Wildlife viewing: Golyginskoe Lake & Ksudach
Volcano (this tour offers easy trekking) |
This tour gives you
the opportunity to see a variety of south Kamchatkan wildlife, at the
height of summer and salmon spawning season: arriving first at the wide
and open old crater of Ksudach Volcano, amid a panorama of snow-covered
volcanic peaks, you will spend two nights camping near the hot springs,
trekking around the three caldera lakes, and along the Tyoplaya river to
its amazing waterfall. Then walk down the mountain slopes, through
scrublands and birch woodland to the Golyginskoe Lake, 2 km long. Here you
will watch bears and eagles fishing on the lake, from the comfort of your
log cabin's deck, and get close to them by boat just offshore.
9 DAYS ITINERARY
Day 1. Arrival at
Petropavlovsk. Transfer from airport to hotel. City tour including visit
to a local museum. Meet the guide and prepare for the trip.
Day 2. Helicopter MI-8 flight to Ksudach
Volcano's crater (1079 meters above sea level). Accommodation in tents
near the three caldera lakes: Shtubelya, Nizhnee & Kluchevoe.
Excursion to the active Shtubelya crater or trekking along Tyoplaya River.
Relax in the hot springs.
Day 3. Easy
ascending to the highest point of Ksudach Volcano - Lukina Hill. Fabulous
panorama of Ksudach Volcano caldera to the north, the Pacific coast with
mysterious islands in the east, and the south Kamchatka volcanoes. Rest
beside the hot springs.
Day 4.
Trekking down the gentle mountain slopes through the birch woods to
Golyginskoe Lake, where the salmon and char are gathering in thousands to
spawn. This attracts many bears from a large area around, and also
Stellar's Sea Eagles and other large birds that feed on fish.
Day 5-6.
Boat excursions on Golyginskoye
Lake, abundant with salmon and char, viewing bears fishing, or taking a
short walk over the tundra, where the bears may be feeding on
berries.
Day 7. Helicopter flight to
Petropavlovsk stopping for a bathe in thermal hot water in Khodutka River.
Accommodation in the hotel in Paratunka resort.
Day 8. Reserve day in case of bad
weather.
Day 9. Shopping for
souvenirs. Departure Kamchatka.
Cost $1516 per person