KURIL LAKE:
PHOTO TOUR TO BROWN BEARS
SOUTH KURIL ISLANDS:
EXPEDITION ON A YACHT IN SEARCH OF ORCAS
2024
August 14 - 21
8 days
Bears - photo tour
Easy difficulty level
388,000 RUB
Highlights
If your goal is to see bears, there are a lot of them and they are close, then this tour is for you!
Kuril Lake is a unique place. It has the highest density of clubfoot per square kilometer in the world. Bears here are very tolerant of people and do not show aggression, since they do not feel danger from humans and have enough food. You can approach them at a distance of several meters and watch bear fishing for a long time.

Most tourists get to Kuril Lake during a helicopter excursion for just a few hours. As part of this tour, we will spend 4 whole days surrounded by bears. We will not only study the bears living near the cordon, but also make several excursions on foot and by boat to the spawning rivers, along which hundreds of thousands of salmon go to spawn.

In addition to the bear program, you can go on a cruise in the Pacific Ocean along the coast of Kamchatka in search of whales and killer whales. We will swim with curious sea lions - sea lions, meet seals, sea otters, and watch northern seabirds, Beringian ground squirrels (euras) and black-capped marmots (tarbagans). In addition, you can climb the Mutnovsky and Gorely volcanoes.
ITINERARY
Day 1 / Arrival. Adaptation, briefing
Arrival. Meeting at the airport in Elizovo and transfer to the hotel.
Today we have a very relaxed day ahead of us. Over dinner we will hold a briefing, where we will talk about the route and answer all questions. It is very important not to go to bed until the evening in order to adjust to the new time as quickly as possible.
Day 2 / Transfer to the village of Pauzhetka along the shore of the Sea of Okhotsk
Early in the morning we set off for the Kuril Lake. There are no roads here, so our transport will be special off-road jeeps that can easily overcome passes and mountain rivers. The route runs along the coast of the Sea of Okhotsk. We'll make stops at ocean shores, estuaries, and other beautiful spots to rest, take photos, have a snack, and watch the animals.
Today we spend the night in a village house with a thermal pool.
Day 3 / Transfer to Kuril Lake, check-in at the camp, bear watching
Early in the morning we set off for the Kuril Lake. There are no roads here, so our transport will be special off-road jeeps that can easily overcome passes and mountain rivers. The route runs along the coast of the Sea of Okhotsk. We'll make stops at ocean shores, estuaries, and other beautiful spots to rest, take photos, have a snack, and watch the animals.
Today we spend the night in a village house with a thermal pool.
Days 4-5 / Ozernoy Cordon on Kuril Lake. Bear watching. Boat trips to spawning rivers and trekking. Photo tour
Early in the morning we set off for the Kuril Lake. There are no roads here, so our transport will be special off-road jeeps that can easily overcome passes and mountain rivers. The route runs along the coast of the Sea of Okhotsk. We'll make stops at ocean shores, estuaries, and other beautiful spots to rest, take photos, have a snack, and watch the animals.
Today we spend the night in a village house with a thermal pool.
Day 6 / Last day on Kuril Lake. Kutkhiny Bati and mini Valley of Geysers
Early in the morning we set off for the Kuril Lake. There are no roads here, so our transport will be special off-road jeeps that can easily overcome passes and mountain rivers. The route runs along the coast of the Sea of Okhotsk. We'll make stops at ocean shores, estuaries, and other beautiful spots to rest, take photos, have a snack, and watch the animals.
Today we spend the night in a village house with a thermal pool.
Day 7 / Return to Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky
Early in the morning we set off for the Kuril Lake. There are no roads here, so our transport will be special off-road jeeps that can easily overcome passes and mountain rivers. The route runs along the coast of the Sea of Okhotsk. We'll make stops at ocean shores, estuaries, and other beautiful spots to rest, take photos, have a snack, and watch the animals.
Today we spend the night in a village house with a thermal pool.
PRICE
Price
388,000 RUB per person
Dates
August 14 - 21, 2024
Included
- Permission to stay on the territory of the reserve on Kuril Lake
- Hotel accommodation in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky (or Paratunka)
- Accommodation in tents at the Ozerny cordon on Kuril Lake, use of electricity
- Accompanying the inspector in the reserve
- Excursions on Kuril Lake, including boat trips
- Photo tour (shooting on spawning rivers among bears without fences or cages)
- Accommodation and meals in the village of Pauzhetka
- All transfers according to the program (including jeep rides to Kuril Lake and back)
- Guided Team Trip
Not included
- Flights to Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky and back.
- Food in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky.
- Medical insurance
- Expenses caused by bad weather conditions, changes in flight schedules, breakdown of personal equipment and public equipment due to the fault of guests, illness, or other unforeseen circumstances.
Your journey starts here!
Just give us some info and we'll contact you shortly.
Contacts
info@whale-expeditions.com