Cruise the Ring of Fire itinerary:
Day 1: Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskiy
Arrive Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskiy, the administrative capital of the Kamchatka region. A major Russian naval base during the Cold War, there is still a significant military presence here.
Day 2: Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskiy
Explore the town’s monuments, exceptional museum and one of the world’s most beautiful natural harbours before boarding the ship.
Day 3: Utashud Island
Join the crew for a briefing as we cruise south towards Vestnik Bay and Utashud Island. To the west is the Kamchatka Peninsula, dominated by snow-covered volcanoes. Utashud Island is covered in birds including Tufted Puffins, Horned Puffins, Pigeon and Brunnich’s Guillemots. There are also many otters in the kelp beds. After our Zodiac cruise here, we continue south to the Kuril Islands.
Day 4: Onekotan Island
This morning we land on a black sand beach and enjoy a walk to nearby Black Lake, nestled in the lee of Volcano Nemo. During our walk we will see the juxtaposition of old gun emplacements left by the Japanese forces during the Second World War and wildflowers carpeting the meadows. Birds that we might see here include the Red-throated Pipit, Greenshank, Buff-bellied Pipit and Rough-legged Buzzard.
Day 5: Yankicho & Simushir Islands
Today we travel south to Yankicho Island, a volcano that supports birdlife that is nothing short of spectacular. We enter the caldera, where we are surrounded by thousands of birds as they come and go from their nest sites.
In the afternoon we arrive at Simushir Island and travel by Zodiac into a huge volcanic caldera granting easy access to the slopes of Karlomyy Volcano. The caldera is home to an abandoned submarine base – a haunting reminder of the Cold War.
Day 6: Paramushir Island
Today we enjoy an expedition landing in Bukhta Krasheninnikova on Paramushir Island, a large and mountainous volcanic island with five of 20 volcanoes active. Due to the possibility of a Brown Bear encounter, you will need to be accompanied by a staff member at all times. There is a good possibility we will encounter Brown Bears.
Day 7: Russkaya Fiord
This morning we are back on the Kamchatka Peninsula where we will sail up Russkaya Fiord. If the weather is clear we should get great views of the Volcano Mutnovskaya Sopka, topping 2300 metres (7500 feet). On our walk, there is a reasonable chance of spotting Steller’s Sea Eagle and Kamchatka Brown Bear.
Day 8: Kronotsky Biosphere Preserve
One of the oldest Nature Preserves in Russia, the Kronotsky Biosphere Preserve totals over 1 million square hectares and is home to 763 vascular plant species, 232 bird species and 58 species of animal. Our goal is to land in Olga Bay; renowned for the high numbers of Grey Whales it harbours.
Days 9 & 10: Commander Islands
The Commander Islands lie at the western extremity of the Aleutian Islands. They were named after legendary explorer Commander Vitus Bering, leader of the First and Second Kamchatka Expeditions. He died while shipwreck – a simple tombstone marks his grave on Bering Island.
Both islands were formerly occupied, but today the small population is concentrated the village of Nikolskoye on Bering Island. We will visit the small but excellent museum here and meet some of the locals before going in search of Horned and Tufted Puffins, Crested and Parakeet Auklets, Thick-billed Murres, Red-legged Kittiwakes and Red-faced Cormorants. We may also spot Harbour Seals and Steller’s Sea Lions. Not far from the village of Nikolskoye is a large Northern Fur Seal colony.
Day 11: Zhupanova River
Today we anchor off the Zhupanova River on the Kamchatka Peninsula and take the Zodiacs upriver in search of wildlife. The magnificent Steller’s Sea Eagle is known to nest here, and Brown Bears are common, as are many bird species including the Yellow-billed Loon, Yellow-breasted Bunting, Far Eastern Curlew and Common Tern.
On our return we will stop at a salmon fishing camp – an important industry here, as salmon are harvested in all rivers along the Peninsula. Back on board, we sail for Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskiy and wrap up the expedition with end-of-trip formalities and a farewell dinner.
Day 12: Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskiy
This morning we arrive at Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskiy where we say our farewells. Coaches will transfer you to the hotel or airport.
