For a resident of central Russia, the word “jeeping” conjures up extremes, recklessness, and knee-deep mud. And perhaps he'll be right. This type of transport has many fans and, over the half-century of its existence, has spawned entire trends in sports.
In Kamchatka, driving off-road vehicles has a completely different meaning - often it’s not a goal, it’s a necessity. The road infrastructure is very poorly developed in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, as well as in other large cities in the region, such as Elizovo or Vilyuchinsk. And even in large cities, during heavy winter snowfalls, it is difficult to move in an ordinary car. The southern coast of Kamchatka is often affected by powerful cyclones.
Most importantly, most of the tourist attractions on the peninsula are located in hard-to-reach places, that can only be reached by an off-road vehicle (Shift Cars on base Kamaz or Jeep) or by helicopter.
Most importantly, most of the tourist attractions on the peninsula are located in hard-to-reach places, that can only be reached by an off-road vehicle (Shift Cars on base Kamaz or Jeep) or by helicopter.
What are the advantages of a Jeep tour?
- Increased comfort. A passenger car, unlike buses, is designed for a small group of tourists.
- You can stop anywhere along the route and take unique photos. And the guide can adjust the route individually for the client.
- A careful and experienced driver will overcome difficult sections of the route without consequences.
What locations are available on the Jeep tour?
- Dachnye Hot Springs, popularly called the Small Valley of Geysers. Nearby are the Mutnovsky volcano and the Mutnovskaya GeoPP, one of three geothermal-based power plants in Russia. Two of the three such bases are located in Kamchatka.
- Vilyuchinsky Pass is a landscaped observation deck with a height of 825 meters. In good weather, nine volcanoes can be seen at once!
- Active volcano Gorely. Its height is 1829 meters. With trekking poles, the climb is accessible to a person with any physical fitness.
- The Vachkazhets mountain range and its waterfalls. The route passes through the purest mountain Tahkoloch lake which is at an altitude of 600 meters above sea level.
- Kuril Lake. It is the largest spawning ground for sockeye salmon and a point of attraction for hundreds of bears.
Photos by Anton Skripachenko