[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":176},["ShallowReactive",2],{"journey:shantar-islands-the-bowhead-whale-season":3,"journeys:related:shantar-islands-the-bowhead-whale-season:3":147},{"slug":4,"status":5,"title":6,"subtitle":7,"excerpt":7,"seasons":8,"cover":10,"about":14,"params":17,"days":45,"stays":136,"seo":145},"shantar-islands-the-bowhead-whale-season","published","Shantar Islands: The Bowhead Whale Season","A late-summer expedition from the Sea of Okhotsk coast to the Shantar Islands",[9],"summer",{"src":11,"mobile":12,"alt":13},"\u002Fimages\u002Fjourneys\u002Fshantar-islands-the-bowhead-whale-season\u002Fcover.jpg","\u002Fimages\u002Fjourneys\u002Fshantar-islands-the-bowhead-whale-season\u002Fcover-mobile.jpg","Bowhead whale blowing at the surface below forested sea cliffs",{"paragraphs":15},[16],"BBT designed this journey around the late-summer presence of bowhead whales in Wrangel Bay. Seven nights in one private coastal residence give the group time to learn from a marine biologist, watch from shore, listen through a hydrophone and make two planned, specialist-led attempts to enter the water near the whales, subject to safe and permitted conditions. Boat journeys through the Shantar archipelago reveal the wider marine landscape, while warm individual houses make it possible to return from each outing without changing base.",[18,21,24,27,30,33,36,39,42],{"label":19,"value":20},"Season","August · exact departure dates to be confirmed",{"label":22,"value":23},"Duration","10 days \u002F 9 nights",{"label":25,"value":26},"Format","One private group · Up to 20 guests",{"label":28,"value":29},"Route","Khabarovsk → Wrangel Bay \u002F Sea of Okhotsk coast → Shantar Islands → Khabarovsk",{"label":31,"value":32},"Airports","Khabarovsk \u002F Khabarovsk",{"label":34,"value":35},"Rhythm","Seven nights at one coastal base; marine outings adapted to conditions",{"label":37,"value":38},"Physical activity","Low to moderate · Boat boarding, coastal walks; swimming and kayaking by choice",{"label":40,"value":41},"Best suited to","Private groups interested in marine wildlife, close observation and time in one remote setting",{"label":43,"value":44},"Est. price per person","$23,500",[46,55,64,73,82,91,100,109,118,127],{"title":47,"text":48,"experience":49,"arrangements":50,"images":51},"Arrival on the Amur","The journey begins gently in Khabarovsk before the departure for the Okhotsk coast.","Welcome by the BBT representative; time for the Amur riverfront or rest.","Private airport transfer to historic Parus Hotel; introduction to the expedition team and welcome dinner.",[52],{"src":53,"alt":54},"\u002Fimages\u002Fjourneys\u002Fshantar-islands-the-bowhead-whale-season\u002Fday-1\u002F1.jpg","Travellers walking along the embankment above the Amur River in Khabarovsk",{"title":56,"text":57,"experience":58,"arrangements":59,"images":60},"Flight to Wrangel Bay","A charter helicopter replaces a long overland approach and brings guests directly to the coastal base.","Flight over taiga, river valleys and the Sea of Okhotsk coastline; first lookout over the bay, where whales may be visible.","Separate heated houses; marine safety briefing and dinner at the residence.",[61],{"src":62,"alt":63},"\u002Fimages\u002Fjourneys\u002Fshantar-islands-the-bowhead-whale-season\u002Fday-2\u002F1.jpg","Mi-8 helicopter flying over the forested coast of the Sea of Okhotsk",{"title":65,"text":66,"experience":67,"arrangements":68,"images":69},"Reading the Whales’ Movements","Observation begins from shore before the group goes onto the water with a marine biologist.","Learn to recognise a bowhead whale’s blow and direction of travel; guided small-boat outing and underwater listening through a hydrophone.","Local captains choose the viewing position; hot lunch at the residence, optional second shoreline observation.",[70],{"src":71,"alt":72},"\u002Fimages\u002Fjourneys\u002Fshantar-islands-the-bowhead-whale-season\u002Fday-3\u002F1.jpg","Guide lowering a hydrophone from a boat as travellers listen in headphones",{"title":74,"text":75,"experience":76,"arrangements":77,"images":78},"First Planned Swim with Bowheads","The first planned water session is about staying still and letting the whale determine the encounter.","Equipment fitting and shore practice with insulated wetsuits, masks, snorkels and fins; small-group entry into the bay with specialists, only when permitted and safe.","Dedicated support boats; watching from the boat instead of entering the water is possible; warm return and photographic review with the biologist.",[79],{"src":80,"alt":81},"\u002Fimages\u002Fjourneys\u002Fshantar-islands-the-bowhead-whale-season\u002Fday-4\u002F1.jpg","Swimmer in a drysuit in the water near a bowhead whale, with a boat behind",{"title":83,"text":84,"experience":85,"arrangements":86,"images":87},"A Second Perspective on the Whales","A second planned session gives more time to observe behaviour rather than rush through a single encounter.","Further small-group water session when conditions allow; possible hydrophone listening; evening whale photo-identification with the biologist.","Insulated swimming equipment and supervising crew; kayaking or stand-up paddleboarding along a sheltered coast by choice after lunch.",[88],{"src":89,"alt":90},"\u002Fimages\u002Fjourneys\u002Fshantar-islands-the-bowhead-whale-season\u002Fday-5\u002F1.jpg","Bowhead whale swimming underwater",{"title":92,"text":93,"experience":94,"arrangements":95,"images":96},"Into the Shantar Archipelago","The focus widens from one whale bay to the islands and marine habitats of the Sea of Okhotsk.","Enclosed motorboat journey towards Maly Shantar, Belichy or another island area selected by the captain; seabirds, seals and coastal landings where possible.","Lunch ashore or on board according to the route; return to the same private coastal residence.",[97],{"src":98,"alt":99},"\u002Fimages\u002Fjourneys\u002Fshantar-islands-the-bowhead-whale-season\u002Fday-6\u002F1.jpg","Expedition boat passing forested cliffs of the Shantar Islands",{"title":101,"text":102,"experience":103,"arrangements":104,"images":105},"Sea Cliffs, Kayaks and Fishing","A more active island day examines the cliffs, arches and sheltered passages at water level.","Boat exploration of coastal stacks and rock formations; optional kayak or paddleboard outing; sea fishing with a captain.","Return to the residence for dinner; any catch may be prepared for the meal, but a catch is not promised.",[106],{"src":107,"alt":108},"\u002Fimages\u002Fjourneys\u002Fshantar-islands-the-bowhead-whale-season\u002Fday-7\u002F1.jpg","Travellers kayaking towards sea stacks off a rocky coast",{"title":110,"text":111,"experience":112,"arrangements":113,"images":114},"A Day Reserved for the Sea","A full flexible day allows the specialists to use the best remaining conditions for wildlife or the coast.","Possible further whale observation, kayak or paddleboard outing, fishing, or tidal-shore walk; photo review and a map of recorded sightings with the biologist.","Guests may stay at the residence and observe the bay; no compulsory sea outing.",[115],{"src":116,"alt":117},"\u002Fimages\u002Fjourneys\u002Fshantar-islands-the-bowhead-whale-season\u002Fday-8\u002F1.jpg","Travellers with binoculars watching a whale blow from a pebble beach",{"title":119,"text":120,"experience":121,"arrangements":122,"images":123},"Back to Khabarovsk","A helicopter journey returns the group from the Okhotsk shore to the Amur River.","Coastal departure and charter flight over taiga and river valleys.","Private transfer to Parus Hotel, rest time and farewell dinner.",[124],{"src":125,"alt":126},"\u002Fimages\u002Fjourneys\u002Fshantar-islands-the-bowhead-whale-season\u002Fday-9\u002F1.jpg","View of a winding taiga river from a helicopter window",{"title":128,"text":129,"experience":130,"arrangements":131,"images":132},"Departure","Breakfast and a transfer arranged for the flight conclude the journey.","Departure from Khabarovsk Airport.","Private vehicles and luggage coordination.",[133],{"src":134,"alt":135},"\u002Fimages\u002Fjourneys\u002Fshantar-islands-the-bowhead-whale-season\u002Fday-10\u002F1.jpg","Driver opening the door of a black minivan for a traveller",[137,141],{"name":138,"description":139,"nights":140},"Parus Hotel","Historic hotel close to the Amur riverfront for the arrival and return nights.",2,{"name":142,"description":143,"nights":144},"Private Coastal Residence","Separate heated houses with bedrooms, large windows and private bathrooms; one coastal base for the whale programme and island outings.",7,{"description":146},"BBT designed this journey around the late-summer presence of bowhead whales in Wrangel Bay.",[148,157,167],{"slug":149,"status":5,"title":150,"excerpt":151,"seasons":152,"cover":153,"maxGuests":-1,"dates":-1},"brown-bears-on-the-baikal-shore","Brown Bears on the Baikal Shore","An early-summer wildlife voyage from Irkutsk to Olkhon",[9],{"src":154,"mobile":155,"alt":156},"\u002Fimages\u002Fjourneys\u002Fbrown-bears-on-the-baikal-shore\u002Fcover.jpg","\u002Fimages\u002Fjourneys\u002Fbrown-bears-on-the-baikal-shore\u002Fcover-mobile.jpg","Brown bear on the rocky Baikal shore below mountains at dawn",{"slug":158,"status":5,"title":159,"excerpt":160,"seasons":161,"cover":163,"maxGuests":-1,"dates":-1},"baikal-from-night-sky-to-deep-water","Baikal: From Night Sky to Deep Water","A summer journey joining astronomical observation with the lake’s deepest waters",[9,162],"autumn",{"src":164,"mobile":165,"alt":166},"\u002Fimages\u002Fjourneys\u002Fbaikal-from-night-sky-to-deep-water\u002Fcover.jpg","\u002Fimages\u002Fjourneys\u002Fbaikal-from-night-sky-to-deep-water\u002Fcover-mobile.jpg","Milky Way above Lake Baikal, with travellers and a telescope on the shore",{"slug":168,"status":5,"title":169,"excerpt":170,"seasons":171,"cover":172,"maxGuests":-1,"dates":-1},"taiga-harvest-berries-and-mushrooms-of-baikal","Taiga Harvest: Berries and Mushrooms of Baikal","A late-summer journey with reserve specialists, forest food and local hosts",[9,162],{"src":173,"mobile":174,"alt":175},"\u002Fimages\u002Fjourneys\u002Ftaiga-harvest-berries-and-mushrooms-of-baikal\u002Fcover.jpg","\u002Fimages\u002Fjourneys\u002Ftaiga-harvest-berries-and-mushrooms-of-baikal\u002Fcover-mobile.jpg","Baskets of mushrooms and blueberries in a pine forest above Lake Baikal",1793255422165]