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Around the Sea of Okhotsk ABOARD THE SILVER EXPLORER

Okhotsk Yegrineyskaya Bay

Talan Is.

Ushki

Zavyavialova Is.

Iony Is.

SEA OF OKHOTSK

Take advantage of the brief summer thaw and travel to one of the least visited places on the planet—the remote Sea of Okhotsk. The birdwatching is nothing short of spectacular, with huge concentrations that can literally darken the sky at times. Northern fur seals, Steller sea lions, and gray whales roam the isolated seascape. And the scenery? It’s breathtaking—a geothermal playground of hot springs and volcanoes. Throughout the journey, you’ll enjoy Zodiac explorations and shore walks with expert guides who share their knowledge of this natural history paradise.

Piltun Lagoon

Opala River

RUSSIA

Kekurnyy Point

Nemo Shumshu Is.

Utashud Is.

Atlasova Is.

Krenitsyna Point

Tuyliney

Korsakov

Yankitcha Is.

Chirpoy Is.

PACIFIC OCEAN

Otaru

200 mi

JAPAN

200 km

DAYS 1-5 OTARU, JAPAN / SAKHALIN AND TYULENIY ISLANDS Depart Otaru and cruise to Sakhalin Island, with time to explore Korsakov, founded in 1853 as Sakhalin’s first Russian military post. Tens of thousands of northern fur seals, along with black-legged kittiwakes, tufted puffins, and slaty-backed gulls make Tyuleniy Island their summer home. At the northern tip of Sakhalin, Piltun Lagoon’s shallow waters harbor a rare gray whale population. Going ashore, find Aleutian terns, pine grosbeaks, Siberian rubythroats, and dusky warblers. DAYS 6-12 IONA ISLAND / ZAVYALOV AND UTASHUD ISLANDS Iona Island is home to a Steller sea lion colony, and conditions permitting, you’ll circumnavigate the island by Zodiac. While the sea lions crowd every available space close to the water, guillemots

seals and sea otters (native people from Kamchatka used to visit this island to hunt for sea otters). Gray whales feed here from spring until late December. DAYS 13-18 KURIL ISLANDS / OTARU Stretching 800 miles, the volcanic Kuril Islands are one of the richest areas in the world for seabirds. Explorations include Atlasova and its 6,500-foot-high volcano; Onekotan, formed by two stratovolcanoes; Yankicha, whose caldera is accessible only by Zodiac at high tide, and Chirpoy, with its whales, orcas, Steller sea lions, northern fulmars, kittiwakes, and auklets. Arrive back at Korsakov on Sakhalin Island, and depart on Day 18 via Otaru.

and kittiwakes circle the cliffs by the thousands. Mountainous Zavyalov Island is vegetated by Siberian dwarf pine and dwarf birch. The diminutive vegetation offers little shelter for brown bears that can be seen grazing the island’s shores in search of berries and roots, and feasting at low-tide on shellfish along the shoreline. After exploring the headwaters of the Opala River, head to Utashud, noted for its population of Stejneger’s harbor

DATE Jun 18-Jul 6, 2020

TRIP COST From $16,900

Price is per person and depends on cabin type

10

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