day 1 (Th) : flight St Petersburg + city tour
Early morning flight from Frankfurt (or other European airports) to St. Petersburg.
After arrival we enjoy a impressive citytour - and arrive in the late afternoon our Hotel Moskwa***

day 2/3: Flight to Kamchatka
In the morning we have time to start some individual excursions ... at noon we have to drive back to the airport - the big widely flight across russia to the Far East starts.
In the afternoon, leading towards our hiking adventure, our flight to Petropavlosk on the peninsula Kamchatka starts.
At an intermediate landing at Khabarovsk (Far East) on the next morning (saturday) we will meet the main-group (big jouney Petersburg-Lake Baikal-Kamchatka).
In the afternoon we will delight ourselves with a stroll through the town of Petropavlosk, a town which is typical for the peninsula of Kamchatka – the Pacific ocean and far off the volcano Avacha ( mountain of  the town ) great us. Hotel Avacha***

day 04 : Boat tour Avacha and Zhjrovaja bay, hike to the hot springs of Zhirovskiye
– A adventures three to four hours boat trip takes us across the Avacha bay and along the east coast to the start-point of our trekking tour, the wonderful bay of Zhirovaya.
The boat trip is a real nature highlight: colonies of seabirds – parrot-divers, cormorants and gullimots live here. With a little luck we will be seeing seals and frequently meet orcas.

From now on you you have the following choices (day 04 - 06):

Variant A: "Adventurous nature- and wilderness trek from the Pacific to the Volcanos"

day 04 : Zhirovaya Bay - Zhirovskiye hot springs.
After an early lunch we start our trek.
Small old paths, then no way at all, across little brooks and once even an affluent – then it means: trousers up, shoes off and water sandals on. The telescope sticks are of great help to hold your balance. An exciting hike over forest and grass landscapes awaits us: the home of many animals. Today and during the next days the opportunity to maybe watch bears is very high, but without guaranty, as Mejdwed is extremely shy.
After about four hours we reach the first thermal spring – also our camp.     Overnight in tents 

day 05 : Zhirovskiye hot springs - Vilyucha valley
Onward goes our hike – upwards along a small mountain brook (about 3 to 4 hours). Over a small pass and then downwards into the valley of Vilyucha – wildness camp at the river-shore ( totally 5 to 6 hours).
Overnight in tents

day 06 : Vilyucha valley- Vilyuchinskiye hot springs
In permanent up and down, across brooks and meadows, through bush and forests we reach the hot springs of Vilyuchinskiye in the afternoon (totally about 4 hours). Here our large cross-country vehicle, which will accompany us during the rest of the journey, awaits us. We make use of the chance to take a relaxing bath in the large, hot thermal pond and afterwards, together with our porters and water cooled beer, we celebrate a big farewell party, because beginning tomorrow we board our vehicle – the volcanoes are calling!!!
Overnight in tents

Variant B: "From Petropavlosk to the Volcanos" (surcharge hotel)
Who likes it a bit more comfortable and is not in need of to much wild and pure nature chooses this alternative (very important: YOU HAVE TO MAKE YOUR CHOISE WITH YOUR BOOKING!!).

Day 04: Boat tour as alternative A, but you return to Petropavlosk with the boat.
Hotel Avacha***

Day 05: In the morning we make a sight seeing tour through Petropavlosk with a visit of the interesting museum of Kamchatka. Then we have lunch at a typical restaurant and visit after the local fish-market.
Hotel Avacha

Or you have the option to book a helicopter flight(*) to the valley of geysers and the Caldera Uson.

 

(*) The helicopter flight depends on the weather conditions and number of bookings – the flight has to be booked at least 2 or 3 weeks before its flight date and there is no right of cancellation by to many clouds or bad weather. Naturally the helicopter only flies if the conditions are safe, but this does not only mean if the sun is shining and by blue sky. The price for the flight, at the moment euro 460, has to be paid in cash on arrival at Petropavlosk (Day 13). If the weather is okay and the helicopter can fly your adventure begins: over tundra, taiga and volcano landscape the helicopter brings you deeply into the inland territory (about 70 min. flight).You may be so lucky to witness an eruption of one of the many active volcanoes or see a bear family on the ground. Then the valley of geysers invites you to an fantastic prodigy – 29 active geysers are bubbling, seething and shooting boiling water fountains nearly 30 meters high into the sky. Together with the steam clouds, up to 150
meters high, everything turns into an extreme misty atmosphere. In the late afternoon, flying deeply over the volcano landscape, the MO8 brings you back to Elizovo heliport.     Hotel Avacha***

Day 06: From Petropavlosk to the volcanoes- Today you board our large cross-country vehicle in order to collect the rest of the group at the hot springs of Vilyuchinskiye. Upon arrival we will have some time until the rest arrive -  time for a little hike or a bath in the well tempered hot water ponds. The whole group now continues together again. Overnight in tents

now all together

day 07 : Drive to the volcanoes
Some or another will be amazed that it is possible to drive here-but our Ural truck manages (nearly) everything-and suddenly, after adventures driving, we will see “our” volcanoes arise before us in the midst of the colorful tundra – what a picture!!
Again and again the fantastic world of volcanoes and geysers will impress us. Near to the Vakina hut at the Mutnovskij volcano we will build our camp for the next 3 nights.
After lunch we will undertake a circle hiking through the tundra, across lava fields and over marmot hills towards the wild Opasny canyon with its impressive 100 meter high waterfall (about 2 to 3 hours).
Overnight in tents

day 08 : Mutnovskij - essence of an active volcano (2.323 meters)
At first we climb upwards and then passing through a valley we arrive the inside of the Mutnovskij crater – a worth-wile hike of about 2 to 3 hours.
Clouds of steam arise before us and partly darken the sun – the exciting rises… it is like entering into the devils world: sulfide landscapes with bubbling hot acid ponds, gas fountains shooting to the sky and the tremendous opening of the active crater with its enormous glacier hanging inside. We walk around, looking and are totally amazed.       Overnight in tents

day 09 : Volcano Goreley 1.829 m - Petropavlosk
Again we undertake a adventures cross country drive with our Ural truck to the Gorelyi volcano, which we will climb up to in about 4 hours crossing over a mountain ridge – a once-in-a-lifetime experience. 

The Gorelyi impresses with several craters and different colored acid lakes, some in turquoise blue. About 5 to 6 hours hike.                                 

Then, finding it very hard, we again board our truck and leave the region of fire and ice. A long tour brings us back to Petropavlosk and our hotel Avacha***.

day 10 : …Return home
During the day we can enjoy our hotel, do some sight seeing and may be even buy some presents. In the evening we will start our flight back home. Now we will experience the time lag – although our flight across the enormous Russia nearly takes the half of day we will arrive at St. Petersburg at midnight..

day 11 : Transfer to the international airport of St. Petersburg – After a short stay we will continue our flight to Frankfurt or an other european airport (arrival Frankfurt about nine in the morning).
"Doswidanje" - Russia was REALLY great ... but now we are back home.

Impressions: