• Day 1, August 11: Arrival in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky
  
  Participants arrive at Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, the capital town of Kamchatka, and are promptly transferred from the airport to a comfortable hotel. The day is spent adjusting to the weather and in the evening, a welcome-dinner will ensue in a city restaurant discussing the prospects of the Tour with Skipper Jayanth Sharma.
  
  If time permits, we visit the market to buy some essential gear like head-torches and gumboots at affordable prices.
• Day 2, August 12: Ksudach Volcano and Kurilskoye Lake
  
  The weather allowing, a morning helicopter flight lasting an hour will take us to the Ksudach Volcano (in the event of inclement weather, a second attempt will be made to visit it on Day 5).
  
  After landing, we take a walk into the crater lake of Schtubelya, which is situated inside Ksudach Volcano, and then visit a beautiful waterfall where water pours out of the crater. Later, we visit a 'hot beach' – a site of hot springs on the shore of a lake, and then fly to the famous Kurilskoye Lake – an experience that will have uniqueness stamped all over it.
  
  Following this excursion, we arrive at our lodge at Grassy Point, a small and cozy wooden affair, which affords a magnificent view of Kurilskoye Lake and the surrounding mountains – a setup very similar to having a giant wallpaper outside your balcony. While we put our feet up and relax, we look out for Bears that are often seen fishing along the lakeshore from the lodge. Afterwards, we venture onto the lake's pumice rock beach and receive our in-camp instructions for the rest of the Tour.
• Days 3 and 4, August 13 and 14: Bears, Eagles and more
  
  On these two days, Kamchatka's wildlife takes centre-stage, as we visit Salmon-spawning places to pursue Brown Bears and Steller's Sea Eagles, the latter avian predators that can have a wingspan of over 6 feet and are armed with devastatingly powerful talons.
  
  We enjoy a walking excursion with local wardens to a nearby Bear-viewing platform that is not far from the lodge and is located at the mouth of the several rivers that drain into Kurilskoye Lake. Here we have a good chance of making excellent, close-up images of Bears fishing for migrating Salmon, which stay briefly in the lake before moving on to the streams where they 'spawn'. The Bears' opportunism will be matched by ours, as we seek to capture this unique phenomenon in all its extravagance.
  
  We will also undertake longer walking excursions to a large meadow where Bears feed on wild berries and visit other spawning streams farther from the lodge. Along these streams we are likely to see Salmon and consequently Bears fishing just a few yards away as we walk along the stream banks.
• Day 5, August 15: Hedonistic in Khodutka and Mutnovsky
  
  We start the day again with another walk to the Bear viewing platform and later in the evening, a helicopter will fly us to the Khodutka River for a blissful bath in Kamchatka's largest natural hot spring. The water sprouts from a section of tundra just below the Khodutka Volcano, forming a stream. Further downstream, the water gradually cools and we can find a section of the stream which is at just the right temperature for a dip of hedonism.
  
  Following this sensual experience, we board the helicopter again, which takes us to our idyllic tent-camp on the Mutnovsky Volcano plateau, where our All Wheel Drive (AWD) vehicle and the team of hosts will await to receive us for the night.
• Day 6, August 16: Mutnovsky Volcano and Caldera
  
  After breakfast, we set out armed with an extra set of warm clothes on a trail into a caldera about 7km from the Osvystannye campsite, with a rise of about 600m.
  
  Going in an AWD bus as far as possible on a track below the 20000-year-old volcano hills of Skalisty and Dvugorby, we disembark from the vehicle to climb up a foot-trail past steam springs, from where the trio of volcanoes of Asacha, Opala and Gorely are seen. The route then traverses by the hillside, crossing three snow-fields, before a final rise to the mouth of the caldera exit gorge.
  
  Climbing the slopes of the glacial till, we descend slightly to the snout of the western glacier, slicing straight through fumaroles and mud pools, watching streams emerging from the snow and ice fields, and flowing back under the glacier toe.
  
  Taking a recess after the fair walk, we lunch at a comfortable spot on the caldera floor at 1540m. Then we continue to walk up the snow-fields before a steep climb aided by ropes leads us to a ridge between the caldera and the active crater from where the fumaroles can be seen on the crater floor, which is about 350m across, and its walls drop nearly vertically for over 100m.
  
  Following this most rewarding day of exploration, we return to the campsite, dine and retire to our tents.
  
  
• Day 7 and 8, August 17 and 18: Exclusive Marine Expedition
  
  We take a boat from Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky out of the Avacha Bay into the Pacific Ocean to see and photograph Seals, Pacific Gulls and, rather excitingly, Killer Whales or Orcas.
  
  These giant marine-emperors are rewarding photographic subjects, as they challenge your reflexes with their spectacular acrobatics above the water surface, 'porpoising', 'breaching' or 'skyhopping' in some sort of aquatic dance performance, holding you in a relentless grip of total enthrallment.
  
  Equal to the allure of the Orcas are the lower rungs of the food chain, the Steller's Sea Lions, Northern Fur seals, Harbour Seals and Spotted Seals, which often strut out in the open presenting themselves as sitting targets from atop the rocks.
  
  Breaking away from the ship in small zodiac boats to feel the sea from closer quarters, we can get close enough to resting seals to get wide-angle perspectives and other creative opportunities.
  
  We spend two whole days pursuing images and experiences, staying out at sea in the boat on the night of August 17 – an exclusive experience that is likely to stay with us forever.
• Day 9, August 19: Departure from Kamchatka
  
  Having enjoyed an epic voyage to a geological goldmine thriving with wildlife and natural phenomena, we reluctantly part with Kamchatka and depart for Moscow, from where we fly back to our respective homes with the sweet taste of Kamchatka lingering on our consciousness.

GEYSERS VALLEY OPTIONAL TOUR - 30,000/- Russian Rubles

• Optional helicopter excursion to the Geysers Valley and Uzon Volcano on August 19
  
  Participants wishing to extend their Tour by one more day stay back to visit the lovely Geysers Valley and Uzon Volcano at additional cost, in which case the departure from Kamchatka will be on day 10, August 20, and the itinerary for Day 9 will be as follows:
  
  Post-breakfast, we leave our things in our room, deck ourselves up in boots, add rain gear to the sack and leave in a bus on a 45-minute drive to the heliport at Yelisovo and fly to the Valley of Geysers in about 75 minutes. It takes us to the east of the Zhupanovsky Volcano, with the low flight affording spectacular views of the taiga landscape home to Brown Bears, which are nearly sure of being spotted during the flight.
  
  The cluster of geysers, fumaroles and hot springs in the Valley of Geysers, discovered in 1941, lies above the Uzon Caldera. A few large but brief periodic eruptions are seen in the valley, and there are many perennial hot water spouts.
  
  Our helicopter lands in front of a timber lodge, whence we take a trail into The Valley of Geysers in the Kronotsky Nature Reserve.
  
  The walk shows us a magnificent overview of the landscape, punctuated as it is with cliffs of tuffs, eroded into earth pillars. Down in the valley below, the vegetation is mostly lush. Ahead, the Bolshoi and Maly Geysers form major attractions, the former especially interesting for the water it throws about 10m high!
  
  Continuing on the path upstream, we then descend to a bridge over the Geysernaya River. The river reaches a temperature of 26°C in the summer; while in the winter, it drops to about 16°C. Water from the springs and geysers varies from 35°C to a literally boiling 100°C. A little upstream of the bridge, the Schell Geyser, which erupts every 35 minutes, will make things very interesting indeed.
  
  The walk ends with a view of the Velikan, a giant geyser on the far bank, which throws water to about 25m for around a minute each time. A trail on the terrace above the valley floor affords splendid views of the Fountain Platform, and goes by various hot pools. A hot lunch at the Valley of Geysers Lodge rounds up the morning's trip.
  
  We then visit the Uzon Caldera, which is bordered by steep caldera walls and shows features of three caldera collapses and lake remnants on marshy ground sediments. The lake, which is about 30m deep, is a pool of liquid sulphur at a balmy 140°C.
  
  To the east, we plough through the alder bushes up the Belaya dome, adjacent to which there are two small acid lakes. To the north, we explore Lake Dalneye, which is nearly 1km across and was produced by the steam explosions from the caldera floor.
  
  Following an utterly fascinating day of exploration and learning, we return by helicopter to Yelisovo and by bus to the Petropavlovsk Hotel, dine and retire before departing from Kamchatka the next day.
• Day 10, August 20: Departure from Kamchatka for Optional Tour participants
  
  Like all good things, our extended Kamchatka Expedition also comes to an inevitable end. Having enjoyed a fruitful time in the far eastern Russian peninsula, we fly back home carrying a wealth of memories. Most of us fly to Moscow to connect to our respective flights on our way back home.
  
  

Frequently Asked Questions

• What are the requisites to participate in this Tour?
  
  Apart from interest, a valid visa and related documents, a minimum level of fitness is essential. Visa assistance will be provided.
• How difficult are the treks on this Tour and what level of fitness is required?
  
  Although grading the difficulty of walks is difficult due to the subjectivity of each individual's threshold, the walks on this Tour may be approximately generalized to be of Grade B and C, with the definitions as follows.
  
  Grade B: Moderately easy for those of any fitness level and who are able to traverse moderately hilly terrain.
  Grade C: Strenuous and requires a higher level of physical fitness. However, no special physical preparations are needed.
• What is the nature of lodging on the Tour?
  
  Due to the remoteness of the region, accommodation at all the campsites will be basic and comfortable but not luxurious. Owing to the limitation of available space and the eco-friendliness of the camps, lodging is in bunkers that accommodate five people, with non-attached common lavatories outside.
• What equipment do you suggest on this Tour?
  
  For Bears and Orcas, a telephoto zoom lens in the range of 100 to 400mm or 70-300mm works very well. A wide-angle or normal zoom to capture landscapes and volcanoes or creative perspectives of wildlife is highly recommended. However, if you do not have appropriate equipment, there is no need to fret. Toehold offers an exhaustive array of cameras and lenses on rent, so you can always hire what you need. Click here to see what we offer. If you are not a keen photographer, you may bring a compact digital camera if you have one, or even just a pair of binoculars.
• How sure are you about photographing wildlife on this Tour?
  
  Considering the meticulous attention to timing we pay while scheduling Tours and the local expertise we leverage, we believe that it would be extremely unfortunate if our sightings and photography were unsatisfactory. The Kamchatka peninsula is a fabulous place to photograph Brown Bears especially in August. However, since we will be in an uncontrolled environment, we do not guarantee sightings.
• How different are your Photo Tours from ordinary tours?
  
  Unlike travel agents who plan your holiday from a remote destination to places they sometimes haven't experienced themselves, Photo Tours offer a comprehensive toehold to experience a place through the guidance of a professional photographer. The common ingredients in all our Photo Tours are fun and a lot of learning and knowledge sharing. Besides, most or all of our Tour participants are photography enthusiasts, which keeps the group in harmony and helps make your experience focussed.
• I am a newbie in nature photography. Am I eligible?
  
  Absolutely! This tour is meant for fledgling as well as experienced photographers. Beginners get all the advantages of learning on and off the field. In fact if you are a newbie, you should jump on this terrific learning opportunity and sign up right away!