8 days
Fixed dates
10 people
from 10 years
Basic
Guest house or camp site, Hotel
Russian
Gastronomy, Trekking, Excursion tours
The pristine beauty of nature, fields of hardened lava and the stormy ocean, from which you can hide in quiet bays, dormant volcanoes and ancient lighthouses - all this makes up the unique beauty of Sakhalin and the Kuril Islands. Perhaps these are the most exotic regions of our country, a visit to which will amaze even the most experienced traveler.
In one trip you will see two of the most amazing southeastern regions of our country.
On Iturup (Kuril Islands) we will visit masterpieces of nature created by ancient volcanic eruptions and reminiscent of scenes from science fiction films: the Yankito plateau, full of bizarre shapes and lines, the beautiful White Rocks and Black Stones, which are very similar to the legendary Giant's Causeway in Ireland. Iturup is a land of harmony and contrasts: the calm Parusnaya Bay and the crystal streams of the waterfall with the romantic name Maiden's Tears, the steamy slopes of the active Baransky volcano and the mirror waters of Kasatka Bay, which witnessed the most important and tragic pages of history. And on Iturup we will visit numerous thermal springs, where you can relax after active days and feel the healing power of the local waters. The most famous and beautiful locations of Sakhalin also await you.
We explore the cozy green Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, where Russia and the East are strangely intertwined. Let's go to Cape Giant and Bird, where the elements have created bizarre stone arches, where hundreds of birds nest in numerous grottoes, and our path will run through the Forest of Fairies. And, of course, it is impossible to imagine a trip to Sakhalin without seafood delicacies. Here you can taste seafood caught literally before your eyes. To do this, we will go to the gastronomic lake Busse, where we will see the oyster island and taste oysters during a master class with the chef.
The hotel is located opposite a picturesque park area, it has its own spa, sauna and several restaurants where you can enjoy Japanese, Asian, Serbian and international cuisine. Elegant, spacious rooms are decorated in light colors and have everything for a pleasant and comfortable stay. Rooms on the upper floors offer panoramic views of the hills surrounding Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk.
The hotel has a very advantageous location - a couple of steps from Victory Square, at the very foot of Mount Bolshevik, along which ski slopes are laid and which you can climb by cable car to see the panorama of the city from above. The hotel rooms are decorated in a discreet classic style. The hotel has a restaurant, bar, sauna, karaoke and even its own water park.
A mini-hotel with a homely, friendly and relaxed atmosphere. The rooms here are small, but very clean and comfortable, equipped with everything you need, with showers, coffee/tea station, hairdryer, iron, small work area. The hotel also has a cafe with European and Oriental cuisine. Guests especially appreciate the hearty and inexpensive breakfasts.
A guest house with an ideal location - on the shore of Whale Bay, a few steps from the observation deck. The hotel is distinguished by its miniature size: there are only 6 double rooms, which means that on any visit you will receive maximum attention and care from the staff. Quiet atmosphere, friendly communication, cleanliness and homemade breakfasts, beautiful views from the windows - all this will make your stay at the “Pearl” pleasant and memorable.
We will meet you at the airport and take you to your hotel, after which you will have some free time to relax. After lunch we go on a sightseeing tour of the regional capital. Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk is a cozy, green city with a fascinating history. We will see its main attractions - the Victory Memorial Complex, the Cathedral of the Nativity and the Museum of Local Lore, located in an unusual building built during the Japanese period in a traditional oriental style. We will also go up to the observation deck to see the city from above. In the evening, a welcome dinner awaits you, where you will taste seafood delicacies - one of the brightest impressions of your trip to Sakhalin.
After breakfast we go to the airport and head to the Kuril Islands. We will land on Iturup Island at the airport of Kurilsk - one of the smallest cities in our country, with a population of about 2.5 thousand people. After checking into the hotel, you will have an excursion to the most famous natural attraction of Iturup, the Yanquito lava plateau. Volcanic lava, frozen after an ancient eruption, has taken on fantastic shapes. Bizarre lines of dark rocks washed by ocean waves, almost complete absence of vegetation and endless expanses are a truly wonderful sight, both harsh and enchanting.
Today you will see the numerous wonders of Iturup: its unusual landscapes, unique landscape and healing gifts of Nature. After breakfast we leave for the White Rocks. On the way, we will stop at Olya Bay, where fresh water from rocks is collected into the cleanest reservoirs of a salmon hatchery. Then we will get to the White Rocks: snow-white slopes topped with green grass, you want to contemplate and photograph endlessly. Also on this day we will visit the Black Stones, which, due to their regular multifaceted shape, seem to be the creations of human hands, but in fact were formed under the influence of the elements. After lunch on the coast, we will go to the Vetrovoy Isthmus, Parusnaya Bay and the Maiden's Tears waterfall. The day will end at the Zharkie Vody thermal spring, where you can feel the healing power of the Kuril hot springs.
We continue to explore the wonders of Iturup. We will go to Kasatka Bay, where fantastic landscapes are intertwined with the most important milestones of history. Numerous caves and grottoes, dark sand and water surface (this place is even called the “Mirror Beach”), bird colonies and a beached tugboat - the local species are conducive to calm walks in meditative silence. We will return to Kurilsk for lunch and then head to the active Baransky volcano. Numerous mud and thermal springs are scattered on its slopes. The unique Boiling River originates here, the temperature of which in the upper reaches is close to the boiling point. Clouds of steam, amazing colors of mineral deposits and the sound of water. After your walk, you can relax in the thermal springs located in the lower reaches of the river.
In the first half of the day we will visit another thermal springs, which are called “Baths”. A beautiful water and health complex has been built around them, which is pleasant to stroll through and where there are many interesting photo zones. Local waters help with neurological, cardiovascular diseases and diseases of the musculoskeletal system. Then you will be transferred to the airport, farewell to the picturesque Iturup and return to Sakhalin, where new discoveries and natural wonders await.
After breakfast, we go to the “calling card” of Sakhalin - Cape Velikan. Along the way, we will be accompanied by a variety of picturesque views: calm Lake Tunaicha and Lake Izmenchivoye surrounded by mountain slopes, a sand factory on the shore of the Sea of Okhotsk and dense forests. We will also make a stop to take a look at the Sakhalin landscapes and sea from the observation deck at the top of the mountain pass. Our destination is Cape Ptichy, from which we will walk along the coast to Cape Giant. “Forest of Fairies”, stone arches, mysterious grottoes, hundreds of birds - the atmosphere here is absolutely magical. At Cape Giant, where the clearest cold waters break on ledges, carving out amazing sculptures from them, you will have the opportunity to take many photographs. Then we will have lunch with seafood overlooking the sea and walk to a beautiful waterfall.
In the previous days of the tour, you have already tried more than once the seafood delicacies for which Sakhalin and the Kuril Islands are famous. But today will be a real gastronomic adventure. We are going to Lake Busse, which, without exaggeration, can be called a paradise for all seafood lovers. Along the way, we will make several stops at picturesque locations to take photos: the port city, Mount Sadness and an observation deck from which you can see seals. Arriving at the lake, you will meet the chef and take a boat ride to the oyster island. Then, sitting in tents on the shore, you will taste a hot lunch prepared by the chef from the freshest seafood, and also take part in a master class on eating oysters. In the evening - return to Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk.
Airport transfer. See you again!
Children aged 10 years and older are allowed to participate in the program.
The price of the tour does not include air travel, including flight from Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk to Kurilsk and back (RUB 14,400). There will also be an additional charge if you require single occupancy.
There is a lot of walking on the program, so we recommend taking hiking boots and comfortable sportswear. Also keep in mind that it is windy on the coast, so take a windbreaker, windproof pants, and a hat. For thermal springs you will need a swimsuit.
We will take care of this. The cost of the pass is also included in the tour price.
In Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk we accommodate in 4-star hotels. Kurilsk is a very small and remote settlement, so here you will live in small, but very cozy and clean guest houses.
Ask questions to the tour coordinator
Tour from an official tour operator from the Rostourism register
