There are no magic places. Therefore, we have prepared something special for you for the summer: together with talented Trevl-photographs from the Russian Explorers team, we will make new exclusive guides for short travels “for the weekend” with such delicious personnel that you simply cannot resist!
And don’t! Take ready -made routes and go to admire our country. The first guide from Alexander Petrov and Rita Frolova is already waiting for you to go to Sakhalin. And for you to use it as soon as possible, in our telegram channel we play a discount on flights to the island, as well as to accommodate there.
We dreamed of visiting Sakhalin for a long time, but always frightened his remoteness, size and difficulty in moving along the largest island of Russia. This spring, we still went there and realized that we were in vain for so long. It was from this place that our acquaintance with the Far East began.
When to go and how to prepare
We really like fogs and the mystical atmosphere that they create, so we decided to go at the end of May. Those who prefer warmer and dry weather should be considered for visiting August and early September. But it is important to remember that the weather on the island is very changeable. However, this is not a reason to abandon the trip – to enjoy the beauty of the island, regardless of weather conditions, will help correctly selected clothes. We were guided by the principle of multi -layer: the thermal underwear is responsible for the regulation of humidity, insulation (fleece jacket or jacket and trousers) – it will protect from the cold, and the outer layer (windproof and waterproof jacket) will protect from wind and rain. Depending on the weather, these things are convenient to combine and combine with each other.
How to get
We flew from Moscow to Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk about 8 hours. The cost of air tickets is from 23,000 rubles per person by back and forth*.
Where to stop
We prefer that there is a kitchen and a washing machine at the side, so apartments have chosen in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk. Here are a few diverse options for you in excellent price categories:
Mini Hotel Ilander – from 3060 rubles per night for two*;
Apartment on komsomolskaya – from 4130 rubles per night for two*;
Paradise Resort Hotel – from 7469 rubles per night for two*.
What to visit and what to do on Sakhalin
Local history museum
By arrival, we decided not to waste time and went to the local history museum in order to plunge into the history of Sakhalin and learn about the life and traditions of the peoples of the island. The Japanese style building itself is of historical value and is located in a beautiful well -groomed courtyard, where it is nice and just walk. The cost of a ticket to the museum is 200 rubles*.
Mountain Air ski complex
In the evening, struggling with a dream due to a change in time zones, under the drizzling rain, we went for a walk along one of the many paths in the mountain air ski complex.
This is the largest ski resort in the Far East. In winter, you can conquer the slopes on skiing or snowboarding, walk on snowshoes, and in the summer the “mountain air” offers a lot of ecotropes, which, contemplating the surroundings, is a pleasure.
A large number of active people immediately caught the eye: someone runs, someone is engaged in sports walking, and someone just walks. During a walk, the crown of trees was protected from the rain, and the air became especially tasty, so we recommend this place even in bad weather.
You can also climb the lifting on the observation deck and enjoy the panoramic view of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk.
Quiet Bay
The next day, we decided to sleep well, and after lunch, go to a cozy and picturesque place two hours from Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk-a quiet bay.
This is one of the few places of the island where you can get in a rented car. The entire road is asphalt with the exception of the last three kilometers of the primer. However, you do not need to worry, this site easily pass on any car. The cost of the rental of our car is 2500 rubles per day* + surcharge of 1000 rubles* for a trip on primer.
The part of the path was very impressed by that ran along the endless beach of the Sea of Okhotsk, so we guarantee that you will begin to enjoy the views on the road.
On the way to the bay, in the village of Stube, we stopped on a small market to buy a Kamchatka crab and arrange a picnic on the beach. The main thing is to take scissors with you (for cutting the shell). The average cost of crab is 3000 rubles*.
The quiet Bay was called so navigator Ivan Kruzenshtern due to the fact that it was carefully covered from the winds and typhoons, and only the seagulls who chosen the stone island violate the silence. Water here warms up well, so if warm weather is planned, we recommend taking bathing suits with you.
At sunset, we walked into the left part of the bay and climbed the quiet cape to spend the sun. In two places, the slopes are equipped with rope cables, which simplify the rise and descent. It seems to us that it is on top that the best view of both quiet and neighboring bay opens.
Aniva lighthouse
On the second day of stay on Sakhalin, our long -standing dream came true: we went to Aniva lighthouse. It is considered the pearl and business card of the island. As if grown from a cliff, the lighthouse seems not man -made, but a natural creation.
The lighthouse was built by the Japanese in 1939, now its permanent and only inhabitants are seagulls. It was separated from the main land by the strait, so we got to it by boat from the village of Novikovo. On the lighthouse you can land and explore it, imagining how it was decades ago. The cost of the trip is 5000 rubles back and forth*. Travel time by sea – from 40 minutes, depending on weather conditions. Even in good weather, the boat is very windy, so we recommend taking windproof clothes with you.
By the way, despite the fact that Aniva is sent mainly by the sea, every year dozens of romantics overcome this difficult path on foot on land. On average, such a campaign takes 3-4 days in both directions.
Cape Giant and Cape Bird
On the third day, we went on the coast to Cape Bird and Cape Giant. They are in close proximity to each other. On the shore there are many arches created by the winds and sea waves, the remains and cakeur of bizarre forms, which were chosen for the nest of the seagull. These stone sculptures form a bird’s cape. Wandering along the beach, looking into grottoes and breathing sea air is a pleasure. If you go further and climb up to the rock, you will find yourself on the Cape Giant, from which an exciting look opens.
This incredible place in energy has definitely made a strong impression on us.
Cape Eustathia
After Cape Giant, we continued to explore the island and went through the pass to almost the very edge of the eastern coast of Sakhalin – the amazing in beauty Cape Evstafia. It is connected to the mainland of the island with a narrow sandy isthmus. The height of the cape is only 51 meters, but, despite the relatively modest dimensions, it opens with a beautiful view of the surroundings.
Having walked along the gray-black sand on the beach, we climbed Cape to enjoy silence and calm.
Before Cape Giant to Cape Evstafia, the road is not easy, moreover, some rental companies are prohibited from going to these places in a rented car. Therefore, we got in a prepared car with an experienced driver. The cost of rental for a day with the driver – from 10,000 rubles*.
Sivable roying in Nevelsk
On the last day on Sakhalin, we went on the west coast of the island to observe animals in their natural habitat. Right in the city of Nevelsk, Sivuchi from spring to mid -summer remain on the roy of on a long pier. Already from the shore the rod created by them is heard. You can observe animals either to binoculars from the shore, or taking a tour of the boat. The cost of the tour is 500 rubles* per person. We limited ourselves to the launch of the drone to look at animals from the air and from a safe distance for them.
Lighthouse on Cape Slepikovsky
At the end of the day, we went to the lighthouse at Cape Slepikovsky north of Kholmsk. You can get to the city both by car and by public transport. From Kholmsk to the village of Kostromskoye you can get by bus or suburban train, then about 5 km on foot. The road goes through the field and sand dunes, along which it is better to go by car of increased cross -country ability.
In order not to waste time searching for restaurants and cafes, we bought ready food with us on all long trips. In the Ostrov store, in addition to freshly frozen seafood, which we then bought with us and home, there is ready-made food prepared in Korean. We especially liked the dried polish, seaweed, fern and burdock. Also with us we bought a crab fillet in the Success market. You can also purchase fish, caviar, scallop and other seafood there. Korean and Japanese cuisines are common on Sakhalin. In order to get closer to them, we recommend that you visit the restaurants “Pak Degam” and “Nikhon Mitai”.
Our journey to Sakhalin was very rich in impressions and emotions. Everything turned out to be not as difficult as we thought, and quite affordable. For us, Sakhalin is amazing natural landscapes that transfer to the pages of adventure novels and make it possible to feel like discoverers. We will be happy to return to explore the north of the island. Who knows how many more pearls we will discover there for ourselves.
*Prices are valid at the time of publication
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