2026
July 15 - 25 
July 30 - August 9 
August 6 - 16
11 days
Adventures 
Whales
Orcas
SUP-boards
Easy difficulty level
385,000 RUB
What's coming?
We are setting up in a comfortable camp area (with Russian sauna at our disposal) ashore the Sea of Okhotsk with individual and two-man tents. Every single day we are watching bowhead whales from the beach and from inflatable sup-boards.

The second part of our trip will take place on Ongachan tourist-base at convenient warm lodges. We will do 1-day boat trips to Shantar Islands
Bowhead whales!
Sup surfing, watching with drones.
Killer whales!
Looking towards a horizon each day in a hope to find high fins of killer whales passing by. Sometimes we will see orcas attacks for bowhead whales. 
Shantar islands!
A Unique corner of the planet. There are no men but the wild nature in its original state: giant bowhead whales, rocky rookeries, brown bears and spawning salmon. A trip to this amazing picturesque place will surely become a trip of a lifetime. 
ITINERARY
Day 1 / Khabarovsk
Arrival to Khabarovsk, check-in in a hotel, free time to rest or to have some short walk around the city or along central embankment of Amur river.
Day 2 / Khabarovsk – Nikolaevsk-na-Amure – Wrangler Bay
Domestic flight to Nikolaevsk-na-Amure town (1 hour 35 minutes). Automobile transfer to Perovski Cape by a gravel and forest roads (around 2-3 hours). Transfer by a high-speed catamaran from Perovski Cape to Wrangler Bay (around 4-6 hours, depending on a weather). Accomodation in a camping, russian sauna, dinner.

* In case of a late flight arrival, an overnight stay on the coast of the Sea of Okhotsk and a morning transfer to Wrangel Bay will be arranged.
Days 3 - 5 / Watching whales in Wrangel bay

Next 3 days we will spend watching bowhead whales in Wrangel bay.

The bowheads inhabit cold waters of the Northern hemisphere, their "southern" flock abides in the Sea of Okhotsk. They come in the bay for socialization and for hiding between shoal waters from killer whales. To be unnoticed by the animals while getting close we are going to use inflatable sup surfing boards. Also we will set special photo traps in a nearest forest area to catch some land animals in the frame. 
Last year we got brown bears, foxes and reindeers. And our photo trap had even tiger shot. 

Different trekking routes along the bay are available as well so we may walk and observe whales from upper points and rocks. Each our group for this kind of tour is accompanied by professional Team Trip biologist who conducts interesting lectures about sea mammals every evening. Accommodation in individual tents, russian sauna, comfortable inflatable mats are provided. A sauna will be available each day.

We’ll be able to hike along the bay’s trekking trails and watch whales from the cliffs.

Walking excursions: We’ll offer guided walks to observation decks, the grotto, the “Whale Rocks” viewpoint, and the camera trap site.
Day 6 / Ongachan bay
In the early morning we'll go to Ongachan bay through open oceanic waters of Academy gulf by speedboats (68 kilometers, 2- 2,5 hours by open sea). We will encounter flocks of different types of seabirds – tufted puffins, ducks, seagulls. Route involves meeting bowheads and killer whales with some luck. We'll be accommodated in a comfortable warm tourist lodge (in four-man rooms) on the shore of Ongachan bay. There is also some good lodge infrastructure, such as cozy common lounge area, few nice view points, etc.
Day 7 / Big Shantar Island
The largest island of the Shantar archipelago.

There are semiprecious jasper-slates, white quartzes and marble veins right on the surface. We will also visit the only insular meteorological station with its four staffers servicing it and living there all year round. There's ruined whaling plant nearby the station, so workers of the Shantar Islands National Park will conduct an excursion into its history for us. 

We will see Utichy Island as well – it's a nesting place for many different types of sea-birds. 

Each day spent in the Shantar Islands National Park implies full day sea-sailing excursion starting from the early morning and turning back to Ongachan base in the late evening.
Day 8 / Small Shantar Islands
Today, weather permitting, we’ll visit Small Shantar Island and Belichy Island, disembark, and explore these fascinating places.
In the evening, we’ll arrive in Ongachan, and after dinner, we’ll relax.

You can spend time by the fire or enjoy the evening with friends.
Day 9 / Nikolaevsk-na-Amure
6-7 hours boat transfer to Perovski Cape, then automobile transfer to a hotel in Nikolaevsk-na-Amure town.

The boat journey will take from 5 to 7 hours, then about 3 hours by minibus.
Day 10 / Khabarovsk
Domestic flight from Nikolaevsk-na-Amure to Khabarovsk (1 hour 35 minutes), transfer to a hotel.
Day 12 / Flight home
Transfer to the airport. Departure. 
PRICE
  • Included
    • All transfer under the trip program.
    • Air tickets for domestic flights to Nikolaevsk-on-Amur and back.
    • Accommodation in a hotel in Khabarovsk – 2 nights.
    • Accommodation in a hotel in Nikolaevsk-na-Amure.
    • Accommodation in camping and tourist base (including use of common infrastructure and sauna)
    • 3 meals per each day of the trip (except meals in cities ).
    • Providing tents.
    • Rental sup surfing boards, wet suits and weight belts for free diving (we recommend to bring personal wet suits because of lack of needed sizes for rent).
    • Rental tents and mats.
    • Rental warm sleeping bags.
    • National park permits.
    • Team Trip biologist-guide.
    • Daily walking and boat excursions (except inclement weather).
    • Showers and saunas.
  • Dates and cost:
    2026:
    July 15 - 25 
    July 30 - August 9
    August 6 - 16

    385,000 RUB
  • Not included
    • Flight tickets to Khabarovsk.
    • Accident insurance with a helicopter extraction option.
    • Meals en route in populated areas (including in the event of delays).
    • Personal equipment.
    • Excess or additional baggage on domestic flights.
Additional information about the area:

  • In summer, Khabarovsk usually experiences hot weather, with temperatures ranging from 20°C to 33°C.
  • Average water temperature – plus 5
  • Time difference with Moscow – minus 7 hours
  • In the Sea of Okhotsk and its bays, temperatures range from 8°C to 15°C. At night, they can drop to 2°C.
Recommended list of personal equipment
  • For sailing:
    • Storm-weather suit (water- and wind-proof overalls or jacket and trousers)
    • High watertights or waders (for taking up or set down in a boat). Waders mustn't have thorns.
    • Warm insole boots
    • Wind-proof hat
    • Thermal or wool socks (2 pairs)
    • Water-proof gloves (neoprene recommended)
    • Buff or balaclava
  • For trekking and camping:
    • Light jacket with a hood (GORE-TEX recommended)
    • Light boots (sneakers or crocs)
    • Trekking trousers or anti-tick suit
    • Ball cap or light hat
    • Thermals (2 types: thin and thick)
    • Sleeping bag liner
    • Gloves
    • Fleece sweater (2 types: thin and thick)
    • Underwear, T-shirts, socks (sufficient amount)
    • Towel
    • Swimming suit
    • Sleeping bag (0 degrees Celsius comfort limit). Inflatable pillow if needed.
    • Dry bag (100-120 liters for all your stuff)
    • Head lights (spare batteries)
    • Day pack (30-40 liters small backpack to put necessary stuff while trekking: thermos, flask, additional clothes etc.)
  • For sup-boarding:
    • Wetsuit (5-7 millimeters)
    • Wet socks
    • Wet gloves
  • For photography equipment:
    • Water-proof backpack or dry bag
    • Small dry bag (for sailing on boat)
  • Rest of stuff:
    • Personal first aid kit, cosmetician, tooth brush, wet napkins etc.
    • Multi-tool, Swiss army knife
  • Personal equipment needed: 
    • Comfortable boots, 2 pairs (trekking boots, sneakers) 
    • Thermal clothes 
    • Head light 
    • Insect Repellent 
    • Waterproof jacket and pants 
    • Rain coat 
    • Warm hat, socks, gloves, sweater 
    • Wetsuit, mask, snorkel, fins, wet gloves and socks 
Your journey starts here!
Just give us some info and we'll contact you shortly.
Contacts
info@whale-expeditions.com