos, running down radially from the top to the ledge.
We drive up to right to the foot of the volcano. Then we follow the trail passing through tangle of alder, somewhere through the rocks and even through snowfields, and finally, we come to the north-west slope. Having coped with simple climb we see the waterfall which has a height of 50 meters. Return back to the hotel by evening.
Day 4 - Bystraya river rafting
We all are looking forward to go fishing - spinnings, tackles and spoon-baits and everything that a real fishermen needs for fortunate fishing are prepared. The vehicle transfers you to the camp, to the place of rafting start. The road isn’t long and takes about 2 hours. Rafts are ready. Experienced guide, driving the rafts during the whole route and having responsibility for tourist’s safety, are waiting for you.
Rafting Bystraya river is not a sporting event. This is breathtaking fishing, excitement, but also contemplation and enjoyment of nature surrounding you. In our rivers you can catch such noble salmons as chinook salmon, blueback salmon, chum salmon, hunchback salmon, silver salmon and local trout – mikizha and loach. How delicious the grayling, the purest fish in Kamchatka, which can be eaten raw, pre-marinated in sauce!
Fishing goes on and there is a lot of fishes on the stops so many people follow the rules of sport fishing - “tag and release”. During(On) the main halt you can taste the real Kamchatkan fish soup of fish you catch, fry it on fire or bake it in the leaves of nettle. You can also taste caviar which is cooked in a quick “5 minutes” way. Your neighbors are often bears, big lovers of fishing in such places. So be careful and don’t leave far away from the camp.
The rafting is finished, we are full of impressions, but that’s not all! We get in the vehicle which is already waiting for us and we drive to Malkinski thermal hot springs. These springs are very popular with local population. Water temperature drop is from warm to hot in the small ponds, located by a group. It is time to return back to the resort zone.
Day 5 - A boat trip over Avachinsky bay to Starichkov island
This day we take a boat trip to Starichkov island. You will know what bird colony is and breathe real ocean air. The whole beauty of Kamchatkan coast will be opened up for you. An excellent sea boat picks us up and then we will get a view of Avachinsky bay which holds the second place by size in the world. And among other things it never freezes in summer or winter!
We observe neighboring surroundings and fishing vessels which are in the roads. The military base of nuclear submarines is located at the opposite shore of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatski. Way out of the bay lies through the narrow passage popularly known as “Vrata” (Gateway). And here it is the Pacific Ocean! While getting out you have a view of the most romantic rocky pinnacles – Tri brata (three brothers). They are a visiting card of our city. These giants have a lot of legends. You will know one of the variations.
We pass by another interesting sea stack (cone-shaped rock is? of natural origin) which named as Devil’s Finger rock. It is impossible to distract the view from the contours of the coast where cliffs are sticking out of water. Starichkov island is protected area. It was named after the seabird – murrelet (“Starik” (old person) in Russian) which is listed in the Red book. There are more than fifty thousand species nesting on this small-sized island. An observer will be deafened and impressed by the bird colony.
Our boat stops in the most interesting places in order to enjoy the surrounding beauty and take pictures. Our stop is near the island. You have a possibility to fish - in coastal waters you can catch such fishes as greenling, halibut, bass and numerous other fish species or watch how the diver take the sea-stars and urchins from the sea floor. You can see a lot of reefs and rocks which surround the island during the low tide. Two stoned guards are on the watch of this wonderful place – such sea stacks as Karaulny and Chasavoy. The seals, having rest on warm rocks, is gazing at you with curiosity, thousands birds are flying aloft. This territory is a natural monument. Whales and dolphins are frequent guests in our waters; maybe we will have luck to see them? We can taste a wonderful fish soup and caviar of urchins.
Well, it is time to return back.
Day 6 - History city sightseeing tour and a trip to Khalaktyrsky beach
Acquaintance with the city and a walk along the shore of the Pacific Ocean. Petropavlovsk-Kamchatski city is small, it has around 180 thousands inhabitants but it is one of the oldest cities of the Far East. Its history is covered with name of such legendary explorers as Bering, La Perouse, Cook. The city is situated among the hills (sopkas). From one side, it is surrounded by beauty, Avachinsky bay, from the other side, it has a view of such volcanoes as Koryaksky, Avachinsky, Kozelsky.
Our next route is to Khalaktyrsky beach of the Pacific Ocean. It has a length of 30 kilometers and its uniqueness is black sand. It is a quite pleasure to lie back on this sand. Besides, it is very healthy as it contains a lot of minerals and microelements which help to get rid of many diseases.
You can hear rumble of ocean from far away, and views, presenting to the eye, shock imagination. The powerful waves crash onto the shore leaving behind the flakes of the white spoondrift. We invite romantics to mediate there and the brave ones can get in the cold waters and dip into the ocean located at the edge of the Earth. Well, our journey finishes and we return back.
Day 7 - Transfer to the airport and farewell
Good Bye!
