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Bukhta Lavrova offers visitors unparalleled vistas

Jewel of the Russian Far East

Example 13 Day Cruise aboard Spirit of Enderby
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The eastern seaboard of Russia dominates the North Pacific and yet very few people know anything about it, let alone have experienced it. This isolation has protected one of its most valuable assets - its wilderness and to some degree, its wildlife. Late summer and early autumn is a beautiful time to discover this wilderness. The onset of autumn paints vibrant colors on the tundra-cloaked hillsides, making the landscape a picture-perfect postcard. On this 13-day journey from Anadyr to Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskiy, make numerous landings along these remote coastlines so that you can discover for yourself this untamed and beautiful landscape.
Local girls perform a song for visitorsExplore the Koryaksky Reserve by foot when you hike to Tintikun LagoonIt looks like this Russian Arctic fox's nap was interruptedZodiac cruises are surrounded by a flock of AukletsBukhta Lavrova offers visitors unparalleled vistas
Highlights
  • Discover the Russian Far East wilderness in early autumn
  • Land along remote coastlines, river mouths, fjords, bays, and islands
  • Enjoy local hospitality and traditional dance performances
  • Visit Kamchatka brown bear country
  • Observe the start of autumn bird migration
  • View vibrant foliage and watch wildlife preparing for the harsh winter
Places Visited
  • Arctic
  • Asia
  • Europe
  • Russia
  • Russian Far East
  • Russian Arctic
  • Anadyr
  • Bukhta Bechevinskaya
  • Bukhta Gavriila
  • Bukhta Natalii
  • Chukotka Peninsula
  • Commander Islands
  • Egvekinot
  • Goven Peninsula
  • Kamchatka
  • Karaginskiy Island
  • Meinypil'gyno
  • Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskiy
  • Verhoturova Island
  • Zhupnova River
Activity Level: Relaxed
Involves minimal physical effort and is typically associated with leisurely activities. Activities are low-intensity or last less than a few hours each day.
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Full Itinerary

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Day 1: Embark in Anadyr

Arrive in Anadyr, the administrative center of the Chukotka region, before transfering to your ship and getting to know your fellow voyagers and crew on board.

Day 2: Egvekinot

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
There is more to this small town on the shores of Kresta Bay than first meets the eye. It was built by Gulag prisoners in 1946 as a port to supply the Lul’tin mining complex some 200km inland. The prisoners also constructed the road to the mine. Today the Lul’tin mining complex is closed but the town and Port of Egvekinot is the terminus for a new road through to Pevek and its associated gold mines. The town has an excellent museum which you can visit. Moreover, Egvekinot is only a few miles south of the Arctic Circle. Travel by Ural (a 6WD ‘go anywhere’ Russian truck) to the point where the Arctic Circle crosses the road to Lul’tin. Venture even further to experience the tundra habitat which dominates so much of Chukotka.

Day 3: Bukhta Gavriila

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
This coastline is rich in marine mammals and one creature to look for, in particular, is the walrus. The animals do regularly move between locations, so finding them is always very much a matter of luck. In the afternoon, try to visit a well-known walrus haul out lying between Meinypil’gyno and Cape Navarin.

A landing is also planned for Bukhta Gavriila. The bukhta (or bay) was named after Commander Vitus Bering’s ship, the St Gabriel, of the First Kamchatka Expedition. Behind the expansive beach there is a lagoon you can explore for waterfowl and waders. You may also visit what used to be the oldest weather station in Chukotka and the southernmost in the Arctic, which is now abandoned.

Cape Navarin marks the place where the land bridge to North America began when sea levels were much lower. Because of strong tides around the cape, there is an abundance of food and it is not uncommon to see large numbers of seabirds and good numbers of gray whales, which often congregate here too.

Day 4: Pika River and Meinypil'gyno

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Start the day with a visit to the delta of the Pika River – a well known walrus haul out and one of the few places in the southern part of the range that still gets thousands of animals coming to rest on the beach.

Later in the day, visit Meinypil’gyno, a small settlement located on a 40 km-long spit. It is a traditional village, although renovated under the recent Chukotka government. The spirit is still alive and the village ensemble performs some of their traditional dances, a chance to enjoy real Chukchi hospitality.

Meinypil’gyno is also an important breeding spot for many species of migratory birds. Even though the breeding season is over by September, there is a chance of viewing migrants on their way south and seeing the location where the research team is working hard to save the spoon-billed sandpiper.

Day 5: Bukhta Natalii

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
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 fjords that drain into it from the south, called Bukhta Pavla and Bukhta Petra (named after St Peter and St Paul by Commander Vitus Bering). Hike from one bay to another while surrounded by the magnificent mountain landscapes and tundra vegetation.

Day 6: Tintikun Lagoon

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
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 is Tintikun Lagoon, which is one of the most picturesque locations found anywhere in the world. There is also a large population of brown bears - these should be feeding in and around the river mouths that drain into the head of the lagoon.

Day 7: Koryakskiy Reserve | Verhoturova Island

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Start the morning in brown bear country, an undisturbed habitat within the Koryakskiy Reserve, where you can go bear watching and Zodiac cruising along the coast. Bears come down to the sea coast and into the nearby hills very frequently, and the area is completely protected and rarely visited.

In the afternoon visit Verkhoturova Island, where you have a chance to climb to a seabird colony. The breeding season is over, however, some of the birds that may still be around the colony include tufted and horned puffins, pigeon, common and Brunnich’s guillemots, and also parakeet and least auklets. On nearby rocky islets there is a regular non-breeding haul out of Steller sea lions.

Day 8: Karaginskiy Island

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
A few miles to the south of Verhoturova Island is the much larger Karaginskiy Island. Here encounter some of the first ‘forests’ of the voyage. This is a change from the tundra that you have seen, a sure sign that you are getting further south. There are a large number of red foxes that live on the island, and many migratory birds come here to their breeding grounds and on the way south. The autumn is the best time for the wild berries and you can marvel at the richness of the local flora, as many of them would be at their best.

Day 9-10: Commander Islands

  • Ship
  • 2 Breakfasts, 2 Lunches, 2 Dinners
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. These islands are located at the western extremity of the Aleutian chain. Explore the islands through a combination of landings and Zodiac cruises. 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. Also possibly visit the gravesite of Commander Vitus Bering or the remarkable Medny Island.

Day 11: Olga Bay

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Olga Bay is a part of the very large Kronotskiy Reserve, which also includes the world-famous Valley of the Geysers. The habitat is quite different from what you have seen thus far. 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 provide a beautiful setting to explore real Kamchatka wilderness.

Day 12: Zhupanova River | Bukta Bechevinskaya

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
This morning make your way along the Zhupanova River by Zodiac. This journey allows you to explore a river habitat which is common in Kamchatka. The Kamchatka Rivers (of which there are over 1,800) are important ecosystems that support a wide variety of wildlife. They are especially important for salmon spawning. Steller’s sea eagles are known to nest in the lower reaches of the river.

In the afternoon, depending on permits, there is a possibility of visiting Cape Shipunsky and Bechevinskaya Bay, where there was a secret military submarine base during the Cold War. It was completely abandoned after the collapse of the Soviet Union, but it provides an amazing image of the face of the Cold War. Alternatively, you may cruise nearby to Krasheninnikova Island – a rocky island that has a number of seabirds nesting on it, including spectacled guillemot and some other Bering Sea endemics. As you spend your last night at sea, celebrate and recap your voyage highlights with fellow passengers.

Day 13: Disembark in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskiy

  • 1 Breakfast
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. After breakfast, disembark and take your complimentary transfer to a downtown hotel or the airport.

Ship/Hotel

Spirit of Enderby

Seating for all passengers in the Lecture Room
Heritage Suite
South Pacific fish

Dates & Prices

My Preferred Start Date

Per person starting at
$7,200
Main Deck Triple-Spirit of Enderby
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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.
Main Deck-Spirit of Enderby
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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.
Superior Cabin-Spirit of Enderby
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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.
Superior Plus Cabin-Spirit of Enderby
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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.
Mini Suite- Spirit of Enderby
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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.
Heritage-Spirit of Enderby
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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.
Included
  • 12 Breakfasts, 11 Lunches, 12 Dinners
  • 12 Nights Accommodations
  • Accommodations as listed
  • Ground transportation as listed
  • Activities as listed
  • Meals as listed
  • Access to a 24-7 Emergency line while traveling
  • Pre- & Post- Cruise Transfers
  • Complimentary boot rental is available. However, due to the limited supply of boots available aboard the ship, it is recommended that you bring your own rubber boots for best fit and availability. Youth size boots are not available.
  • House beer, wine and soft drinks with lunch and dinner
  • One night hotel accommodation in a twin share room (incl. dinner/breakfast)
  • All expedition shore excursions
  • Programme of lectures by noted naturalists
Excluded
  • Gratuities
  • Travel Insurance
  • Personal Expenses
  • Flight costs (please request a quote)
  • Additional excursions during free time
  • Fuel and transportation surcharges (when applicable)
  • Required Visas if applicable
  • Laundry 
  • Mandatory medical evacuation insurance

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The trip might have been the absolute best of our lifetime (thus far). We particularly want to commend our guide Peter in the Guilin area-he was so incredibly attentive, energetic, enthusiastic-and absolutely dedicated to ensuring that our meals were 100% vegetarian.
Jack Charney
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