Kamchatka eco tours, bear viewing, fishing, skiing, hiking and more

Bear Viewing at Kambalnoye Lake - a rare opportunity.

Travel dates:    Aug. 17-26, 2010     
Group size 6-8
Price per person (6) $6000 USD (based on an exchange rate of 29 rubles to $1USD. 
Guide Reno Sommerhalder, Goosetongue Guiding, Canada
Interpreter:  to be announced

Kamchatka Peninsula
The Kamchatka Peninsula suspends from Russia’s mainland between the Sea of Okhotsk and the Pacific Ocean, on Russia’s easternmost border, where the huge Eurasian continent comes to an end and the great blue ocean begins.  Volcanoes meet the cold sea, creating unmatched scenery and rich ecosystems.  Kamchatka is the spawning place of ¼ of all Pacific wild salmon.  Here you can watch massive salmon migrations flowing up rivers and see Kamchatka brown bears feasting on salmon.  The Pacific coast teems with seabirds, seals, sea otters, and whales.  Steller sea eagles soar overhead.  Kamchatka remains one of the world’s last vast wilderness areas mostly because it is far from Moscow and industrial development.  In 1996 the UNESCO World Heritage Site “Volcanoes of Kamchatka” was created to help preserve 6 protected areas in Kamchatka and you will visit South Kamchatka Sanctuary, one of the most remarkable in this group.

Today about 400,000 people make their home on the peninsula, over half of them living in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, the capital.  Development has so far been limited to only 3% of the peninsula.  The rest is wilderness—a priceless world heritage to be treasured. 

We invite you on a unique journey into the heart of one of the most pristine areas of Kamchatka, visiting the South Kamchatka Federal Sanctuary for an unforgettable and special exploration.

On this trip we offer you the chance to visit the epicenter of Kamchatka’s abundant bear population-Kambalnoye Lake, also with a significantly large sockeye salmon run, along with abundant berries and pine nuts provide the bears with sustenance for the long winter.  But most importantly, Kambalnoye and the area south of Kurilskoye Lake have arguably the world’s highest concentration of brown bears and it is not open to usual tourist groups.  This is a one-time unique offering by Explore Kamchatka open only to Goosetongue Guiding.  Weather is always a factor with helicopters, and flying into Kambalnoye can be particularly problematic, so there is a chance we may have to adjust our route according to weather as safety is our utmost concern.  In the event of weather delays, we will suggest alternative day trips in the city area to help you to get to know Kamchatka’s history and culture.

Kambalnoye Lake, South Kamchatka Federal Sanctuary
This sanctuary is part of the Kronotsky Preserve system.  In bear conservation circles, Kambalnoye Lake is a story in and of itself, as the site of Canadian bear conservationists Charlie Russell and Maureen Enns’ 11 year experiment/observation of bears.  This lake, like Kurilskoye Lake just over the mountains north of here, formed following a series of violent volcanic eruptions.  Gradually filling with water, the lake we now know as Kuril, formed.  When the water gradually washed away an exit to the Okhotsk Sea, the Kambalnoye River began to flow to the sea. The site where Charlie Russell and Maureen Enns worked will be your base camp during your visit to the lake. It is a gorgeous landscape with Kambalnoye Volcano hovering above its shores. 
From April to February, sockeye salmon swim in the lake, attracting one of the world’s highest concentrations of brown bears and many Steller sea eagles in winter. 
Exploration plan

Arrival in Kamchatka

Reno Sommerhalder, of Goosetongue Guiding, your bear naturalist/guide and Explore Kamchatka’s interpreter will greet you as you arrive at Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky’s terminal.  Transfer by motor coach to your guest house 8 km from the airport.  If the weather looks stable at Kambalnoye Lake, you may take the time to enjoy a shower and snack before departing to the helicopter for your 1 hour 30 minute flight to Kambalnoye Lake.  However if the weather at Kambalnoye Lake is changeable, go directly from the Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky Airport to the heliport about 10 minutes’ drive away.

Your Kamchatka hosts are Explore Kamchatka, run by Martha Madsen, a former Alaskan who has made her home in Kamchatka for 15 years.

Visit South Kamchatka Federal Sanctuary, and South Kamchatka Nature Park

On the way to South Kamchatka Sanctuary, you will first fly over South Kamchatka Nature Park and if clear skies prevail we can overfly Goryeliy Volcano with its acidic crater lake.  

Fly to Kambalnoye Lake and land near the small cabin at Istok.  Meet the federal sanctuary inspector who will be your local guide and safety expert for all of your time at Kambalnoye Lake.  He and his colleagues are a remarkable group of enforcement professionals who were brought into the Sanctuary 4 years ago to stop the rampant poaching of caviar and killing of bears.  During the last 4 years they have eradicated all poaching camps in the Kurilskoye Lake area and in much of the Sanctuary’s territory, as well as establishing positive and collaborative relationships with the residents of 3 small villages near the Sanctuary.  Fly 10 minutes from Kurilskoye Lake south to Kambalnoye Lake and land near the cabin built by Charlie Russell.
Take some time to set up camp.  The cabin will be used by the cook to store food and to cook for you.    Camp will be set up inside an electric fenced compound around the cabin.  No one is allowed to venture off alone during the trip and the abundance of bears will be evident as they frequently are seen walking by just outside the fence boundaries, or heard vocalizing in the bushes and grasses nearby. 

Each day Reno will discuss the bear viewing options based on weather and other factors with the inspector and make a plan. 

On day 7, a helicopter will arrive to pick you up and take you back to Yelizovo and your guest house.  Here you will live in double accommodations, shared baths.  Enjoy garden fresh produce and excellent Kamchatka home style cooking. 

Day 8 after breakfast transfer by microbus to the port of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky for a join-in marine tour (6 hours) to visit Starichkov Island.  This island, 25 km outside of the port, is a wonderful seabird colony where you may see a colony of the Ancient Murrelet (Synthliboramphus antiques) for which the island is named.  Also at the island it is possible to see Tufted Puffins (Lunda cirrhata), Black-legged Kittiwakes (Rissa tridactyla) , various gulls, Pelagic Cormorants (Phalacrocorax pelagicus), Kittlitz’s Murrelets (Brachyramphus brevirostris), Marbled Murrelets (Brachyramphus marmoratus), and Common Murres (Uria aalge).  Usually a pair of Steller Sea Eagles (Haliaeetus pelagicus) can be seen circling their nest on a rock pinnacle adjacent to Starichkov Island.  Dinner at your guest house.

Day 9 Following breakfast, drive to Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky 25 km from Yelizovo.  Visit the Kamchatka Regional Museum, local art galleries, and walk in the historic port area to see monuments to Kamchatka’s historic past as a safe harbor for many of the world’s finest mariners.  Also see the monuments commemorating the victory in 1854 of the Russians over the French attacking the port of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky.  Drive out to the Pacific Ocean for a walk on the black volcanic sands and a picnic lunch.  En route to Yelizovo, stop at the public market in Yelizovo or Petropavlovsk and if you like, pick up some delicious Kamchatka salmon caviar or smoked salmon.  Dinner at your guest house.

Day 10 Departure from Kamchatka
1000 Check out of the guesthouse.  Depart the airport and leaving Kamchatka.

Price includes:  All Kamchatka transportation, accommodations, food, insurance, fees, permits, English speaking interpreter/assistant guide, use of tents for camping at Kambalniy Lake.
Price does not include:  tips, gratuities, alcohol, sleeping bag or pad.
Required clothing and gear list will be supplied upon booking the trip. 

Booking the trip