WILD KAMCHATKA WITH THE © Sergey Frolov May 20 – June 4, 2020 | 16 Days | Aboard the Caledonian Sky Expedition Highlights

• Witness huge concentrations of seabirds in a frenzy of breeding

KAMCHATKA activity—northern fulmars, horned and PENINSULA SEA OF tufted puffins, guillemots, black-legged OKHOTSK Zhuponova River Petropavlovsk kittiwakes, and more. Russkaya Bay ISLAND Atlasova Island • Cruise by Zodiac along rocky islets and KURIL ISLANDS uninhabited shores to search for the Tyuleniy Island Srednego Islands Onekotan Island area’s prolific marine and wildlife— Yankicha Island Korsakov Lovyshki Islands including bears, Arctic foxes, seals, and Teuri Island / Rishiri Island Broutona Island/ Chirpoy Island whales.

Otaru Sapporo • Photograph a variety of stunning PACIFIC OCEAN scenery, from snowcapped volcanoes to wildflower-studded tundra.

• Enjoy a performance of traditional Russian songs and dances in Sakhalin BLACK-LEGGED SEA OTTER KITTIWAKE Island’s capital, Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk.

• Itinerary...... page 2 > • Flight Information ...... page 4 > • Ship, Deck Plan & Rates ...... page 5 > • Featured Leaders...... page 6 > • Know Before You Go...... page 6 > • Optional Pre-voyage Extension.... page 7 > © John Buchanan © Andy Cornelius Andy ©

HORNED PUFFIN

the 1880s, the city became a Japanese prefect capital when Itinerary the southern half of the island was declared a Japanese colony in 1905; after WWII it was returned to Russia. Highlights Based on the expeditionary nature of our trips, there may be ongoing of your exploration include a visit to the Russian Orthodox enhancements to this itinerary. church, the Regional Museum, housed in an impressive former Japanese mansion, and the bustling market. Enjoy a performance of traditional Cossack song and dance from a Wednesday & Thursday, May 20 & 21, 2020 group dressed in colorful costumes. Alternatively, join your DEPART USA / TOKYO, JAPAN / SAPPORO ornithologist for a day of birding in the southern part of the Arrive in Sapporo and check in to our hotel. In the evening island. Watch for Latham’s snipes, Eurasian bullfinches, white- gather for a welcome dinner and briefing. tailed sea eagles, Siberian thrushes, and Swinhoe’s robin.

Friday, May 22 SAPPORO / OTARU / EMBARK CALEDONIAN SKY Monday, May 25 Following breakfast, join a tour of Sapporo’s highlights. TYULENIY ISLAND Hokkaido is Japan’s northernmost island and during late Tyuleniy means seal in Russian, and you will immediately May, flowers and trees should be bursting into bloom. Pass by understand how the island earned this moniker. Hundreds of historic buildings such as the city’s symbolic Clock Tower, the northern fur seals and Steller sea lions cover the beaches— university, the charming red-brick Old Prefectural Office, and watch bulls defending their harems, males sparring, and pups several 1972 Winter Olympics sites. After lunch, transfer to the cavorting in the water. Birds fill whatever space the seals and port of Otaru to embark the Caledonian Sky. sea lions leave unclaimed. Thousands of common murres and kittiwakes cover the cliffs and fly overhead. Other bird species include crested auklets, Siberian rubythroats, and Pallas’s Saturday, May 23 warblers, with possible sightings of red-necked stints and TEURI ISLAND / RISHIRI ISLAND narcissus flycatchers. Cruise past tiny Teuri Island at dawn where early risers may train their binoculars on one of the largest colonies of rhinoceros auklets in Asia. Watch as the birds leave the rocky TYULENIY ISLAND cliffs en mass to feed in the productive surrounding waters.

Continue north to the classical cone-shaped of Rishiri © Michael Moore Island. Make a stop to stroll or hike in the magnificent conifer forests of Rishiri-Rebun-Sarobetsu National Park. A stop at the municipal museum unveils local history and artifacts dating back over 1,000 years.

Sunday, May 24 KORSAKOV, SAKHALIN ISLAND, RUSSIA / YUZHNO-SAKHALINSK Disembark in Korsakov, then drive to Sakhalin Island’s capital, Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk. Founded as a small Russian settlement in

ZEGRAHM EXPEDITIONS | WILD KAMCHATKA WITH THE KURIL ISLANDS < 2 > WHISKERED AUKLET © John Buchanan

Tuesday, May 26 Thursday, May 28 BROUTONA ISLAND, KURIL ISLANDS / CHIRPOY ISLAND SREDNEGO ISLANDS The Kuril Islands form an archipelago of 56 large and small Often enshrouded in fog, the rugged columnar stacks of the islands, nearly equal to the Hawaiian Islands in landmass, Srednego Islands are home to thousands of nesting seabirds. stretching some 700 nautical miles between Kamchatka and Here you’ll find northern fulmars, guillemots, black-legged Japan. Young in geological years, the Kurils are still bursting kittiwakes, and whiskered auklets, as well as large populations forth with volcanic action, with 40 active volcanoes. of Steller’s sea lions and northern fur seals.

Take a Zodiac cruise past the sheer cliffs of uninhabited Broutona Island, keeping an eye out for the northern fulmars Friday, May 29 LOVYSHKI ISLANDS and fork-tailed storm petrels that nest here. Unlike their volcanic neighbors, the Lovyshki Islands are small, Continue to the dramatic headlands of Chirpoy Island, also rocky islets that offer the perfect resting place for thousands home to thousands of breeding seabirds. While black-legged upon thousands of northern fur seals. Crested auklets are also kittiwakes and thick-billed murres are among the more a possibility here. numerous species, you may also find red-faced and pelagic cormorants. THICK-BILLED MURRE

Wednesday, May 27 ISLAND / YANKICHA ISLAND Shimushir’s spectacular geology features a string of extinct volcanoes, well-wooded slopes, and a flooded crater at its northern tip. The crater’s narrow pass opens into a nearly hidden bay that was home to a secret Russian military base from 1978 to 1991. Nearly 2,000 occupants inhabited the

keyhole harbor, where Russian submarines were based. © John Buchanan Spend a fascinating morning wandering among the abandoned buildings and other relics of this former military ARCTIC FOX base.

Located in the flooded of Yankicha are fumaroles and hot springs, hinting at the tremendous forces that created the island long ago. Nature walks may reveal Arctic foxes, Arctic warblers, and Middendorff’s grasshopper warblers. © Sergey Frolov

ZEGRAHM EXPEDITIONS | WILD KAMCHATKA WITH THE KURIL ISLANDS < 3 > ATLASOVA ISLAND TUFTED PUFFIN ©Micheal Moore

Saturday, May 30 Wednesday & Thursday, June 3 & 4 ONEKOTAN ISLAND PETROPAVLOVSK / DISEMBARK / SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA / USA Beautiful Onekotan Island boasts an impressive 4,000-foot- After breakfast on board, disembark the Caledonian Sky and high volcano with a deep, almost perfectly circular crater lake transfer to the airport for our charter flight to Seoul. Check in at its center. Small streams and waterfalls tumble down the to the Grand Hyatt Incheon for dinner and overnight. Board hillsides to the beach, while lush tundra slopes are the habitat your independent homeward flight the next day, arriving in the for red foxes and myriad bird species, such as the red-throated USA the same day. pipit. Scan the rugged and rocky ledges for seabirds while taking a shoreside walk with our naturalist. The area was once inhabited by the Ainu, and you may have the chance to investigate ruins of their former dwellings. Flight Information

You will need to purchase airfare from your home city/Tokyo/ Sunday, May 31 Sapporo and Seoul/home city. Please contact our in-house Air ATLASOVA ISLAND Department for fare quotes, reservations, or other air-related This afternoon, as you cruise through the First Kuril Strait, watch questions. for the Steller’s sea eagles that frequent the area. Past voyages have also found hundreds of sea otters frolicking in this strait—a heartening rejuvenation after a brush with near-extinction. HARBOR SEAL Step ashore on Atlasova Island, dominated by the towering 7,600-foot-high Alaid Volcano. Stroll along the black sand beaches to observe the island’s fascinating geology or take a hike inland over tundra bursting with wildflowers.

Monday, June 1 RUSSKAYA BAY Reminiscent of a Norwegian fjord, the craggy shores of the bay served as a natural shelter for ships in the past. The imposing © John Buchanan inland mountains and volcanoes add to the dramatic impact of this spectacular bay, where you will find seabirds such as horned and tufted puffins, cormorants, kittiwakes, and auklets, as well as a wealth of marine mammals.

Tuesday, June 2 ZHUPANOVA RIVER Board Zodiacs to negotiate the shallow and meandering Zhupanova River, with superb opportunities for both birding and nature walks. Heading upstream, we are likely to spot up to 40 species of birds, including such special Siberian species as the yellow-billed loon, yellow-breasted bunting, common greenshank, and Far Eastern curlew. Heading downriver, scan the skies for the magnificent Steller’s sea eagle. © Jack Grove

ZEGRAHM EXPEDITIONS | WILD KAMCHATKA WITH THE KURIL ISLANDS < 4 > The Caledonian Sky Deck Plan PANORAMA DECK The all-suite 100-guest Caledonian Sky is a spacious, yet intimate, expedition vessel. Refurbished in 2012, Library her beautifully designed public spaces include a Panorama Lounge Sun Deck Bar single-seating dining room, a large lounge, elegant Elevator bar, enclosed panoramic viewing deck, sun deck, library, and gym. All suites have an ocean view and BRIDGE DECK

feature a sitting room, en suite bathroom, flat-screen 511 505507509 television, spacious wardrobes, and dressing table. Outdoor Cafe Bridge Elevator The Caledonian Sky carries a fleet of Zodiacs, avail- 506508510512 able for accessing remote shorelines and islands. PROMENADE DECK Visit www.zegrahm.com/caledoniansky for Salon 433 431 427 425 423 421 419 417 415 more information about this ship. WC Elevator

Gym 434 432 428 426 424 422 420 418 416 414

CALEDONIAN DECK

Bar 347 345 343 341 339 335 333 331 329 Castle Deck Caledonian Deck Lounge Reception Elevator

348 346 344 342 340 338 336 334 332 330 CATEGORY 1 CATEGORY 2 CATEGORY 3

CASTLE DECK

261 259 257 255 Doctor Restaurant

Elevator 260262 258 254256 252 250

Rates

CATEGORY 1 $14,980 CATEGORY 4 $18,780 CAT 1 SOLO $18,880

CATEGORY 2 $15,980 CATEGORY 5 $21,480 CAT 2 SOLO $19,980

CATEGORY 3 $16,880 CATEGORY 6 $23,980 CAT 4 SOLO $23,480

Solo Travelers: Limited solo accommodations are available at the special solo rates listed above. Additional solo accommodations may be available at 1.6 times the share rate

INCLUDED: NOT INCLUDED: • Daily activity options including Zodiac cruises, nature walks, • Airfare from your home city/Tokyo/Sapporo and and cultural tours Seoul/home city • Charter flight from Petropavlovsk/Seoul • Excess baggage charges • All gratuities • Airport arrival and departure taxes • All accommodations • Transfers for independent arrivals and departures • World-class lecture and expedition team • Passport and/or visa fees • All onboard meals and group meals ashore, including soft • Travel insurance drinks, beer, and wine with lunch and dinner • Items of a personal nature such as laundry, alcoholic beverages, • All entrance fees, taxes, and landing and port charges (other than listed at left), and other incidentals • Arrival and departure transfers on group dates • Email/Internet/fax/telephone charges • Gift certificates for recommended expedition gear • Medical expense coverage and emergency evacuation insurance

A 25% per person deposit will secure your space on this expedition. All rates are per person, based on double occupancy, quoted in US dollars, and must be paid in US dollars. Rates and itineraries are subject to change. Please review our Terms & Conditions online at www.zegrahm.com/terms, or call our office for a printed copy.

ZEGRAHM EXPEDITIONS | WILD KAMCHATKA WITH THE KURIL ISLANDS < 5 > Featured Leaders Our leaders have visited the Russian Far East numerous times and will provide valuable insight and commentary on the history, culture, and wildlife of this intriguing region. Fascinating lectures, photo presentations, daily recaps, and informal discussions will enhance your understanding and appreciation of the wonders you will see. Leaders from additional fields of study will join the leaders featured below.

MIKE MESSICK (EXPEDITION RICH PAGEN – Rich first became LEADER) – One of the best enthralled by the wonders of the expedition leaders in the business, natural world around the tide pools Mike embarked on a full-time career and forests of his native New York. in adventure travel shortly after Since then, he has embarked on graduating from college and has a career in conservation biology, since visited more than 195 countries including a variety of field biology around the world. He is a cofounder projects. He has also conducted ship- of Zegrahm Expeditions, a member of board surveys for marine mammals The Explorers Club, holds a US Coast and seabirds, as well as tagging Guard captain’s license, and received his scuba instructor studies of sea turtles and pelagic sharks. certificate from NAUI.

JACK GROVE – A marine biologist RUSSKAYA BAY and professional naturalist, Jack has spent much of the past two decades traveling on, and lecturing about, the world’s oceans. A leading authority on the fishes and marine environ- ments of the eastern tropical Pacific, in 1997, Stanford University Press published his book, The Fishes of the Galápagos Islands, and he received his Ph.D. from Pacific Western University. He is a cofounder of Zegrahm Expeditions, an avid scuba diver, certified divemaster, and Fellow of The Explorers Club.

Know Before You Go For most activities, a relatively moderate level of exertion is required. You will need to climb, unaided, in and out of Zodiacs for excursions ashore. Many of the landings will be “wet” and require that you wear waterproof, knee-high boots. Ashore, you must be able to walk moderate distances over occasionally rough and often slippery terrain. We’ve designed our shore excursions to accommodate both those who enjoy gentle strolls and those who prefer more active hikes. Summer temperatures in the Kamchatka region range from approxi- mately 40ºF to 60ºF, but can get down into the high 30sºF, and high winds are also possible. Flexibility is a must, as itineraries are subject to change, and landings may be tidal or weather dependent. © Jack Grove

800.628.8747 | 206.285.4000 | FAX 206.285.5037 3131 Elliott Avenue | Suite 250 | Seattle, WA 98121 www.zegrahm.com | [email protected]

To reserve, visit www.zegrahm.com/wild-kamchatka or contact your travel consultant. < 6