Journey to the Far East

Day 1 Dragon Park

After meeting at the airport you will go to Chystovodnoje village to visit the Dragon Park, or Primorsky Pillars. Mountain peaks have been eroded into quaint stone pillars and castles. Statues of incredible birds and dragons rise above the cedar-oak forest. You will pass a trekking route with stops at viewpoints, watch the first "dragon" and climb to the second.

Then you will move to Petrov Bay, located on the territory of the Lazovsky Nature Reserve. Here you will stay in a comfortable campsite, have dinner and relax.

The route length is 360 km by car and 9 km on foot.

Day 2 Petrov Bay

Today you will get acquainted with the nature of the Lazovsky Reserve and go by boat to Petrov island. Here a walk along the ecotrail around the island is waiting for you. This island is like a natural botanical garden, where a quarter of the whole Primorsky region flora grows. You will see seal rookeries and bird colonies, pass through a relict yew grove that is more than 1200 years old.

In the afternoon you can relax in the bay. Swim in the sea, go snorkeling or SUP-surfing. In the evening you can go to the sauna at the campsite.

The route length is is 5 km on foot.

Day 3 Trekking to the Benevskie waterfalls

Today you will hike to the Benevskie waterfalls. You will see 3 cascades of waterfalls, including the most beautiful one in Primorye called "Primorskaya Zvezda" (Russian for "Star"). Also you will visit taiga spring Elomovsky.

The route will pass along a forest trail surrounded by relict yew trees, dimorphodon, huge cedars and fir-trees, interwoven with lianas. Along the way you will see picturesque basalt pillars of the most bizarre shapes. In the evening you will come back to the campsite in Petrov Bay, have dinner and rest.

The route length is 60 km by car and 17 km on foot.

Day 4 Proselochnaya Bay

Today you will move to the Proselochnaya Bay (Ta-Chin-Gouza Bay). It is considered the most beautiful bay in the Primorsky region. The sandy coastline stretches for 1.5 kilometers. The quaint "kekuras" (stone rocks) make the bay even more picturesque.

You will stay in a recreation base located 250 meters from the sea. You can go for a walk along the beach, take beautiful photos, go snorkeling and swimming in the sea.

The route length is 150 km by car, 5 km on foot.

Day 5 Zarya, Olga and Vladimir bays and the Cape of Four rocks

This day you will start with trekking through the wild taiga to the Lake Zarya (Russian for "Dawn"). It is unique because Brasenia schreberi, a relict aquatic plant, grows here. On the route you can meet spotted deer, see the tracks of the Amur tiger. You will also admire the fabulous stone ensemble of Zarya Bay.

Then you will move to the Central Primorye. Along the way you will visit the bays of Olga and Vladimir. In the afternoon you will take a walk to the Cape of Four Rocks. It is considered to be one of the most picturesque in Primorye. It is known for its quaint rocks and a scenic bay with white granites. You will stay at the tourist base in Zerkalnaya ay (Russian for "Mirror-like") and spend the night in comfortable conditions.

The route length is 300 km by car, 7 km on foot.

Day 6 Vladimir Bay and Dubovaya Bay

After breakfast a trekking route to the Dubovaya (Russian for "Oak") Bay is waiting for you. Here one of the most beautiful kekures (a geological landform consisting of a steep and often vertical column or columns of rock in the sea near a coast, formed by wave erosion) are located. They even have its own names — Nosorog (Russian for "Rhino") and Golova (Russian for "Head"). The route passes through the picturesque capes and beaches, offering great opportunities for photo shooting.

Then you will be taken to the village of Terney, located in the center of the Sikhote-Alin Nature Reserve. You will stay at the tourist base and spend the night in comfortable conditions.

The route length is 300 km by car, 7 km on foot.

Day 7 The boat trip and trekking to the Goral Reserve

In the morning you will go for a boat trip along the Abrek Peninsula. You will admire the beautiful multicolored rocks, caves and waterfalls, see colonies of birds, seals in the sea and gorals on the rocks. 

After lunch you will start trekking to the Goral Reserve. We repeat the route of the Vladimir Arsenyev's expedition, admire a pristine shoreline, kekures, cliffs and beautiful coves. Seals, Amur gorals and numerous sea birds are waiting for you here. At the end of the journey you will return to the base in Terney.

The route length is 30 km by car, 10 km on foot.

Day 8 Climbing Bold Mountain

Bold Mountain is situated in the preserved area of Sikhote-Alin Nature Reserve. The hiking route to the mountain top (900 m high) begins on the banks of a stream with huge stones and small waterfalls in oak forests, which with increasing height are replaced by broadleaved pine, dark coniferous, and stone birch forests and then elfin pine thickets.

The top of the mountain offers a beautiful view of the Sikhote-Alin forests, the Japan Sea coastline with lagoon lakes and endless blue mountains. On the route you will see relict plants of the Ussuri taiga and you can also meet deers mand wild boars. Then you will return to the base, have dinner and rest.

The route length is 34 km by car, 17 km on foot.

Day 9 Amga river Canyon and Black Shaman

Today 4wd off road trip to the north of the Primorsky region is waiting for you. The route follows the tracks of Vladimir Arsenyev's expedition to one of the most picturesque places in Primorye — Amga river Canyon. Just imagine: the crystal-clear Amga river with numerous rifts and waterfalls is framed by steep cliffs up to 200 meters high formed by red frozen magma, with caves and stone towers. And all this is surrounded by untouched spruce-fir taiga.

During this route, you will see the highest waterfall in Primorye called The Black Shaman (50 m high). You will make amazing shots and if you want, you can swim in ird basin. Returning to the baze in Terney you will go along the Kema river, one of the longest and most abounding rivers flowing into the Japan Sea. It is known for its cascading rapids: Takunzha, Sekuzha and Pipe.

The route length is 360 km by car and 10 km on foot.

Day 10 Gracious and Blueberry Lake­s

Today a trekking route along the seaside part of the Sikhote-Alin Nature Reserve is waiting for you. You will admire the beautiful landscapes of Udobnaya (Russian for "Convenient") Bay, see Lake Gracious, which is the habitat of different waterfowl species, as well as Goral rocks and Camel paleovolcano. 

In Golubichnaya Bay you will stop for a swim and lunch. The way back to the base will pass along Blueberry Lake, where many relict aquatic plants are presented. This area is home to a large population of rare Manchurian spotted deer. Also here you can often see wild boars, eagles, less often — lynx, bears and Amur Gorals.

The route length is 35 km by car and 16 km on foot.

Day 11 City-tour in Vladivostok

You will move to Vladivostok via sites of Vladimir Arsenyev's expeditions. You will enjoy the picturesque views of the Western Sikhote-Alin mountains, see the Li-Fujin and Daubikhe rivers, the lake with lotuses, and visit the monument dedicated to Dersu Uzala in Arsenyev. Then you will overcome the Venyukov pass and see the Ussuri river — the largest one in Primorye.

Upon arrival you will have a short sightseeing city-tour. You will see the Tokarevsky lighthouse and also visit the "Eagle Nest" observation deck, offering a view of the Russky Island Bridge and the Zolotoy Bridge, as well as the Golden Horn Bay. Then you will be taken to the hotel (paid extra).

The route length is 650 km by car.

Day 12 Departure

You may stay longer in Vladivostok or go to the airport by aeroexpress.