In this 13-day journey of the Spirit of Enderby from Anadyr to Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskiy, make numerous landings along the remote coastlines and discover for yourself untamed and beautiful landscapes. The eastern seaboard of Russia dominates the North Pacific and yet very few people know anything about it. This isolation has protected one of its most valuable assets – its wilderness and to some degree, its wildlife. This expedition is perfect for the natural history enthusiasts, photographers, historians and travelers as the itinerary includes selected sites that few people visit such as river mouths, fjords, bays and islands. Don't miss this chance to discover the jewel of the Russian Far East.
Highlights
Explore the coastline of Bukhta Gavrilla which is rich in marine mammals
Marvel at the richness of the local flora in Karaginskiy Island
Go bear watching in an undisturbed habitat within the Koryakskiy Reserve
Involves minimal physical effort and is typically associated with leisurely activities. Activities are low-intensity or last less than a few hours each day.
Spend this day in and around the town of Egvekinot on the shores of Kresta Bay. The town was built by Gulag prisoners who were then forced to construct a road to the mine. Explore the town which has an excellent museum, the road and tundra as well as the Arctic Circle.
This coastline is rich in marine mammals and one creature to look for, in particular, is the walrus. The bukhta (or bay) was named after Commander Vitus Bering’s ship, St. Gabriel of the First Kamchatka Expedition. Behind the expansive beach, there is a lagoon you can explore for waterfowl and waders.
Start this day with a visit to the delta of Pika River – a well-known walrus haul-out. Later in the day, visit Meinypil’gyno, a small settlement located on a 40 km long shingle spit. It is a traditional village although renovated under the recent Chukotka government. Enjoy the hospitality and the performance of some of the traditional dances of the locals from the village.
Along the Koryak Coast, there are many beautiful fjords (bukhtas or bays) and none are more beautiful than Bukhta Natalii. This fjord has two smaller ones that drain into it from the south. Hike from one bay to another whilst surrounded by the magnificent mountain landscapes and tundra vegetation.
Much of the southern Govena Peninsula was recently made into a state reserve. There are a number of fjords included in the reserve; one of the most spectacular and the most picturesque location in the world is the Tintikun Lagoon. A large population of brown bears inhabits this area, you may fortunately see a number of them.
Start this morning with a bear watching activity in an undisturbed habitat within the Koryakskiy Reserve in Kamchatka Brown Bear country. Brown bears frequently visit this area which is completely protected and rarely visited. In the afternoon, visit Verkhoturova Island where tufted and horned puffins, pigeon, common and Brunnich’s guillemots and also parakeet and least auklets can be seen. In the nearby rocky islets, there is a regular non-breeding haul out of Steller sea lions.
A few miles to the south of Verhoturova Island is the much larger Karaginskiy Island. Here you can encounter some of the first ‘forests’ of the voyage. It is a change from the tundra that you have seen, a sure sign that you are getting further south. Autumn is the best time for the wild berries. Marvel at the richness of the local flora as many of them should be at their best in this season.
The wildlife-rich Commander Islands were first discovered by Commander Vitus Bering when his ship was wrecked here in 1741. He perished on the island along with many of his men. The reports from those that survived led to a ‘fur rush’ and the settlement of the islands. There are two large islands (Bering and Medny) with two smaller islands, Ariy Karmen and Toporkov. Explore these islands through a combination of landings and Zodiac cruises. Have a stop at the village of Nikolskoye. Visit the fur seal rookery at North-West Cape and Zodiac cruise around the impressive bird colony at Ariy Kamen. A visit to the gravesite of Commander Vitus Bering or the remarkable Medny Island is also possible.
Olga Bay is a part of the very large Kronotskiy Reserve, which also includes the world-famous Valley of the Geysers. The habitat has lush Kamchatka forests coming right down to the beach. The area around Olga Bay is frequented by large numbers of gray whales that are usually quite friendly to visiting boats. The rising volcanoes in the background will provide a beautiful setting to explore real Kamchatka wilderness.
This morning, make your way along the Zhupanova River by Zodiac. This journey is an exploration of a river habitat which is common in Kamchatka. Steller’s sea eagles are known to nest in the lower reaches of the river.
Day 13: Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskiy, Russia | Disembark
During the night, the Spirit of Enderby enters Avacha Bay which is one of the greatest natural harbors in the world. On the shores of Avacha Bay is Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskiy, the capital and administrative center of the Kamchatka Region.
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Prices for are estimated based on inflation. Contact us to confirm pricing and availability for your desired departure date.
$7,200
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Main Deck Triple
One cabin located on the Main Deck, with two lower bunk beds, one upper bunk bed, outside porthole, wash basin, desk and chair, wardrobe with hanging space, and shared bathrooms on same deck.
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Main deck
Thirteen cabins located on the Main Deck, with two lower bunk beds, outside porthole, wash basin, desk and chair, wardrobe with hanging space, and shared bathrooms on same deck.
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Superior
Four cabins located on the Middle Deck,with one lower and one upper bunk, side-facing windows, desk and chair, wardrobe with hanging space, and private bath facilities.
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Superior Plus
Eight cabins located on the Upper and Middle Decks,with two lower bunk beds, side-facing windows, desk and chair, wardrobe with hanging space. and private bath facilities.
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Mini Suite
Two cabins located on the Upper Deck, with one double bed in separate room, side-facing windows, separate lounge area with a single bed, desk and chair, wardrobe with hanging space, and private bath facilities.
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Heritage Suite
One cabin located on the Upper Deck, with one double bed in separate room, forward- and side-facing windows, separate lounge area with a single pull-out bed, desk and table area, wardrobe with hanging space, and private bath facilities.
Notes
- Travel Insurance is mandatory for all passengers aboard the Spirit of Enderby.
- Single clients are matched with a sharer of the same sex in a twin-share cabin. Payment of a single supplement guarantees a single cabin. The single supplement is 1.8 times the price of the voyage with the exception of the suites which are double the single rate.
Initial deposit is 25%, and most travelers will call our office and pay the deposit with a credit card.
Final payment is due 130 days prior to departure by Bank transfer, check or credit card. All final payments by credit card may be subject to a surcharge and maximum of $20,000 charge
This was our first trip to South America and we were a little nervous. But Adventure Life made things so easy! All our questions were answered before we left, and our guide, Vidal, was amazing! He gave us enough space to explore without rushing us along. He also knew where the best picture taking opportunities were, which was great.
Lindsay Gompf
TrustScore 4.8 | 174 reviews
TrustScore 4.8 of 5
Based on 174 reviews on
8 hours ago
The trip was not only memorable for the amount of animals we saw but also for the people and accommodations at the two camps where we stayed. Our first guide, BK, was a wealth of information about the animals, landscape and down to the plants and what they were used for. Everyday out was a learning experience with him. All the people at the camps were gracious and the food was excellent.
Our second camp in the Okavanga was just as good as the first as far as the staff, accommodations, food and animals. After our experience at the first camp we amazed that the high quality remained the same. Our guide, G, made sure we were able to enjoy every experience including a rush through the bush to witness a cheetah and an ensuing hunt that he heard over his radio.
In both camps there were enough guides out that if they saw something the other guides were informed which helped in seeing as much as possible. It was also nice that the concessions were large enough that we did not have vehicles following each other throughout the day.
Normally there is always something in a trip of this length that we think could be improved upon but this is the rare case where we cannot think of anything. From the time we left the States to when we returned it was one of the most hassle free vacations we took.
Perhaps emphasizing the use of the laundry facilities at the camps would be useful because of the luggage restrictions would be the only thing I can think of as an improvement to future clients.
Kenneth Dropek
1 day ago
Mary was so pleasant and professional. She made sure all of our questions were answered.
