UNDP/GEF
Conservation of Biodiversity on Kamchatka's 4 Protected Areas

Adventures in an untamed land

Kamchatka’s rugged volcanic terrain, extreme weather, abundance of rivers, and surrounding Bering Sea and Sea of Okhotsk make the peninsula an adventurer’s paradise. Where else in the world can hikers and climbers choose from 150 volcanoes, countless wild and scenic rivers to raft, and millions of acres of untouched wilderness for hiking?

Hiking and Trekking Kamchatka
Adventures await those who want to hike with either a packaged tour or independently in Kamchatka parks, preserves, and wilderness. Where wilderness trails exist, they are game trails, often made by bears. The parks have developing trail systems. The federal preserves and reserve have dedicated zones for recreation and require escort by an inspector. Plan your trip with one of Kamchatka’s experienced tour operators for a superb experience hiking in the Bystrinsky, Nalychevo, Klyuchevskoy, or Yuzhno-Kamchatsky Nature Parks, amidst scenic and active volcanoes, tundra, and birch forests. Be sure to follow principles of leave no trace.

Climbing
Kamchatka offers climbing on active and extinct volcanoes. The Klyuchevskoy group of volcanoes is famous and popular with experienced climbers and ski mountaineers from around the world. With accompaniment by Kamchatka’s expert mountaineer guides, trips are available from spring to early September on Kamchatka’s giants. Rock climbing can be found at the beautiful Gonalniy Ostrakiy area just a few hours’ drive from Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky.

Rafting Trips
With so many rivers, Kamchatka is a rafters’ and river kayakers’ wonderland. Locally canoeing isn’t developed but rafting is and if visitors bring their own canoes, Kamchatka has rivers to travel. River character varies, with rivers flowing east to the Pacific generally having more rapids due to the steep and rapid drop from mountains in the Vostochniy Range to the sea. Travel by rivers is a great way to view wildlife-waterfowl, nesting Steller Sea Eagles and Golden Eagles, bears fishing for salmon, river otters and more. Consider a guided trip with the services of an experienced and knowledgeable guide for a safer trip and the chance to get to know local people.

Mountain Biking
Kamchatka’s many forest roads and trails offer a giant untapped reservoir of routes to wilderness. While the numbers of mountain bikers on the Peninsula is relatively small, the community is growing and they are discovering some of the secrets of Kamchatka back country trails.

Diving
The undersea intertidal areas and near shore regions of Kamchatka’s eastern coastline have a divers’ treasure trove of beautifully colored north Pacific marine life to see.For certified divers it is possible to rent equipment and from the same company arrange for a boat and guides to take you diving. Under our often grey seas the brilliant colors and variety of marine invertebrates and fish is astounding. The rich upwelling of nutrients from the Kuril trench offshore feeds the resident marine ecosystem.

Parasailing
A committed group of parasailing enthusiasts offer the chance to parasail individually or tandem giving one the feeling of flying over Kamchatka’s landscape. After instruction, take a thrilling parasail ride on Kamchatka’s winds. Who knows, maybe you’ll come eye to eye with an eagle!