Things to do and see in Kamchatka Russia

Kamchatka is a peninsula in northeastern Russia that did not actually allow tourists until the end of the last century. As a result, its landscape remains intact. It has a unique identity and is a magical, wild place with a lot to offer. The sights of Kamchatka will leave you speechless as it is a mountainous area, with many volcanoes and other points of interest, all of which we will tell you about below.

What are the must-see places in Kamchatka Russia?

The Kamchatka Peninsula lies between the Pacific Ocean and the Okhotsk Seas, in the middle of the Pacific Ring of Fire, the most seismically active place on earth. As a result, the peninsula’s relief is made up of volcanoes, craters, geysers and other volcanic phenomena. The peninsula is more than 1,000 kilometres long, so if you’re into hiking, you’re sure to have plenty to see in Kamchatka.

1. Volcanoes in Kamchatka Russia

The peninsula has about 160 volcanoes, 30 of which are still active. However, the vast majority of them are difficult to access and require days of hiking. The ones mentioned below are easily accessible and can be reached from the city of Petropavlovsk by bus or helicopter.

The Klyuchevskoye volcano is one of the highest volcanoes in the world at 4,800 metres, and one of the best known for its perfect cone and surrounding landscapes. At the foot of Klyuchevskoye is Lake Kronotskoye, whose blue meltwater reflects the grandeur of the volcano. Not far away are the Avatchinski and Kozielski volcanoes. Excursions to these volcanoes can be arranged for around €150.

Other volcanoes such as Khangar and Tolbachik are further away and require helicopter tours to reach them. These excursions cost between €500 and €700. However, for mountain lovers it is well worth it as the scenery is breathtaking.

2. Valley of the Geysers

Several kilometres long, this valley in the Kronotsk Nature Reserve is full of geysers and thermal pools caused by seismic activity. You can visit the valley by helicopter. Tours are booked in Petropavlovsk and cost around €700.

3. Petropavlovsk

Petropavlovsk is the capital of Kamchatka located on Avacha Bay. It was founded in 1740 and many expeditions were necessary to get to know the area because of its difficult access. In fact, today it is one of the few cities in the world that cannot be reached by road. The city is the administrative, cultural and scientific centre of the peninsula, and although it doesn’t have much to offer, it’s the departure point for excursions to the volcanoes and the coast.

4. Ice cave

Below the Mutnovsk volcano, a cavity formed as a result of the erosion of glacial waters seeping down the mountain. Access to the cave is very difficult, however, and is only recommended for skilled mountaineers, climbers and speleologists.

5. Kamchatka river

The Kamchatka River is 758 kilometres long and runs the length of the peninsula, fed by meltwater. About 400 kilometres of the river is navigable, but for a period of the year it freezes over. The river is famous for the abundance of salmon that ascend it to spawn. You can take a boat trip from the village Atlasovo, which ends with a view of the volcano Ploski Tolbachik.

6. Lake Kurile

Lake Kurile, formed in the crater of a volcano, has an area of 77km2 and an average depth of 176m. The most striking feature of the lake is the fauna and flora it is home to. In fact, it is an ideal place for bear watching. In addition, the lake is one of the world’s top salmon spawning grounds. You can only reach it by helicopter, which for around €700, also includes the guide, transport to the hotel and food.

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Other excursions

For a more affordable price (around €150) day trips can be organised, such as the excursion to a Malka settlement which includes rafting, bathing in hot springs, transfer and guide. There are also boat trips from Petropavlovsk to see ocean wildlife, including whale and other cetacean sightings. Finally, you can take a trip to the indigenous village of Kamchatka, where you can see a kennel of Beringian dogs, the ethnographic museum and the village.

Travel Tip: To organize your trip we recommend using Passporter totally free. You can be inspired by the experiences of other travelers, choose the places that interest you most, create the travel route with a geolocated map, upload all important documents such as reservations and invite your friends so that everyone can participate in the organization of the trip.

What to see around Kamchatka Russia?

Kamchatka, located in the far reaches of Siberia, is a somewhat isolated peninsula that is difficult to reach, which means that it is not easy to visit the surrounding area. The only way is by plane. As we have already seen, there is a lot to see and do in Kamchatka, and it’s not cheap, so when visiting the peninsula travellers generally spend several days there with no intention of covering more territory. Interestingly, Kamchatka is closer to Seattle than Moscow, so if you want to visit closer to home, Alaska or Canada would be a better choice.

What to do in Kamchatka Russia in 5 days?

There is so much to see in Kamchatka, strecthing over 1000 kilometres and with such a diverse landscape you can imagine that it is not easy to cover it all in a few days. However, the main problem is the price of excursions. The peninsula’s points of interest are in places that are difficult to reach and somewhat remote from each other. Therefore the number of days to spend in Kamchatka will unfortunately depend on the tourist’s budget. Even so, here is a more or less accessible itinerary that you can see with Petropavlovsk as the centre of operations.

The first thing we recommend is visiting the Ariakski, Avatchinski and Kozielski volcanoes, as they are the easiest to reach from the city. Excursions last a full day to each volcano, about 7 hours including transport and visit. You can spend two or three days to see the volcanoes.

You can spend another day in the Valley of the Geysers. Recently an avalanche covered two thirds of the valley, but it is still worth a visit. The excursion also lasts a full day. Spend another day at the Kamchatka River and organise an excursion to the Makla settlement or visit the indigenous village.

Finally, if you want something more relaxed, you can choose to visit the city of Petropavlovsk and do a whale-watching trip around the bay.

Where to stay in Kamchatka Russia?

The best place to stay is Petropavlovsk because of its infrastructure and proximity to major attractions and the airport. Hotels in Petropavlovsk are not particularly luxurious, but prices are very affordable and there are plenty of options to choose from.

• Complex Petropavlovsk: this hotel is characterised by its good location and quality services, including a beauty salon and business rooms. They also offer breakfast and free parking. The room rate is around 70€ per night.
• Mini comfort hotel: this is a fully-equipped hotel for families and with more affordable prices from 50€ per night.
• Hostels: there are several hostels in the city with good locations and whose prices range around €20 per night. They are a very cheap option. Some of the best hostels are Khostel VULKAN, Hostel Brusnika or the Japanese-style Lunokhod Capsule Hostel.

Best restaurants in Kamchatka Russia

Kamchatka’s main attraction is its excursions, which means you’re likely to have a sandwich for lunch on most days. That’s why we’ve put together a selection of places where you can dine well in Petropavlovsk.

As for Kamchatka’s cuisine, due to its coastal location, it is not surprising that the best dishes are fish and seafood. The cuisine also has strong Asian influences.

• Kamchatka Local Kitchen: this restaurant serves both local dishes and international food, so you can find really exotic dishes in a very pleasant atmosphere. The price ranges from €5 to €17.
• Kalylan: this is a traditional seafood restaurant. The most curious thing is the rustic decoration and the earthenware crockery. The price per person is around 70€.
• Fast food: As in any other city, there are plenty of fast food restaurants and cheaper restaurants such as Max-Pizza or Café Express.

How to get to Kamchatka Russia?

Despite its remoteness, access to Kamchatka is not complicated, although it is limited to air travel. The only way to get there is by air.

From European countries you have to make a stopover in a Russian city, but most of them have cheap flights to Petropavlovsk airport.

Once you’re on the mainland, getting around is a bit more complicated, so it’s best to book excursions to tourist destinations by bus or helicopter.

Travel tips for visiting Kamchatka

• The Russian rouble is used in Kamchatka.
• Changed your money in advance, as currency exchanges at airports are very expensive.
• Cover yourself for medical emergencies: travel with insurance.
• The best time to visit Kamchatka is from May to September. During these months temperatures are more pleasant for hiking.
• You can also visit during the winter months if you’re interested in seeing the snow-capped peaks. Bring plenty of warm clothes as temperatures don’t rise above freezing.
• To travel to Russia from Spain you’ll need to get a visa from the embassy.
• The city is safe, but as with any tourist destination, you’d better be careful with your belongings. There is a lot to see in Kamchatka and you don’t want to spoil your trip for nothing.

How to organise your trip to Kamchatka Russia?

Sign up or download the Passporter App and discover all its useful features.

• Get inspiration from the experiences of other travellers.
• Create your own itinerary and add the app’s suggestions to it.
• Add the spots you are most interested in, as well as the restaurants and bars where you want to eat (you can use the points of interest listed in this post as a reference).
• Organise your itinerary by days and according to their location (you can take inspiration from the routes presented in the post).
• Check the travel budget that the app calculates for you based on your travel stops, restaurants, and leisure activities.
• Make the necessary modifications and you are ready for your trip.
• Finally, share your experience. Upload photos of every place you’ve visited to the app and recommend to other travellers all there is to see in Kamchatka, Russia.

If you have any doubts about how to plan your itinerary, you can read our post: How to create your travel itinerary with Passporter.

Frequently asked questions about a trip to Kamchatka