Free Travel Guide to Kamchatka www.56thparallel.com
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1. RUSSIA, SIBERIA A TRAVELLERS GUIDE TO
2. 2 A TRAVELLER'S GUIDE TO KAMCHATKA Once considered an
inaccessible edge of the world location, only visited by the
hardiest of adventure travellers, today Siberias Kamchatka
Peninsula is gaining a reputation as one of Russias most remarkable
tourist destinations. Make no mistake though, Kamchatka is remote -
with no road or railways connecting it to the outside world, the
only practical access into this pristine wilderness is by air. For
lovers of wildlife and rugged natural scenery, Kamchatka is
paradise on earth. Located at the northernmost edge of the Pacific
Ring of Fire, the Kamchatka Peninsula juts out dramatically from
the north eastern tip of Russia. Thirty active volcanoes are
scattered across the peninsula, including, including Klyuchevskaya
Sopka, the largest in the Northern Hemisphere. Equally as stunning
are the 90 geysers and numerous hot springs that make up the 6km
Geyser Valley. The second largest concentration of geysers on
earth, this natural gem remains a virtually untouched region of raw
geothermal power. Getting to Kamchatka is half the journey, but
once you arrive, the raw beauty of this far flung region will floor
you. If your idea of the ultimate adventure is scaling an active
volcano, coming within metres of wild brown bears, or exploring
some of the most remote and spectacular coastline on earth, the
isolated splendour of Kamchatka awaits! Call us on 1300 742 374
(toll free from Australia) or +61-2-8221-88-59 from the rest of the
world, or visit our website www.56thparallel.com
4. 4 KAMCHATKA FOR BEGINNERS Call us on 1300 742 374 (toll free
from Australia) or +61-2-8221-88-59 from the rest of the world, or
visit our website www.56thparallel.com
5. 5 WHEN TO VISIT KAMCHATKA Kamchatka stretches across several
climatic zones. Central Kamchatkas climate is mild and continental.
The alpine valleys are characterised by frosty winters and hot,
humid summers, while the coast experiences a temperate, marine
climate. The summer and autumn months (June through to October) are
by far the most popular, when max temperatures range from 15C to
30C but a growing trend in winter sports means Kamchatka receives
visitors year round. Kamchatkas famous brown bears hibernate during
the long, snowy winter, so youll need to visit between late July
and mid-September to be able to spot them. Swimming, kayaking and
SCUBA diving in Avacha Bay are possible during the summer months,
and the fly fishing season is between May and October. Kamchatkas
ski resorts and off-piste mountain slopes attract hardcore snow
junkies from February through to May. of winter activities are
available on the lake and its surrounds, including ice skating,
cross- country skiing, dog sledding and ice fishing. Call us on
1300 742 374 (toll free from Australia) or +61-2-8221-88-59 from
the rest of the world, or visit our website
www.56thparallel.com
6. 6 ATTRACTIONS AND ACTIVITIES Call us on 1300 742 374 (toll
free from Australia) or +61-2-8221-88-59 from the rest of the
world, or visit our website www.56thparallel.com
7. 7 VOLCANOES Kamchatka is renowned as one of the most
outstanding volcanic regions of the world, with a high density of
active volcanoes in a wide variety of types. Rugged volcanic peaks
interspersed with lush valleys, desolate lava-spewing plains and
ancient glaciers form a dynamic landscaped with a strange, almost
otherworldly sense of beauty. Nineteen active volcanoes are
included in the within the six groups of UNESCO World Heritage
listed sites of Kamchatka. The highest volcano is Klyuchevskaya
Sopka (4,750m), the largest active volcano in the Northern
Hemisphere, while the most striking is the perfectly conical Mount
Kronotsky, a prime contender for the worlds most picturesque
volcano. Call us on 1300 742 374 (toll free from Australia) or
+61-2-8221-88-59 from the rest of the world, or visit our website
www.56thparallel.com
8. 8 These peaks are usually visited by helicopter, providing
breathtaking aerial views sometimes right over erupting craters.
Somewhat more accessible are the three volcanoes visible from
Kamchatkas capital, Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky - Koryaksky,
Avanchinsky and Kozelsky. Trekkers can easily walk to the bases of
these impressive mountains, and they can be summited on foot during
summer with an experienced guide. Call us on 1300 742 374 (toll
free from Australia) or +61-2-8221-88-59 from the rest of the
world, or visit our website www.56thparallel.com
9. 9 VALLEY OF GEYSERS Seething, steaming and periodically
expelling huge volumes of hot water in a spectacular jet, geysers
are a remarkable natural phenomenon. Kamchatkas Valley of Geysers
is home to the second largest concentration of geysers on earth,
scattered across a 6km basin with bizarre volcanic scenery. Due to
their remote location, the geyers can only be accessed by
helicopter. Once inside the valley, local guides and wooden
walkways provide a safe passageway past some of the largest and
most spectacular geysers, some with names such as Giant, Pearl,
Fountain and Grotto. Call us on 1300 742 374 (toll free from
Australia) or +61-2-8221-88-59 from the rest of the world, or visit
our website www.56thparallel.com
10. 10 Call us on 1300 742 374 (toll free from Australia) or
+61-2-8221-88-59 from the rest of the world, or visit our website
www.56thparallel.com THE FISHING BEARS The most iconic resident of
the peninsula is undoubtedly the Kamchatka brown bear, one of the
largest subspecies of brown bear in the world. The regions
well-preserved wilderness has created a safe sanctuary for oneof
the most concentrated bear populations in the world, meaning summer
sightings of these impressive animals are virtually guaranteed. The
best place to view wild brown bears is Lake Kurilskoye in the south
of the peninsula. During late July to mid-September, this
extraordinary place hosts Kamchatkas largest salmon spawning event,
attracting about 2 million fish each season. Tourists are
transported to bear territory by helicopter and escorted by rangers
to a number of watchtowers built especially to observe the bears as
they swim, play and fish for salmon in the shallow waters of the
lake.
11. 11 THE PACIFIC COAST Vast, rugged and largely uninhabited,
Kamchatka boasts one of the most isolated stretches of coastline in
the world. The regions capital, Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, is
situated in the calm waters of Avacha Bay, under the shadow of the
three Petropavlovsk volcanoes. One of most serene and beautiful
Kamchatka experiences is a sunrise over the bay, followed by a
leisurely boat ride to the unique rocky formations that spring out
of the surface of the water. Beyond Avacha are thousands of
kilometres of rocky coastline. The only human inhabitants are found
in remote indigenous fishing villages. The most conspicuous
residents here are seals, giant Stellar sea lions, orcas, whales
and sea eagles. Experienced paddlers can explore the Kamchatka
coast by sea kayak during the summer months. Call us on 1300 742
374 (toll free from Australia) or +61-2-8221-88-59 from the rest of
the world, or visit our website www.56thparallel.com
12. 12 HELI SKIING For experienced skiers and boarders with a
taste for the extreme, heli-skiing the untouched volcanic slopes of
Kamchatka is a wild winter adventure with few equals anywhere else
in the world. The experience starts with an incredible flight over
the untamed peaks of the peninsula in a Russian chopper the
ultimate chairlift! Then, its touch down in the middle of nowhere
and be prepared for the freeride of a lifetime. Kamchatka is the
only place on earth where its possible to ski down active
volcanoes. On some volcanoes, such as Mutnovsky (2,923m), its
possible to ski into the crater, with active steam vents smoking
and seething all around you! Under good weather conditions,
heli-skiiers can be dropped into Bolshe-Bannie hot spring valley,
or even ride all the way down to the Pacific Ocean shore. Call us
on 1300 742 374 (toll free from Australia) or +61-2-8221-88-59 from
the rest of the world, or visit our website
www.56thparallel.com
13. 13 FLY FISHING Thanks to its uniquely suitable environment,
Kamchatka is home the worlds greatest diversity of salmonoid fish.
All six species of Pacific salmon chinook, chum, coho, seema, pink
and sockeye are found in Kamchatkas waterways. The pristine,
food-rich waters of the Icha River make for some of the most
outstanding salmon and trout fishing in Siberia. Most prized among
anglers are the chinook (king salmon), reaching up to 14kg and a
metre in length, and the steelhead (known locally as Kamchatka
salmon), a monster rainbow trout weighing up to 18kg. Between May
and October, tour companies run fly fishing trips to Kamchatkas
richest fishing grounds, camping in the forest and using motorised
rafts as transport. Call us on 1300 742 374 (toll free from
Australia) or +61-2-8221-88-59 from the rest of the world, or visit
our website www.56thparallel.com
14. 14 GETTING IN AND AROUND Call us on 1300 742 374 (toll free
from Australia) or +61-2-8221-88-59 from the rest of the world, or
visit our website www.56thparallel.com
15. 15 BY AIR Sandwiched between sub-Arctic Russia and the
Pacific Ocean, Kamchatka has no overland routes leading into the
region. There are no regular passenger ferries to anywhere in
Kamchatka, so the only practical way for travellers to arrive is by
air. The airport is located 20km from Petropavlovsk- Kamchatsky in
the village of Elyzovo. There are daily flights from Moscow (nine
hours), and several flights a week from St Petersburg, Khabarovsk,
Novosibirsk, Vladivostok and Beijing. In peak summer season there
are occasional flights from Anchorage, Alaska and Tokio, Japan.
OVERLAND Within the peninsula, most destinations are only
accessible by 4WD or helicopter. Due to permissions required to
visit Kamchatkas restricted wilderness areas, and a lack of public
transport, getting around independently in Kamchatka is difficult
the vast majority of visitors travel on organised tours. The only
public transport are buses operating from Petropavlovsk to the
nearby villages. Most organised tours will include scenic
helicopter flights over the volcanoes and lava fields a truly
unmissable experience on any visit Kamchatka. Call us on 1300 742
374 (toll free from Australia) or +61-2-8221-88-59 from the rest of
the world, or visit our website www.56thparallel.com
16. 16 EATING AND SLEEPING Call us on 1300 742 374 (toll free
from Australia) or +61-2-8221-88-59 from the rest of the world, or
visit our website www.56thparallel.com
17. 17 ACCOMMODATION IN KAMCHATKA Accommodations in Kamchatka
have improved dramatically over the last few years as the region
grows in popularity. Still, there are a limited number of options
its best to let a tour company take care of where youll be spending
each night. Most of the accommodation is found within
Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky township, or in the village of Paratunka,
a 40 minute drive out of town. Paratunka is now home to a handful
mid-range resorts, with the cream of the crop being the Russo-Balt
North Adventures Resort. Heli-skiiers often stay further out near
the foot of the Viluchinsky volcano, roughly one and half hours
from Petropavlovsk. Call us on 1300 742 374 (toll free from
Australia) or +61-2-8221-88-59 from the rest of the world, or visit
our website www.56thparallel.com
18. 18 Camping with an organised, well-equipped expedition is
one of the most splendid ways to experience the serene beauty of
Kamchatkas alpine forests and valleys, or the remote bays and
beaches along the Pacific Coast. River fishing, rafting and sea
kayaking tours provide tents and camping equipment on their
multi-day excursions. Kamchatka is very much an adventure travel
destination, so dont come expecting plentiful restaurants and high
end cuisine. Petropavlovsk- Kamchatsky has some local eateries with
a focus on fish dishes. Staying at a ski resort, the hotel
restaurant will often your only option. Try some of the local
seafood such as wild salmon and Russian king crab. Meat dishes
often consist of local game such as moose and deer. Call us on 1300
742 374 (toll free from Australia) or +61-2-8221-88-59 from the
rest of the world, or visit our website www.56thparallel.com
19. 19 ETHNIC CULTURES OF KAMCHATKA Call us on 1300 742 374
(toll free from Australia) or +61-2-8221-88-59 from the rest of the
world, or visit our website www.56thparallel.com
20. 20 Kamchatka is one of Russias least populated regions. The
total population is around 340,000, mainly concentrated in
Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky and the surrounding villages around the
Avacha and Kamchatka Rivers. The rest of the population live mainly
on the coast in small fishing settlements. Today, ethnic Russians
make up about 80 percent of Kamchatkas population. The main
indigenous groups - Korykas, Itelmens, Evens and Evenky, are spread
out across different regions of the peninsula. The coastal
populations are mainly involved in fishing, while further inland,
many indigenous people still live semi-nomadic lifestyles based
around hunting and reindeer herding. For visitors interested in
discovering the indigenous cultures of Kamchatka, a few Koryak and
Evens settlements welcome guests at certain times. Call us on 1300
742 374 (toll free from Australia) or +61-2-8221-88-59 from the
rest of the world, or visit our website www.56thparallel.com
21. 21 TOURS OF KAMCHATKA Due to its remoteness, lack of
transport options and the permissions required to visit certain
areas within Kamchatka, an organised tour is by far the best way to
get the most out of a visit to Kamchatka. 56th Parallel offers a
wide variety of summer and winter tours to Kamchatka with
experienced guides, private transport, comfortable accommodations
and a range of itineraries to suit individual interests. Visit
www.56thparallel.com to see a full list of tours to the Kamchatka
region. Call us on 1300 742 374 (toll free from Australia) or
+61-2-8221-88-59 from the rest of the world, or visit our website
www.56thparallel.com