Most tourists go to Kunashir, the southernmost island of the Kuril Islands, in the summer. However, traveling during the colder months and off-season has its advantages. The author Oh!Blogger Lena Titok visited Kunashir in January and now knows exactly what to do on the island at any time of the year.
Content
- How to get to Kunashir
- Where to stay
- 5 things worth doing in Kunashir
- Tips from personal experience
How to get to Kunashir
There are no direct flights to Kunashir from Moscow. First, you need to fly to Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk (from 16,500 rubles one way), and then transfer to an Aurora Airlines propeller plane (from 7,300 rubles one way): it will take you to Yuzhno-Kurilsk airport in about an hour. But there is a caveat: planes fly only according to the actual weather. For example, if snowfall or fog came to Kunashir, you can get stuck at the departure airport for several days until nature finishes acting up. The situation is the same with the return flight: locals monitor what is happening at Yuzhno-Kurilsk airport through a Telegram channel, in which they report every day whether the weather is suitable for takeoff. I’ll give you some advice: it’s better to schedule a flight to Moscow from Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk 2-3 days later than you expect to return from Kunashir: in case of a delay, the ticket will not burn out. Besides, there is a lot to do in the Sakhalin capital.
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Where to stay
In Kunashir
If you like to relax comfortably, book a stay at the Kunashir Resort&Spa. There are 22 small but cozy houses with panoramic windows that overlook the forest. The room has all the amenities, and the Wi-Fi is working fine on site (there will be interruptions outside the hotel). You can try local cuisine at the Ainy restaurant, and in the evening, after long excursions, go to the spa complex. The main pride of the hotel is two thermal pools with hot volcanic water of different temperatures: sitting in them under the open sky is a real thrill. Plus a sauna, hammam and a spacious relaxation tent where you can relax and drink a cup of herbal tea.
Don’t be surprised if the Kunashir cat Kuzya comes to visit you. Photo: Elena Titok
In Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk
If you plan to stop in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk before your flight, pay attention to the White Snow Hotel, a budget option for outdoor enthusiasts. It offers easy access to the slopes of the popular Mountain Air ski resort.
Do you like hotels with a swimming pool? Then feel free to book Strawberry Hills. By the way, skiers will like it here too: a shuttle service is organized for them to the resort.
5 things worth doing on Kunashir
Meet the dawn among the first
Kunashir residents will definitely tell you that they are the first to meet the dawn in Russia. The first rays of the sun look especially impressive over the ocean, which is why all romantics and lovers of colorful nature shows should go to the Pacific coast. Those who come to the island in winter will have a little more luck, because dawn in January begins at 8 a.m., which means that you won’t even have to sacrifice precious sleep for the sake of a beautiful sight. Don’t forget to dress warmly and take a thermos of tea with you, so as not to shiver from the cold sea wind. And believe me, you will remember this beginning of the day for a long time! You can get to the ocean on foot or drive 5 minutes by car.
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Come meet the dawn by the ocean. Photo: Elena Titok
Ride along the shore on an ATV
The endless expanse of the ocean, splashing water, speed and wind in your face. This is exactly what a giant quad bike ride along the Pacific coast will be like. Along the way, you will have to overcome obstacles in the form of streams and boulders, but there is nothing to worry about: your transport is as stable and safe as possible. So just enjoy the new emotions and the dizzying scenery around you.
Races are organized all year round, the most important thing is to be lucky with the weather: in summer, heavy rain or fog can spoil the impression, and in winter, the snow that has begun inopportunely. But on a sunny day you will be able to see the Tyat volcano — the one from the school geography textbook. You can ride a giant ATV to the Chaika thermal pool. It is especially pleasant to plunge into its hot water on a cool day. If you have the courage, after you warm up, take a dip in the ocean: the pool is located right on the shore. Picnics are also often held here: there are panoramas.
You can book an excursion directly at the Kunashir Resort&Spa hotel.
The vastness of the ocean, splashing water and wind in the face. This is exactly what a giant quad bike ride along the Pacific coast will be like. Photo: Elena Titok
Try local specialties
Perhaps the first thing tourists associate with the Kuril Islands is red caviar. And, of course, other seafood: scallop, shrimp, trumpeter, crab and even octopus. You can get delicacies through a guide or local residents: restaurants in Yuzhno-Kurilsk have not worked out yet. Another local specialty is klopovka berry, which tastes like lingonberries. On the island, it is used to make jam, tincture, syrup and pie fillings, so you can appreciate the taste all year round.
Red caviar on Kunashir is definitely worth a try. Photo: Elena Titok
See Cape Columnar
Columnar is one of the business cards of Kunashir. The bizarre relief of the cape was formed by lava, which was erupted countless years ago by the volcano, now named after Mendeleev. Walking along Stolbchaty, it’s hard to believe that the stone “honeycombs” underfoot and the “organ pipes” on the rocks are a creation of nature, and not the work of man. You can get to this place at any time of the year, although in summer you will be able to explore more: in winter, some areas become difficult to access. But in frosty weather, you’ll see rocks artistically covered with ice. Be careful: they are very slippery.
Stone “honeycombs” underfoot and “organ pipes” on the rocks — this is how Cape Columnar will appear. Photo: Elena Titok
Spot Japan on the horizon
You won’t even need binoculars to see Hokkaido: the weather is clear enough. In this sense, winter travelers are more lucky, although fine days with good visibility also happen in summer. To admire the snow-white mountains of the Land of the Rising Sun, climb Cape Doggy: the panoramas from here are simply breathtaking. Hokkaido is on the horizon, which is only about 30 km across the strait, the blue ocean is below you, and eagles are circling overhead. Freeze and feel how time has stopped. This is the magic of Kunashir.
Bonus: see the whales
Sakhalin and the Kuril Islands are one of the few places in Russia where you can watch whales and killer whales. For example, on a boat trip to Aniva Lighthouse or Shikotan Island. In a separate review in Oh!The blog has collected places in the vast expanses of the country where you can still meet these majestic inhabitants of the ocean.
Tips from personal experience
When to go
The best time to visit Kunashir in winter is December and January: it can be windy in February. If you want to see the island in warmer weather, plan a trip in May-October. Keep in mind that in winter you can save up to 50% on accommodation and excursions: this season is considered low in Kunashir.
The best time to visit Kunashir in winter is December and January. Photo: Kunashir Resort&Spa
What to bring
Be sure to bring comfortable clothes and waterproof shoes. The vagaries of island nature can surprise you at any time of the year: it is better to prepare for them. As for the forecast, see it on the website https://rp5.ru/— here it is the most accurate (if accuracy in the Kuril Islands is even possible).
What to prepare for
Kunashir is nature, not civilization, and Yuzhno-Kurilsk is not a metropolis with skyscrapers, parks and malls, but rather a small village with private houses, where one of the attractions is a museum of local lore. There are only a couple of fairly modest cafes here, so it’s better to cook on your own or eat at the hotel.
It is better to take cash to the island: it can be difficult to pay with a card due to a not very stable connection. The amount depends on your requests: the prices for products are approximately metropolitan, but some items are expected to be more expensive than on the mainland.
If you travel in spring or summer, beware of poisonous plants, such as mustard gas. In addition, it is possible to encounter a bear, which, of course, it is better not to anger. But there is no need to be afraid of ticks and snakes on Kunashir: locals claim that these island inhabitants do not pose a threat (although caution does not hurt).
Kunashir is nature, not civilization. Photo: Evgeny Gorodetsky/Shutterstock.com
Volcanoes, deserted beaches, lakes, delicacies — that’s what it’s worth visiting Kunashir for. Yes, it’s far away. Yes, it’s not easy to organize. But there are enough impressions for the rest of your life.
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Cover photo: mv_painting/Shutterstock.com
