Mixed oriental culture, amazing virgin nature and the special atmosphere of the “end of the world” – all this can be found when going on a Far Eastern expedition. Every corner of this part of the country is beautiful, but several lifetimes are not enough to explore everything. We decided to make your preparation easier and have selected 10 must-see places.
Valley of Geysers
This canyon, mesmerizing in its beauty, is visited by thousands of tourists every year, despite its inaccessibility. The Valley of Geysers is the only place in all of Eurasia where you can see fountains of boiling water and steam. The most powerful geyser in the valley releases a stream of steam 300 meters high. In addition, there are a huge number of waterfalls, lakes, hot springs and other natural beauties. An ecological trail has been laid out for tourists, which offers beautiful views, and if you’re lucky, you can see bears in their natural habitat. The valley is open to visitors only with excursion groups.
Vladivostok
The Russian Far East is good not only for its amazing nature, but also for its interesting cities. The port city of Vladivostok boasts the world’s largest cable-stayed bridge, impressive views of the Pacific Ocean, and nationally famous crabs. The longest railway in Russia, the Trans-Siberian Railway, also ends in this city. But we, of course, recommend taking a plane. It is better to go to Vladivostok in August; this month the weather is the most pleasant there. While exploring the city, don’t forget to look at the Amur Tiger monument, walk to the Star Lighthouse at sunset, and stroll along the local embankment. If it seems that Vladivostok is too far away, and a route for the May holidays has not been invented, then there are options here.
Avacha Bay
This harbor, which has gained fame as one of the most beautiful in the world, can be visited all year round thanks to its special feature – it does not freeze even in winter. In addition, it is so large that it can accommodate a vessel of any size. At the entrance to Avacha Bay there are the so-called “three brothers” – three rocks with an interesting history. They say that once a terrible endless storm broke out here, destroying the entire coast, and three brave brothers stood up to protect their people. The bad weather retreated, and the brothers turned into stones and still guard the harbor. Local rivers are famous for excellent fishing, and in the area you can find many marine animals, such as seals.
Bystrinsky Natural Park
If you want to explore the entire Kamchatka region (it’s so beautiful and you can get to it so cheap!),
but there is no such opportunity, you can look at all its beauty in miniature. In Bystrinsky Park you can find all types of Kamchatka landscapes, forests and mountain ranges. Due to the unique nature, this park is included in the UNESCO natural heritage list. Tourists can explore this place as part of numerous excursions available all year round, or on their own. Here you can raft rivers, dog sled, climb a volcano, hike through alpine meadows and deciduous forests.
Volcanoes of Kamchatka
This park is unique in that on its territory there is a training ground where the daily processes of mountain formation, the action of volcanoes and the development of animal and fish populations are recorded. There are many active volcanoes and they are also on the UNESCO list. The local nature is especially carefully protected from human encroachment, so getting into the park is not easy – you need a special permit, as well as mandatory adherence to all the rules of the reserve. A little more about the mountain ranges of Russia and the CIS.
Death Valley
The most anomalous place in the Far East – Death Valley – got its name not for the sake of a catchphrase; It’s really dangerous to be here because of the huge amount of poisonous gases. However, this disastrous place is located very close to the famous Valley of Geysers, and for a long time no one even suspected that such a danger was lurking literally nearby. Everything was discovered by chance, when local hunters were missing several dogs, and then found them dead and felt bad themselves. Fortunately, a few hours after a person leaves this area, the weakness passes, but the valley is still closed to visitors. However, there is a unique opportunity to look at it from above by booking a helicopter tour.
Uzon Volcano
This volcano appeared more than forty thousand years ago, and as a result of the last eruption it formed a caldera – a bowl resulting from the collapse of the walls of the volcano’s crater. Now there are many rivers and streams, thermal springs and lakes with sulfurous water, the temperature of which reaches 40 degrees. Ancient microorganisms and even oil were found here. In the center of the caldera there is a helipad from which excursions to this amazing place begin. To get there, you need to get a special permit.
Steller Arch
Nature sometimes creates unusual things, looking at which it is difficult to believe that there were no human intervention. One such object is the Steller Arch, located on Bering Island. It is 20.6 meters high and is made of solid stone; over many centuries, all soft rocks were washed away by water or destroyed by winds. The arch is named after the German scientist who devoted most of his life to studying the nature of the Far East. The best time to visit this place is, of course, summer, although in winter the snow-covered arch looks very mesmerizing.
Klyuchevskoy natural park
On the huge plateau of the park there are 12 main volcanoes, among which is the highest active volcano in Eurasia, Klyuchevskoy. It reaches 4750 meters in height. The tops of the volcanoes are covered with ice, and almost all the rivers of the natural park originate from them. The park is home to rare animals such as bighorn sheep and wolverines and very rich vegetation. When going on a trip along the local trails, you need to be careful and be sure to have a satellite phone and a GPS navigation device with you. Some routes are designed specifically for professional climbers only. The best time to visit Klyuchevsky Park is from June to August.
Commander Islands
Between two continents there is a wonderful corner of wild nature that people from all over the world flock to. The Commander Islands are often called the place where eternal autumn reigns. Therefore, the best time to visit the islands is July, August and September, since the weather is extremely changeable the rest of the year. On the islands you can live for some time away from civilization, go fishing, pick berries and mushrooms, but hunting is prohibited here.
You can book a hotel room on the website or in the OneTwoTrip application.
