Be aware that excursions by helicopter are dependent on both weather and sufficient passengers, both of which are unpredictable. Typically Mi-8 helicopters are used, requiring about 20 passengers to be economically viable. The helicopters are about 25 years old, they are basic and rugged inside but generally feel safe. If you really want to go, allow for several spare days in Kamchatka (the writer spent 13 days in Kamchatka and only managed to travel to his second-choice destination on the 12th day).
As at July 2011, the cost of excursions to Kurilskoye/Geysers was 24-27,000 Rubles payable in CASH (but remember - this is an experience of a lifetime!). This equates to about 3 hours of actual flying - about $5 per minute, comparable to helicopter rides elsewhere.
Valley of Geysers
Mutnovsky volcano
Avachinsky volcano
Ksudach Volcano and Kurilskoye Lake
Caldera of Uzon volcano
Bear watching
The Most Frequently Asked Travel Questions about Kamchatka
Where To Stay & Best Hotels in Kamchatka - updated May 2024
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Kamchatka Travel Guide from Wikitravel. Many thanks to all Wikitravel contributors. Text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0, images are available under various licenses, see each image for details.
