Day 1. Khabarovsk: The Adventure Begins
At Khabarovsk Airport, you will be welcomed with traditional Russian hospitality. From there, you will take a direct flight to Nikolayevsk-on-Amur and then transfer to the coast of the Sea of Okhotsk. On the way, your guide will introduce you to the history of the region and tell you about the places you will pass along the route. The journey will then continue by modern speedboat to Cape Wrangel. During the sea crossing, you will be able to enjoy the rugged beauty of the Sea of Okhotsk, while your guide will point out the most interesting natural sites and phenomena. Guests will be provided with a lunch box and hot drinks.
Weather in Khabarovsk
+25°C/+77°F
24.08.2026
clear
Humidity
49%
Wind
3.4 km/h
High
+25°C/+77°F
Low
+14°C/+57°F
Recreation Camp near Cape Wrangel
Upon arrival at Cape Wrangel, you will stay in spacious double-wall camping tents with sea views. Comfortable accommodation, silence, fresh sea air and proximity to wild nature create a special atmosphere of relaxation and allow you to fully immerse yourself in the unique world of the Sea of Okhotsk coast. All sea crossings are carried out with due regard to weather conditions and sea state, ensuring the safety of the journey.
Address: Wrangel Bay, Tuguro-Chumikansky District, Khabarovsk Krai
Website: fetravels.ru/wrangel
“Whale Baleen” Tavern
The menu features fish dishes, including fish caught by the tourists themselves, as well as moose meat, venison, roe deer and Manchurian wapiti, along with wild plants and forest products such as wild garlic, fern, forest berries and mushrooms. Traditional dishes of the Indigenous Small-Numbered Peoples of the North hold a special place on the menu, including yukola, khelty, tykhemin, berry desserts and other regional specialties. All dishes are prepared by a chef who is a representative of the Indigenous Small-Numbered Peoples of the North and carefully preserves authentic culinary traditions while revealing the rich flavors of northern cuisine.
Day 2. Cape Wrangel: Meeting the Whales
Start the day by watching bowhead whales and orcas right from the shore — your first chance to see these majestic marine giants in their natural habitat. Your guide will introduce you to the features of their behavior, while scientists will give an introductory lecture on the rules of safe whale watching and speak about current research on marine mammals. After the mandatory safety briefing and receiving your wetsuit, head out to sea on SUP boards. This is a unique opportunity to get closer to nature and, if conditions are favorable, observe whales almost at water level. If the marine animals do not appear, you can practice paddleboarding and enjoy a trip around the bay. Afterwards, lunch awaits you at the Whale Baleen Tavern, which serves Far Eastern cuisine. In the afternoon, choose one of the scenic walking routes along the rocky coast — to viewpoints or grottoes. Upon request, the excursions can be accompanied by field lectures from scientists, who will introduce you to the unique flora and fauna of the Far Eastern taiga. After a full day, restore your energy in a traditional banya, especially pleasant after sea trips and swimming. In the evening, enjoy dinner at the “Whale Baleen” Tavern, take part in hands-on workshops on preparing Far Eastern dishes from local ingredients and foraged products, and then attend a science lecture where whale researchers, oceanographers, biologists and other specialists talk about their work. End the day in a warm atmosphere by the campfire: songs with guitar, lively conversation and the starry sky above the coast of the Sea of Okhotsk will make this evening truly unforgettable.
Day 3-4. Cape Wrangel: Sea Adventures
Meet the sunrise on the shore of the Sea of Okhotsk while watching whales in their natural habitat. If the weather is favorable, you will be able to head out on SUP boards in wetsuits and get a rare chance to see these marine giants from the water’s surface. After breakfast at the "Whale Baleen" Tavern, set off for sea fishing, where you can catch flounder, perch, navaga, cod and sculpin, and then take part in a master class on preparing your own catch. Each day’s program is flexibly adapted to weather conditions, whale activity and guests’ wishes. You can look forward to sea trips, whale watching from the water or from the shore, walking routes along the scenic coastline, as well as more SUP board outings. After lunch at the tavern, you can continue exploring the wild nature or go for a guided walk. In the evening, relax in a traditional banya, especially pleasant after an active day on the water, and then enjoy dinner prepared from your own catch or dishes of Far Eastern cuisine. Chinese cuisine is also available upon request. The day will end with a meeting with scientists at the daily lecture hall, where whale researchers, oceanologists, biologists and other specialists talk about the nature of the Shantar Islands. After the lecture, enjoy free time by the campfire, songs with guitar, lively conversation and the starry sky above the Sea of Okhotsk.
Day 5. Ongachan Bay
By boat, you will cross Academy Bay and reach Ongachan Bay. Along the way, you will see the scenic natural arch known as the “Window to the Shantars”, Cape Seneca and Lindholm Strait.
“Window to the Shantars” Arch
A natural rock arch on the Tugur Peninsula, which turns into a secluded island at high tide and opens up for walks along a rocky spit at low tide. It is one of the most photogenic places on the coast.
Address: Coordinates: 54.297663, 137.734175
Cape Seneca
A majestic rocky cape on the coast of the Sea of Okhotsk, serving as a landmark for sailors. Its inaccessible cliffs and wild landscape fascinate explorers and travelers.
Address: Coordinates: 54.318255, 137.729325
Lindholm Strait
A scenic sea passage between the Shantar Islands, known for its rich wildlife. This is one of the places where whales and orcas can most often be seen during the tides.
Address: Coordinates: 54.339421, 137.601267
Ongachan Tourist Base
A comfortable tourist base near the Shantar Islands with everything you need: a common room, banya, dining room, shower, equipment drying room and a campfire area on the shore. There are eco-trails nearby, and whales and orcas often swim close to the pier.
Address: Ongachan Bay, Tuguro-Chumikansky District, Khabarovsk Krai
Website: fetravels.ru/ongachan
Day 6. Dragon Rocks Lost in the Shantar Sea
Set off on a walking tour through the scenic surroundings of the Ongachan base. Climb to the viewpoint, which offers impressive panoramas of the Shantar Archipelago, Opasny Strait and Lindholm Strait. If low clouds cover the viewpoint, the route follows the trails of true Far Eastern taiga and the coast of Ongachan Bay, allowing you to get even closer to the region’s pristine nature. After lunch, a sea excursion by modern boat to the famous Dragon Rocks awaits you.
Dragon Rocks
These unusual rock formations, reminiscent of scenery from fantasy films, are considered one of the most picturesque natural landmarks of the Shantar Sea. During the trip, you will be able to enjoy the rugged beauty of the coast and take impressive photographs. Upon returning to the base, relax in a traditional banya or rest after an eventful day. In the evening, dinner awaits you, followed by a cozy atmosphere by the campfire with songs accompanied by guitar, board games and friendly conversation in the common room — the perfect end to a day in the heart of the wild nature of the Shantar Islands.
Day 7. Shantar Islands
From Ongachan Bay, you will head to the Shantar Islands: visit the national park, a weather station on a wild island, and the ruins of a whaling station. The day will end with a view of the smaller Shantar Islands from the water.
Shantar Islands National Park
The Shantar Islands received national park status in 2013. This is a unique natural area with a diversity of plants and animals, as well as an abundance of fish. The archipelago is especially valuable for its millions of migratory birds, Steller’s sea eagles, and whales roaming the waters of the Sea of Okhotsk.
Address: Bolshoy Shantar Island, inter-settlement territories of Tuguro-Chumikansky District, Khabarovsk Krai
Coordinates: 54.940796, 137.714965
Website: zapovedamur.ru/shantary
Weather Station on Bolshoy Shantar Island
A year-round observation point on the archipelago, where enthusiasts live in full autonomy and collect data on weather, ice and animal migration. The observation area near the station offers breathtaking views of the coast and mountain ridges, ideal for watching changing weather fronts and birds of prey.
Address: Coordinates: 54.861383, 137.496081
Ruins of the Old Whale Processing Plant on Bolshoy Shantar Island
Not far from the weather station, the ruins of a blubber-rendering plant have been preserved. For a long time, they were thought to be traces of American whaling activity, but historians have established that this was a Soviet-era marine mammal processing facility.
Address: Coordinates: 54.859734, 137.496814
Maly Shantar Island
The third-largest island of the Shantar Archipelago stretches from north to south, resembling the silhouette of a fish. Its landscape is diverse: mountain ridges alternate with lakes, while the coastline is cut by bays and decorated with unusual sea stacks.
Address: Coordinates: 54.467658, 137.602696
Abrek Bay
Located in the southeastern part of Maly Shantar Island, between Cape Enegelma and Cape Gaykovsky The bay was named after the clipper Abrek, whose crew first mapped it in 1855. Sheltered from northern winds, the bay is known for its picturesque shores and is suitable for safe anchorage.
Address: Coordinates: 54.388344, 137.626510
Sredny Island
One of the islands of the southern group of the Shantar Archipelago. Its landscape is shaped by high, steep shores with marble outcrops. Brown bears live here, rare bird species can be found, and whales and pinnipeds inhabit the coastal waters.
Address: Coordinates: 54.369099, 137.839968
Belichy Island
The fourth-largest island of the Shantar Archipelago, captivating visitors with the rugged beauty of its coastline. Two natural arches are especially striking: Belichya Arch on Cape Severny, whose rocky peaks resemble squirrel ears, and a second arch located opposite Sredny Island, near a picturesque waterfall.
Address: Coordinates: 54.430867, 137.837012
Yuzhny Island
The largest satellite island of Belichy Island, characterized mainly by rocky cliffs. Off its eastern shore stands the Plavnik sea stack, named for its resemblance to an orca fin.
Address: Coordinates: 54.345158, 137.805086
Day 8. Farewell to the Shantars
The journey is coming to an end. The return route will take you by boat from Ongachan Bay via Wrangel Bay to Cape Perovsky, from where you will travel to Nikolayevsk-on-Amur. Depending on your arrival time, you will be taken to the airport or checked into the Sever Hotel. There, you will be able to rest and have lunch in cozy restaurants serving Siberian and Chinese cuisine.
Cape Perovsky
A cape on the coast of the Sea of Okhotsk, at the mouth of the Kol River northwest of Spaseniya Bay, Cape Perovsky serves as an important landmark for sailors. This is where sea crossings to the Shantar Islands begin, including routes to Wrangel Bay.
Address: Coordinates: 53.706955, 140.521448
"Sever" Hotel
The hotel is located in the historic center on Victory Square, one of the city’s main landmarks. Guests can enjoy cozy rooms of different categories, furnished with modern furniture and equipped with everything needed for a comfortable stay. The hotel building also has a café serving breakfasts, lunches and dinners.
Address: 117 Sibirskaya Street, Nikolayevsk-on-Amur, Khabarovsk Krai
: +7 (914) 200-38-07
: +7 (421) 352-21-74
Website: hotelsewer.ru
"Sever" Restaurant
Sever Restaurant on Sibirskaya Street welcomes guests with a varied menu of Siberian cuisine and a cozy atmosphere. Here, you can enjoy a full meal or simply stop by the bar for snacks and drinks.
Address: 117 Sibirskaya Street, Nikolayevsk-on-Amur, Khabarovsk Krai
Opening hours: Monday–Sunday, 12:00 pm-3:00 am
: +7 (42135) 2-23-50
"Shanghai" Restaurant
A warm and welcoming Chinese restaurant, suitable for groups of all sizes. Guests come here for a hearty dinner or simply for tea and dessert.
Address: 126 Sovetskaya Street, Nikolayevsk-on-Amur, Khabarovsk Krai
Opening hours: Monday–Thursday, 12:00 pm-2:00 am;
Friday–Sunday, 12:00 pm-3:00 am
: +7 (42135) 2-69-69
Day 9. The Journey Home
The journey will end with a morning transfer to Nikolayevsk-on-Amur Airport and a flight to Khabarovsk, where you will be able to say goodbye to your guide and take a photo with your tour group.
Weather in Khabarovsk
+25°C/+77°F
24.08.2026
clear
Humidity
49%
Wind
3.4 km/h
High
+25°C/+77°F
Low
+14°C/+57°F
