Kuril Islands

A land of volcanoes and hot springs — Russia's most remote and scenic islands.

What we can arrange

Group tours to the Kuril Islands Popular

Group Tours

Group expeditions to Iturup, Kunashir, and Shikotan. Flights, FSB permits, accommodation, and guide — all included.

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Private tours to the Kuril Islands

Individual Tours

A personalised island itinerary tailored to your interests. Flexible dates, private transport, VIP service.

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Combined Sakhalin and Kuril Islands tours Best seller

Combined Tours

Sakhalin and the Kurils in a single trip. "Kurilskoye Ozherelye," Sakhalin and the Black Island of Kunashir, and other itineraries.

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Additional services — permits, flights, insurance.

Additional Services

Border zone permits, flights, ferry tickets, travel insurance, and hotel reservations — complete end-to-end support.

Learn more →
Group tours to the Kuril Islands Popular

Group Tours

Expeditions to Iturup, Kunashir, and Shikotan — all inclusive.

View tours →
Private tours to the Kuril Islands

Individual Tours

Personalised itineraries, flexible dates, private transport.

Learn more →
Combined Sakhalin and Kuril Islands tours Best seller

Combined Tours

Sakhalin and the Kurils in one trip — "Kurilskoye Ozherelye" and other itineraries.

All options →
Additional services — permits, flights, insurance.

Additional Services

Border permits, flights, ferry, insurance, hotels

Learn more →
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Destinations

Choose an island

All tours and excursions for each of the Kuril Islands — with "Tour" and "Excursion" badges for easy selection.

All tours and excursions to the Kurils

About the Kuril Islands

The Kuril Islands are an archipelago of 56 islands stretching 1,200 km between the Kamchatka Peninsula and Japan's Hokkaido. This is one of Russia's most remote and least-studied regions, where pristine nature has been preserved in near-untouched condition.

The principal visitor islands are Iturup, Kunashir, and Shikotan. Iturup is remarkable in scale: volcanoes, hardened lava fields, white pumice cliffs, and hot springs at the very edge of the ocean. Kunashir is known for Tyatya Volcano, Cape Stolbchaty, and active fumaroles. Shikotan is the smallest inhabited island, with Cape Край Света perched above a Pacific Ocean precipice.

Volcanic landscapes, thermal springs, sea otter and Steller sea lion colonies, white-tailed eagles over the ocean — the Kurils offer an experience available nowhere else. The archipelago is part of Sakhalin Oblast and is accessible by air from Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk.

AMIST organises fully supported Kuril Islands tours: flights, FSB permits, accommodation, ground transport, and experienced guides. Over 25 years of operations on Sakhalin and the Kurils.

Kuril Islands — volcanic landscapes of the archipelago.
56 islands in the chain
68 volcanoes (40 active)
Jun — Sep tourist season
~1.5 hr flight from Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk

Interesting Facts about the Kuril Islands

20 remarkable facts about the Kuril Islands

01

56 islands

The Kuril chain extends 1,200 km from Kamchatka to Hokkaido and comprises 56 islands. Only 4 of them have a permanent population.

02

68 volcanoes

The Kuril Islands have 68 volcanoes, 40 of which are active — making the archipelago one of the most volcanically active places on the planet.

03

Tyatya Volcano — a double-cone stratovolcano

Tyatya Volcano on Kunashir is among the world's most striking volcanoes. Its double cone — a volcano within a volcano — is visible from 100 km away.

04

White Cliffs of Iturup

The White Cliffs of Iturup stretch 28 km of coastline composed of white pumice and volcanic glass — a landscape unlike anywhere else.

05

Hot springs at the ocean's edge

On Iturup, volcanic hot springs emerge directly on the shore of the Pacific Ocean. Water temperatures reach +84 °C.

06

Cape Stolbchaty — UNESCO natural monument

Cape Stolbchaty on Kunashir features basalt columns up to 50 metres tall and is a candidate for UNESCO World Heritage listing.

07

Sea otters

The Kurils are one of the few places in Russia where sea otters live. These marine mammals sleep on their backs, wrapping themselves in kelp.

08

Shikotan Island — the edge of the world

Cape Край Света on Shikotan is the easternmost point in Russia accessible to regular visitors. Beyond it lies only the Pacific Ocean.

09

Earthquakes — a fact of daily life

The Kurils lie within the Pacific Ring of Fire. Up to 300 earthquakes occur here each year, most too minor to be felt.

10

Pacific salmon running upstream to spawn

Iturup's rivers are teeming with sockeye and pink salmon in August and September. Bears fish right alongside the roads while visitors watch from a safe distance.

11

Japanese heritage

Until 1945 the Southern Kurils belonged to Japan. Remnants of Japanese roads, bridges, and buildings are still visible on the islands.

12

Fumaroles of Mendeleev Volcano

On the slopes of Mendeleev Volcano on Kunashir, hot sulphurous gases vent from the ground — the fumaroles are visible from a distance as columns of steam.

13

Magnetic anomalies

Sections of Iturup exhibit strong magnetic anomalies. Compasses give false readings in these zones and GPS devices may lose their signal.

14

Whaling capital

In the 19th century the Kurils were a centre of the whaling industry. Today, whales and orcas roam freely along the archipelago once more.

15

Fog 200 days a year

The Southern Kurils are among the foggiest places on Earth. Fog envelops the islands for up to 200 days a year, creating a distinctly atmospheric environment.

16

Bamboo thickets — impenetrable stands of dwarf bamboo

Kuril bamboo grass (sasa) forms impenetrable thickets 2–3 metres tall. Without an experienced guide and a machete, passage through them is not possible.

17

Rhenium — an exceptionally rare metal

Kudryavy Volcano on Iturup hosts the world's only known rhenium deposit — a metal more costly than gold and used in rocket engines.

18

Seals on the rocks

The Kuril Islands host Russia's largest Steller sea lion rookery. Colonies number up to 5,000 individuals.

19

Ocean swells — a surfer's paradise

The Pacific coastline of Iturup generates powerful swells. Experienced surfers come here to ride waves surrounded by volcanoes.

20

Population — 20,000 people

The entire Kuril Islands archipelago has a population of around 20,000 people — one of Russia's least densely populated regions at roughly 1 person per 10 km².

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Frequently Asked Questions about the Kuril Islands

Flights from Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk operated by Aurora Airlines. To Iturup — approximately 1.5 hours, and approximately the same to Kunashir. Shikotan is reached by helicopter or boat from Kunashir. Seats on Kuril flights are limited — advance booking is essential, particularly in the summer season.

Best season — June–September. July and August bring the warmest conditions: +15…+20 °C. Autumn offers vivid colours but strong winds. Winter Iturup is for the hardy traveller: hot springs amid snow and the stark atmosphere of the open ocean.

Essential: waterproof clothing, sturdy trekking boots with good grip, and insect repellent. Mobile coverage is limited — MTS and Megafon do not reach all areas. Bring cash, as bank cards may not be accepted in remote settlements.

Yes. The Kuril Islands — border zone. Visiting the islands requires an FSB border zone permit, which takes up to 30 days to process. AMIST handles permit applications for all tour participants — you simply provide your passport details at the time of booking.

Client Reviews

Impressions of the Kuril Islands

★★★★★

Iturup is another world entirely. White cliffs, hot springs right on the ocean shore. AMIST arranged everything perfectly — flights, transfers, accommodation. Highly recommended.

Marina K. tour "Iturup Light", July 2025
★★★★★

"Kurilskoye Ozherelye" — the journey of a lifetime. In 13 days we covered Kunashir, Iturup, and Shikotan. Volcanoes, bears, whales — a trip that stays with you.

Andrey S. tour "Kuril Necklace", August 2025
★★★★★

Our time on Kunashir exceeded every expectation. Tyatya Volcano, Cape Stolbchaty, thermal lakes. Our guide Alexander was a true professional. Thank you, AMIST.

Elena P. tour "Black Island", September 2025
★★★★★

Iturup is another world entirely. White cliffs, hot springs right on the ocean shore. AMIST arranged everything perfectly — flights, transfers, accommodation. Highly recommended.

Marina K. tour "Iturup Light", July 2025
★★★★★

"Kurilskoye Ozherelye" — the journey of a lifetime. In 13 days we covered Kunashir, Iturup, and Shikotan. Volcanoes, bears, whales — a trip that stays with you.

Andrey S. tour "Kuril Necklace", August 2025
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We will help you select an itinerary and handle all paperwork, including the FSB border zone permit.

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