All expedition members arrive in Anadyr, the administrative center of the Chukotka region, and transfer to the Spirit of Enderby.

Spend this day in and around the town of Egvekinot on the shores of Kresta Bay. The town was built by Gulag prisoners who were then forced to construct a road to the mine. Explore the town which has an excellent museum, the road and tundra as well as the Arctic Circle.

This coastline is rich in marine mammals and one creature to look for, in particular, is the walrus. The bukhta (or bay) was named after Commander Vitus Bering’s ship, St. Gabriel of the First Kamchatka Expedition. Behind the expansive beach, there is a lagoon you can explore for waterfowl and waders.

Start this day with a visit to the delta of Pika River – a well-known walrus haul-out. Later in the day, visit Meinypil’gyno, a small settlement located on a 40 km long shingle spit. It is a traditional village although renovated under the recent Chukotka government. Enjoy the hospitality and the performance of some of the traditional dances of the locals from the village.  

Along the Koryak Coast, there are many beautiful fjords (bukhtas or bays) and none are more beautiful than Bukhta Natalii. This fjord has two smaller ones that drain into it from the south. Hike from one bay to another whilst surrounded by the magnificent mountain landscapes and tundra vegetation.

Much of the southern Govena Peninsula was recently made into a state reserve. There are a number of fjords included in the reserve; one of the most spectacular and the most picturesque location in the world is the Tintikun Lagoon. A large population of brown bears inhabits this area, you may fortunately see a number of them.

Start this morning with a bear watching activity in an undisturbed habitat within the Koryakskiy Reserve in Kamchatka Brown Bear country. Brown bears frequently visit this area which is completely protected and rarely visited. In the afternoon, visit Verkhoturova Island where tufted and horned puffins, pigeon, common and Brunnich’s guillemots and also parakeet and least auklets can be seen. In the nearby rocky islets, there is a regular non-breeding haul out of Steller sea lions.

A few miles to the south of Verhoturova Island is the much larger Karaginskiy Island. Here you can encounter some of the first ‘forests’ of the voyage. It is a change from the tundra that you have seen, a sure sign that you are getting further south. Autumn is the best time for the wild berries. Marvel at the richness of the local flora as many of them should be at their best in this season.

The wildlife-rich Commander Islands were first discovered by Commander Vitus Bering when his ship was wrecked here in 1741. He perished on the island along with many of his men. The reports from those that survived led to a ‘fur rush’ and the settlement of the islands. There are two large islands (Bering and Medny) with two smaller islands, Ariy Karmen and Toporkov. Explore these islands through a combination of landings and Zodiac cruises. Have a stop at the village of Nikolskoye. Visit the fur seal rookery at North-West Cape and Zodiac cruise around the impressive bird colony at Ariy Kamen. A visit to the gravesite of Commander Vitus Bering or the remarkable Medny Island is also possible.

Olga Bay is a part of the very large Kronotskiy Reserve, which also includes the world-famous Valley of the Geysers. The habitat has lush Kamchatka forests coming right down to the beach. The area around Olga Bay is frequented by large numbers of gray whales that are usually quite friendly to visiting boats. The rising volcanoes in the background will provide a beautiful setting to explore real Kamchatka wilderness.

This morning, make your way along the Zhupanova River by Zodiac. This journey is an exploration of a river habitat which is common in Kamchatka. Steller’s sea eagles are known to nest in the lower reaches of the river.

During the night, the Spirit of Enderby enters Avacha Bay which is one of the greatest natural harbors in the world. On the shores of Avacha Bay is Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskiy, the capital and administrative center of the Kamchatka Region.