Maly Shantar Island
Island Remote Shantar Island in Sea of Okhotsk, wilderness
Maly Shantar Island, part of Russia’s Shantar group, features rocky shores, taiga patches and sea-ice seasonality; expedition cruises and small-boat tours include it for coastal wildlife and rugged island landscapes.
Maly Shantar Island is one of the Shantar Islands in the Sea of Okhotsk, within Khabarovsk Krai in Russia. It is part of a remote archipelago off the Russian Far East coast.
The island is rugged and forested and serves as habitat for seabirds and marine species rather than as a destination with visitor facilities. It is visited mainly by scientific teams and expedition vessels rather than regular tourist services.
Human presence on the Shantar Islands has been limited and intermittent; the islands have long been remote to permanent settlement and were used sporadically for fishing and hunting activities.
Maly Shantar lies in the western Sea of Okhotsk off the coast of Khabarovsk Krai in the Russian Far East.
- Character: The island is part of the Shantar group located in the Sea of Okhotsk and is largely uninhabited, with rugged, forested terrain important for seabirds and marine mammals.
How to Get to Maly Shantar Island #
Access is by expedition vessel from ports in the Russian Far East (expeditions commonly start from Nikolayevsk‑on‑Amur or vessels operating out of Khabarovsk region ports). There are no scheduled ferries-travel is almost always arranged via small cruise or research charters during the July-August season.
Tips for Visiting Maly Shantar Island #
- Book a licensed expedition from the Sea of Okhotsk during July-August; itineraries vary and weather is the main limiter.
- Pack for sudden cold and fog even in summer-layers and waterproofs are essential.
- Expect basic shipboard accommodation; come prepared with motion sickness remedies and binoculars for seabirds and seals.
Best Time to Visit Maly Shantar Island #
July-August offers the most reliable weather and sea conditions for visiting; outside that window the Okhotsk's weather and ice make access unpredictable.
Weather & Climate near Maly Shantar Island #
Maly Shantar Island's climate is classified as Subarctic - Subarctic climate with cool summers (peaking in August) and freezing winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from -25°C to 17°C. Moderate rainfall (577 mm/year).
January
January is the coldest month with highs of -15°C and lows of -25°C. Light rainfall and partly cloudy skies.
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February
February is freezing with highs of -12°C and lows of -24°C. The driest month with just 16 mm and partly cloudy skies.
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March
March is freezing with highs of -6°C and lows of -20°C. Light rainfall and partly cloudy skies.
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April
April is freezing with highs of 2°C and lows of -9°C. Moderate rainfall (36 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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May
May is cold with highs of 6°C and lows of -2°C. Moderate rainfall (56 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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June
June is cold with highs of 13°C and lows of 2°C. Moderate rainfall (55 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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July
July is cool with highs of 16°C and lows of 6°C. Moderate rainfall (73 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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August
August is cool with highs of 17°C and lows of 8°C. The wettest month with 76 mm of rain and partly cloudy skies.
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September
September is cold with highs of 14°C and lows of 4°C. Moderate rainfall (72 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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October
October is cold with highs of 5°C and lows of -4°C. Moderate rainfall (73 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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November
November is freezing with highs of -5°C and lows of -14°C. Moderate rainfall (43 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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December
December is freezing with highs of -12°C and lows of -22°C. Moderate rainfall (31 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
