• The duration of the cruise: 11 days
  • Ship: Akademik Shokalskiy
  • Places visited: Sea of Okhotsk
  • Departure: 17 jun 2021

Little known outside of Russia and seldom visited by westerners, Russia's Sea of Okhotsk dominates the Northwest Pacific. Bounded to the north and west by the Russian continent and the Kamchatka Peninsula to the east, with the Kuril Islands and Sakhalin Island guarding the southern border, it is almost landlocked. Its coasts were once home to a number of groups of indigenous people: the Nivkhi, Oroki, Even and Itelmen. Their name for this sea simply translates as something like the ‘Sea of Hunters', perhaps a clue to the abundance of wildlife found here.

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    In 1725, and again in 1733, the Russian explorer Vitus Bering launched two expeditions from the town of Okhotsk on the western shores of this sea in order to explore the eastern coasts of the Russian Empire. For a long time this town was the gateway to Kamchatka and beyond. The modern town of Okhotsk is built near the site of the old town, and little has changed over the centuries. Inhabitants now have an air service, but their lives are still dominated by the sea.

    The village of Magadan was founded in 1928 on the shore of a convenient bay, not far from the place where rich gold deposits were discovered in the period from 1915 to 1926. From 1932 until the abolition of the GULAG in 1951, the development of the road network and infrastructure of the region was associated with the activities of the state trust for road and industrial construction "Dalstroy" under the management of the NKVD and several hundred thousand prisoners.

    The upper regions of the Sea of Okhotsk remain frozen for much of the year and winter storms make it an inhospitable place. However the lure of a rich fishery and, more recently, oil and gas discoveries means this sea is still being exploited, so nothing has changed. In 1854, no fewer than 160 American and British whaling ships were there hunting whales. Despite this seemingly relentless exploitation the wildlife thrives, albeit probably not in the numbers it used to, but still in numbers that boggle the mind. The beautifully marked and rare Ribbon Seals are abundant here. On the small island of Iony and globally important seabird nesting sites on Yamskie Islands, part of the Magadanskii Nature Reserve, hundreds of Steller Sea Lions haul out here each year to breed.

    Seabird numbers in the Sea of Okhotsk can only be described as spectacular. We are talking numbers rarely seen anywhere else in the world, such as an estimated 7 million on Matykil Island in the Yamskiye Archipelago. Then there are islands like Talan where the sky darkens when the Crested Auklets start massing offshore before returning each evening. Birds there include various species of guillemots, puffins, auklets and fulmars, but the richness of birdlife is not restricted to pelagic species. The Sea of Okhotsk has one of the highest concentrations of the majestic Steller's Sea Eagle of anywhere in the Russian Far East. Waterfowl are common, as are many migratory species. Harder to see, but not uncommon on this expedition, are the magnificent Kamchatka Brown Bear and other mammals such as the Arctic Ground Squirrel.

    This is a truly unique expedition in that it travels through a little known sea. It is a region with a history that up until recently has been suppressed and not spoken about, the magnitude of the tragedy of Stalin's Gulag system is only now becoming apparent. It is also an area with very significant and important wildlife values, both terrestrial and marine. There are still discoveries to be made and so for the inquisitive, adventurous and open-minded traveller, this is a ‘must do' expedition.

    Note: Expeditioners on this voyage have the option to stay on board as we transfer Akademik Shokalskiy to Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskiy at the completion of the voyage - an extra three nights free! These will be sea days, with a minimal expedition programme, and a chance to unwind in the library, bar and on the bridge. Those staying on board will disembark at Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskiy on 30 June 2021.

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Day 1: Magadan
This morning we will all meet at a local hotel or central point and take a coach transfer to the Port of Magadan. (Full details of all these arrangements will be provided upon receipt of booking.) After a security check (we have Russian speaking staff to assist in this process) You and your luggage will be transferred to the Akademik Shokalskiy. Once on board You will be shown to your cabins and there will be a chance to unpack and explore the vessel. We plan to get underway soon after You have embarked. There will be briefings and introductions to the ship, staff and crew after we have departed and we will also take the opportunity to conduct a number of safety briefings.


Day 2: At Sea
As we sail southwest towards Iony Island, the day is filled with illustrated lectures and opportunities to spend time on the deck birdwatching and looking for marine mammals, relax in the bar and library, or join the captain in the bridge as You adjust to life at sea.


Day 3: Iony Island
Iony Island lies almost in the middle of the Sea of Okhotsk, about 120 nautical miles from the closest land. It is a tiny island, really just a rock, but what it lacks in physical size it more than makes up for wildlife. It is nothing short of spectacular and very few people have seen it. Iony is a well known breeding ground for Steller Sea Lions. There is a small derelict research hut on the island, a relic from a time when there was possibly more money for research than there is now. The island also teems with birdlife. Birds appear to take up all available space. There are guillemots, kittiwakes and various species of auklets, with Parakeet, Whiskered and Least being the most prominent. We will Zodiac cruise around the Island as Steller Sea Lions occupy all the flat ground and the few rocky beaches make any landing impossible.


Days 4 to 5: Shantar Archipelago
There are 15 islands in this little known archipelago. Lying as they do in the western sector of the Sea of Okhotsk close to the continent, they are amongst the last places here to become ice free each year. This late ice can sometimes restrict how far we can explore. On the other hand if there is ice around, it increases our chances of seeing some of the seals including Bearded, Ringed, Largha and Ribbon Seals that breed here. Potentially this area is one of the best to get observations and photographs of the beautifully patterned Ribbon Seals. The seas around the Shantar Archipelago are also renowned for Bowhead Whales. Our chances of seeing these depend on the ice, the majority of sightings are in fact from later in the season, but we will be looking very hard. If we can land there will be birding, botany and photography excursions led by our team of on board naturalists. We have set aside two days here to maximise our chances of getting ashore and also having the best wildlife experiences.


Day 6: Mal’minskie Islands
The sight that greets You when You approach these three small offshore islands is ‘birds’. There are birds everywhere, in the air, in the water and on the land. Numerous species breed here including large numbers of Spectacled Guillemots, perhaps the largest colony of these birds anywhere, as they are only found in the Sea of Okhotsk. Other birds include Ancient Murrelet, Rhinoceros Auklet, Parakeet Auklet, Horned and Tufted Puffin, Crested Auklet and both Common and Brunnich’s Guillemot. It is little wonder with the abundance of birds that there is a good population of Steller’s Sea Eagles on the island and adjacent mainland. Landing on the island is restricted to a small gravel spit and there are limited places to walk, however on the mainland we can stretch our legs and explore the taiga forest.


Day 7: Okhotsk Town
This town has featured in Russian Far East history since the earliest Cossack explorers came from the west. Prior to their arrival the indigenous people undoubtedly had seasonal camps here to harvest the salmon. Vitus Bering travelled overland from St Petersburg to Okhotsk in 1725, and again in 1733, and it was from this small town that both of these expeditions travelled to Kamchatka and beyond. Because of the hostility of the Koryak people in the north towards the Russian invaders, the Sea of Okhotsk was the main access route to Kamchatka. Today Okhotsk is the region’s fishing centre. The port exports significant quantities of salmon and other fish. We visit the town, landing by Zodiac up the river near its centre. The local people are generous and welcoming, and will provide some entertainment in the town centre with a cultural display. This is a chance to experience genuine Russian Far East culture and embrace their hospitality.


Day 8: Talan Island
An internationally known, but very difficult to get to, bird island, Talan lies offshore some 50 miles west of Magadan. It is infamous largely because of the hundreds of thousands of Crested Auklets that nest here. A lot of research has been done here in the past and there are a number of huts and obvious signs of human activity. There is also an extraordinary number of Black-legged Kittiwakes nesting along the cliffs, and not surprisingly a large population of Steller’s Sea Eagles. If weather conditions are suitable we will circumnavigate the island by Zodiac before landing at the western end. We plan to return in the evening after dinner to witness the huge flocks of Crested Auklets amassing offshore before returning to the island. If the conditions are right it is one of those sights, and nights, You will never forget.


Day 9: Koni Peninsula
This is a mountainous region to the south-east of the town of Magadan. Approximately one third of it is protected by its inclusion in the Magadanskiy Zapovednik (a Federal Nature Reserve). This reserve protects among other animals brown bear and Snow Sheep. There are numerous places to land and the climate is very much affected by the Sea of Okhotsk. Very few visitors have ever landed on, or explored, the Koni Peninsula. Many of our landings are expeditionary, in that although we have landed at a number of places along the coast, many will be new and unknown to us, so we are never quite sure of what we will find. That is part of what makes our style of travel so interesting. We spend the day here with at least two landings at different sites.


Day 10: Yamskiye Islands
These islands are also included in the Magadansky Zapovednik and are claimed by some biologists to be the largest bird colony in the North Pacific. According to bird counts there are an estimated 7 million birds nesting on Matykil Island, the largest in the group. Birds include Common and Brunnich’s Guillemot, Crested, Parakeet and Least Auklets, Tufted and Horned Puffins and Northern Fulmars. The most abundant of these is the Least Auklet. The islands are also a well known breeding ground for the Steller Sea Lion and we will see large numbers both in the water and hauled on the few beaches on the island. We Zodiac around the coast as no landings are permitted, but You get a much better appreciation of the islands and the abundance of the wildlife by cruising the shoreline.


Day 11: Magadan
Тoday Magadan with a population of about 100,000 is a beautiful modern city with wide avenues and monumental architecture. The main industries in the region are fishing and gold mining.The local museum has an excellent display and is to be appreciated by all history lovers, but the most poignant reminder is the ‘Mask of Sorrow’, a large monument, dedicated to those who suffered here during Stalinist repressions, on a hill overlooking the town. Kolyma Highway connects Magadan with Yakutsk and the rest of Russia. We plan to arrive in the Port of Magadan early morning. There will be a complimentary shuttle to a central hotel in the city. In case of unavoidable delays with either weather and/or formalities we kindly ask You not to make any onward flight reservations until after 1300 hours. Those staying on board will arrive in the Port of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskiy on 30 June; we kindly ask You don’t make any onwards plans until after 1200 noon.

Note: During our voyage, circumstances may make it necessary or desirable to deviate from the proposed itinerary. This can include poor weather and/or opportunities for making unplanned excursions. Your Expedition Leader will keep You fully informed.


Days 12-13: At Sea, Optional
These will be sea days, with a minimal expedition programme, and a chance to unwind in the library, bar and on the bridge. Those staying on board will disembark at Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskiy on 30 June 2021; we kindly ask You don’t make any onwards plans until after 1200 noon.

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