FAQ
Route
Moscow – Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky – Moscow
Price includes
Transfer from/to the airport
Auto transport, all group transfers
Snowmobile (approach to the ski-tour area)
Course of avalanche safety
Accommodation during entire program
Visiting the pool with thermal water
Ski guide, mountain guide (ACC, Avalanch-1, Ski tour-1, member of RMGA), mountain rescue officers during entire program
Avachinsky volcano, 2741 m climb with a guide
Vilyuchinsky volcano, 2173 m climb with a guide
Meals for the whole program (except for the evening of the 9th day and the morning of the 10th day)
Excursion to the Pacific Ocean on dog sleds
Price does not include
Air travel
Heli-ski day. It is paid separately, 700 eur/person/day
Insurance
Personal equipment
Meals in the city (one day)
Documents required
Visa. We support you to get Russian visa. Being an official tour operator we are able to submit travel voucher, contact us.
Safety
Winter climb on volcanoes (Vilyuchinsky, Avachinsky, Koryaksky) is a complex exercise. Before the ascent the guide will give an assessment and recommendations to the members of the group regarding the climbing tactic etc.
Depending on the weather conditions and snow conditions, the guide determines the days and places of the ski tour, and some adjustments are possible. Our task is to make sure that you can ski safely and make the most of it!
Of course, we are in the mountains. But if you follow our guide’s advises the risks will be minimized and their effects will be avoided. Besides, a compulsory avalanche course will be provided on the second day of your travel. It is made by ski guide, approved by CAA (Canadian Avalanche Association), level Avalanch-1. All the travelers should have their avalanche transceivers, probes and shovels. If you don’t have those we could rent them out.
Additional information
Booking of the program (without heli-ski) is to be done by advance payment (300 eur). Bank commission lays on a client’s side.
Heli-ski day is spent at favorable weather in one of days 2-5. It is paid and booked separately and in advance. Reservation is made with 50% prepayment. 100% payment shall be made no later than 15 days before the start of the program. If you cancel the heli due to bad weather, the prepayment for the heli-ski is returned.
Terms of refund for unfulfilled heli-ski day:
-For groups that don’t fly to the skiing areas. In case of non-fulfillment of the day program, the money for the "uncompleted" program is returned in full;
-Group-participant of the heli-ski day can insist and fly to the area of skiing against the recommendation of guides and in conditions of unstable weather. This decision is made jointly with the crew, taking into account the Rules and requirements of flight safety and a real weather forecast. In case of non-fulfillment of the program of such skiing in real weather conditions, security conditions, etc. refund is not provided;
-Refund for uncompleted descents for other reasons (for example: a malfunction of the inventory, physical condition, late arrival or early return caused by the participant's fault) is not provided.
To get to Kamchatka we recommend direct flight from Moscow made by Aeroflot every day. Round flight Moscow – Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky – Moscow would cost 360 eurs about only.
Attention! In area № 1, Avachinsky Pass often has bad weather, so we foresee a reserve option (in case of strong winds), namely, in the event of bad weather, we spend 1-5 days in the Nachiki district, accommodation in a new base(hotel) *, a ski tour on the Gorelaya hill, Mirror, maybe the Vachkazhets volcano. At the same time, the surcharge will be 50 eur / person / day.
Ski-tourists with experience of a ski tour from 10 days can take part in the program. You must be ready to make the ascents according to the program. Keep in mind, skinning/climbing is made slowly, in a comfortable mode. Tourist/ guide ratio: 6/1.
220V sockets will be every day. In days 1-5 in the evenings only!
The mobile network coverage will be almost everywhere, but not stable, on the mountain, where the freeride is held, it may not be at all. Operators: MTS, Megafon, Beeline, in some places can receive TELE2 signal. Internet in Kamchatka is slow.
We provide VHF radios, 1 station per 2 participants. However, if you have your own, we recommend that you take it.
Accommodation/hotels:
Days 1-5, area № 1: 8-beds lodge (arctic barrels), although they are at an altitude of 1000 meters above sea level, on the pass, in the snow, they are quite comfortable, cozy and warm, double-deck soft beds, wood stove heating - use it ourselves, sleep in sleeping bags. Separate dining room. Electricity in the evenings and in the afternoon upon request. The toilet is outside, cold. There is a shower.
Days 5-9, area № 2: comfortable snow base "Snow Valley". Rooms for 4-5 people, beds are two-level. Shower and toilet are in the room. A restaurant. At your request, for an additional fee, you can book a double accommodation.
Day 10: Night in the city. Hotel, double occupancy. The rooms have TV, shower, toilet. At your request, for an additional fee, we will book you a superior or deluxe room.
* - Days 1-5, in case of bad weather, when there is no way to go to area № 1: the new base (hotel) Nachikinsky. Comfortable double rooms, TV, shower, toilet in the room. A restaurant. There is a swimming pool with hot thermal water. The surcharge will be 50 eur / person / day, in case of such circumstances. At your request, you can book deluxe or suite.
Weather conditions
15.02. - 30.03.: high probability of powder snow. It is quite cold, on average about 15 to -20C in the afternoon, with the wind. Snow, as a rule, is frozen in February, and can be heavy in March.
01.04. - 10.04.: Possible powder snow, especially in the upper part of the descent. Downhill rather hard snow from the morning, and after dinner slightly released (in some places, on the southern slopes). Pretty cool, about -10.
10.04-20.04.: No powder, but possibly hard snow. The temperature at the downhill in the afternoon can be above zero. Sometimes you can even sunbathe.
20.04.-05.05.: In the upper part of the descent the snow is released in the afternoon, in the morning it is hard. Downhill after lunchtime - slush, the snow is wet. The temperature in the daytime on the mountain is near zero, at the bottom above zero, in windless weather, as a rule, it is very warm!
05.05. - 20.05.: at the bottom is very warm, the snow is wet and at night it doesn’t freeze. On the mountain, in the morning, the snow is hard, after the sunrise is released and after lunch turns into slush. Very warm.
Keep in mind that it’s an average detail. The weather is very unstable and vary from one year to another.
In the days of bad weather, we try to spend time interestingly and profitably, we hold mountain training classes, various master classes such as "save a comrade caught in an avalanche" and even dig a snow cave!
Meals
3 meals a day included into the program, but if you wish, in first half of the program (in “Snow Valley” base) you may get additional service in the restaurant (for additional payment). During long ski tour day, for example, when climbing, lunch is in the form of a snack on the route (hot tea, sandwiches, snacks).
Equipment rental
1. Avalanche:
avalanche transceiver: 60 eur / tour.
snow shovel: 30 eur / tour.
avalanche probe: 30 eur / tour.
kit (transceiver, shovel, probe): 100 eur / tour.
2. Crampons.: 30 eur / tour.
3. Ice ax: 30 eur / program.
4. Poles: 30 eur / program.
5. Windproof jacket, breathable (membrane): 30 eur / program.
6. Ski-tour kit (skis (Ski Trab Freerando) with mounts (Silvretta), skins, boots (42, 44 size): 150 eur / program.
Please feel free to contact us in case of any queries regarding the required equipment/outfit, we will be happy to help you.
