Sea of Okhotsk

Having arrived independently to Sakhalin Island, this morning you will join your included coach transfer to the Port of Korsakov, 40 minutes south of the city of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk. Here you will board your expedition vessel and prepare for the adventure of a lifetime. After settling in to your cabin and familiarising yourself with the ship, we will set sail towards the Sea of Okhotsk. As we sail there will be briefings and introductions delivered by your crew and you could spend some time on deck watching as Sakhalin Island fades into the distance and we venture into the unknown.

Various options are available for getting to Sakhalin Island, please enquire for full details.

The first stop on our Sea of Okhotsk adventure will be the little known island of Tyuleniy which lies just off the south east coast of Sakhalin Island. Here we will go ashore, if conditions permit, or explore by Zodiac boat to observe the abundant numbers of Steller Sea Lions and Northern Fur Seals that are found here. Fur seal numbers have increased since an International Covention signed in 1911 banned seal hunting here. In the 1990s Steller Sea Lions started breeding on the island and their colony now numbers about 2,500 animals.

Today our focus will be on whale watching as we reach Piltun Bay, an important habitat for the small population of Western Gray Whales. We will spend the day exploring the bays and inshore waters by Zodiac in search of up-close encounters with these beautiful marine mammals.

This rocky outcrop in the middle of the Sea of Okhotsk is more of a “rock” than an “island” but for what it lacks in physical presence, it more than makes up for with its wildlife. Any space on the island is pretty much completely taken over by an absolute abundance of birds, with various species of auklets like parakeet, whisked and least, as well as guillemots and kittiwakes in huge numbers. In order to fully enjoy this magnificent bird watching area we will take a Zodiac cruise all around the island in search of as many sightings as possible. It will not be possible to land here as Steller Sea Lions completely occupy the few rocky beaches and to land would mean disturbing them. We will however be able to cruise close on the Zodiacs.

Over the course of the next two days we will be exploring around the Shantar Archipelago, a remote group of islands in the western sector of the Okhotsk. These islands are usually among the last in the area to become ice free each year, so the presence of sea ice may dictate which way we explore here. As with throughout your voyage, each day your captain and crew will decide which course to take in order to make the most of every opportunity afforded to us. The presence of sea ice will however brings its own advantages, with there being higher chances of seeing the Bearded, Ringed, Ribbon and Largha seals that breed here. If ice conditions allow, your expedition team will accompany you on a number of land excursions to learn all about the wildlife and botany of this intriguing area. There will also be photography excursions designed to help you hone your wildlife and scenery photography skills.

Today will be another fantastic day of birdwatching opportunities as we visit the Mal’minskie Islands to enjoy a Zodiac cruise in search of an abundance of rare and unique bird species. A landing on the island will not be possible, but we will be able to land on the adjacent mainland where we can enjoy an exploration of it's taiga forest and search for sightings of the good numbers of Steller’s Sea Eagles that are often spotted here.

On your Zodiac cruise around the Mal’minskie Islands you can expect to see large numbers of Spectacled, Common and Brunnich’s guillemots, auklets such as Parakeet, Crested and Rhinoceros, and Horned and Tufted puffins amongst much more.

Okhotsk Town is an area of great historical importance and your visit here today will introduce you to some of the stories surrounding the town. Today it is a thriving fishing town and we will make land by Zodiac to explore around and learn all about the residents’ way of life here. The local people are generous and welcoming and will provide entertainment in the town centre including a vibrant cultural display.

This remote and rarely-visited island is internationally famous for its huge bird populations including the hundreds of thousands of Crested Auklets that nest there. Out of all the fantastic birding locations we will have visited throughout our journey, this one may well be the best of them all. The plan for today will be to circumnavigate the island by Zodiac in search of the extraordinary number of Black-legged Kittiwakes nesting along the cliffs and the large population of Steller’s Sea Eagles. In the evening we will make land to see the huge flocks of Crested Auklets amassing at sea before coming ashore.

South-east of the town of Magadan, we will arrive at the mountainous region of the Koni Peninsula, part of which is included in the Magadanskiy Zapovednik Reserve. Today we will enjoy another expedition landing to explore around the area and carefully search for possible sightings of the brown bears and snow sheep which are protected in the reserve.

The penultimate stop on our adventure will be another highlight for the birding enthusiasts amongst us as we visit the Yamskiye Islands, claimed by some biologists to be the largest bird colony in the North Pacific. We hope to visit Matykil Island, the largest island in the group, to search for the estimated 7 million birds which nest here including Northern fulmars; Parakeet, Crested and Least auklets; Brunnich’s and Common guillemots; and Horned and Tufted puffins. No landings will be permitted here but our thrilling Zodiac exploration will bring us as up-close to the sights as possible.

Arrival in Magadan sadly signals the end of our voyage, and around midday it will be time to disembark and bid farewell to your expedition crew. After disembarkation a transfer will be provided either to the airport if you are returning home straight away or to a central hotel should you wish to extend your stay here. Magadan is very worthy of some further exploration and an extra day or 2 could easily be spent here, learning all about the town’s tragic past including how it was previously a gateway to the notorious Kolyma Gulags. The local museum has an excellent display about the Gulags but the most poignant reminder is the ‘Mask of Sorrow’ a large monument on a hill overlooking the town.

Should you wish to extend your stay here or arrange flights back home please contact us and we will be more than happy to advise.