Zendzur Lodge

Lodging Details
Just a 30-minute flight via Mi-8 helicopter from Petropavlosk, Zendzur Lodge sits atop a riverside overlook that gives guests a beautiful view of the Zhupanova River. In a part of the world where rugged and rustic wilderness lodges are the norm, Zendzur is an amazing exception – one of the nicest operations in all of Russia. Zendzur offers comfortable rooms, great food, and excellent customer service; a fantastic base of operations where anglers return each evening to enjoy a huge dinner, comfortable overnight accommodations, and on-site, natural hot springs. Each room at the lodge has either two or three beds, a private bathroom with flushing toilets and towels, and an entryway for storing waders and gear.

Food and Beverages
During a week at Zendzur, anglers can expect some of the finest Russian cuisine homemade right at the lodge. Fresh pastries, salads, fruits, seafood, soups, and several other entrees will decorate the table each evening with the main course of pork, chicken, or beef to follow. It’s a perfect ending to a long day on the river. Breakfasts include hot cereals of many styles, eggs, bacon, toast, and fresh fruit. Lunches will be served on the river and include a variety of meats and cheeses, fruit, and freshly caught Dolly Varden cooked over an open fire. All beverages are included in the trip package and will be available throughout the day. Any additional alcohol other than beer will be an extra cost. It is recommended anglers purchase any other alcohol at the Duty-Free in Anchorage prior to their departure.

Typical Length of Stay
Due to the set schedule of the once-a-week flight from Anchorage (ANC) to Petropavlovsk (PKC), the standard package at Zendzur Lodge is six (6) nights / five and a half (5.5) fishing days.

Non-Angling Activities & Options
Activities for non-anglers are very limited in Kamchatka, and the Zendzur Lodge is primarily a fishing-focused destination. That said, anglers will enjoy the overall area itself, as the scenery of the nearby mountains provides breathtaking panoramic displays. Over the course of the week, each guest will experience tamarack and birch forests, wildlife, snow-capped mountains, a view of Zhupanovsky Volcano, and salmon-rich, gin-clear waters.

Internet / Communications
There is no internet connection while at Zendzur Lodge and cell phones will not work. Sat phones are the best means for communication if needed.

How To Get There
Yakutia Air has announced that they will once again be flying the direct route from Anchorage’s Ted Stevens International Airport (ANC) to Petropavlovsk, Kamchatka (PKC) which is the quickest and easiest option. Flights will operate weekly from mid-July to mid-September. More information on these flights can be found by contacting Yellow Dog.

Arrival and Departure Times
With direct flight service to Kamchatka (PKC) from Anchorage (ANC), anglers can once again enjoy a quick and easy flight to the best rainbow trout fishing on the planet. The weekly Yakutia Air flight will depart from Anchorage on Monday mornings, with arrival in Kamchatka the following morning once the plane crosses the international date line. With this schedule, anglers will no longer have to overnight in Petro on their way to camp, instead of proceeding directly from the airport to the helicopter that same day. After a great week of fishing, you will arrive back in Anchorage the following Monday evening. You will arrive back in Anchorage the same Monday morning after crossing back over the international dateline. This early arrival back to the States allows plenty of time to clear U.S. customs and immigration to connect up with your flight home that same day. For any international anglers not looking to travel through Anchorage OR if you would like to spend additional time in Russia, there are options to fly through Moscow, Russia, or Seoul, South Korea to arrive at Petro on different schedules.

Documents Required
A Russian Visa (which Yellow Dog will assist with) and a valid passport with at least six months of validity remaining are required. Due to the remoteness of this location, Yellow Dog Flyfishing Adventures requires the purchase of medical evacuation and trip insurance.

Travel Arrangements
Yellow Dog provides airline reservations ad ticketing assistance through etcTravel Group, and a full-service airline logistics agent that can help book airline tickets, hotels, rental cars, and more. You can click here to request a quote or contact Yellow Dog for more information at 406-585-8667. etcTravel Group offers dedicated support services for all Yellow Dog clients. Service fees may apply when booking or researching tickets, and etcTravel will discuss this with you before sending quotes. 

Travel Tools
– Airline Ticketing
– Moon Phases
– Rent This Rod
– Trip Insurance and Emergency Evacuation

General Information
The stretch of the Zhupanova River where Zendzur Lodge is located in notorious for producing some of the largest rainbows found anywhere in Kamchatka – or the world for that matter. The Zhupanova also has a diversity of other species available including all species of Pacific salmon through the summer, arctic char, dolly varden, and the elusive super Kundzha. While not found in all rivers in Kamchatka, the super Kundzha in the Zhupanova are some of the largest and strongest found anywhere in the world as well and can often exceed 30 inches in length. For anglers looking to sacrifice numbers for shots at the fish of a lifetime, Zendzur Lodge is a great place to base out of for a week and target some really big fish!

Fishing each day on the Zhupanova is done by a combination of boat and wade fishing, with anglers and guides utilizing jet boats to run upstream and downstream of the lodge focusing on multiple sections of the river. While the Zhupanova is a larger river in this section and a lot of fishing is done from the boat, there are opportunities for anglers to get out and wade if you prefer. Most of the fishing is done with heavier rods such as a 7- 8 weight with sinking lines and heavy streamers. There are some opportunities for topwater fishing with mouse patterns and occasionally dry flies, but the best way to target these larger fish is with big streamers such as sculpins and baitfish patterns.

Boats and Equipment
Each day anglers and guides will depart Zendzur Lodge via jet boat to run upstream or downstream from the lodge to fish the various sections of the river. There is a very limited demo or rental equipment available at Zendzur Lodge, and it is recommended that anglers bring all fishing gear with them during their stay including rods, reels, waders, boots, flies, and terminal tackle. Upon booking, Yellow Dog will provide anglers with a very detailed pre-trip planning guide that will outline all the required and recommend equipment for a trip to the Zhupanova and Zendzur Lodge.

Remember that Yellow Dog’s services are completely free! When you book a trip with Yellow Dog, you never pay more than when you book directly with the lodge or outfitter. All prices listed below are per person, based on double occupancy, and quoted in US dollars.

6 nights / 5.5 Fishing Days = $6,995.00 USD

What’s Included:

• Six (6) nights lodging at the Zhupanova River Float (double occupancy)
• Five and a half (5.5) days of fully guided fishing (two anglers per guide)
• Possible arrival day and departure day fishing (will be dictated by transportation schedule and weather)
• All ground and air transfers to/from the Zhupanova River Float
• All meals while on the Zhupanova River Float
• All non-alcoholic beverages

What’s Not Included:

• Airfare to Anchorage, Alaska (ANC) and from Anchorage to Petropavlovsk, Russia (PKC)
• Hotel accommodations, meals, and transfers in Anchorage (if necessary)
• All flies and terminal tackle, rods, reels, waders, boots, and all other fishing equipment
• Russian fishing license (approximately $100.00 per person)
• Gratuities for guides and camp staff (payable in USD)
• Russian Visa and Visa processing fees
• Alcoholic beverages (beer and vodka available for purchase or bring your own)
• Trip insurance and Global Rescue insurance policies (required)

Zendzur Lodge (Kamchatka Peninsula, Russia)
TERMS AND CONDITIONS – CANCELLATIONS
For all Yellow Dog Flyfishing Adventures, L.L.C. (YDFA) Kamchatka fishing packages, both deposits and final payments are non-refundable. If a cancelled package is resold by either the outfitter/operator or by Yellow Dog Flyfishing Adventures, then a full refund will be sent minus a $100.00 per person cancellation fee charged by Yellow Dog. In the case of cancellation by the client, both deposit and final payment may be transferred to another guest or angler for those same (original) dates if facilitated and arranged by the client. For all reservations booked over a year in advance, the rates and dates indicated for the reservation are based on the current calendar year season and schedule, and final prices are subject to change for the following season. Once an initial reservation is confirmed, all anglers will be required to submit a $1,000.00 holding deposit, which is refundable up until the details are announced and the specifics are locked in for the following season. Once that occurs, confirmed anglers will be notified of final dates, details and rates for the following season, at which point you will be asked to fully confirm and lock in your reservation with a second deposit (which added to the $1,000.00 initial reservation holding deposit will total 50% of the full cost of the trip). Please note the final 50% payments are due no later than 90 days prior to the start of your trip. Full deposits and final payments are non-refundable unless a client is replaced. Because of the operator’s no refund and no credit policy, we highly recommend the purchase of trip cancellation insurance. In no event will the operator or Yellow Dog be responsible for any cancellation of services or operations due to inclement weather, any event of force majeure, airline delays, missed travel connections, or any other reason beyond the control of the operator. If your flights are late and connections are missed, the operator is not responsible for alternative travel arrangements including flights, hotels, meals and any other expenses incurred. Receipt of deposit and/or final payment is acknowledgment that registrant has read and accepts the deposit, cancellation, refund and responsibility clauses for these packages.

Payment Terms for All Yellow Dog Trip Bookings  
Unless otherwise noted on your invoice, for all trips less than 90 days out, full payment is required after receipt of the confirmation email to secure guides and reservations. For trips outside of 90 days, a 50% deposit is required upon receipt of confirmation email to confirm your reservations.   

Yellow Dog accepts on-line payments via a secure payment portal – a quick and easy way to complete your trip reservation. Please reach out to accounting@yellowdogflyfishing.com to gain access. 

Yellow Dog Flyfishing Standard Forms of Payment 

• Debit card (fee-free) and credit card (3% convenience fee) - to pay via card please utilize the customer payment portal. If you need assistance, reach out to 406-585-8667 ext. #3 
• Wires - please include name and/or invoice number for reference on your wire. Please reach out to accounting@yellowdogflyfishing.com for wiring instructions. (client is responsible for wiring fees) 
• Physical check - please include your invoice number in the memo. Mail checks to 213 S. Willson Ave. Bozeman, MT, 59715

If you have any questions about alternate payment methods, please contact Yellow Dog at (406) 585-8667 ext. #3. We are available Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM MT.