Accommodation during the trip
Languages
Accommodation during the trip
Languages
Experiences you'll have
To fulfill the dream of seeing whales, you must undertake a long journey. The remoteness and harsh climate of the Shantar Islands seem to deliberately keep people away from these places. Partly thanks to this, the pristine nature here has been preserved.
If you are passionate about photo and video shooting, including with drones, the Shantar Islands are an excellent place to create breathtaking shots and stories. The vibrant colors of nature, encounters with animals, sunrises, sunsets, and the special Shantar fogs — thick, flowing, or spiraling — offer the opportunity to capture moments that will become true gems of your travel collection.
Despite staying on the wild shore of the Sea of Okhotsk, this journey offers comfortable conditions: spacious two-person tents in Wrangel Bay and wooden cabins in Ongachan Bay. There are common rooms with board games and films about wildlife. A daily banya (Russian bathhouse), drying rooms for clothes and shoes, and places to charge your equipment.
We kindly ask you to take into account that due to fluctuations in the dollar-ruble exchange rate we reserve the right to revise the rates in the event of significant market fluctuations.
Itinerary
The journey begins in Khabarovsk, where you should get to on your own. You should be in town the day before the program starts and plan to fly back the day after the program ends. This way you can prepare for the long journey at the beginning and rest after the program.
We can help with ticket purchasing and choosing a hotel in Khabarovsk. If necessary, leave a comment in the application.
Note: this expedition is held in remote and hard-to-reach places with complete autonomy. The itinerary may change depending on the weather and the concentration of whales. Long delays on the route, cancelation of some excursions in bad weather, or earlier departure from the route are possible.
Day 1 Flights to Nikolaevsk-on-Amur and sea crossing to Wrangel Bay
In the morning you will go to Khabarovsk airport to meet the group ((all participants are traveling from different hotels, so you need to get to the airport on your own).
After meeting the group you will depart from Khabarovsk to Nikolaevsk-on-Amur by plane (flight time is 1,5 hours).
At the airport of Nikolaevsk-on-Amur, you will be met by our guide, and by minibusses travel to Perovsky Cape, located on the coast of the Sea of Okhotsk (travel time is 2,5-4 hours along a forest gravel road).
From Perovsky Cape, you will cross the sea to Wrangel Bay by a high-speed covered boat (travel time is from 4 to 6 hours, depending on weather conditions. There will be hot tea and lunch boxes for you on board).
Reaching Wrangel Bay, you will be accommodated in a comfortable campsite on the shore of the Sea of Okhotsk. In the evening, you will enjoy a festive dinner and a sauna.
Note: in case of stormy weather or flight delay from Khabarovsk on this day, overnight stay in a hotel in Nikolaevsk-on-Amur is possible. The delay in Nikolaevsk-on-Amur can last up to several days. Possible activities here (paid extra): visiting a museum, city tour, trekking outside the city, visiting a sauna, lectures about traveling.
Days 2-4 Wrangel Bay
You will spend these days in Wrangel Bay. Here, there is a chance to see bowhead whales. They can weigh up to 150 tons and reach 22 meters in length. This species of cetacean lives only in the cold waters of the Northern Hemisphere. Its southernmost group is found in the Sea of Okhotsk. In the shallow waters of Wrangel Bay, whales sometimes come to socialize and to hide from predatory orcas. In favorable weather, you will be able to go out to sea on a paddleboard and, if you're lucky, observe whales up close (using this watercraft is completely safe for both whales and humans).
In Wrangel Bay, you can see other wild animals: orcas and seals, foxes, and chipmunks.
Marine biologists with many years of experience studying cetaceans and other scientists will be staying with you. At evening lectures, they will tell you about the life and behavior of these marine giants, and also introduce you to the biology, ornithology, and geology of the region.
In Wrangel Bay, a selection of activities awaits you; details are in the "Important to know" section.
Just in case, we emphasize once again that we cannot guarantee the 100% presence of whales and other animals in Wrangel Bay. Please keep this in mind when planning your trip.
Day 5 Sea crossing to Ongachan Bay
After lunch, you will transfer to the "Ongachan" base, located in a picturesque bay of the same name. The journey will take about 2 hours; along the way, you will visit the "Window to the Shantars" — a natural arch located on the Tugur Peninsula. During the trip, you might be lucky enough to encounter orcas or whales.
In Ongachan Bay, you will stay at a cozy base in shared accommodations for 4 or 6 people. There is a large common room and observation decks. This place will be the starting point for your explorations over the next 2 days.
Day 6 Ongachan Bay and its surroundings
On this day, possible activities include hiking along ecological trails, going to a viewpoint overlooking the Shantar Archipelago, fishing, and a sea trip to the Dragon Rocks.
The length of the bay, its unique location, and the presence of three straits have created bizarre landscapes near the Ongachan base that are interesting to explore.
Day 7 Maly Shantar and Belichiy Islands
On this day, you will visit Maly Shantar and Belichiy Islands — here you can encounter seals. They hide in the bay from predatory orcas. The shallow water level prevents orcas from hunting, and the seals feel completely safe.
You will navigate through the Opasny Strait with its powerful current, admire the beautiful kekurs (sea stacks) at Cape Gaykovskogo and the arch-shaped rocks on Belichiy Island. If the weather permits, you will land on Belichiy Island.
In the evening, you will return to the camp at Ongachan for dinner. After dinner, you can relax by the campfire or in the common room.
Day 8 Sea crossing to Perovsky Cape and transfer to Nikolaevsk-on-Amur
After breakfast and packing your belongings, you will have a sea crossing to Perovsky Cape (travel time 5–7 hours). Hot tea and a snack will be provided on the route.
From Perovsky Cape, you will travel by minibus to Nikolaevsk-on-Amur (travel time about 3 hours on a forest gravel road).
Upon arrival in the city, you will check into a hotel, rest, and have dinner (dinner is paid for separately).
Day 9 Return to Khabarovsk
Today you will return from Nikolaevsk-on-Amur to Khabarovsk by plane on Aurora Airlines or Khabarovsk Airlines (flight time 1 hour 35 minutes).
Upon arrival in Khabarovsk, you will say goodbye to the group and head to your hotel on your own to rest after a long and eventful expedition.
Important: due to possible delays of regional flights, we strongly recommend purchasing tickets for your departure home for the following day. This way, you not only reduce timing risks but also have the opportunity to stroll around Khabarovsk and regain your strength before a long flight.
Accommodation during the trip
Languages
Accommodation during the trip
The expedition takes place far from civilization. The accommodation will be quite simple, but comfortable.
Note: you should book your accommodation in Khabarovsk before the start and after the end of the expedition. We recommend hotels Sopka and Parus (high level of service), Khabarovsk City Boutique Hotel, Sapporo, Lazurit (standard accommodation), and Chaika (budget accommodation).
The campsite in Wrangel Bay (4 nights )
Accommodation is in spacious camp tents, each designed for two people.
The tent has a common vestibule and two sleeping compartments. On the premises: a dining hall, large expedition tents for lectures and relaxing, 2 banyas (Russian bathhouses), a hut for drying clothes and shoes, 4 toilets, and a washing area.
Electricity is supplied by generators. The banya is heated every day.
The base in Ongachan Bay (3 nights)
Located on the shore of the Sea of Okhotsk, 5 km from the Shantar Archipelago. You will stay in heated rooms for 4–6 people. The room includes: wide sleeping platforms (polati) with mattresses, pillows, and blankets, clothes hangers, and a small table. On the premises: a common room, a gazebo, a hot shower, a banya (Russian bathhouse), and a hut for drying clothes and shoes.
Electricity is supplied by generators. The banya is heated every day. The common room has a collection of films about whales and the nature of the Sea of Okhotsk.
The Sever Hotel in Nikolaevsk-on-Amur (1 night)
It is the only hotel in the town with a satisfactory, but not very high level of comfort. You will be accommodated in rooms for 2-4 people with a private bathroom.
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Common questions
Summer air temperature: from +30°C during the day to +5°C at night. Strong winds, rain, and fog are possible. In September, the average temperature ranges from +20°C during the day to 0°C at night.
The weather in the Shantar Islands can be extremely unstable: strong winds, fog, and rain are possible. Therefore, we ask you to pay attention to the equipment list below.
For sea trips:
For trekking and staying at the camp:
For photography equipment:
Other:
The tour price includes three meals a day during the active part of the program (breakfasts and dinners, as well as lunches or daytime snacks on the routes).
The menu will include both simple dishes (porridge, sandwiches, soups, salads, main courses) and seafood (flounder, crab — depending on the catch). In Wrangel Bay, the baker prepares fresh bread. For those interested, there may be a master class on making fish dumplings and preparing the catch.
During the long sea crossing from Cape Perovskogo to Wrangel Bay and back, meals (a snack and hot tea) will be provided on the boat.
Additionally, you will need to pay for: meals during your stay in Khabarovsk before the start and after the end of the expedition, as well as meals in Nikolaevsk-on-Amur (dinner on day 8, and breakfast and all meals on day 9).
From Khabarovsk to Nikolaevsk-on-Amur and back you will fly by Aurora or Khabarovsk Airlines. Tickets with luggage up to 23 kg and hand luggage up to 5 kg are included in the tour price (extra charge for 1 piece of luggage is 3500 RUB). The flight time is 1,5 hours.
From Nikolaevsk-on-Amur to Perovsky Cape and back you will be transferred by minibuses Toyota Hiace. This forest gravel road takes from 2,5 to 4 hours. The minibus capacity is 12 people. We seat 7-8 people per car for your convenience. Luggage is placed on top and inside the car.
The sea crossing from Perovsky Cape to Wrangel Bay and back will be on a closed-type high-speed catamaran boat (travel time is 4-10 hours). There are comfortable chairs and a toilet on board. This boat was designed specifically for the harsh conditions of the region.
Boat trips around the Shantar archipelago will take place on open-type catamaran boats. In this case, you should be prepared for strong wind, but such boats offer a 360-degree view for whale watching.
Insurance is not included in the tour price, so you should arrange it yourself (we recommend a helicopter evacuation option). Please note that insurance is mandatory for tourists over 65 years of age.
Stable mobile communication will only be available in Khabarovsk and Nikolaevsk-on-Amur. There will be no phone connection or Wi-Fi in Wrangel Bay and Ongachan Bay. Please, let your family and friends know in advance so they do not worry.
For emergency communication, the guides will be provided with a satellite phone.
In Wrangel Bay, a selection of additional activities awaits you:
Booking
Accommodation during the trip
Languages
airfare from Khabarovsk to Nikolaevsk-on-Amur and back (23 kg baggage, 5 kg hand luggage limit)
minibus transfer from Nikolaevsk-on-Amur to Perovsky Cape and back
rent of a high-speed covered boat for long sea transfers and uncovered boats for short sea trips
accommodation in Wrangel Bay (4 nights), Ongachan Bay (3 nights), Nikolaevsk-on-Amur (1 night)
breakfasts (except for breakfast on day 1), lunches and dinners (except for dinner on day 8, meals on day 9)
walking and sea excursions, whale watching, birds watching, etc. according to the program
lectures of marine biologists, services of captains, drivers, gamekeepers, cooks, and RussiaDiscovery guide
rent of group equipment, fishing gear, boats, SUP boards and wetsuits
permission to visit the Shantar Islands National Park
Russian banya visiting
airfare to Khabarovsk and back
2 nights accommodation in Khabarovsk before and after the trip, as well as accommodation in case of delays
airport transfers and meals in Khabarovsk
breakfast on day 1, dinner in Nikolaevsk-on-Amur on day 8, meals on day 9, including in case of delays
accident insurance (including helicopter evacuation)
extra luggage
insulated sleeping bag rental (+5.500 per person, if necessary)
airfare from Khabarovsk to Nikolaevsk-on-Amur and back (23 kg baggage, 5 kg hand luggage limit)
minibus transfer from Nikolaevsk-on-Amur to Perovsky Cape and back
rent of a high-speed covered boat for long sea transfers and uncovered boats for short sea trips
accommodation in Wrangel Bay (4 nights), Ongachan Bay (3 nights), Nikolaevsk-on-Amur (1 night)
breakfasts (except for breakfast on day 1), lunches and dinners (except for dinner on day 8, meals on day 9)
walking and sea excursions, whale watching, birds watching, etc. according to the program
lectures of marine biologists, services of captains, drivers, gamekeepers, cooks, and RussiaDiscovery guide
rent of group equipment, fishing gear, boats, SUP boards and wetsuits
permission to visit the Shantar Islands National Park
Russian banya visiting
airfare to Khabarovsk and back
2 nights accommodation in Khabarovsk before and after the trip, as well as accommodation in case of delays
airport transfers and meals in Khabarovsk
breakfast on day 1, dinner in Nikolaevsk-on-Amur on day 8, meals on day 9, including in case of delays
accident insurance (including helicopter evacuation)
extra luggage
insulated sleeping bag rental (+5.500 per person, if necessary)
Archipelago of Discoveries
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