Sakhalin Adventurer
DAY 1
Arrive in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk and transfer to hotel. Enjoy a welcome dinner and get some good sleep before you begin your Far East adventure.
DAY 2
Start exploring the island with a sightseeing tour of its capital,Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, once the capital of a Japanese province. Tour the Museum of Local Lore to learn the Russian and Japanese history of the place, visit the Art Gallery and enjoy a scenic overlook of the city at the Observation Platform. Afternoon excursion to Tunaicha and Izmenchivoye Lakes will give you a glimpse of the natural beauty to expect from your stay in this exotic area.
DAY 3
In the morning depart for a fishing trip to the coast of Aniva Bay. You will journey into the local forest for a look at the botanical wonders of the region and may also have a chance to watch migrating salmon in the local rivers. Enjoy a traditional fishermen’s lunch prepared over a campfire. Return to Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk for an overnight at the hotel.
DAY 4
Begin the day with an excursion to an interesting natural phenomenon – the Mud Volcano. In the evening you will depart on a trip to explore the culture of the Nivkhi people – the largest ethnic group on the island. Take an overnight train to the town of Nogliki.
DAY 5
Upon arrival in Nogliki, take an excursion into town, including to a crafts shop where local masters make Nivkhi souvenirs. Visit a fishing camp and enjoy a lunch of traditional Nivkhi cuisine. Return to Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk by overnight train.
DAY 6
Arrive in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk in the morning and transfer to hotel. Enjoy a relaxing day in the city or take an optional boat excursion in the bay. Rest well overnight before a day of hiking in the beautiful wilderness.
DAY 7
Depart early for the base of Chekhov Peak. You will ascend the mountain using an old Japanese trail (takes about 4 hours) with frequent stops to enjoy the changing landscape. Watch the evergreen forest change into birch and rock landscapes, bamboo groves, and finally a dwarf cedar forest dotted with blueberry and mountain cranberry bushes. The views that open before your eyes from the top of this mountain will be worth all the effort of the ascent. Return to Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk for overnight at hotel.
DAY 8
Finish exploring the exotic island with a full-day trip to Starodubskoye village for a chance to collect rare dark amber on the shore of Patience Bay and a bird watching excursion to Swan Lake, which is frequented by great numbers and varieties of waterfowl. Return to Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk for a farewell dinner at a city restaurant.
DAY 9
Your tour comes to an end as you are transferred to the airport for your flight home.
What To Expect
Sakhalin region is a land of contrasts. Here you will see the northern taiga and subtropical forests, green meadows and mountain deserts, cold ocean waters and hot geysers. There is no other place on earth where you can find birch and yew trees, fir tree and acacia, larch tree and wild grape, creeping cedar and giant fern (up to 4 meters high) all growing naturally on one site. The islands are amazingly rich in wildlife. Underwater fields of seaweed in shallow bays attract seals that live in big colonies on isolated islands. Thousands of birds inhabit the littoral rocks.
