The visit to tribes und peoples of Kamchatka and reindeer breeders

Tour №20.Combined. CLASSIC KAMCHATKA

Fixed departures – 2010:
18.07 - 31.07.
21.07 - 03.08.
27.07 - 10.08.
30.07 - 12.08.
02.08 - 15.08.
08.08 - 22.08.
11.08 - 24.08.
14.08 - 27.08.
The company guarantees completion of the tour on all the dates stated above.

This is a general tour which grants the best opportunity to get acquainted with all main attractions of Kamchatka: active volcanoes, hot springs, wild nature and traditional culture of native peoples without expensive helicopter flights. Nevertheless you also have an option to take a helicopter excursion to the world famous Valley of Geysers.

You’ll visit the Tolbachik volcano area in the Central Kamchatka 500 km from Petropavlovsk, where the Great Tolbachik Fissure Eruption took place in 1975-76 and has left impressive after-effects: new volcanic cones with hot summits, huge ash fields, hardened lava flows, ash-burned forest. Tops of the new cones are still blazing. The first Soviet lunar vehicles were tested in this area.
You’ll visit the crater of Mutnovsky Volcano with intensive powerful gas and steam spurts and boiling mud cauldrons. Mutnovsky is considered the most impressive Kamchatka volcano now because it is always active.

You’ll cross taiga and mountains areas rafting down the Bystraya River with good chances to see brown bears and to fish salmon.

You’ll visit national villages of native people – the Evens and get acquainted with their history, culture and present life. You’ll also have a chance to see their national holiday The Aborigine’s Day if come in proper time.

You’ll also have some time for relaxation at Paratunka Hot Springs resort.

Itinerary
1st day.Arrival at the airport, transfer to Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky (20km). Accommodation at a hotel (DBL), rest. Strolls about the city.
2nd day.Sea-trip on Avacha Bay. Seeing the sea birds colonies on Babushkin Kamen (Granny’s Stone) and Tri Brata (Three Brothers) Islands. Short trip to the Pacific Ocean up to Starichkov island. Sea fishing, seeing the seal rookery. There is a chance to see whales, dolphins. Fresh fish soup for lunch. After the boat trip driving to Mutnovsky volcano by off-road vehicle (100km). Camping for the night.
3rd day. Ascending the crater of Mutnovsky volcano (2323m) - 8 hours. Seeing active fumaroles, mud siphons, mud pots, the crater lake. The crater of Mutnovsky volcano is one of the most wonderful volcanic phenomena of Kamchatka. Steep walls with shining glaciers surround the wide and deep crater. In case ascending is difficult it is possible to return to the camp. Camping.
4th day. Ascending Gorely volcano (1829m) - 8 hours, trekking along the hardened lava flow (coulee), slag fields, seeing 3 craters with lakes in them. Driving back to the boarding house in Paratunka resort area. Accommodation (DBL), rest, bathing in hot thermal water swimming-pools.
5th day. Free day. If you want you may take a helicopter excursion to the Valley of Geysers, including flight around Karymsky (1486m) and Maly Semyachik (1560m) volcanoes, walking excursion in the Valley. This valley cannot be compared with any other unique objects in the world. There are more than 20 big geysers in the valley. Velican (Giant), Zhemchuzhny (Pearly), Sakharny (Sugary), Troinoi (Triple), Konus (Cone), Fontan (Fountain), Maly (Small), Bolshoy (Big), Shchel (Split) – are some of them. There are geysers that gush forth every 10-12 minutes, while others may erupt once in 4-5 hours. The wreathes of steam, fountains of boiling water, incredible colours of slopes, hot water streaming along them and profuse greenery of grass and trees create an enchanting spectacle. Lunch is served on the way. In the evening driving to Malky by off-road vehicle (130 km). Camping for the night. Bathing in hot springs.
6th day. Drive (460 km) to the area of Klyuchevskaya group of volcanoes by 6WD car. Lunch in Milkovo village. Crossing the Kamchatka river, the largest river of the peninsula, by ferry. Driving to the foot of one of the most beautiful volcanic formations of Plosky Tolbachik and Ostry Tolbachik. On the way in fair weather you can see the highest volcanoes of Kamchatka: Krestovsky (4057м.), Ushkovsky (3903м.), Klyuchevskoy (4750м.), Kamen (4579м.), Plosky Tolbachik (3082м.) and Ostry Tolbachik (3672м.). The place of the camp location is called The base of moon rovers. Camping for the night.
7th day.Ascending Plosky Tolbachik volcano (3080 m) on slag fields and old lava flows (7-8 hours). Ascending is not difficult. The huge crater is located at the top of the volcano (1,8 km wide, more than 500 m deep).Returning to the base camp.
8th day.Driving to the Northern break (18 km). Ascending the new Tolbachiskie cones: tiny volcanoes (about 100-200 m high). Driving to the Southern break (15 km). Visiting cones of the Southern break. On the way visiting the Dead Forest (a lot of forest hectares were covered with volcanic ashes as the result of the powerful eruption of Tolbachik Volcano in 1975) and seeing the tops of the dry trees above the 7-meter layer of volcanic debris. Returning to the camp. Camping.
9th day. Drive (150 km, 5 hours) to Esso village. Excursion to the Even national village. Accommodation at a small private hotel (2-4 persons in a room). Rest, bathing in a hot thermal water swimming-pool.
10th day. The excursion program. Visiting the Museum of Ethnography complex and the souvenir exhibition. Acquaintance with culture of aboriginals of Kamchatka. Overnight stay at the hotel.
11th day.Visiting the Handicrafts Studio. Driving back (400 km, 7 hours) by 6WD vehicle to Malky village, lunch in Milkovo village. Starting rafting down the Bystraya River. Camping for the night.
12th day.Rafting on the Bystraya River (passage of 2 rapids, there is high probability to see bears and salmon,). Fishing. Camping for the night.
13th day. End of rafting with passage of the rapids. Driving back (180 km) to the boarding house in Paratunka resort area. Accommodation (DBL), rest, bathing in hot thermal water swimming-pools.
14th day. Visiting fish market. Shopping. Souvenirs. Transfer to the airport.

Tour Highlights
• Tolbachik Volcano area – grand consequences of the recent Huge Tolbachik Eruption
• Esso – national settlement of the Evens (indigenous people of Kamchatka) with wonderful Ethnography Museum
• Bystraya River – good possibility of rafting through wild nature
• Mutnovsky Volcano – impressive active volcano with powerful gas and steam spurts and boiling mood cauldrons
• Valley of Geysers – world famous sight with more than 29 geysers

Costs: 65 000 russian rubles per person for joining in a fixed group 6-16 PAX
SGL in hotels: + 11 000 russian rubles per person
Helicopter excursion to Valley of Geysers (to pay on spot): around 23 000 russian rubles; with Uzon Caldera around 25 000 russian rubles per person

Included:

TWN accommodation
full board
all necessary transfers including arrival and departure
all necessary equipment
all excursions per program with entrance fees
subsidiary crew when needed

Not included:

air flights
optional activities and excursions to be paid on spot
insurance
visa

Every participant of the tour should have :
1) a rucksack or travel bag
2) a sleeping bag and a tourist rug
3) trekking boots or rubber boots
4) additional shoes to change
5) things for personal hygiene, bathing accessories
6) warm clothes (waterproof and windeblock jacket)
7) sunglasses
8) a hat
9) small lamp
10) gloves
11) sticks for climbing
12) the first-aid set
13) anti-mosquito spray