
Wildlife Cruise of Shantar Archipelago
July 27 - August 9
£1075 – £5595
Lying off the coast of the last untouched frontier, around 300km away from the mouth of the great Amur river and hidden in the south-western part of the Sea of Okhotsk lies the stunning archipelago of Shantar. Consisting of over 15 islands and positioned off the shores of the Siberian mainland, the Shantar Archipelago has no permanent human population except for the meteorological station staff on the Big Shantar Island. As a result this is true wilderness and a pristine ecosystem where the land is dominated by songbirds, raptors and brown bears whilst sea otters, whales, orcas, sea lions, seals and sea birds inhabit the oceans around here. It has been dubbed by some as the Northern Galapagos Island and this tour will not disappoint you in terms of magnificent wildlife in stunning scenery.
Holiday Features
Cruise around the Shantar Islands
See huge Stellers sea eagles
Watch very rare bowhead whales
Beach combing brown bears
Get closer to wildlife on small zodiacs
Get close to feeding orcas
Top Animals on Tour
Orca
Kamchatka Brown Bear
Bowhead Whale
Stellers Sea Lion
Stellers Sea Eagle
Humpback Whale
Itineraries Details
Destination: Russia
Tour Dates: 11/8/2021 – 23/8/2021
Duration: 13 nights
Type / Focus: Whales, Orca & Bears
Tour Difficulty:
Pricing & Costs
Price: £2,895 per person
Deposit: £400 per person
Single Supplement: NA
Min. Passengers: 7 persons before tour runs
Book OnlineHoliday Breakdown
Day 1
Khabarovsk
Today you will arrive in the far eastern city of Khabarovsk and at the airport you will meet your zoologist escort for the tour as well as your local guide; the fantastic and knowledgeable Alexei Shevelev. Today you will probably arrive late and just be taken to the accommodation, level – 3* hotel for a evening of rest, you will be briefed on the tour around dinner.
Day 2
Khabarovsk
Today you will be picked up from the accommodation, level – 3* hotel, in the morning and taken around the very picturesque city of Khabarovsk; as well as visiting the Lenin Sqaure, Transfiguration Cathedral and walk along the stunning Muravyoy-Amursky street as well as visiting the fish museum and local aquarium. Fishing is a huge part of the history of this city and the museum and aquarium are great places to visit and get an idea of the history of this part of the world.
Day 3
Chkalov & Baydukov Islands
This morning you will be transferred to the airport to catch the short flight to Nikolaevsk on the banks of the huge Amur River. Once here you will board the vessel that will take you around the Shantar Archipelago which will also act as your accommodation, level – live aboard cruise (Miracle). Today you will head out towards the Chkalov and Baydukov Islands. It is important to note that at any time at sea you could see whales, dolphins or seals so we advice to always keep your eyes peeled. Around the north side of the Chkalov Island beluga whales are relatively common, whether or not any are seen is just a matter of luck, but commonly seen birds around the island include great knot, red-necked stint, dunlin, whimbrel, bar-tailed godwit and common sandpiper. Baydukov Island is one of the few islands in the area where long-billed and marbled murrelets can be found. You will spend the night in the wonderfully named Happiness Gulf before heading further towards Shantar tomorrow.
Day 4
Reynike Island
Today is mostly a day of travel as you will be taken around to Reynike Island. This is one of the smallest islands in the Primorsky Krai and is home to only 23 people. Today we will try and spot of sea birds and marine mammals as we cruise through the Sea of Okhotsk and then the evening will be spent moored close to the very photogenic Reynike Island and your accommodation will once again be onboard the Miracle.
Day 5
Wrangler Cape
Late today you will reach the first of the Shantar Islands, but first you will head out past the Wrangler Cape. This is deep open water and your first real chance of spotting whales and possibly orca. Commonly seen whales around here include the humpback whales and the north Pacific right whales. There is also the chance of bowhead whales, grey whales, minke whales and slim chances of spotting rare visitors such as blue whales, fin whales and sei whales. But arguably the most impressive species that inhabits this water is the orca. This part of the sea is productive and the summer months produce huge plankton blooms. Very similar to the famous blooms of Alaska and as a result huge numbers of fish and predators arrive to take advantage. The orcas here are little understood and are believed to be primarily fish and squid feeders and if we get close enough to them in the next few days you will have the chance to board the smaller zodiac and get closer to these incredible predators. Then as the day turns to evening and the first islands of the archipelago come into focus we will moor in the midst of a Stellers sea lion colony. These large sea lions will have young black furred pups in the summer and the females will divide their days between nursing the pups and feeding out at sea. Whilst the males will be fighting each other for possession of females as they come into the breeding season. The sea lions make a great backdrop for your evening meal onboard your accommodation the Miracle.
Days 6-9
Shantar Islands
Over the next four days you will be taken around some of the Shantar Islands. Firstly Belichiy Island and then Maly Shantar Island, the former of the two islands being quite small and rocky in nature with Maly Shantar Island covering around 100km2 in total. You will progress through the Gulf of Lindgolm where bowhead whales, grey whales and bearded seals can all be seen. The seas around here are frozen solid with sea ice for around 8 months of the year and so all the wildlife floods into these rich waters during the ice free summer months. It is also possible to see sea otters here as they wrap themselves in the kelp near shore and feed on bivalves and molluscs. During these days you will also be taken to the largest of the Shantar Islands; Bolshoy Shantar Island. Whilst cruising around the large bays of Bolshoy Shantar Island there is a very good chance of seeing the Kamchatka subspecies of brown bear. It is these islands where the largest of Russian brown bears can be found and they are regularly seen foraging along the beaches in large numbers, they find food that has been washed up by the sea and lies hidden in the seaweed. You will also have the opportunity to meet the only people that permanently live on the islands, they are meteorologists who will give you a great insight into what it takes to live on these remote islands. Whilst being taken out in the zodiacs and exploring the waters around the main islands you should see what is widely regarded as the most impressive eagle species in the world. There are large numbers of Stellers sea eagles here, these huge fish eating eagles are stunning with their brown and white plumage and striking, enormous yellow bills. But the bird watching is not just confined to this magnificent raptor as murres, puffins, fulmars, kittiwakes, guillemots and dozens of other marine bird species all nest on the islands in huge numbers. As well as taking the zodiacs around the bays and beaches to get closer to whales, orcas, porpoises, seals, sea lions, sea otters and marine birds; you will also use them to get on shore and we will explore some of the forests here. There are many species of endangered birds present on the islands including the worlds largest species of owl, Blakistons fish owl, as well as Siberian grouse, solitary snipe, osprey, black stork, red-necked grebe, gyrfalcon. Over these 4 days we are confident of some exceptional whale watching, bird watching and also getting good sightings of brown bears, sea otters, sea lions, seals and maybe sable or martens that inhabit the island forests. As well as wildlife you will be shown the unique geology of the Shantar Archipelago where huge jasper and white marble crags dominate and help to form features such as Diomod Rocks (Dragons Teeth) and Seneca Hole Rock as well as the spectacular Prokofievs waterfalls. Each night you will return to the main boat for your evening meal and nights accommodation onboard the Miracle.
Days 10-11
Shantar Islands & Wranglers Cape
On day 10 you will begin your journey back towards Wrangler Cape and the mainland. Before leaving the Shantar Archipelago completely you will have the chance for good views of the Prokofievs waterfalls and also one last day of wildlife watching as we head east. Most of the next 2 days will be spent travelling so once again it will be worth keeping an eye out for whales, dolphins, orca and other marine life as you travel back to Wrangler Cape and then to Nikolaevsk. You will not land on day 11 but instead spend the night again onboard the Miracle.
Day 12
Khabarovsk
This morning you will land in Nikolaevsk and taken to the airport to catch your return flight back to Khabarovsk. Once here you will be taken to the accommodation, level – 3* hotel and a nights relaxation back on dry land.
Day 13
Khabarovsk
This morning we will be used as a rest and sightseeing day, the reason for this extra day is to counter any possibilities of bad weather hindering our progress whilst at sea. Whilst unusual the weather can delay travel by a day in the Sea of Okhotsk so we find it better to have a delay day in case. During the evening you will have your farewell meal at the accommodation, level – 3* hotel; or a nearby restaurant.
Day 14
Home
After breakfast you will be transferred to the airport in time to catch your return flight home.
Please note that the itinerary stated above is correct as our planned intentions for the tour. However adverse weather conditions and other local considerations can necessitate some modifications of the itinerary during the course of the tour; any changes will be made to make the best of the time and weather conditions available to us.
This tour is available on different date (subject to availability) please contact us for more details about running this tour on a date which suits you more.
Extra Information

Weather Conditions
The weather in the Sea of Okhotsk and the Shantar Islands is usually pretty warm in July and August with an average temperature of around 20 degrees C. The skies are usually clear with little rain as well. However heading out to sea here can result in rapid changes in this weather. So be prepared for wind and rain (although it should be more sunny than it is rainy).

What’s Included
Everything mentioned in the itinerary is included. Including three meals per day (breakfast, lunch and dinner). There will be an amount of bottled water (approx 1ltr) available for each guest each day. The chartered cruise boat and all crew costs are included. We have our own private vehicle to be driven by a local guide for transfers when needed. All internal flights are also included in the price.
All our excursions including zodiac trips, landings and park entrance fees are also included.

Personal Equipment
We recommend you bring along your own binoculars or spotting scope as well as appropriate clothing; which should be a mix of warm and light clothes, including at least one warm Parker, fleece, woolly hat, pair of gloves, scarf and long trousers, thermal socks and other cold weather gear can be useful during the evenings and nights. A waterproof jacket is also a good idea. Comfortable walking shoes are a must. Insect repellent is very useful. Any medication, books or other items of a personal nature is of course up to you to bring along. Oh and please bring plenty of memory cards or film for your camera. Also do not forget sun cream, sun hat and polarised sun glasses as the sun can be strong here during the day especially when we spend time on the water.

Included Equipment
We provide a comprehensive species list of all the vertebrates present in the areas we are visiting as well as some of the best field guides and reference books for the areas we are visiting. There is usually a spare pair of binoculars but in a group of 4-6 people these do not stretch too far. On request we can also bring a hydrophone to try and listen to the underwater communication used by the marine mammals.

Extra Expenses
Nearly everything is included in this tour. The only things not included are international flights, travel insurance (contact us for more information one what is required from your insurance policy), any food bought outside of the three main meals, drinks outside of any offered with the meals and the bottled water provided each day and any items of a personal nature such as souvenirs and tips. Any applicable departure taxes and not included (but maybe included in the cost of your flights). Please check before departure.

Flight Information
As we are based in Manchester we recommend flights from Manchester International Airport
We recommend KLM as a good airline for flights to Khabarovsk. One of the best websites to search for the best fares for these flights is www.odopo.co.uk; who are IATA accredited this is a link direct to their site. Please check our terms and conditions regarding booking flights.
Please contact us for more information about flights and we can provide you with a link direct to the flights from another supplier; in which case you only have to enter the passenger information and payment details. By using the above link you will leave our site and we at Royle Safaris hold no responsibility for the content on the site.

Visas and Health Information
All UK passport holders and most other nationalities are required to have a visa for Russia. These are only obtainable in advance from your local embassy. The easiest way to find information is by visiting http://visitrussia.org.uk (be aware that this link leaves our site and we at Royle Safaris hold no responsibility for information on the site). A tourist visa costs around £115 for a single entry visa which is valid for 30 days, however things change so please check out the website above for more information.
There are no mandatory vaccinations needed to visit Russia, but it is recommended to be protected against TB, polio, typhoid, tetanus and hepatitis A. Please consult your GP about your individual requirements for visiting Russia as soon as you have decided on this trip.








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