Blog about Sakhalin and journeys | AMIST

20 main guides and news posts

4 Key categories

2001 Expertise team AMIST

Cape Aniva Lighthouse — symbol of Sakhalin

Sakhalin March 20, 2026

Sakhalin 2026: The Complete Traveller's Guide

A complete guide to Sakhalin for 2026 travellers — logistics, seasons, landmarks, budget and how AMIST organises the journey from Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk outward.

Kuril Islands March 20, 2026

The Kuril Islands: Everything a Traveller Needs to Know

The complete Kuril Islands guide — Iturup, Kunashir, Shikotan. How to reach them, what to see, when to go, the permit process and practical logistics.

Sakhalin March 20, 2026

How Much a Sakhalin Trip Costs in 2026: Full Budget Breakdown

What a Sakhalin trip actually costs in 2026 — flight, accommodation, tours, food — broken down into three budget tiers with real numbers from AMIST operators.

Sakhalin March 20, 2026

When to Visit Sakhalin in 2026: Season by Season

Sakhalin offers a different experience each season. Here is what to expect month by month — weather, main activities, recommended tours and the practical planning points we tell our clients.

Sakhalin March 20, 2026

Top 10 Sakhalin Attractions: From Cape Aniva to Moneron Island

Ten Sakhalin places worth the journey. Each has its own logistics — here is what to see and how to get there, from AMIST's 25 years of running the island.

Sakhalin March 20, 2026

Best Sakhalin Tours 2026: Programmes, Prices, Routes

Our curated picks for the 2026 season — from a 4-day Sakhalin classic to a 10-day Kuril premium. Each programme reviewed with pricing, inclusions and who it suits.

Kuril Islands March 20, 2026

How to Reach the Kuril Islands in 2026: All Routes

Reaching the Kuril Islands is half the adventure. Here are all the routes — flight, ship and combined — with current schedules, prices and the border-permit procedure.

Sakhalin March 20, 2026

Fishing on Sakhalin: A Complete Seasonal Guide

Sakhalin's fishing runs year-round — six salmon species, four crab varieties, taimen in the rivers, and ice-fishing for smelt in winter. Here is the seasonal map.

Museums of Sakhalin — overview of the best island museums

Sakhalin May 14, 2025

Museums of Sakhalin: Navigating the Variety and Choosing Where to Go

Sakhalin Island holds far more than dramatic coastlines and rare wildlife. Its museums span five distinct eras — indigenous cultures, the Japanese Karafuto period, Soviet rule, and the present — and together they form an unexpectedly rich portrait of one of Russia's most remote regions. This guide introduces six institutions worth placing on any itinerary.

Sakhalin May 6, 2025

How to Get to Sakhalin Island: Four Ways to Reach Russia's Far Eastern Island

Sakhalin Island can be reached by air, by rail with a ferry connection, by private vehicle aboard the ferry, or by sea passage — each route suits a different travel style and budget.

Steller sea lions in Nevelsk — sea lion rookery on Sakhalin

Sakhalin May 1, 2025

Steller Sea Lions in Nevelsk: Rookery Guide and Safe Wildlife Viewing

The breakwater in Nevelsk, Sakhalin Island, hosts one of only three urban Steller sea lion rookeries on Earth. Each spring, hundreds of these massive animals haul out here — adults weighing up to a tonne. Here is what to expect and how to visit responsibly.

Fishing on Sakhalin — what and where to catch

Sakhalin April 29, 2025

Fishing in Sakhalin: What to Catch and Where to Go

Sakhalin is one of Russia's premier fishing destinations. Discover the best spots for sea and river fishing, the species you can catch, and how to join a guided tour with AMIST.

Overview tours on Kuril Islands from AMIST

Kuril Islands April 25, 2025

AMIST Kuril Tour Offerings — A Complete Overview

An overview of every Kuril Islands programme AMIST currently offers — what is included, who each tour suits, and where each variant fits in the catalogue.

Kuril Islands — inhabited and uninhabited, tourist places

Kuril Islands April 22, 2025

Kuril Islands: Inhabited and Uninhabited — Popular Tourist Destinations

The Kuril Islands are a chain of 56 islands stretching between Sakhalin and Kamchatka, only four of them inhabited. Each island is a self-contained world — volcanic, wind-shaped, historically layered. Below is a factual overview of the most visited and most compelling destinations in the chain.

What see on Sakhalin — attractions Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk

Sakhalin April 17, 2025

What to See First upon Arrival on Sakhalin Island

Sakhalin Island presents a remarkable concentration of historical monuments, natural landscapes, museums, and memorial sites. This guide outlines where to begin your exploration.

What to take with you to Sakhalin in summer — packing list

Sakhalin April 14, 2025

Summer on Sakhalin: What to Pack and How to Dress

Sakhalin's summer climate rewards the well-prepared traveller. A shifting mix of warm sunshine, coastal wind, and sudden rain means layering is non-negotiable. This guide covers everything from windbreakers and trekking boots to insect repellent and the island's own trick for keeping ticks at bay.

New flight Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk — Beijing from Aurora

China March 14, 2025

Aurora Airlines Opens New Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk — Beijing Direct Flight

Aurora Airlines has opened ticket sales for the new Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk — Beijing — Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk route. Flights operate twice weekly from 27 April through 22 October 2025, with round-trip fares starting from 24,220 RUB including checked baggage.

Journeys in China without visa — 10 days visa-free regime

China March 14, 2025

Travel to China Is Now Easier: 10 Days Visa-Free for Russians

China has significantly expanded visa-free transit for Russian citizens. Russians can now stay in China for up to 240 hours (10 days) when transiting through designated airports and seaports. Here is everything you need to know.

Busse tourist base — leisure in nature on Sakhalin

Sakhalin December 19, 2023

Busse Tourist Base — Fresh-Air Getaway in Korsakov District

Heated cabins with a cedar sauna beside Busse Lagoon: three private lodges for up to four guests each, a communal kitchen for fourteen, ice fishing, winter-banana rides through the snowy landscape and a chef who will prepare your lunch while you make the most of the outdoors.

AMIST won the 'Hospitable Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk' contest

Company December 4, 2023

AMIST Wins the 'Hospitable Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk' Annual Award

AMIST has won the People's Choice category at the annual Hospitable Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk competition, receiving 728 votes in an open public poll on VK for a video of the 'misty river' above Cape Kuznetsova.