If you have always wanted to see whales, the Shantar Islands are one of the best places in Russia where you can do it. It is home to the largest part of the bowhead whale population of the Sea of Okhotsk. Due to difficult access to the archipelago, you will find true solitude and union with nature here, without numerous groups of tourists.
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.
You will have the opportunity to go boating or paddleboarding in search of Bowhead whales and, if you're lucky, observe them up close
Experience pristine wilderness: here, the sea, the land, and the ancient plants have remained unchanged for thousands of years
See cliffs that shimmer in shades of pink, green, and white—where marble, malachite, and multi-colored jasper come to the surface
Meet with marine biologists and contribute to the study of the Bowhead whale population in the Sea of Okhotsk
Forget about civilization for a week and experience a complete reset
If you are passionate about photography and videography, especially with a drone, you will return from the journey with unique footage and stories
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.
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 travel by minibuses 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 two-room tents at the comfortable campsite on the shore of the Sea of Okhotsk. In the evening, you will enjoy a festive dinner.
Note: in case of stormy weather or flight delay from Khabarovsk on this day, an 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, a city tour, trekking outside the city, visiting a sauna, lectures about traveling.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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).
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.
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), Azimut, Khabarovsk City Boutique Hotel, Sapporo, Lazurit (standard accommodation), and Chaika (budget accommodation).
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.
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.
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.
Active tours. You don’t have to be a sportsman, but you need to be strong enough to ride a snowmobile or go hiking in the mountains.
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Archipelago of Discoveries 9 days
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