12 Night Cruise sailing from Petropavlovsk roundtrip aboard Spirit of Enderby.

The Pacific Ring of Fire manifests itself in numerous places on the rim of the Pacific Ocean - but nowhere more dramatically than in Russia's Far East. Along one of the world's most active plate boundaries, the Pacific plate subducts under the Eurasian plate and the resulting volcanic and geothermal activity has built a unique and amazing landscape. Upwelling from the deep trenches formed by this action and currents around the many islands means there is an abundance of food for both birds and marine mammals, making the seas here amongst the richest in the world.

The region's human history is as interesting and as fascinating as the geological history and it is closely connected to the oceans which surround it. The earliest people to settle in the region, the Ainu, lived from the sea. Explorer Vitus Bering, and at the height of the Cold War, Russia's formidable Pacific Fleet, were based in the region. The secrecy surrounding the fleet resulted in the region being 'closed' even to Russians who had to get special permits to travel to and within the area. It is only now, two decades since Perestroika that people can travel relatively freely here, although there is still very little in the way of infrastructure for visitors. This voyage takes you where very few people have been or can go.

The region falls into three quite distinct and unique geographical regions: the Kamchatka Peninsula; the Commander Islands (the western extremity of the Aleutian chain of islands) and the Kuril Islands. Each of them is very different. They have their own story and in many cases endemic plants and birds. On this expedition we go in search of those people, plants, animals and birds that make this part of the Pacific Ring of Fire so special.

Day 1: Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskiy
Arrive into Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskiy the capital and administrative centre of the Kamchatka Region and board the Spirit of Enderby.

Day 2: Zhupanova River
This morning we will Zodiac cruise on the river for several hours looking for birds and other wildlife. The combination of smoking volcanoes and mile upon mile of untouched forest make this area very special.

Day 3: Bukhta Kamenistaya and Chazma River
We sail across Olga Bay, this is an area known for the Western Grey Whale, normally good numbers of whales can be seen.

Our landing along the Chazma River will be one of the best opportunities for seeing the Kamchatka Brown Bear for which Kamchatka is well known as they venture here to the salmon streams. We will be surrounded by numerous extinct and active volcanoes that create a crater landscape and make it easy to appreciate how this region is frequently described as a 'Land of Fire and Ice'.

Days 4 to 5: Commander Islands
The Commander Islands form the western extremity of the Aleutian Islands and are the only islands in the chain that belong to Russia. They are named after the legendary Danish explorer Commander Vitus Bering who discovered the islands when he became the first European to sail between Asia and North America.

During our two days in the Commander Islands we plan to visit both Bering and Medney.

Day 6: At Sea
We enjoy a day at sea as we cruise south from the Commander Islands towards the southern tip of the Kamchatka Peninsula and the Kuril Islands.

Day 7: Bukhta Russkaya
We will spend the day exploring the south-eastern tip of the Kamchatka Peninsula.

Day 8: Kurikdky Strait and AtIasova Island
At first light we will enter the strait between Shumshu and Paramushir where we have recorded some of the highest populations of Sea Otters - there will be a chance to observe these amazing animals which were once in great demand because of their pelts.

Day 9: Shiashkotan, Matua and Toporkovy Islands
Our landing at Shiashkotan Island focus's firstly on the Anui people which once inhabited the Kuril Islands. Near the landing we will see remains of their rock dwellings.

From here we cruise to Toporkovy Island where, once again, there are spectacular colonies of breeding seabirds. The island is named after the Tufted Puffin and we can expect to see large numbers of them rafting on the sea.

Day 10: Simushir and Yankicha Islands
Within the stunning setting of this huge caldera, we can expect to find a good range of bird species with one of the most common birds likely to be the spectacular Siberian Rubythroat.

Yankicha Island is the summit of a submerged volcano. The visit here is invariably one of the highpoints of the entire voyage as the numbers of alcids which breed here are truly incredible; there are literally hundreds of thousands.

Day 11: Onekotan Island
We plan an afternoon landing at the northern end of Onekotan Island from where it is a relatively easy walk to Black Lake. A selection of wildfowl can usually be found here including Greater Scaup and Goosander.

Day 12: Utashud Islands
Our last day of the expedition brings us to a small group of islands off the eastern coastline of the Kamchatka Peninsula, the Utashud Islands.

Day 13: Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskiy
By early morning the Spirit of Enderby will enter Avacha Bay and we will disembark the ship in the morning.