Kamchatka sits on fire: dozens of active volcanoes lie beneath the peninsula, and the heat of magma reaches the surface through hundreds of thermal springs. Open-air bathing is possible all year — even in February, with the snow up to your waist and −20 °C around.
The Paratunka area
The most developed and accessible zone — Paratunka village, 70 km from Petropavlovsk. Dozens of resorts with open-air pools at 38–40 °C year round. The water is lightly mineralised, nitrogen-silica based and very gentle on the skin.
Malki springs
130 km from the city, by the Klyuchevka River, the wild Malki springs flow. Several pools sit right in the river bed — you can adjust the temperature by letting in or pushing back the cold river water.
Nalychevo valley
The Nalychevo nature park is a multi-day hike or a helicopter drop. In a caldera surrounded by volcanoes, springs reach up to 4 g/l mineralisation and 75 °C at the source.
«After three days across the tundra, an hour in a hot bath with the steaming Avachinsky in view is the best thing that can happen to a person.»
When to go
Paratunka is open year round. Malki is best in summer and early autumn. Nalychevo is reached on foot from July to September; in winter — only by snowmobile or helicopter.