Russian Far East

After perestroika and the collapse of communism, the Pacific Northeast is still a relatively unknown region. From the Kuril Islands in the south to Wrangel Island in the north, the Russian Far East is a region steeped in history and mystery. Access was restricted even to local Russians during the Cold War, and it was very rare for a westerner to obtain the permits necessary to travel here. It is still considered a ‘border zone’, and special permits and permissions are needed before non-Russians can enter. This, coupled with the lack of roads and infrastructure suitable for visitors, makes travelling in the Russian Far East a challenge. 

However, its very isolation has long protected one of Russia’s greatest assets and one of the world’s best-kept secrets – the region’s wilderness and wildlife. The Russian Far East has something for every traveller – including some of the best birding islands in the world and rugged coastline with breeding colonies of sea lions, Fur Seals and Walrus, Brown Bear and Polar Bear, migratory bird species and rare indigenous species. All of this against a backdrop of magnificent forests, high Arctic tundra, towering volcanoes and wildflower displays unequalled anywhere else in the world.

Travellers have opportunities to meet the reindeer herders of the north – hunters that still rely on walrus and whale to survive the harsh winters. Relics and monuments of the history of this region can be seen everywhere. Vitus Bering’s grave on the Commander Islands is a reminder of the period of exploration and discovery in Siberia, while the remains of Gulags are a reminder of the forced labour camps in operation during Stalin’s reign. The heavy military presence still active in the region today is a reminder of the Cold War and the role it played in the history of the Far East.

As with the Pacific Northwest, the best and perhaps the only way to discover this region is by ship, and with an operator that has arranged all of the necessary permits and permissions in advance of your visit. A journey to the Russian Far East is one that very few people have made, but one that is increasingly in demand.