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

Kamchatka practical travel tips

Travelling in Kamchatka

Traveling to Kamchatka has unique challenges. Here is some helpful travel information for making your trip safe and enjoyable.

Visas: Foreigners must have a valid visa. Tourism visas are issued for no more than 30. Extensions are only given for an additional few days to help in emergency situations.

Migration Cards: Foreigners must present for registration a Migration Card, filled out on the plane . Keep it with your visa and present these documents for registration. Upon departure from Russia, return this card to the Immigration Control officers.

Registration: Within 3 days of arriving, you must register your arrival on Kamchatka. A hosting tourism firm or hotels can register you and stamp your passport.

Wilderness travel
Kamchatka is a huge wilderness and the landscape and changeable north Pacific climate aren’t to be taken lightly.

Dress appropriately
While the sun might shine while you visit, it may be cold and wet. A coat and hat (waterproof) can come in very handy if the weather changes. Gloves and a warm fleece jacket and sweater can be your best friend when weather dramatically changes. For hiking, expect to meet many streams and have footwear that will keep your feet dry in the most challenging conditions.

Wildlife rule
Remember, the animals were here first. They are fun to watch as long as you do not crowd them.

Drink the water
Kamchatka has some of the purest water on the planet. You may freely drink tap water and also from fast running streams and rivers.

Exploring the wilds
If you are hiking in the parks, register your plans with the Kamchatka Parks Department, with a local tourism company, or your hotel and don’t forget to check in when you return. Hike with a buddy. If you are hiking on volcanoes, hikewith a pair of poles for stability as you ascend slippery slopes or traverse snowfields.

About money…
Purchases in most stores and at most hotels cannot be paid for with credit cards.Automatic teller machines are located in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, the airport, and at Sberbank and Kamchatpromagraprombank in Yelizovo. There are no ATMs north of Yelizovo. Banks in Kamchatka will allow withdrawals of dollars or rubles with a Visa and Mastercard and a few take American Express. These banks also have Western Union. Bring your passport.Currency exchange booths are also located in many banks, department stores and shopping centers around Petropavlovsk and in Yelizovo. Bring your passport.

Equipment rental
It is possible to rent camping equipment from several outdoor clothing and sports equipment stores in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky and from tourism companies. Car rental is not available. Many tourism companies will be happy though to arrange a driver.

Public buses
Buses run from 7:00 AM to 9:00 PM and after 9:00 PM, there are private microbuses on the regular bus routes. There is daily bus service from Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, stopping in Yelizovo, to the villages of Milkovo, Esso, and Kozirevsk. Tickets are sold at either the Komsomolskaya Ploshad central bus station in PK or at the main bus station at the entrance to Yelizovo. Microbuses also make express trips between Yelizovo and Petropavlovsk. They arrive and depart in Yelizovo from the main bus station at the entrance to town from Petropavlovsk. Microbuses going to Petropavlovsk from Yelizovo drop off passengers en route but the main Petropavlovsk destinations are the 10th kilometer and the KP public market.

Security issues
Kamchatka and Petropavlovsk have been called the safest places in Russia. That said, be aware that pickpockets are known to ride the buses. Keep your bags zipped shut and carry them in front of you, not on your back or over your shoulder. Zip and close your jacket pockets. Don’t leave valuables in an unattended car even if it is locked. Use the same caution anyone would use in a big city when traveling.