Russia - Kamchatka Peninsula

...Remote, uninhabited wilderness, dramatic and diverse scenery (volcanoes, geysers, arctic tundra, rivers), amazing wildlife (bears, walruses, otters, whales)...

After an amazing trip to Antarctica with Ponant, we were eager to do another expedition cruise with them to experience another remote area of the world.  During a presentation of their upcoming trips, we were enthralled by the descriptions and photos of the Kamchatka Peninsula and decided we just had to experience it for ourselves.

The Kamchatka Peninsula is one of the most remote areas in the world with the majority of it accessible only by boat or helicopter.  While it represents quite a large area in the Russian Far East (1,250-kilometre-long peninsula with an area of about 270,000 km²), it has only 400,000 inhabitants, half of which live in the capital, Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsk.  There is just one road heading out of the capital and it ends halfway up the peninsula. As such, the majority of the peninsula is uninhabited wilderness with a couple of completely isolated settlements of indigenous people.

The Kamchatka Peninsula is often referred to as the “land of fire and ice” due to the high density of active volcanoes and glaciers.  This combination results in scenery that is dramatic and diverse. The Kamchatka Peninsula is also home to a variety of exciting wildlife, including large populations of brown bears, walruses, sea otters, and puffins.

Here are highlights (DINK Trip Tips) from our trip...for more details or to help plan your own visit, contact us!

Itinerary

• Since there are limited roads, you’ll only be able to see select areas of the Peninsula unless you travel on an Expedition ship
• A helicopter tour leaving Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsk will give you amazing close-up views of the volcaones surrounding the city and also the ability to visit the spectacular Valley of the Geysers, which is only accessible by helicopter

Timing

• Due to long, cold winters, Kamchatka is best visited during May-Sep; we really enjoyed our trip in September with all the beautiful Autumn colors​​