Pearls of the Kuril Islands
Eleven days, two volcanic Kuril islands and a Sakhalin frame — the middle-length option
About the tour
Eleven days, three islands, one continuous Far East trip — Sakhalin, Kunashir and Iturup. The route is built south to north along the southern Kurils, with two days on Sakhalin before the ferry, four working days on Kunashir, an overnight ferry on to Iturup, four days on Iturup, the flight back, and a free day on Sakhalin. The shape is the same as the «Necklace» itinerary, just one island shorter — Shikotan is left out, the rest is intact.
Eleven days break into three parts: Sakhalin → Kunashir → 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 and an oyster lunch at Busse Lagoon. Evening transfer to Korsakov port and boarding for Kunashir.
Kunashir: four working days. Day three — arrival, coastal walk to Devil's Finger rock and Devil's Gates arch. Day four — the Golovnin Caldera with Boiling and Hot lakes, mud cauldrons reaching 100 °C. Day five — the Stolbovskaya eco-trail to Cape Stolbchaty, a UNESCO-listed natural monument with basalt hexagonal columns. Day six — the fumarole field of Mendeleev Volcano with bathing in the Kisly Stream pools, then evening ferry from Yuzhno-Kurilsk to Iturup.
Iturup: four days. Day seven — arrival, jeep tour to Baransky Volcano with its turquoise lakes and hot springs. Day eight — Belye Skaly and the Zharkie Vody thermal pools. Day nine — Kasatka Bay with the mirror beach and the Yankito lava plateau. Day ten — spa complex with a volcano view, then flight from Kurilsk to Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk.
Sakhalin: a final day. Day eleven — free day with the option of a jeep tour to Cape Ptichy and Cape Velikan on the south-eastern coast.
Group of up to eight, accommodation at Iceberg Hotel on Kunashir, 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.
Eleven days — two volcanic islands and a Sakhalin frame, with a small group and direct contracts on every leg. Less ambitious than the 16-day «Necklace», less compressed than the 8-day combo. This is the middle option for first-time Far East travellers. Bookings handled by the Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk office; we run mid-length tours weekly through the season.
Sakhalin + two Kuril islandsAniva Lighthouse, Kunashir and Iturup in one journey
Volcanoes and hot springsGolovnin Caldera, Mendeleev fumaroles, Baransky, Zharkie Vody
Cape Stolbchaty + Belye SkalyThe most photographed sights of Kunashir and Iturup
Insurance includedUp to ₽100,000 cover per guest
Tour programme — 12 days
1 Arrival on Sakhalin. City sightseeing tour Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk
Arrival in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk on a flight of your choice. Self-arranged transfer to the hotel, check-in. Hotel check-in from 14:00. Early check-in available with a 50% per-room-per-day surcharge.
2 Aniva Lighthouse and oyster lunch at Busse Lagoon Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk — Korsakov — Cape Aniva — Busse Lagoon
Sea voyage to Aniva Lighthouse, lunch with Sakhalin oysters at Busse Lagoon. On the route: a life jacket is mandatory. Bring a rain shell, hat and gloves. The sea voyage depends on sea conditions.
3 Departure for Kunashir. Devil's Finger and Devil's Gates Korsakov port — Kunashir Island (Yuzhno-Kurilsk)
Departure for Kunashir Island by ferry. Arrival in Yuzhno-Kurilsk. Coastal walk, the Devil's Finger and Devil's Gates rocks. Note: meals aboard the ferry are paid separately. Stock up on water and snacks.
4 Golovnin Caldera, Boiling Lake Yuzhno-Kurilsk — Golovnin Volcano
Excursion to the Golovnin Caldera. Boiling Lake and Hot Lake — unique geothermal features. Note: in the fumarole zone, walk strictly behind the guide — stepping off the path can mean falling into hot mud.
5 Stolbovskaya eco-trail. Cape Stolbchaty Yuzhno-Kurilsk — Cape Stolbchaty
Walking route along the Stolbovskaya eco-trail, therapeutic thermal mud springs. Cape Stolbchaty — a natural monument of world significance with basalt columns. Route: by vehicle to the start, then 3 km along the trail and 30 minutes along the shore.
6 Mendeleev Volcano. Ferry departure for Iturup Yuzhno-Kurilsk — Mendeleev Volcano — port
The fumarole field of Mendeleev Volcano. Bathing in the Kisly Stream pools. Ferry departure from Yuzhno-Kurilsk for Iturup Island. Note: in the fumarole field area, follow the guide's instructions — stepping off the path can mean burns.
7 Arrival on Iturup. Baransky Volcano Kurilsk port — Baransky Volcano
Arrival on Iturup. Jeep tour to the foot of Baransky Volcano, turquoise lakes and hot springs. Note: when approaching the island, have your passport and authorisation papers ready. At the turquoise lakes, take care — stepping off the trail can mean chemical burns.
8 Belye Skaly. Zharkie Vody thermal springs Kurilsk — Belye Skaly — Zharkie Vody
Coastal jeep tour to Belye Skaly — one of the most striking sights of Iturup. Bathing in the Zharkie Vody thermal pools. Optional: 3-hour sea trip in suitable weather for an extra fee.
9 Kasatka Bay. Yankito lava plateau Kurilsk — Kasatka Bay — Yankito
Jeep tour to Kasatka Bay — mirror beach, Devil's Rock. Then a jeep tour to the Yankito lava plateau — frozen lava on the Pacific shore. Recommended: waterproof clothing, wellington boots. In bad weather, lunch will be served at a café.
10 SPA complex. Flight to Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk Kurilsk — airport
Time at a spa complex with a volcano view. Flight from Kurilsk to Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk. Note: the exact departure time depends on the tour date. The programme may be adjusted depending on the airline schedule.
11 Free day. Optional: Cape Velikan Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk
Free day in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk. Optional: jeep tour to Cape Ptichy and Cape Velikan (extra fee). Recommended: trekking footwear, rubber sandals, insect repellent, swimwear.
Upcoming departures
Choose a convenient date and book your spot
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Tour price
What's included
Included in the price
- All excursions as per programme
- Transfers as per programme
- Meals as per programme
- Transport services on routes
- Accommodation on Kunashir (Iceberg Hotel)
- Accommodation on Iturup (Kasatka Guesthouse)
- Local guides on every island
- Entry fees for thermal springs
- Border zone permit processing
- Travel insurance up to ₽100,000
Paid separately
- Accommodation in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk
- Ferry tickets between islands
- Flight Kurilsk — Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk
- Meals aboard the ferry
What to pack
🥾Trekking boots
🧥Warm waterproof jacket
🎒Day-walk backpack
🩴Rubber sandals
🏊Swimwear
🧴Insect repellent
🧦Spare socks
📷Camera
💧Water bottle
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
Do I need a permit for the Kuril Islands?
Yes, a border zone permit is required for visiting the Kuril Islands. Permit processing is included in the tour price. For Russian citizens: a passport copy (data and registration pages), phone number.
How do I get to Kunashir and Iturup?
To Kunashir — by ferry MV Pavel Leonov or MV Admiral Nevelskoy from Korsakov port (transit time about 21 hours). From Kunashir to Iturup — also by ferry. Return from Iturup — flight Kurilsk — Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk.
Do I need to be physically fit?
The tour includes walking routes of moderate difficulty. The longest is to the Golovnin Caldera (~16 km there and back). We recommend basic physical fitness and trekking footwear. All routes are done at a comfortable pace.
What if the weather is bad?
The tour operator reserves the right to adjust the order of excursions depending on weather. The scope and content of the programme are preserved. The ferry and flight schedules can change — in such cases the programme is adjusted.
Where will we stay on the islands?
On Kunashir — Iceberg Hotel (Building 1, standard rooms with shared facilities per block). On Iturup — Kasatka Guesthouse (standard rooms). In Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk — a hotel of your choice.
See also
More tours by Sakhalin and the Kurils
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