Description
Discover eastern Siberia, one of the most remote regions on the planet, setting your sights upon seals and sea otters, thousands of seabirds and the magnificent brown bears of Kamchatka while sailing along Russia’s coastline on board the Spirit of Enderby.
Overview
Venture forth to seldom-visited eastern Siberia on this 14-day safari, exploring remote landscapes and discovering the wildlife that inhabits them. You’ll begin your journey in the capital of the Kamchatka region, Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, where you will board the Spirit of Enderby. Your journey then sets its course north to Anadyr, hugging the eastern coastline of the Kamchatka Peninsula where you will have opportunities to spot species like the critically endangered spoon-billed sandpiper and a number of cetaceans, including sperm whales, killer whales and humpback whales. This near-pristine region is a frontier destination for photographers, wildlife enthusiasts and adventurers alike.
Trips departing in 2021 will be aboard the Akademik Shokalskiy.
WHAT MAKES THIS TRIP EXTRAORDINARY
- Explore the Kamchatka Peninsula, one of the world’s most remote and untouched wilderness areas.
- Witness huge seabird colonies numbering in their thousands.
- Navigate deep forested fjords populated by magnificent brown bears.
- Fascinating hiking and photography opportunities await in locations where very few Westerners have tread.
TRIP DATES & PRICES
This is an exclusive small group safari departing on set dates.
Please note that the trip price excludes the cost of international flights.
Additional charges: $500 local payment per person
Itinerary
Upon arrival in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky at the southern end of the Kamchatka Peninsula, you will be introduced to your expedition team and fellow voyagers before transferring to the Spirit of Enderby, your expedition ship and home for the next two weeks.
Overnight: Spirit of Enderby(L, D)
Today you will board a zodiac and cruise the Zhupanova River in search of the Steller’s sea eagle, whose occupied nests are often located close to the riverbanks. Keep an eye out for a good number of spotted seals on your route too.
Overnight: Spirit of Enderby(B, L, D)
First discovered by the cartographer Vitus Bering, an offer in the Russian Navy (whose ship was wrecked here in 1741), the Commander Islands are rich in wildlife and ripe for exploration. Combining shore landings and zodiac cruises, your first stop will be the village of Nikolskoye on Bering Island (named for Vitus Bering), from which you will set forth and hopefully encounter sea otters, red-faced cormorants and horned puffins. With a cruise along the southern coastline, we hope to see an array of cetaceans including sperm, humback, killer and northern minke whales.
Overnight: Spirit of Enderby(B, L, D)
As you continue sailing, today you will arrive at Karaginsky Island where tundra-covered shorelines meet spectacular cedar forests. The island is a great place for admiring the Russian flora, as well as observing a number of wading birds such as the Pacific golden plover, red-necked stint and red-necked phalarope.
Overnight: Spirit of Enderby(B, L, D)
Follow a short trail to a clifftop on Verkhoturova Island where seabird colonies can be seen in their thousands. Watch for species like the tufted puffin, pelagic cormorant and black-legged kittiwake. In the afternoon, enjoy either a zodiac cruise or a shore landing on the Govena Peninsula, home to where brown bears can be seen foraging for food.
Overnight: Spirit of Enderby(B, L, D)
Today you will travel along perhaps the most seldom-visited part Russia’s eastern coastline, where lagoons, forested fjords and shallow bays provide habitat for an array of wildlife. Keep your eyes peeled for the brown bear, red fox, mountain sheep and Kamchatka marmot. This is a photographer and hiker’s dream: to explore where only a few have ever been and discover a rich diversity of species.
Overnight: Spirit of Enderby(B, L, D)
Situated on a 40km-long shingle spit, the Meinypil’gyno is the most treasured breeding site in the world for the critically endangered spoon-billed sandpiper. The Spoon-billed Sandpiper Recovery Taskforce monitor approximately 15 pairs and you may even be lucky enough to be invited to visit one of their nests.
Overnight: Spirit of Enderby(B, L, D)
Spend the day searching the coastline for marine mammals. Regularly moving between locations, the walrus is often seen here, while a large number of grey whales also congregate in the area Be sure to have your camera at the ready!
Overnight: Spirit of Enderby(B, L, D)
As you gently cruise into Anadyr Bay, keep your eyes peeled for pods of beluga whales. After your final breakfast on board, it will be time to disembark the Spirit of Enderby. Transfers will be provided for your onward journey to a downtown hotel or to the airport.
Accommodation
- Spirit of Enderby
- Akademik Shokalsky
Cancellation Policy
Life is unpredictable and we understand that sometimes you have to cancel or change your trip dates and it is our endeavor to make it as easy as possible for you. However, please understand that we plan everything including guide fees, permits, accommodation and ration in advance. Therefore, any cancellation means inconvenience and certain losses to the people involved in various stages of the program. Keeping that in mind, our cancellation charges are as below,
- Cancellations prior to 30 days from the start of the event: Full refund as cash.
- Cancellations between 30 days and 15 days to the start of the event: 50 % refund as cash.
- Cancellations less than 15 days to the start of the event: No refund.
- Cancellations will be accepted only by email.
Note: We reserve the right to cancel a program before departure in the event of logistical problems arising due to natural calamities, strikes, wars or any other circumstances that make the event inadvisable. In this case, we will refund 50% of the event fees.
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