This expedition followed a two鈥憄hase journey: an overland traverse across Russia and a wilderness expedition in the remote Kamchatka Peninsula. The first phase began on 22 June with the team travelling from Moscow across Siberia by train and river boat. Their route took them along the Trans鈥慡iberian Railway to Novosibirsk, onto the BAM line to Ust鈥慘ut, and then by paddle steamer for five days up the Lena River to Yakutsk.
Originally intending to hitchhike the Kolyma Highway to Magadan, the team learned in Yakutsk that the road was only reliably passable in winter due to collapsed bridges. Instead, they flew to Petropavlovsk鈥慘amchatsky, beginning Phase 2 on 10 July. Working with local logistics company PolusM, they designed an itinerary combining trekking, rafting, and a visit to the Valley of Geysers. Many parts of Kamchatka required permits, so the team focused on accessible regions and hired a “bear man” to accompany them.
Their first multi鈥慸ay trek included ascents of Gorely and Mutnovsky volcanoes, where they witnessed dramatic geothermal features, steaming vents, sulphur formations, and a 1999 sub鈥慶rater. A four鈥慸ay rafting journey followed, involving dense forests, powerful currents, heavy rain, and constant awareness of brown bears—whose presence they mitigated with fires and flares.
Later, they travelled north to Esso for additional hiking through dense vegetation and swarms of mosquitoes, before returning to Petropavlovsk and flying to St Petersburg. The report includes extensive practical notes on Russian travel—covering visas, transport, accommodation, safety, costs, and expedition potential across Siberia and Kamchatka.