HELISKI TRIP KAMCHATKA - OMEGA

SUNDAY
A member of our team will be at Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky airport to greet you and escort you to the private bus that will take you to the port.

Once everyone is on board the Omega, we head off to Petropavlovsk Bay or Avacha Bay, in the Gulf of Avachinsky, at the southeastern tip of the Kamchatka Peninsula.

Avacha Bay contains eastern Russia’s main port and is considered one of the most beautiful bays in the world. We then sail to the Shipunsky Peninsula, where we will spend the night.

MONDAY
We spend the first skiing day exploring the coast around Morzhovaya Bay.

After skiing up a lovely little mountain, we head down to the beach to clamber around a Japanese ship that ran aground. Then, we use the zodiacs and kayaks to get to Cape Morzhovvy, where we’ll be able to watch sea otters and sea lions (possible to go diving). At the end of the day we re-join the Omega in Zheleznaya Bay and sail round Shipunsky Point during the night so we wake up the next morning in Bechevinskaya Bay.

TUESDAY
Climb Mount Snezhnaya, on the edge of Bechevinskaya Bay and overlooking the ghost town of Bechevinka, a former diesel submarine base that was abandoned in 1996. Lunch on the ship then visit to Bechevinka. During the night, the OMEGA sails south to Russkaya bay.

WEDNESDAY
We start day 4 with a ski tour in Russkaya Bay (possible to visit Listvenichnaya Point in the zodiacs).

At midday, the MI-8 will pick us up and take us to the top of some great descents on Viliuchinsky Volcano (2173 metres) and Mutnovsky Volcano (2322 metres).

THURSDAY
We wake up in Vilyuchinskaya Bay and do a ski tour either here or in Sarannaya Bay. We then sail back to the port of Petropavlovsk, in Avacha Bay. A bus transfer takes us to the comfortable, 3-star Antarius Hotel, where you can relax in the sauna and take a dip in the heated swimming pool.

FRIDAY
After a copious breakfast, at around midday we board the helicopter and fly to the top of Avachinsky Volcano (2751 metres) for a long descent down its south face. Today we get up close to the giant Koryasky Volcano (3456 metres), which has dominated the horizon throughout the trip. Additional helicopter drop offs may be possible (not included in the package). Night at the Antarius hotel.

SATURDAY
We end the trip with a final day ski touring on the slopes of Sherelshik. That evening, back at the hotel, we get together for the final dinner of the week.

SUNDAY
Morning transfer from the hotel to the airport.

THE SHIP
Built in Japan, the OMEGA is 30 metres long and 6 metres wide, and can operate up to 200 nautical miles from the coast. It has two zodiac-type inflatable boats with 40 hp motors for landing passengers on shore. Each boat can carry up to six passengers.

Inside, the OMEGA has 6 double cabins with large windows, tables and storage cupboards. The 3 toilets and showers are on the same deck as the cabins. As well as a comfortable lounge with picture windows and a bar with a large, flat-screen TV, the OMEGA has its own restaurant and a small sauna. The kitchen team provides a simple but delicious and copious menu every day.

HELICOPTER
The helicopters are civil versions of the powerful, twin-turbine MI-8, which is commonly used for winching, transport, rescue and special operations and, more recently, for heli-skiing. Their three-person crews consist of a pilot, a co-pilot and an engineer, in addition to which they can carry around 20 passengers. Most of the helicopters used by private companies were built recently and meet all current safety standards. They are carefully serviced and maintained according to international procedures. Operators frequently provide helicopter services abroad.

Flight time : We prefer to base ourselves on the flight time actually flown – unlike traditional heliskiing agencies which charge flight time based on the vertical drop skied.

Not only is our method of calculation more transparent and more in line with the reality of the costs, but it also allows us complete freedom, adapting to the conditions and giving you the opportunity to explore the best sites.

So, a good day offers us 7,000 to 10,000 m of altitude drop for the cost of about 2 ½ hrs of flight time!

The trip options’ announced flight time is the average flight time during each trip. When the weather prevents us from using all these hours, we’ll refund the hours not flown.

Other activities are available if the weather is not good enough for the helicopters to fly, but some activities require a supplement.

Suitable skis (fat or freeride skis) that have been properly prepared (edges sharpened, freshly waxed, bindings correctly adjusted, etc.) will ensure you get the best from your trip. In addition to this advice from Marco, we’ve drawn up a list of things you should pack.

The following details are for informational purposes only. Aeroflot’s daily flight schedule in English can be found at the link (https://www.aeroflot.ru/ru-en?_preferredLanguage=en&_preferredLocale=ru).

You choose the company you want to fly with and organize your own flight(s). We remind you that your flight details must be communicated to us (for insurance purposes).

NOTE : If you choose to make the entire trip on Saturday, please make sure that your stopover is long enough to make your connection (you may have to change terminal for the flight to Petropavlovsk, etc.).
It is often easier to start the journey on Friday and spend the night in Moscow before heading to Petropavlovsk on Saturday.
Currently, Aeroflot don’t charge extra for ski bags. However, you must register your skis at least 36 hrs before you leave and confirm you’ll be taking skis 24 hrs before your flight.

FLYING TIME :
Geneva – Moscow: approx. 3.4 hrs
Moscow – Petropavlosk: approx. 9 hrs
Paris – Moscow: approx. 3.4 hrs

Foreigners wishing to visit Russsia must first obtain a visa.

In order to obtain a tourist visa for Russia, you must hold a valid passport that will be valid for at least six months after the end of your stay. The passport must have two adjacent empty pages to which the Russian visa will be affixed.

You must also have certification of your repatriation insurance. You can take out this policy directly with Heliski Russia. However, it should be noted that most credit cards already include repatriation insurance if you use the card to pay for your flight ticket and your trip.

You’ll also need a voucher (tourist invitation) which we’ll issue to you, as well as a passport photo of less than 3 months old provided by you.

For any further information concerning the administrative procedures, please don’t hesitate to contact us directly.

As soon as your reservation is confirmed, we’ll send you a Travelers Booklet with all the information you’ll need to organise your trip.