Necklace of the Kuril Chain
Sakhalin and three Kuril Islands — Kunashir, Shikotan, Iturup — in 16 days
About the tour
The longest of AMIST's Kuril routes — sixteen days that put together what is usually three separate trips: southern Sakhalin, the ferry to the Kuril Islands, four days on Kunashir, three on Shikotan, four on Iturup, the flight back, and a final free day on Sakhalin. The route is built south to north along the southern Kuril chain, with the islands visited in the order the ferries and weather make available.
Sixteen days break into four parts: Sakhalin → Kunashir → Shikotan → Iturup → Sakhalin again.
Sakhalin: two days before the ferry. Day one — arrival in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk and a city sightseeing tour. Day two — boat to Aniva Lighthouse, the 1939 Japanese structure on Sivuchya Rock at the cape, and an oyster lunch at Busse Lagoon, where oysters have been farmed since the 1970s. Evening transfer to Korsakov port and boarding for Kunashir.
Kunashir: four working days. Coastal walk to Devil's Finger rock and Devil's Gates arch. The Golovnin Caldera with Boiling and Hot lakes, where mud cauldrons reach 100 °C. The fumarole field of Mendeleev Volcano with bathing in the Kisly Stream pools. The Stolbovskaya eco-trail to Cape Stolbchaty and its basalt hexagonal columns.
Shikotan: three days. Crossing from Kunashir by plashkout (shallow-draught barge). The slopes of Mount Shikotan, an extinct volcano, with traces of the 1994 earthquake. Snezhkova Bay from Krabozavodskoye village — 20 km of stone-birch and juniper terrain. Cape End-of-the-World, a 40-metre cliff over the raging Pacific, and Bezymyannaya Bay at dawn. Evening ferry departure.
Iturup: four days. Arrival at the largest Kuril island. Jeep tour to active Baransky Volcano and its hot streams. Belye Skaly — the white pumice cliff wall — and the Zharkie Vody thermal springs. Kasatka Bay with sea stacks and the Yankito lava plateau. A spa complex with a volcano view before the return flight to Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk.
Sakhalin: a final free day. Optional jeep trip to Cape Velikan and Cape Ptichy on the south-eastern coast — sandstone arches, grottoes and seabird cliffs. Departure on day sixteen.
Group up to twelve, accommodation at Iceberg Hotel on Kunashir, Ostrovnoy Motel on Shikotan, Kasatka Guesthouse on Iturup, local guides throughout, border zone permits processed for you. Hotel in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, ferry tickets and meals on the ferry, return flight Kurilsk — Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, optional excursions — paid separately. Best season: mid-June to end of September, while the regular Kuril navigation is running.
Sixteen days — the most complete itinerary in our catalogue: Sakhalin and three Kuril islands, ferry crossings on either side, the full southern arc as one continuous Far East trip rather than four separate trips. The premium variant runs with a group cap of eight and pre-arranged hotels on every island. Bookings open six months before each departure; demand is steady, supply is not. Email the office for the next available slot.
Sakhalin + three islandsAniva Lighthouse, Kunashir, Shikotan and Iturup in one journey
Volcanoes and thermal springsGolovnin, Mendeleev, Baransky, Zharkie Vody
Cape End-of-the-World40-metre cliff over the raging Pacific on Shikotan
Insurance includedUp to ₽100,000 cover per guest
Tour programme — 16 days
1 Arrival on Sakhalin. City sightseeing tour Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk
Arrival on Sakhalin Island. City sightseeing tour of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk: regional museum, Pobeda Square, viewpoints. Hotel check-in from 14:00 (early check-in available with a 50% per-room-per-day surcharge).
2 Aniva Lighthouse and oysters at Busse Lagoon Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk — Korsakov — Aniva Lighthouse — Busse Lagoon
Sea voyage to Aniva Lighthouse. Lunch with Sakhalin oysters at Busse Lagoon — the gastronomic emblem of Sakhalin. On the route: a life jacket is mandatory. Bring a rain shell, hat and gloves.
3 Ferry departure from Korsakov port Korsakov — aboard the ferry
Ferry departure from Korsakov port towards the Kuril Islands. Note: meals aboard the ferry are paid separately. Stock up on water and snacks. Have cash to hand — the connection can drop.
4 Arrival on Kunashir. Devil's Finger Kunashir Island — coast
Arrival on Kunashir Island. Coastal walk. Devil's Finger rock and the Devil's Gates natural arch.
5 Golovnin Caldera. Boiling Lake Kunashir Island — Golovnin Volcano
Visit to the Golovnin Caldera with Boiling and Hot lakes. Mud cauldrons on the shore reach +100 °C. Note: in the fumarole zone, walk strictly behind the guide — stepping off the path can mean falling into hot mud.
6 Mendeleev Volcano fumarole field Kunashir Island — Mendeleev Volcano — Kisly Stream
The fumarole field of Mendeleev Volcano — steaming earth with the smell of sulphur. Bathing in the therapeutic Kisly Stream pools. Note: moderate-difficulty route with elevation change. Follow the guide's instructions.
7 Cape Stolbchaty and thermal springs Kunashir Island — eco-trail — Cape Stolbchaty
The Stolbovskaya eco-trail, thermal mud springs. Cape Stolbchaty — basalt hexagonal columns formed 50 million years ago from frozen lava. On the route: 3 km on foot along the trail, then 30 minutes along the shore. Trekking footwear is essential.
8 Crossing to Shikotan. Mount Shikotan Kunashir Island — plashkout — Shikotan Island
Crossing by plashkout to Shikotan Island. Excursion to Mount Shikotan — an extinct volcano with ocean views. Traces of the 1994 earthquake are visible at its base.
9 Snezhkova Bay Shikotan Island — Krabozavodskoye village — Snezhkova Bay
Snezhkova Bay — stone-birch forest, rolling landscapes and juniper thickets. Route from Krabozavodskoye village — 20 km there and back. Recommended: trekking poles. Outbound time about 2–2.5 hours, return up to 3 hours.
10 Cape End-of-the-World. Bezymyannaya Bay Shikotan Island — Cape End-of-the-World
Cape End-of-the-World — a 40-metre cliff over the raging ocean. Bezymyannaya (Nameless) Bay — a scatter of islets turned pink at dawn. Ferry departure from Shikotan. On the route: about 24 km by transport, walking between bays.
11 Arrival on Iturup. Baransky Volcano Aboard the ferry — Iturup Island — Baransky Volcano
Arrival on Iturup. Jeep tour to the foot of Baransky Volcano: turquoise lakes, mineral streams and thermal springs with therapeutic properties. Note: have your passport and border zone permit ready for disembarkation from the ferry.
12 Belye Skaly. Zharkie Vody thermal springs Iturup Island — coast — Belye Skaly
Coastal jeep tour to Belye Skaly. Visit to the Zharkie Vody thermal springs. Optional: 3-hour sea trip for an extra fee — ₽40,000 per boat (up to 6 guests).
13 Kasatka Bay. Yankito lava plateau Iturup Island — Kasatka Bay — Yankito plateau
Jeep tour to Kasatka Bay and the Yankito lava plateau — frozen lava flows shaping a fantastical landscape. Note: in unfavourable weather, lunch will be served at a café.
14 Spa complex. Flight to Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk Iturup Island — Kurilsk — Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk
Time at a spa complex with a volcano view. Flight from Kurilsk to Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk.
15 Free day. Optional: Cape Velikan Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk
Free day in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk. Optional — jeep tour to Cape Ptichy and Cape Velikan (extra fee). Rock arches and grottoes on Sakhalin's south-eastern coast.
16 End of programme. Departure Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk — airport
Hotel check-out, transfer to the airport. Free time to buy Sakhalin souvenirs. Check-out by 12:00. Late check-out available with a 50% per-room-per-day surcharge.
Upcoming departures
Choose a convenient date and book your spot
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Tour price
Upcoming departures
Jul7
Aug4
Sep1
What's included
Included in the price
- Excursion service on Sakhalin
- All island excursions as per programme
- Meals as per programme
- Accommodation on Iturup (Kasatka Guesthouse)
- Accommodation on Shikotan (Ostrovnoy Motel)
- Accommodation on Kunashir (Iceberg Hotel)
- Transport service on routes
- Local guides on every island
- Entry fees for thermal springs
- Plashkout passage Kunashir — Shikotan
- Border zone permit processing
- Travel insurance up to ₽100,000
Paid separately
- Accommodation in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk (start and end)
- Ferry ticket Korsakov — Kunashir (from ₽5,700)
- Ferry ticket Shikotan — Iturup (from ₽3,500)
- Flight Kurilsk — Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk (from ₽11,600)
- Meals aboard the ferry
- Sea trip on Iturup (from ₽40,000 per boat)
- Cape Velikan jeep tour (optional)
What to pack
🥾Trekking boots
🧥Warm waterproof jacket
🎒Small backpack
🩴Rubber sandals
🏊Swimwear
🧴Insect repellent
🕶Sunglasses
🧢Sun hat
📷Camera
🔋Power bank
💧Water bottle
🧦Spare socks
Gallery
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Cancellation terms
If the guest cancels the tour, they reimburse the tour operator's actually incurred costs:
More than 60 days
10%
30–60 days
20%
15–30 days
40%
5–15 days
60%
Less than 5 days
80%
FAQ
How does this differ from the «Kuril Necklace» tour?
This tour additionally includes Sakhalin with Aniva Lighthouse and Busse Lagoon oysters, plus a free day with the option of a jeep tour to Cape Velikan. 16 days in total instead of 12 — the most complete tour across the entire archipelago.
What documents are needed for the Kuril Islands?
For Russian citizens: a passport copy (photo and registration pages), phone number. Submitted no later than 3 working days before arrival. For foreign nationals — 35 days. Permit processing is included in the price.
How are inter-island transfers organised?
The ferries MV Pavel Leonov or MV Admiral Nevelskoy (class III cabins), a plashkout between Kunashir and Shikotan, and the Kurilsk — Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk flight. Schedules depend on the weather.
Do I need to be physically fit?
The routes are of moderate difficulty. On Shikotan — hikes of up to 20 km; on Kunashir — trekking over mountainous terrain. No special training is required, but we recommend being prepared for active days.
How many people are in the group?
Up to 12 guests. Coordination is handled by the local receiving party on each island.
See also
More tours by Sakhalin and the Kurils
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