KAMCHATKA AND KURIL ISLANDS
RUSSIA’S RING OF FIRE
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13 DAYS
The Pacific Ring of Fire manifests itself in numerous places on the rim of the Pacific Ocean – but nowhere more dramatically than in Russia’s Far East. Along one of the world’s most active plate boundaries, the Pacific plate subducts under the North American plate and the resulting volcanic and geothermal activity has built a unique and amazing landscape. Up-welling from the deep trenches formed by this action and currents around the many islands creates perfect conditions for seabirds and cetaceans. Consequently the area is one of the richest in the world, both in terms of the number of species, which can be seen, and their sheer abundance. For many birders, the undoubted highlight is the auks and during our voyage it is possible to see up to fourteen species including tufted and horned puffins, parakeet, whiskered and rhinoceros auklets, as well as spectacled and pigeon guillemots.
ITINERARY SUMMARY
| Day | Place | Highlights |
| Day 1 | Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskiy | Embark Spirit of Enderby |
| Day 2 | At Sea | Presentation & bird & cetacean watching |
| Days 3&4 | Commander Islands | Arctic fox, rock sandpiper, Mongolian plover, Steller’s sea lions, sea otters and much more. |
| Day 5 | Zhupanova River, Kamchatka | Steller’s sea eagle & many other excellent birds |
| Day 6 | Bukta Russkaya, Kamchatka | Traditional Chukchi and Inuit art |
| Day 7 | Second Kuril Strait, Atlasova & Onekotan Islands | Bird cliffs with Puffins, guillemots & gulls |
| Day 8 | Ekarma & Toporkovy Islands | Polar bears, Musk Oxen & reindeer. Snowy owls, snow geese, Ross’s, Sabine & Ivory gulls. |
| Day 9 | Simushir & Yankicha Islands | Chuckchi villages, whales & seals |
| Day 10 | Chirpoy & Urup Islands | Emperor geese, spoon-billed sandpiper & grey whales |
| Day 11 | Iturup Island | Diomede Islands |
| Day 12 | Kunashir Island | Anadyrskiy Bay |
| Day 13 | Sakhalin Island | Tranfer to the airport for onward journey |
Day 1 Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskiy
Overview:
You will be transferred to the vessel and we will depart for the Commander Islands. You are welcome on the bridge as we sail from what some people consider the best natural harbour in the world. There is also some good birding as we leave the shoreline behind.
Ship
Spirit of Enderby
The expedition ship Spirit of Enderby is designed to carry 50 travelers in simple and functional cabins, approximately half have en-suite facilities She was originally built in Finland in 1984 (one of ten Shuleykin-class ice-strengthened ships she was renovated in 2009. The Spirit of Enderby is a true ‘expedition’ ship, the emphasis of voyages is to maximise time off the ship in zodiacs or exploring ashore. There is a strong focus flora and fauna of the remote and often difficult to access regions this ship explores. The expedition crew have a wealth of knowledge which significantly enhances the experience.
Day 2 At Sea
Overview:
A day at sea as we cruise towards the Commander Islands. Enjoy several lectures and briefings as we prepare for the days ahead. It is also a good time to be on deck as the birding is good with Fork-tailed Storm-Petrel and Red-legged Kittiwake amongst the likely sightings.
Days 3 & 4 Commander Islands
Overview:
There are two main islands in the Commander group, Bering and Medny, and during our two days we will explore several sites combining the best of the natural and cultural history. There is an excellent chance of finding Rock Sandpiper, Mongolian Plover, Pechora Pipit and Grey-crowned Rosy-Finch, as well as the endemic subspecies of Arctic Fox. Zodiac cruising can be extremely rewarding here with several species of auklets as well as the Red-legged Kittiwake. The area is also extremely rich in marine mammals. Potential species include Sperm, Humpback, Northern Minke and Baird’s Beaked-Whales, as well as Orcas, Steller Sea Lions, Northern Fur Seals and Pacific Sea Otters. We include a visit to the small settlement of Nikolskoye and the local museum.
Day 5 Zhupanova River, Kamchatka
Overview:
We will spend several hours in the Zodiacs cruising on the scenic Zhupanova River where we should get great looks at Steller’s Sea Eagles as the birds often nest in the trees adjacent to the river. Other highlights could include Far Eastern Curlew, Long-toed Stint, Kamchatka Gull and Aleutian Tern. There is also a major salmon fishery on the river which we can visit.
Day 6 Bukta Russkaya, Kamchatka
Overview:
In this deep fiord on the Kamchatka Peninsula we will look for the endangered Kittlitz’s murrelet as well as long-billed murrelet. We plan a short excursion at the head of the fjord where there is a chance of seeing brown bears. At the entrance to the fjord where we can Zodiac cruise there are almost always Orcas and Steller’s sea Lions.
Day 7 Second Kuril Strait, Atlasova and Onekotan Islands
Overview:
Very early in the morning we will pass through Second Kuril Strait which has one of the highest densities of Sea Otters in the Kuril Islands. Our landing on Atlasova Island is great for birders and non birders alike. There are the remains of a Gulag to explore and numerous species to see. This evening on Onekotan Island we can stretch our legs through an amazing field of wild flowers as we walk to Black Lake.
Day 8 Ekarma & Toporkovy Islands
Overview:
During an early morning Zodiac cruise at Ekarma Island we should see various alcids, with close looks at Tufted Puffin and Whiskered Auklet. This afternoon at Toporkovy Island in the shadow of the active Matua Island volcano we can expect to find Harlequin Ducks, Red-faced Cormorants, Tufted Puffins and Brunnich’s Guillemots. Ashore we could encounter Grey-tailed Tattler, Middendorff’s Grasshopper Warbler and Black-faced Bunting.
Day 9 Simushir & Yankicha Islands
Overview:
We will enter a flooded caldera at the northern end of Simushir Island where a once top secret Soviet submarine base lies abandoned. In the surrounding area look for Siberian Rubythroat, Eurasian Nutcracker, Pine Grosbeak and Japanese Grey Bunting. Our visit to Yankicha Island is likely to be one of the highlights of the voyage as the number of alcids which breed here is incredible, with spectacular concentrations of Crested and Whiskered Auklets.
Day 10 Chirpoy & Urup Islands
Overview:
This morning depending on weather we will either Zodiac cruise or land on Chirpoy Island where there are some dramatic volcanic landscapes and headlands covered in breeding seabirds. This afternoon’s landing on Urup Island is a chance to stretch your legs on an extended walk, beachcomb and look for Sea Otters or birds in the forest behind the beach.
Day 11 Iturup Island
Overview:
This morning we land at the small settlement of Kurilsk from where local buses/trucks will take us into the volcanic highlands to thermal hot pools where you can enjoy a soak or go birding. Possible species include Kamchatka Leaf-warbler, Japanese Robin, Siberian Accentor, Pine Grosbeak and Japanese Bush-warbler.
Day 12 Kunashir Island
Overview:
Kunashir is the largest island in the Kuril chain. We plan a landing in the Kurilsky Reserve and will explore an extensive area of woodland, where there are some good walks and birding. This afternoon while we are at sea there is a chance for birding and an opportunity to recap and pack.
Day 13 Sakhalin Island
Overview:
Arrive at the Port of Korskov on Sakhalin Island. There will be transport to a central hotel and the airport in the town of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk.