The Kuril Islands chain stretches 1,200 km from Kamchatka to Hokkaido — 56 islands of volcanic origin, four of them reachable by tourists with advance planning. Here is what a traveller needs to know.

The accessible islands

  • Iturup — the largest of the southern Kurils. Volcanoes, hot springs, white-pumice cliffs, Yankito Plateau lava terraces. Main town: Kurilsk.
  • Kunashir — closest to Japan. Mendeleev fumarole field, Golovnin Caldera, Cape Stolbchaty's hexagonal basalt columns. Main town: Yuzhno-Kurilsk.
  • Shikotan — smaller, atmospheric. Cape Kray Sveta (Edge of the World), Bezymyannaya Bay. Main town: Malokurilsk.
  • Paramushir — the northern Kurils, most remote access. Flights limited.

How to get there

Aurora Airlines turboprops from Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk to Iturup (90 min) and Kunashir (90 min). Passenger ships from Korsakov port to Kurilsk, Yuzhno-Kurilsk and Malokurilsk — 16-24 hours one way. See our separate guide on the logistics.

The border permit

The Kurils sit in a border zone. Foreign visitors need an FSB-issued permit (apply via AMIST — 30-day processing). Russian citizens file a simpler declaration 3-5 days ahead. Without the permit, island access is denied at the airport or port.

What to see — the top landmarks

  • Yankito Plateau (Iturup): obsidian-strewn lava terraces above the ocean
  • Baransky Volcano (Iturup): active volcano, hot springs at the base
  • White Cliffs / Belye Skaly (Iturup): pumice cliffs, picture-postcard coast
  • Mendeleev Volcano fumaroles (Kunashir): steaming earth, sulphur and mineral deposits
  • Golovnin Caldera (Kunashir): twin crater lakes inside an extinct volcano
  • Cape Stolbchaty (Kunashir): hexagonal basalt columns meeting the sea
  • Cape Kray Sveta (Shikotan): the Edge of the World — open-Pacific vantage
  • Hot Beach / Goryachy Plyazh (Kunashir): geothermally-warmed coastal sand

Best time to visit

Main window: July to early September. Weather is still unpredictable — the islands are exposed Pacific outposts. Allow 2-3 reserve days in any itinerary for weather cancellations. Winter tours (snowmobile access to hot springs) run January — March on Iturup only.

Lodging

Kurilsk (Iturup): comfort-level lodges. Yuzhno-Kurilsk (Kunashir): similar. Malokurilsk (Shikotan): basic. Hot-spring guesthouses near Baransky and Goryachy Plyazh. AMIST books lodging with pre-arranged contingency for weather delays.

What to pack

  • Waterproof shell and warm layers — summer temperatures 12-18 °C
  • Sturdy hiking boots — trails are volcanic and rough
  • Swimwear for hot-spring days
  • 70-200 mm zoom lens for volcanoes and wildlife
  • Cash — card terminals are unreliable

Recommended tours

  • Pearls of the Kurils (9 days, ₽190,000)
  • Pearl Scattering (11 days, ₽235,000 — premium variant)
  • Great Kuril Ring (14 days, ₽380,000 — Iturup + Kunashir + Shikotan)
  • Winter Iturup (7 days, ₽165,000 — January-March)

Why AMIST for the Kurils

We have operated Kuril programmes since 2005 with office presence in Kurilsk and Yuzhno-Kurilsk. Border permits, weather-contingent rebooking, local-driver contracts on each island — these are the difference between a successful Kuril trip and one cut short by logistics.