Kamchatka Wilderness Trek, Russia Walking Holiday

Essential Information

Trip Profile

5 day point-to-point backpacking; 3 daywalks. Altitude maximum 3085m, average: 900m

Accommodation

2 nights hotel, 2 nights basic huts, 7 nights participatory camping.

Food

All meals included in Kamchatka.

Reality Check

Kamchatka is still an area where concepts of tourism and services are not up to international standards and punctuality and adherence to plans are recent ideas. Go there as an explorer!

A leader and local staff accompany the group during the trek, but this is not full-service camping. The camping gear will be split up between the group and staff and some participation will be needed during the camping - setting up tents, helping with the cooking etc. Most people find getting involved like this to be a great way to get to know the local staff and it helps to build a great feeling of camaraderie amongst the group.

There are no porters included on this trip and so for the five days of backpacking, you will have to carry around 15-18kg in total for about 10-15km per day. All non-essentials can be left with our vehicle during the backpacking.

Please note that porters can be hired and paid for locally, if we are informed in advance at a cost of 200 euros each. They then will be able to carry your food and tent and some of your clothes and equipment (up to a strict maximum of 13kg in total).

Once we start the Bezymianny trek, there is no easy way to leave the trip and so you must be confident of your fitness capability being sufficient to complete the walk. Some of the trails are quite well defined but most are basic or non-existant, but this 'off-the-beaten-path' element is very much part of the attraction.

Be prepared to hop over fallen trees and branches, clamber up and down mossy and rocky banks and for wet conditions underfoot. At times you will walk through scrub, bushes, bog and tall grasses and ford rivers.

Please note that bears can be dangerous animals and it may be necessary to walk close together at certain times for safety. The guide will instruct the group on this, as well as on safety procedures when walking in active volcanic areas. When climbing the volcanoes you will walk on volcanic ash and sometimes sharp, recently formed lava.

Normal group size and age

Normally 8 to 16, plus leader and appropriate local staff. Minimum age 18.

Icons explained

The vast majority of Exodus adventures are adult group holidays. Groups are always small in size. We strongly believe that this adherence to small groups means a better experience for all; more time with your guide, less waiting around and a reduced impact on the communities and environments visited.
Each group is generally made up of like-minded travellers - with singles, couples and friends all joining in together. All these trips are suitable for single travellers, but if you prefer to travel with clients booking individually, please see our Solo Departures page.

In order to provide a more accurate grading system, where a trip falls between two grades we use an intermediate or split grade, for example Challenging/Tough. Occasionally, there are optional activities available en route, in this case the optional grade is indicated in brackets, for example Grade Challenging (climb Tough+). Clearly, conditions may differ from region-to-region or month-to-month and as such the information given on these pages is designed to act as a guide only. In all cases you should refer to the respective holiday's Trip Notes for further details.

Serious Adventure: These trips are what Exodus is all about. Join us!

Walking & Trekking: Trips are wholly trekking-focused or simply include a significant number of walking days during the itinerary.

Wildlife: Trips may be wholly wildlife focused, or contain an element of wildlife viewing within a less specific itinerary.

Wilderness: Visit the deserts, jungles, plateaux, tundra and mountains of all seven continents, including Antarctica.