An expedition aboard a premium ship

Day 1 Embarkation in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. Russkaya Bay

In the morning, you will be transferred from Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky to the port, where you will board the SH Minerva. Meet the crew and attend a safety briefing before setting sail.

The ship will depart through Avacha Bay, offering spectacular views of Kamchatka’s “home” volcanoes: Avachinsky, Koryaksky, Kozelsky, and Vilyuchinsky.

Your expedition begins in Russkaya Bay, where you may encounter Steller sea lions, white-shouldered eagles, and, during the breeding season, brown bears along the coast. Orcas are also occasionally seen near the bay’s entrance.

Day 2 Atlasov Island

Today you will see Alaid, the highest volcano in the Kuril Islands, standing at 2,339 meters. Its perfectly symmetrical cone was admired by the Japanese as even more flawless than the famous Mount Fuji.

The island’s dramatic landscapes, including Alaid’s two side craters, offer breathtaking views from multiple perspectives.

Day 3 Paramushir and Antsiferov Islands

Paramushir is known as the “kingdom of volcanoes,” with 23 peaks ranging from active to long-dormant.

Krasheninnikov Bay is framed by volcanic summits — including the towering Fussa Volcano, as well as Karpinsky, Lomonosov, Tatarynov, and Chikurachki. The surrounding landscape offers sweeping views of this rugged volcanic region.

In the afternoon, the ship will approach Antsiferov Island, the summit of an ancient extinct volcano. The island is home to large seabird colonies and one of the largest Steller sea lion rookeries in the Kurils.

Day 4 Onekotan Island, Krenitsyn Volcano

Today you will explore Onekotan Island, home to one of the Kurils’ most striking natural wonders — Krenitsyn, the famous “volcano within a volcano.”

Inside the vast caldera of the ancient Tao-Rusyr Volcano lies Ring Lake, and in its center rises the perfect cone of Krenitsyn. The island’s dramatic mountain ridges and volcanic peaks make this one of the most unforgettable places of the entire expedition.

Day 5 Yankicha Island, Crater Bay

This day will be dedicated to one of the most beautiful places in the Kuril Islands — Yankicha Island.

The flooded caldera of the Ushishir Volcano, known as Crater Bay, reveals a truly surreal landscape: two emerald islets lie in the middle of the bay, enclosed by steep crater walls that seem to protect it from the outside world.

Here you can enjoy the island’s geothermal features and observe local wildlife, including rare Commander Arctic foxes that inhabit the shores.

Day 6 Simushir Island, Kitoboynaya Bay

Today you will visit Simushir Island and the remote Kitoboynaya Bay, once home to a small whaling settlement. Abandoned in the 1960s, it has since been reclaimed by nature — with its ruins standing as silent witnesses to the island’s past.

The surrounding area offers sweeping ocean views and showcases the raw, untamed beauty of this volcanic landscape.

Day 7 Simushir Island, Zavaritsky Volcano. Chirpoy Island

You will continue your journey through the central Kurils with a visit to Simushir’s most famous landmark — Zavaritsky Volcano, whose flooded caldera forms a striking panorama of water and stone.

Later, the ship will approach Chirpoy Island, shaped by two dramatic volcanic peaks — Chernogo and Snow. The island is home to thousands of seabirds, and its coastal waters are often visited by whales, sea lions, and other marine mammals.

Day 8 Iturup Island, the White Cliffs and Baransky Volcano hot springs

Today, your ship will call at the shores of Iturup, the largest island of the Kuril archipelago.

Here, the famous White Cliffs stretch for 28 kilometers along the coast. The cliffs are made of soft pumice from an ancient volcanic eruption. Over the centuries, wind and storms have carved intricate patterns into the rock, giving the surface a jagged, almost lace-like texture.

The scene is one of vivid contrasts: dark gray volcanic sand lies at their base, while lush emerald vegetation crowns their tops.

Nearby, at the foot of Baransky Volcano, natural hot springs form scenic pools, where warm water fills both untouched and lightly maintained spots.

Day 9 Kunashir Island, Cape Stolbchaty

Today you will explore the southernmost island of the Greater Kuril Chain. Its name, from the Ainu language spoken by the Kurils’ Indigenous people, means “Black Island” — likely inspired by its dense coniferous forests, the dark silhouette of Tyatya Volcano, and the volcanic sand along its shores.

Along the coast, Cape Stolbchaty is renowned for its striking basalt columns, created millions of years ago as lava slowly cooled and solidified. The result is a remarkable natural formation resembling the pipes of a giant organ.

Kunashir is home to several active volcanoes, including Golovnin, Mendeleev, Rurui, and Tyatya, and features dramatic landscapes shaped by volcanic activity. The island is rich in wildlife, with seals, bears, whales, and dolphins inhabiting its coasts and surrounding waters.

Day 10 Arrival in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, Sakhalin Island

Your ship will arrive at Korsakov Port, just 35 km from Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk. Along the way, you will pass one of the Far East’s iconic landmarks — Aniva Cape, crowned by a historic Japanese lighthouse.

After breakfast, you will bid farewell to the crew and disembark. Transfers will be arranged to your hotel or the airport.