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  • Lake Baikal
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  • Crimea

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The following itinerary is intended as a working guide only and it is a subject to variation as a result of local conditions, weather and governmental restrictions. We reserve the right to alter (lengthen or shorten) the trek at any time if necessary. Aeroflot domestic timetables are altered occasionally and it may be necessary to vary our itinerary to adapt to these changes.

 

Day 1. Overnight flight from Moscow to Petropavlovsk-Kamchatski.

 

Day 2. Arrive in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatski. Transfer to the hotel. 

 

Day 3. Flight in MI-8 helicopter to foot of Karymsky volcano, 1 hour one way. Setup camp on the bank of the Karymskaya river. Walking trip to the foot of Karymsky volcano (1536 m.). It is one of the most active volcanoes of Kamchatka and it is still slightly active from time to time there. There is a nice view of the neighboring volcanoes Dvor and Maly Semyachick. Bathing in the Karymsky hot springs. Setup camp on the bank of the Karymskaya river. The camp is situated by the foot of volcano. This volcano is still active. In the evening one may see red lava pouring and hot bombs flying out from the mouth of volcano. In the river valley there are several hot springs, some with bubbling gas. In the latter one may enjoy lying on the water being supported by the gas bubbles.

 

Day 4. Walking trip around Karymskoye Lake where an underwater eruption happened in 1996. Return to camp. After the eruption this sweet water lake became the biggest reservoir of liquid acid in the world. The lake is situated in about 4 km away from the camp. The water in the lake is almost fresh now. The route to the camp is full of berries (in August), small lawns are covered with honeysuckle and various herbs. Walk to the opposite side of the lake to the geyser-type hot springs, small hot lakes and mud caldrons. The water is slowly pouring from one lake to the other forming beautiful small cascades flowing into Karymskoye Lake. There is a picturesque view of the new craters on the left shore and Karymsky volcano. Walk around the lake. Return to the camp. 

 

Day 5. Walking trip along alpine meadows, 15 km, to the Peresyhayuschee Lake. Start walking on ash and lava fields around the foot of Karymsky volcano. There is a wonderful view of Karymsky Volcano and Dvor. Then walk down the route along the dry stream partly covered with ashes and overgrown with bushes and herbs. There are many berries along the way. Peresyhayuschee Lake is a basin without water with the bottom covered with ashes. But the lake is surrounded with the very beautiful and light birch wood. 

 

Day 6. Walking trip up along the dry stream to the foot of Maly Semyachick volcano, 8km. Lava fields are all over. Camp at the meadow by the small aspen wood and tarn un-melting snow spot. 

 

Day 7. Ascend Maly Semyachick Volcano. It is one of the most beautiful volcanoes in the world. There is a hot lake in the crater. The lake is 500 m wide, 140m deep and surrounded with 200 m high yellow-coloured tufa cliff. Steam from the lake forms a cloud over the volcano's crater. And the surface of this lake changes colour from emerald-green to sky-blue depending on the time of the day. The difference in altitude between the top and the foot of the volcano is about 800 m. Return to the camp.

 

Day 8. Walking trip down, 15 km, to the New Semyachik River. Walk along Maly Semyachick volcano to the Chertovo (Devil’s) Canyon. This is also a streambed. The route partly passes along the lava with some cascades and basins of cold lava filled with water. Sometimes it is necessary to walk around steep parts. Then walk along alpine meadows and then through the park birch wood. The Devil’s Canyon leads to the river. Camp on the shore.

 

Days 9-10. Contunue walking down along the New Semjashik River to the old settlement of Zhupanovo (15 km). A nice path leads through the forest to the old settlement, from time to time opening a picturesque view of Maly and Bolshoi Semyachik Volcanoes. We cross several small and crystal clear rivers and make camp y one of them. Cross a relict silver fir wood not far from Zhupanovo.

 

Day 11. A spare day in case of bad weather or a rest day. Radial walk along the ocean coast to the fishermen’s village to get some fish and caviar. Then walk to the cape where there is a very picturesque view of Kronotsky bay and the mountains. The village is about 5 km away from the camp. 

 

Day 12. Crossing the Semyachik river by ranger's motor boat and walking 12 km to Nizhne-Semyachinskie hot springs. The water from the brooks has warmed a 5km strip of the beach. A group of hot springs called Goryachiye (Hot) feeds a 3 m waterfall which flows into a rock pool called Nizhny (Lower) Bassin. It is good for bathing. The first part of the route lies along the ocean coast and then through the forest. Camp close to the springs. 

 

Day 13. Walking trip to the volcanoes Burlyaschy and Central Semyachick 20 km. They form the centre of the Big Semyachick massive. There are a few large thermal fields there. The most well-known of these are Paryaschaya Dolina (Steaming Valley) and Verkhneye Termal'noye (Upper Thermal). Here and there the ground is composed of colourful clay and reaches temperatures of 97 degrees Celsius. There are many geysers, boiling water pools and mud pools. In the Black Lake the steam from the lake bottom breaks through the surface and creates 1.5m high waves. 

 

Day 14. Walking trip to the Bezimjanny River 8km. A good path goes along high severe stone mountains with scattered alpine meadows. Cross a river, which is not deep. Camp on the shores where some bushes grow. 

 

Day 15. Walking trip 16km to the Uzon Caldera. There is a 5 km strip in the caldera which has 12 thermal lakes, more than 1000 hot springs, many mud volcanoes and boiling mud pools, and many sources of hot steam and gas. Besides this, there are Stone Birch groves full of wild animals, rivers with sweet water, and lakes full of fishes in the caldera.

 

Day 16. Day 15. Walking trip 16 km to the Glukhoy streem. Excursion to the Uzon Caldera which has 12 thermal lakes, more than 1000 hot springs, many mud volcanoes and boiling mud pools, and many sources of hot steam and gas. Besides this, there are Stone Birch groves full of wild animals, rivers with sweet water, and lakes full of fishes in the caldera.

Day 17. Full day sightseeing of Geysers Valley. There are more than 30 geysers there. The most magnificent of them is the Velikan Geyser (Giant), and its erupting boiling water reaches heights of 30 m and clouds of steam rise to over 300m. The geysers are surrounded by beautiful multicoloured terraces and cones produced from minerals from the geysers water. The permanent underground rumbling, clouds of steam, fountains of boiling water, and the emerald greenery together create a mysterious performance. PM. 

 

Day 18. Board helicopter and return flight to the helipad, 1,30 hours. Transfer to hotel in Paratunka. Bathing in the swimming pool.

 

Day 19. Spare day for the helicopter (in case of bad weather on day 18). Full day guided sightseeing tour in Petropavlovsk. Visit museums and souvenir shops. Farewell dinner. Overnight in a hotel. 

 

Day 20. Transfer to the airport. Departure to Moscow.