Kamchatka
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Access the valley of the geysers by helicopter
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Watch wild bears during their summer migration
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Climb an active volcano
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Explore a truly remote corner of the world
Our Kamchatka specialist, Paul travelled to Kamchatka both as part of a group tour and on a tailor made basis. He describes Kamchatka as a land of trees, mountains and volcanoes. Even the Muscovites, when speaking with their friends describe the area as truly remote and cut off. There is almost no road or land access within the peninsula.
Located in the Far Eastern stretches of Russia, Kamchatka's 600 mile peninsula is a land of stunning bays and snow-capped volcanoes, and is one of Russia’s most fascinating and least visited areas.
Few people know much about Kamchatka and even fewer people have ever had the opportunity to travel to Kamchatka. With the politics now relaxed having been closed off during Soviet times, it’s possible to access this untamed wilderness through land exploration via Petropavlovsk - Kamchatskiy or on board a small expeditionary ship.
One of the world’s most geologically active areas, the Kamchatka landscape is dominated by over 120 volcanoes forming a smoking spine responsible for forming the region. Against this dramatic backdrop, Kamchatka’s mixed habitats support a great richness and diversity of wildlife. Huge bird colonies dot the cliffs, extensive seal rookeries are scattered along the coast, while bears can be spotted foraging along the shore. Steller Sea lions, Sea otters, Northern Fur Seals, Big Horn sheep, Orca, Grey and Blue Whales have all also been seen on recent expeditions.
It’s also an incredibly rich area for birds with over 200 species of bird identified. This whole area acts as a natural corridor for migratory species moving north in the spring.
Steppes Travel offers a small selection of cruises to Kamchatka, with departures available through June to September. These cruises explore some of the area's most stunning locations including The Kuril and Commander Islands chain which are rich in bird and sea mammal life, and the caldera at Yankicho Island where pods of orca whales up to a hundred strong have been spotted.
Read about Stanley Johnson's expedition to Kamchatka (Times - January 2011)
Cruises and voyages in Kamchatka