Wild Russia | Kamchatka, Russia

Between the jagged ridges of the Vachkazhets Mountains and the expanse of the Pacific Ocean lies Kamchatka, an untamed peninsula long considered the very end of the world.

This is a place that exists in adventurers’ wildest dreams: a land where volcanoes breathe, glaciers carve into the earth, crystalline rivers flow through endless forest, and nature puts on a show that never gets old.

Tucked away in the far east of Russia, this wild land is just a stone’s throw from Alaska across the Bering Sea. Once an exclusionary military zone, Kamchatka remained closed to the outside world for decades, and has only recently started welcoming curious travelers. That long isolation has kept it astonishingly pure, a rare frontier where the modern world still feels refreshingly far away.

Here, more than 300 volcanoes rise dramatically from emerald forests and golden tundra. Dozens of them are still alive and rumbling. Snow-capped peaks tower above steaming valleys, giant Stellers sea eagles ride the winds, orcas glide through icy coastal waters, and king crabs rule the seabed. Keeping watch over it all is the true king of Kamchatka, the mighty brown bear.

This season, we invite you deep into the soul of southern Kamchatka. We will conquer the landscapes in sturdy off-road trucks, raft down sparkling rivers, sail into the open Pacific, and soar by helicopter over smoking volcanoes and hidden geyser fields, reaching places few humans have ever set foot upon. In a single day you may wander from flower filled alpine meadows to bubbling geothermal wonderlands, bathe in wild hot springs, and watch salmon leap while brown bears fish just metres away.

In Kamchatka, nature is not merely scenery, but a living force. You can feel its warm breath rising from the ground, hear its heartbeat in the roaring rivers, and taste its untamed spirit in the salt air and wild berries.

This trekkup is far more than a journey. It is a rare and privileged immersion into one of the planet’s last great wildernesses, a land of fire and ice, bears and boiling springs, where the forces of creation still shape the earth before your eyes.

Here, as we stand on the edge of the world, every moment reminds us how small we are, and how deeply alive we can feel when we stand face to face with raw, untamed nature.

Welcome to Kamchatka. Let’s go!

DAY 1 // Arrival in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky

Following our 6-hour domestic flight across Siberia, we’ll arrive in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. A quick drive will take us to our hotel, where we’ll freshen up and have free time to take it easy, adjust to the time zone, and get excited for the days ahead! Feel free to walk through the historic town centre, enjoy your first views of the volcanoes, or bathe in the natural hot springs, in true Russian style.

DAY 2 // Vachkazhets Mountain Range trek

Today we’ll hit the trails and explore the Vachkazhets Mountain Range, once an ancient volcano that erupted with such force it split into three separate peaks: Vachkazhets (1,556 m), Vachkazhtsy (1,500 m), and Letnyaya Poperechnaya (1,417 m). Glaciers later carved massive, bowl-shaped natural amphitheaters with steep walls and snowfields. At its base is the crystal clear Takholoch Lake, fed by glacial meltwater and cascading waterfalls, including the impressive 40-metre Vachkazhets waterfall.

Our hiking route will take us through birch and cedar forests before opening into colourful alpine meadows filled with rhododendrons, will the chance to spot gophers, marmots, and various bird species along the way.

DAY 3 // Starichkov Island sea trip

This morning we head straight to the seaport, jump on a boat and head out of Avacha Bay into the Pacific Ocean.

Gliding past the silent sentinels of the Three Brothers rocks, we’ll pass weather-beaten Babushkin Kamen Island, and round the edge of Cape Stanitsky, where the sea opens to reveal Starichkov Island. This living sanctuary is a bird paradise, where thousands of puffins, guillemots, cormorants, and murrelets swoop and soar through the skies, watched by the seals and sea lions lounging on the rocks.

What could make this day even more perfect? A delicious lunch! In our first introduction to regional delicacies, we’ll feast like kings on fresh Kamchatka king crab, flounder and rockfish. Heading back to port, we’ll stop at the city museum before wrapping up the day.

DAY 4 // Mount Camel trekking

We’ll kick off our Mount Camel trekking adventure by legendary 6WD Kamaz truck, making our way along the dry riverbed to the foothill of the Avacha volcano. We’ll head out on a moderate, roughly 7km trail, passing through otherworldly volcanic landscapes and spotting the friendly Beringian ground squirrels that come around begging for snacks.
Our walk will lead us to the distinctive, two-humped volcanic extrusion known as Mount Camel, rising 1200 metres between the mighty Avachinsky and Koryaksky volcanoes. From the summit we’ll enjoy breathtaking panoramic views of surrounding volcanoes, Avacha Bay and distant Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky.
After the descent, a hearty lunch awaits at Avacha Base Camp before we return to the city.

DAY 5 // Bystraya River rafting & Malkinskiye Hot Springs

Today we immerse ourselves in Kamchatka’s purest nature with a peaceful rafting trip down the crystal clear Bystraya River. Drifting through beautiful, forested valleys, we might get lucky and spot spawning fish swimming right beneath the boats. Those who are interested can try fishing for salmon, char, or grayling, and when the journey is over, we’ll enjoy a delicious riverside lunch.
Think the day can’t get any better? In the afternoon, we head to Malki Village for the best part: soaking in the wild Malkinskiye Hot Springs, where steaming hot mineral water (up to 80°C) mixes with cold river water in natural rocky pools. Pure bliss in the middle of the wilderness!

DAY 6 // Trekking to the Dachnye Hot Springs

Our day begins with a scenic off-road trip across the southern volcanic region to the Mutnovskaya geothermal station area, at the foot of Mutnovsky volcano.

From there we set off on a moderate 2-hour hike to the Dachnye Hot Springs, known as the Mini Valley of Geysers, where steaming fumaroles, boiling mud pots, colourful mineral deposits and powerful steam jets create a miniature geothermal wonderland hidden in a steep ravine.
We’ll have a relaxing (and sightly surreal) picnic lunch amid the volcanic landscape before heading to the impressive Snezhny Bars (Snow Leopard) waterfall for photos and selfies with the cascading water.

If road conditions allow, we’ll end the day with an additional short excursion to the beautiful waterfall on the Spokoyny stream, offering one of the most rewarding combinations of geothermal activity and mountain scenery in Kamchatka.

DAY 7 // Leisure day with optional activities

Free time at leisure for optional activities.

Recommended:

The optional helicopter excursion to Kurilskoye Lake offers a rare chance to observe wild brown bears in their natural habitat during the salmon spawning season.
The day starts with a scenic flight over volcanoes and Pacific bays, landing first at the magnificent Kurilskoye Lake, one of the world’s largest sockeye salmon spawning grounds, where dozens of brown bears fish along the shores and riverbanks.
The route continues with a landing inside the huge caldera of Ksudach Volcano for a short walking excursion around the crater lakes and colourful “hot beach”, before the final stop at the Khodutka hot springs for relaxing bathing in the natural thermal river heated to a comfortable 40°C.

OR

The optional helicopter excursion to the Valley of Geysers and Uzon is a journey into one of the planet’s most active geothermal regions.

You’ll board a Mi-8 helicopter and fly over volcanic landscapes to the famous Valley of Geysers, where powerful geysers, boiling mud pots, fumaroles and colourful mineral terraces create an otherworldly spectacle.
The flight continues to the giant Uzon Caldera, a vast volcanic crater filled with steaming lakes, hot rivers and bubbling pools, providing a dramatic contrast of raw volcanic power and lush tundra.

The tour ends with a landing on natural hot springs for relaxing bathing in warm mineral water followed by a scenic picnic lunch amid the steaming landscape.

DAY 8 // Departure
Departure day. Airport transfer, bye bye Kamchatka!

Duration: 8 days + flights.
Activities: trekking, boating, rafting, geothermal bathing,
fishing, optional helicopter excursions.
Grade: Easy to moderate
Room & Meals: 4* hotels, double sharing.
Breakfasts and dinners included.

Cost: 3,100 EUR + 3,000 AED domestic flight from Novosibirsk OVB-PKC. Cost valid until MAY 25th.
International flights excluded.
Optional choppers: 105,000 RUB

Trip starts and ends with domestic flights OVB-PKC.
Visa: available online or through specialized agency at approx. 550-800 AED.

See yah in Kamchatka x

Trekkup Crew
050 4848238/docs@trekup.com
Find all trekkups at linktr.ee/trekkup