Commanders - birding wonderland

Region: Kamchatka

Reserve: Commander Islands Reserve Kronotsky Reserve

Kamchatka and the Commander's islands, situated on the north-east from the peninsula in the Pacific, are recognized as one of the most exciting regions of Russia. Its nature and wildlife are astonishing. Here, over 390 bird species are registered, around 800 plant species and over 200 seaweeds species. There are approximately 400 fish species in the seas of the region.

Tourist season here lasts all year round, but for birdwatchers and wildlife viewers the most interesting time is from May to October. Thus, if you come in May, in addition to flourishing tundra, you'll get into birds wonderland, local and migrating birds abound the seashore rocks. In June, active breeding period of seashore mammals starts on the Commander's and the owner of taiga - brown bear gets out of its den on Kamchatka. July and August are the most common months. September is the most beautiful and comfortable time to visit the region. Active wildlife is accompanied by amazing fall colours, mushroom and berries harvest, warm and stable weather.

Our guides Birds checklist

Photogallery of tour:

Sea bears (Callorhinus sp.) and lions (Eumetopias sp.)

Itinerary:

1 day	Arrival in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, accommodation in Elizovo airport, acclimatization, rest. After lunch (on your own expence) Excursion around the city. Dinner in the restaurant (on your own expence).
2 Day	Breakfast in the hotel. Flight Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky - Nikolskoe (Commander's islands). Arrival, accommodation in a hotel. Visit to a local museum, walk along Bering sea shore, shore-birds watching. Dinner in a hotel.
3 Day	Breakfast in a hotel. Morning excursion by the ship to the Puffins and Ariy Stone islands - birds colonies (puffins), sea mammals (sea otter, seals, whales, orcas, breeding colony of Steller sea lions). Return to Nikolskoe. Dinner in a hotel.
4 Day	Breakfast in a hotel. Trip in cross country vehicle to south-east edge of Bering island - Polovina bay. Lunch box. Arrival to the bay in the evening, accommodation in the guest house, traditional fish-soup "Ukha" and walk along the Pacific shore.
5 Day	Breakfast in a guest-house. The whole day walk along the ocean shore till 5 waterfalls. Along the way observation of the great marine birds colonies, sea otters and arctic foxes. Lunch. Climbing into tundra to observe endemic bird species. In tundra we can meet reindeers and observe rare plants listed in Russian Red Book (Steller's orchid, juniper). In the evening transfer to Buyan bay, accommodation in the camp. Dinner in the camp.
6 Day	Breakfast in the camp. Walk from Buyan bay to Podutesnaya bay (9 km). Lunch. Transfer back to Nickolskoye village in cross country vehicle. Accommodation in a hotel, lunch. Sea excusion to the whales (orcas, humpback whales, minke whales) world with seabirds watching (Laysan Albatross, Short-tailed Shearwater, Red (Gray) Phalarope, Auklets, Fork-tailed Storm petrel, Leach’s Storm petrel). Dinner in the hotel.
7 Day	Breakfast in a hotel. Excursion to the seals mating sites. Except for seals, sea lions, sea otters you will also see Glaucous-winged Gull, Tufted Puffin and Horned Puffin, Pelagic Cormorant. On road to the excursion you'll meet Rock Ptarmigan, Black-bellied (Gray) Plover, Pacific Golden Plover , Whimbrel , Sanderling, Snowy Owl, Ravens. Lunch box. Moving far north you'll watch Harlequin Duck, Ruddy Turnstone, Gray-tailed Tattler and other species of sandpipers, in addition to Mallard, Pintail, Eurasian Wigeon, Green-winged Teal. Dinner in the hotel.
8 Day	Return flight to Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. Transfer to a hotel in Elizovo airport. Accommpdation. Free time.
9 Day	Extra day for the cases of bad weather conditions. Option Kamchatka adventures available on these days.
10 Day	Extra day for the cases of bad weather conditions. Option Kamchatka adventures available on these days.
11 Day	Extra day for the cases of bad weather conditions. Option Kamchatka adventures available on these days.
12 Day	Breakfast in a hotel, transfer to the airport. Departure from Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky

Price:

Number of PAX	6	8	10
Price, RUB	670 000	558 000	485 000

Single supplement 20 000 RUB

INCLUDED:

Accommodations, meals according to the program, all excursions according to the program, English-speaking guide, all transportation PTRK-PTRK.

NOT INCLUDED:

International airfare to/from Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, visa fee, personal expenses, medical insurance.

Equipment

Additional services, expenses:

One day optional excursions on Kamchatka penisula in the extra days:

1. Valley of Geysers - 46 000 RUB per PAX.

2. Kuril lake- 46 000 RUB per PAX.

3. Auto-hike to Koryaksky and Avacha volcanoes - 7500 RUB per PAX.

4. Auto-hike to Mutnovsky volcano - 9500 RUB per PAX.

5. Auto-hike to Gorely volcano - 8000 RUB per PAX.

6. Small valley of Geysers - 8000 RUB per PAX.

7. Kayaking at Bistraya river and Malkino hot springs -7500 RUB per PAX.

8. Boat trip in Avacha bay -5 500 RUB per PAX.

9. Boat trip in Russkaya bay - 9 500 RUB per PAX.