Ski Kamchatka

Kamchatka has an almost mystical appeal to skiers from all over the world. Smoking volcanic cones straight out of a Tolkien novel look forbidding, but Kamchatka's landscape is beautiful in the extreme. Steaming vents, huge tracts of forest, grizzly bears, stunning coastline and awesome powder skiing.

To ski Kamchatka in Russia is a goal the Powderhounds will all be attaining. Save up your rubles and check it out. Oh .......... and the grizzlies only come out later in the season!

Pros & Cons for Kamchatka Skiing & Boarding

Pros

• Incredible landscape & mountains.
• Long skiable verticals of over 2,000m in vast & varied terrain.
• Deep reliable snowpack.
• Ski glaciers, active volcanoes, forests & fjords all in the one trip.
• Unlimited untracked snow.
• Tour packages tend to be ‘all-inclusive’, so once there one can relax & enjoy.
• Thermally active region abounding in hot springs perfect for bathing.

Cons

• No decent ski resorts & lifts.
• Travel times from most places in the world to Kamchatka are lengthy.
• Can be an expensive proposition depending on how one does a visit to the region.
• Only for advanced & expert skiers/boarders.

Pro or Con (depending on your perspective!)

• Heliskiing is out of large helicopters carrying up to 14 guests & 4 guides that split into two groups.
• Brutal weather (& dark) during mid-winter.
• Travel into Russia can be complex for some nationalities, but it is not as bad as one might imagine.
• Remote, wild location in an active volcanic region with all the requisite challenges & dangers that entails.
• The Russians love to party……. be prepared!

Skiing & Snowboarding Kamchatka

First things first. Kamchatka has not much in the way of traditional ski resorts. Three small ski hills are located around the main town of Petropavlovsk Kamchatsky. One of the ski hills, Krasnaya (Red) Sopka, has a 300m vertical and offers a stunning view of the bay and surrounding volcanoes from the top of its T-Bar lift. Ski resorts are NOT the reason to ski Kamchatka.

All the best skiing and snowboarding in the world is either human, snowmobile/cat or helicopter powered, and Kamchatka is no exception. The options for ski touring and epic backcountry descents are endless. All the major volcanos within a 200km radius of Petropavlovsk are approachable and skiable, including the incredible 3,456m Koryaksky which looms over the town. A range of guides and touring companies are available or, if you have the skills, choose your own adventure. Best time of year is from late February to June.

Heliskiing Kamchatka

From March to the end of June, Kamchatka has one of the world's most unique heliski seasons. Skiing on the flanks of multiple smoking volcanos and past steaming vents isn't something one can do in many places. Skiable vertical is up to 2000m depending on snow conditions. Total vertical in a day is typically up to 10,000m. On bad weather days, snowmobiles tend to do the heavy lifting!

Helicopters are usually versions of the venerable Mi8, a sturdy and simple Russian design that has stood the test of time due its power and reliability. See the listings below for our partner heliski tours.

Snow & Weather

Kamchatka is a long way north and receives huge volumes of snow during a long cold winter. Ski touring and heliski operations in the south of the peninsula really crank up in Spring as they days lengthen and the suns shines. Even in June, snowpacks of 5-6m deep are not uncommon.

As with all backcountry skiing, & particularly heli-skiing where drops are often on exposed summits, snow conditions on any given run may vary widely. Expect alot of gorgeous powder, but also wind-effected crud, breakable crust & soft snow down low.

Where is Kamchatka Russia?

Kamchatka is just about as far away from Moscow as one can get and still be in Russia. At over 6700km east of the capital, Kamchatka is actually closer to Los Angeles, but without any direct flights!

To reach Kamchatka, one will need to fly to Petropavlovsk Kamchatsky (PKC) airport, which is only about 60km north of the main heliskiing area, Snow Valley. Ensure not to mix up the Kamchatka airport (PKC) with the one in Petropavlovsk, Kazakhstan (PPK). It would suck to land in Kazakhstan if you were intent on heliskiing in Kamchatka!

Petropavlovsk Kamchatsky (PKC) can be reached via Vladivostok (VVO) and the other far east city of Khabarovsk Novy (KHV). In turn, Vladivostok can be reached via Moscow (of course), Seoul (ICN), Shanghai (2 airports) or Hong Kong (HKG).

Search for a great deal on a flight to Petropavlovsk Kamchatsky (PKC).

For tips on travelling to Russia & Kamchatka, including getting visas, see our Travel to Russia page.

Kamchatka Accommodation

Most visitors to Kamchatka will have their accommodation included in the price of their heliski tour. A popular staging point is the Snow Valley hotel south of Petropavlovsk Kamchatsky. If you are privateering or looking to arrive a few days before your tour to get acclimiatised (recommended), a range of hotels, guesthouses & apartments are available in the town and nearby countryside.

Search & book here for all Kamchatka accommodation.

Review

The Powderhounds will hopefully review Kamchatka in the coming season. More information will come once we visit this once in a lifetime location. Stay tuned for our new photos & insights.

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