August 28, 2020

Kamchatka or Bust


Kamchatka or Bust
What our Alaskan readers see off their front porches. Козинцев, Wikimedia Commons

Now's your chance to check out a part of Russia you might only know from a game of Risk.

Kamchatka, a peninsula in the Pacific ocean, is set to become the next big ecotourism hotspot. Russian authorities are making plans to revamp roads, ports, and other infrastructure to draw tourists to this area, along with stringent environmental protections for tourist-magnet natural wonders.

Reportedly, ecotourism currently makes up only 2 percent of Russia's tourism sector. Kamchatka, and its Alaska-like scenery, could be Russia's ticket to environmental fame. Sights like Three Volcanoes Park and Avacha Bay have already seen some development.

Somehow, though, we just don't see ziplines, nighttime jungle tours, and rural hostels taking off.

You Might Also Like

The Battle for Kamchatka
  • December 01, 1995

The Battle for Kamchatka

Alaska Airlines has been serving the Russian Far East for 20 years, but lately it has faced some new difficulties.
Kamchatka: Where the River Runs Hot
  • August 01, 1996

Kamchatka: Where the River Runs Hot

The wilderness of Kamchatka provided Andrew Tarica with stunning volcanic scenery and a lifetime best day of fishing. In this issue's Travel Journal, he tells the story.
Kayaking Kamchatka
  • March 01, 2001

Kayaking Kamchatka

Remote, wild and pristine, the Kamchatka peninsula is an adventure traveler's dream. We join Christine Seashore and her husband while they kayak the coast of this amazing region.
Duck Devil and Little Wolf
  • January 01, 2002

Duck Devil and Little Wolf

It's not every day one is invited on a pilgrimage by a Siberian shaman. Which is how Christine Seashore and John Turk ended up roaming Kamchatka's frozen tundra in search of an elusive pack of reindeer. Oh, and then there is the interesting bit about the mountain bikes...
The Lure of Kunashir
  • July 01, 2003

The Lure of Kunashir

Off limits for eight decades, the Kurile islands are a treasure trove of natural history and geological wonders. We travel to the southernmost island, which is just a stone's throw from Japan.
The Wonders of Kamchatka
  • July 01, 2006

The Wonders of Kamchatka

In the first of a two-part series, we explore the villages, geysers, volcanoes, flora and fauna of Russia’s wildest peninsula.
Bears in the Mist
  • November 01, 2006

Bears in the Mist

Exploring the wilds of Kamchatka, home to an amazing concentration of bears, geysers and natural beauty.
Realm of the Sacred Raven
  • November 01, 2003

Realm of the Sacred Raven

In the second installment of Ilya Stogoff's travels in the Russian Far East, the author explores the steamy side of Kamchatka.
Koryak Cultural Loss
  • March 01, 2013

Koryak Cultural Loss

At the furthest edge of the Russian Far East, in a quiet bay near the very top of the Kamchatka Peninsula, a tiny community of Koryaks struggles with the loss of its traditional culture.
Like this post? Get a weekly email digest + member-only deals

Some of our Books

The Pet Hawk of the House of Abbas
October 01, 2013

The Pet Hawk of the House of Abbas

This exciting new trilogy by a Russian author – who has been compared to Orhan Pamuk and Umberto Eco – vividly recreates a lost world, yet its passions and characters are entirely relevant to the present day. Full of mystery, memorable characters, and non-stop adventure, The Pet Hawk of the House of Abbas is a must read for lovers of historical fiction and international thrillers.

 
Fearful Majesty
July 01, 2014

Fearful Majesty

This acclaimed biography of one of Russia’s most important and tyrannical rulers is not only a rich, readable biography, it is also surprisingly timely, revealing how many of the issues Russia faces today have their roots in Ivan’s reign.

The Samovar Murders
November 01, 2019

The Samovar Murders

The murder of a poet is always more than a murder. When a famous writer is brutally stabbed on the campus of Moscow’s Lumumba University, the son of a recently deposed African president confesses, and the case assumes political implications that no one wants any part of.

Bears in the Caviar
May 01, 2015

Bears in the Caviar

Bears in the Caviar is a hilarious and insightful memoir by a diplomat who was “present at the creation” of US-Soviet relations. Charles Thayer headed off to Russia in 1933, calculating that if he could just learn Russian and be on the spot when the US and USSR established relations, he could make himself indispensable and start a career in the foreign service. Remarkably, he pulled it of.

White Magic
June 01, 2021

White Magic

The thirteen tales in this volume – all written by Russian émigrés, writers who fled their native country in the early twentieth century – contain a fair dose of magic and mysticism, of terror and the supernatural. There are Petersburg revenants, grief-stricken avengers, Lithuanian vampires, flying skeletons, murders and duels, and even a ghostly Edgar Allen Poe.

Woe From Wit (bilingual)
June 20, 2017

Woe From Wit (bilingual)

One of the most famous works of Russian literature, the four-act comedy in verse Woe from Wit skewers staid, nineteenth century Russian society, and it positively teems with “winged phrases” that are essential colloquialisms for students of Russian and Russian culture.

Driving Down Russia's Spine
June 01, 2016

Driving Down Russia's Spine

The story of the epic Spine of Russia trip, intertwining fascinating subject profiles with digressions into historical and cultural themes relevant to understanding modern Russia. 

About Us

Russian Life is a publication of a 30-year-young, award-winning publishing house that creates a bimonthly magazine, books, maps, and other products for Russophiles the world over.

Latest Posts

Our Contacts

Russian Life
73 Main Street, Suite 402
Montpelier VT 05602

802-223-4955