Soaring fun!

Heli-skiing is an extreme sport that emerged in the 1960s. It has since become highly popular in the U. S., Canada, France, and Switzerland. One of the best locations for heli-skiing in Russia is Kamchatka, with its rich and varied nature and magnificent mountain landscapes. This area is also renowned for its high-quality snow, which is of the utmost importance for reckless extreme sports participants.

Kamchatka features several areas that are best suited for this type of outdoor activity. As an example, the Avachinsky group: they include two active volcanoes, Koryaksky and Avachinsky, and an extinct one, Aag. Extreme sports enthusiasts are also very fond of Zhupanovsky, a giant mountain group, with a 2,000 m difference in altitude, hot springs and glaciers. This active volcano, located 70 km from the Territory's capital, last erupted in 2014.

Equally well suited for heli-skiing, Mutnovskaya Sopka is another active volcano that is also full of surprises and excitement. In summer 2018, researchers discovered a real lake in the active volcanic crater. Tourists and locals alike nicknamed the Bakening volcano Kamchatka's Middle-Earth for its scenic landscapes, beautiful lava peaks and pure mountain lakes. Several big rivers, such as Avacha or Bystraya, have their sources on Bakening.

The endless white canvas is yours alone – pure freedom. Jumping from a helicopter with a snowboard in your hands and landing on a summit will give anyone a sense of euphoria.

Last but not least, Vilyuchinsky is another major challenge for heli-skiers. Shaped as an ideal conical frustum, this volcano boasts slopes that are almost all ideal descents because helicopters can fly all around them.

If you love adrenaline and intense emotion, you'll love heli-skiing. Most importantly, don't forget about safety. Before going on a tour, tourists undergo special training, and experienced guides accompany them both in the air and on the ground.

Tourists are accommodated in guest houses and comfortable hotels in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky and then transported to a recreation facility near the summit they wish to conquer. That's where their big journey begins, culminating with the conquest of volcanoes and free-riding experiences.

Summits for heli-skiing

• Koryaksky volcano

3,456 m

- active

- inclination: 20-30 degrees

- view over the Pacific Ocean

• Avachinsky volcano

2,741 m

- active

- inclination: 20-30 degrees

- view over the Pacific Ocean

• Aag volcano

2,310 m

- extinct

- inclination: 20-30 degrees

- view over the Pacific Ocean

• Zhupanovsky volcano

- 2,923 m

- active

- inclination: 35-45 degrees

• Mutnovskaya Sopka

- 2,322 m

- active

- inclination: 20-30 degrees

- descent into the crater and down the slopes

• Bakening volcano

- 2,278 m

- extinct

- inclination: 20-35 degrees

- descent down the slopes

• Vilyuchinsky volcano

- 2,175 m

- extinct

- inclination: 15-35 degrees

- descent to the Pacific Ocean