A. At the edge of Russia, on the Pacific Ocean, there is the distinctive Kamchatka peninsula, famous for its rich natural diversity. This land is surrounded by rough ocean waters, in the interior lie fiery volcanoes and boiling, steaming geysers. Some 300 volcanoes, 29 of which are active, make up nearly 40% of the peninsula. But Kamchatka’s landscapes and natural diversity are not the only things to attract the travellers from far and wide: the area is also rich in opportunities for extreme sports. Make your adventures in Kamchatka unforgettable.
B. Surfing in Bali is no big deal these days: the hot sun, the warm ocean, coconuts, bananas… We’ve seen it all! How about surfing in the chilly waters of the Pacific in Kamchatka? One of Kamchatka’s best surf destinations is Khalaktyrsky beach. You can catch waves here almost all year long: the hardiest of surfers are ready to jump in in sub-zero temperatures. Naturally, the best time to surf is summer when surf schools and equipment rental places are open for business. You don’t feel the cold in a wetsuit!
C. The Kamchatka peninsula is washed by the Pacific Ocean and the Bering Sea to the northeast and by the Sea of Okhotsk to the west. One of the best ways to explore the rugged coastline is to take a long trip by kayak. On the water, you’ll find yourself face to face with wild nature: you can get acquainted with sea lions, seals, killer whales and other sea creatures, and see the most beautiful, secluded bays, islands, headlands and lakes inland. You’re going to be taking numerous pictures of the seals and sea lions as they bask in the sun.
D. With vast numbers of fish, it is no wonder that Lake Kuril attracts over 200 Kamchatka brown bears who visit the lake to fish. Across the whole peninsula, there are around 20,000 bears altogether – that’s one bear to every 15 human inhabitants. Over the years, the animals on Lake Kuril have adapted to life alongside humans. Therefore, you can observe the bears and their prey close up as they show no signs of aggression. An experienced guide knows exactly where to observe them to make your adventure absolutely safe.
E. Discovered as recently as 1941, the Valley of Geysers in the Kronotsky Reserve in Kamchatka is one of the world’s largest geyser fields and is the only one in Eurasia. In a cramped 8 square kilometer piece of land there are over 40 powerful spouting geysers, not to mention hot springs, mud pools, thermal sites, waterfalls, all surrounded by volcanoes. As dangerous as any of these places seem, there are special paths for travellers. You can only get to the valley by air, so take a helicopter tour and face the raw power of Mother Nature.
F. If you feel comfortable on the runs at Alpine resorts and consider yourself experienced, Kamchatka will surprise you: imagine skiing down the slopes of an active volcano with breathtaking views over the Pacific! This is no fantasy: we suggest experienced riders try heli-skiing! Fly to the highest volcanoes’ peaks by helicopter, then enjoy the buzz of skiing the untouched slopes with awesome views of the not-so-distant Pacific. Such an activity requires skiers to be in great shape physically, and to have the love of an adrenaline rush.
G. Kamchatka is a very harsh place to live, yet people have lived here for centuries. In order to survive, they had to learn to live in harmony with nature. That led to the development of rituals that are still performed. When you visit, you can see how the indigenous people of Kamchatka have been living for generations in the village of Pimchakh that is open to visitors. Shortage of snow is never an issue, so the locals happily indulge in competitive and recreational dog sled races. You should certainly put a short dog sled trip on your bucket list.
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