Best time to visit Kamchatka

2 min summary When to go Map & highlights Things to do Wildlife Chukotka Wrangel Island Kuril Islands Advice Responsible tourism

Best time to visit Kamchatka

September along the Kamchatka peninsular is a symphony of colour - vivid reds and vibrant oranges shine bright against a backdrop of dramatic smoking volcanoes

Notable for its long, bitterly cold winters and short, warm summers, the best time to visit Kamchatka is from May-Sep when the temperature is comfortable. May-early June is peak bird-watching season and a brilliant time to kayak the shoreline, often joined by curious orcas. In September the autumnal colours are phenomenal and brown bears, well-fed on summer salmon, can be seen lazing around the coastline. July-August is the prime time to explore Kamchatka’s incredible volcanic landscape and camp under the stars.

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Our Kamchatka Holidays

Kamchatka Weather Chart

MIN °C

MAX °C

RAIN (mm)

JAN

-20

-16

FEB

-19

-13

MAR

-16

-9

APR

-9

-3

MAY

-2

JUN

JUL

AUG

SEP

OCT

-5

NOV

-14

-10

DEC

-18

-14

Kamchatka, month by month

Winter in Kamchatka is long and brutally cold and temperatures can plummet to below -25°C – not fun. The regions beautiful brown bears snuggle down for their six-month hibernation in November, right the way through December, January, February and early March. Visit outside this time if they're one of the key species you want to observe. That said, spring – particularly April, and the autumn months of October and early November are a wonderful time for photographing Kamchatka’s otherworldly landscapes and bring a lot more colour and life than people may presume! For polar bears, you'll need to head to Wrangel Island. This is only accessible during July and August, so if you want any chance of seeing them you’ll need to book a summer trip! All travellers to Kamchatka require a Russian visa; you’ll need to start the application process at least four months before departure. Russia also has a number of public holidays in early May and embassies and consulates commonly close for two weeks – so factor this in when applying for your visa.

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Travel Team

If you'd like to chat about Kamchatka or need help finding a holiday to suit you we're very happy to help.

01273 823 700

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rosy@responsibletravel.com

01273 823 700

Calling us from outside the UK?

rosy@responsibletravel.com

What happens when in Kamchatka

Cassia Jackson, from our supplier Heritage Expeditions, shares her advice on the best time to visit Kamchatka:

“The far east of Russia is best visited between the months of May and September. Explore the Kamchatka Peninsula in May and early June to make the most of the peak bird watching season and in July see brown bears feasting on salmon, smoking volcanoes and the landscape dotted with delicate summer wildflowers.”

Festivals & events

Did you know about...?

Steller’s sea eagles

Steller’s sea eagles are a sight to behold – they’re enormous. On a zodiac cruise through their river habitat on the Zhupanova River you can spot them nesting in the trees along the banks; they are simply majestic and in May and June it’s possible to see upwards of 10, quietly surveying you from their riverside standpoint.

More about Kamchatka

Kamchatka travel guide

Find out what we rate & what we don’t in our Kamchatka travel guide that presents our best and worst of Kamchatka holidays alongside a brief history of Kamchatka and tips on how to discover Kamchatka like a local.

Kamchatka map & itineraries

Check out our Kamchatka map and highlights page that features everything from information on our favourite locations to classic itineraries and travel times in Kamchatka to help you make the most of your time.

Things to do in Kamchatka

Walk into a land of fire and ice and quickly discover why cruising, trekking and the untouched glaciers of Wrangel Island offer an exceptional range of things to do in Kamchatka, way off the beaten track.

Kamchatka wildlife

Learning what to look out for where Kamchatka wildlife is concerned is an essential part of any Kamchatka holiday with brown bears, grey whales and Pacific walrus all to be found, if you know where to look.

Travelling to Chukotka in Russia

A huge region in the extreme far east of Russia, Chukotka is a wild, remote place, home to a scattering of people and a whole lot of wildlife, and visiting is more an expedition than a holiday.

Wrangel Island

The word ‘remote’ could definitely have been invented to describe Wrangel Island, which sits on the very top of the world in the Arctic Ocean, off the northern coast of Chukotka.

Kuril Islands, Kamchatka

A skinny archipelago of volcanic islands that drops like a broken necklace from Kamchatka in Russia down to Hokkaido in Japan, the Kuril Islands are a wild place of bustling seabird colonies, wooded shores, active volcanoes, but very few people.

Kamchatka travel advice

Lots of helpful Kamchatka travel advice, including tips from our friends in Kamchatka on bird watching, Wrangel Island wildlife and local culture, plus advice on what to pack and how to stay healthy and safe.

Responsible tourism in Kamchatka

Poaching and trophy hunting are, unfortunately, issues that need to be dealt with, which is why our responsible tourism in Kamchatka page doesn’t hold back when it comes to helping you travel right in Kamchatka.

More relevant guides

Written by Polly Humphris

Best time to visit Kamchatka