The Shantar Islands,
Wrangel Bay: Bowhead whales, killer whales, white whales.
Wrangel Bay: Bowhead whales, killer whales, white whales.
25 July – 6 August, 2021
27 July – 8 August, 2021
3 - 15 August, 2021
5 – 17 August, 2021
27 July – 8 August, 2021
3 - 15 August, 2021
5 – 17 August, 2021
Whale watching expedition
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 the Shantar islands, residential in the Ongachan tourist-base at convenient warm lodges.
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, especially looking forward meeting former prisoners of the «Whale Prison» fully adapted in a wild and in a good health.
By the way, killer whales attacks on bowheads are frequently recorded in the Wrangler Bay area, so that we're going to have a chance to watch this wildlife event.
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
25 July – 6 August, 2021
27 July – 8 August, 2021
3 - 15 August, 2021
5 – 17 August, 2021
27 July – 8 August, 2021
3 - 15 August, 2021
5 – 17 August, 2021
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.
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). Sailing 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.
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). Sailing 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Days 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.
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 - 9
Archipelago of the Shantar
During next days we will travel around archipelago of the Shantar – national park located on wild islands. On Bolshoy Shantar island 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.
During next days we will travel around archipelago of the Shantar – national park located on wild islands. On Bolshoy Shantar island 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 10
Wrangel bay
We will come to Wrangler bay again this day. Depending on a weather, we will pass Belichy and Yuzhny islands, Seneca Cape, the strait of Lindholm. Route involves meeting bowheads and killer whales with some luck. Overnight in a camping.
We will come to Wrangler bay again this day. Depending on a weather, we will pass Belichy and Yuzhny islands, Seneca Cape, the strait of Lindholm. Route involves meeting bowheads and killer whales with some luck. Overnight in a camping.
Day 11
Nikolaevsk-na-Amure
4-6 hours by a boat trip from Wrangler Bay to Perovski Cape than automobile transfer to a hotel in Nikolaevsk-na-Amure town.
4-6 hours by a boat trip from Wrangler Bay to Perovski Cape than automobile transfer to a hotel in Nikolaevsk-na-Amure town.
Day 12
Khabarovsk
Domestic flight from Nikolaevsk-na-Amure to Khabarovsk (1 hour 35 minutes), transfer to a hotel.
Domestic flight from Nikolaevsk-na-Amure to Khabarovsk (1 hour 35 minutes), transfer to a hotel.
Day 13
Khabarovsk
Transfer to the airport. Departure.
Transfer to the airport. Departure.
Price:
275 000 RUB per person*
25 July – 6 August, 2021
27 July – 8 August, 2021
3 - 15 August, 2021
5 – 17 August, 2021
*15 000 rubles rebate for children until 15 years
275 000 RUB per person*
25 July – 6 August, 2021
27 July – 8 August, 2021
3 - 15 August, 2021
5 – 17 August, 2021
*15 000 rubles rebate for children until 15 years
- Included:
- All transfer under the trip program.
- Domestic flight tickets to Nikolaevsk-na-Amure 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 a café).
- 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.
- National park permits.
- Team Trip biologist-guide.
- All transfer under the trip program.
- Not included:
- Flight tickets to Khabarovsk.
- Accident insurance with a helicopter extraction option.
- Rental warm sleeping bags (3 000 rubles per rental)
- Flight tickets to Khabarovsk.
Additional information:
- The Weather
- Average air temperature – from plus 15 to plus 20 degrees Celsius
- Average water temperature – plus 5
- Time difference with Moscow – minus 7 hours
- Average air temperature – from plus 15 to plus 20 degrees Celsius
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- 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
- Comfortable boots, 2 pairs (trekking boots, sneakers)
- Rest of stuff:
- Personal first aid kit, cosmetician, tooth brush, wet napkins etc.
- Multi-tool, Swiss army knife
- For photography equipment:
- Water-proof backpack or dry bag
- Small dry bag (for sailing on boat)
- For sup-boarding:
- Wetsuit (5-7 millimeters)
- Wet socks
- Wet gloves
- 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
- 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 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
It's easy to book with us!
The process of booking becomes easy with Whale Watching Russia.
- 1Contact usHowever you like: phone or WhatsApp +79163114469, email info@whale-expeditions.com, using Facebook or fill the application form below
- 2We will call you backOr write a message. We will answer all your questions, explain all the details and discuss your personal wishes
- 3Deposit paymentWhen you are ready to book expedition, we would ask you to pay the deposit, usually it's 50% of the price. You can pay the rest later, the last payment day is 60 days before expedition start.
- 4Done!You got your space on the trip, it's time to buy plane tickets! By the way, we can help you with tickets and visas if needed.
Contacts
info@whale-expeditions.com
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