DESCRIPTION:

Kamchatka is without exaggeration one of the most spectacular regions in Russia. Here one can find an abundance of beauty: snowcapped volcanoes, steaming geysers and thermal hot springs. Wildlife abounds amid the mountains, tundra, forests and rugged coastline, to create a wonderland for any adventurous traveler. Kamchatka is also known for the amazing diversity and abundance of its wildlife. Sable, ermine, Siberian bighorn (or Snow) sheep, the Kamchatka brown bear, Stellar's sea eagles, a high concentration of sea otters, crab and, of course, salmon are all found in large quantities.

Hunting, fishing, and reindeer breeding have always been a traditional occupation for the natives of Kamchatka: the Evens and the Koryaks, among others. On this journey we venture north to the seldom-visited Esso Region, meeting Koryak and Even native peoples. We also helicopter to a traditional summer camp of indigenous peoples who live a semi-nomadic lifestyle and breed reindeer. This 780-mile long peninsula (not to be confused with Siberia) was discovered by Russian Cossacks over three hundred years ago, and at that time it took more than a year to travel to Kamchatka, at the edge of the world. Even today few Russians know much about it, and until 1993, no foreigners were allowed to visit this region. While some visit this region by ship, even fewer visit it by land. This 780-mile long peninsula (not to be confused with Siberia, further west), was visited by Russian Cossacks over three hundred years ago; at that time it took more than a year to travel to Kamchatka, at the edge of the world.

Highlights can include:

• Visit the Amur Tiger Rehabilitation Center, a small, privately-run establishment within the home range of the rare Siberian tiger

• Take a helicopter excursion to the fantastic Valley of the Geysers, where geysers, mud pots, thermal springs, and steam vents erupt from the valley floor

• Enjoy splendid views of Avachinsky and Koryaksky volcanoes, looming over the city of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky

• Cruise Kamchatka’s Avacha Bay to spot wildlife and admire mountain vistas

• Venture to the village of Esso to learn about the two major indigenous peoples of Kamchatka, the Koryak and the Even

• Helicopter to a traditional summer camp of indigenous peoples who live a semi-nomadic lifestyle and breed reindeer

CONSIDER:

This is an ideal trip for adventure travelers.

OPTIONAL EXTENSIONS & ADD-ONS:

Please inquire.