Day 1 till Day 8

 

Day 1

Morning arrival to Yakutsk by a night flight from Moscow. Meeting the guide at the airport, transfer to the hotel, checking-in.

After a short rest to accommodate the jet lag, leaving for a complex Chochur-Muran located in the picturesque surroundings of lake Ytyk-Kyuel, next to the sharp-peaked Chochur-Muran mountain.

As the arrival of the guests is the case that requires in Yakut the implementation of a traditional ritual Algid, the traditional ritual of blessing and purification with praying the Upper Spirits, lighting the fire and sprinkling with milk will be performed to welcome you. Lunch in the restaurant of Chochur-Muran.

Spend your time looking at ice sculptures on the territory of Chochur-Muran (this kind of art is very popular in Yakutia, and Yakutian artists always take prizes at the festivals of snow & ice sculptures).

Visit the dog farm where Yakutian huskies (blue-eyed Alaska husky descendents) are raised and try riding in the dog sleds. Go snowmobiling on the frozen lake or up the hill. The temperature will allow you do that no longer than half an hour at a time, but this is enough to feel the joy of the power and speed and challenge your skills.

Look deep into the essence of Yakutia through visiting the Kingdom of Permafrost arranged in the glacier insides of the mountain located just next to Chochur-Muran complex, with an exhibition on Chyskhaan, the Lord of the Frost, and palaeontology. Return to the city and visiting Treasury of Yakutia, which is famous worldwide for its gold and diamonds.

Dinner and night at the hotel in Yakutsk (double suit).

Day 2

After early breakfast at the hotel, checking-out. Today we start our way to Oimyakon, the Pole of Cold. A day-long ride (420 km, 8-10hrs) by 4WD mini-bus to Khandyga. We are crossing the Central part of Yakutia and heading northwards, across the Lena river and its right inflow the Aldan river.

Around lunchtime we will stop in Cherkekh, where the museum of the political exile is located. Depending on the time availability, we can have a guided tour of the museum (extra-charge on the spot), walk around its collection of wooden buildings of the 17-19c brought from the nearby villages of Yakutia - churches, houses, gars where the exiled used to live.

Further stops - for lunch at a roadside cafe (at your own expense), next to the Shaman trees or at Serge, the ritual poles for tying the horses, will be upon the tour participants desire and request and time availability.

Arrival in Khandyga, checking-in at the private simple apartment-hostel.

Dinner cooked by your guide and with the help of the tour participants). Night in the private apartment in Khandyga (double suit).

Day 3

We advise you to take an opportunity to enjoy the shower in the hotel this morning, as further along the itinerary there will be no running water. Breakfast (the help of the tour participants is very welcome).

Our destination for today is Oimyakon (app. 500 km) - we will complete our travel to Oimyakon today. We will pass by mini-bus the Verkhoyanski mountain range and go further along Kolyma tract called "road on the bones" due to the price as it was built by the prisoners of GULAG during the Stalin repressions.

We will make stops at the shaman-rivulet (or Rivulet of Separation as it was called by the political prisoners), a never-freezing source of drinking water in the beginning of the day itinerary 130 km away from Khandyga, and at a roadside café for snacks. Lunch cooked by the guide as a field meal next to the meteorological station Vostochnaya.

Arrive at Oimyakon late in the evening. Accommodation in a private hostel. Here you will have an opportunity to experience the conditions of the local life (there is no drainage system in the houses, so all the inhabitants are using outside WC facilities). Dinner and night in Oimyakon (in rooms for 3-4 persons).

Day 4

This is the day to explore Oimyakon, the place where the lowest temperature in the Northern hemisphere was registered. After breakfast, we will have a tour through Oimyakon, with algys and a short folklore programme. The mayor of the settlement will hand out us the Certificates of attending the Pole of Cold.

After lunch, we will have a trip to the local horse farm, where a special race of horse - Yakutian horse is bred. This unique type of horse is not afraid of the most severe frosts and grazes, freely open air through all the winter. We will see the habitat of Yakutian horse and get acquainted with the life of the horse breeders. You can take a ride on the horse (one after another), though you would not be able to enjoy the ride over 20 minutes for the reason of the temperature outdoors.

Hot excellent banya (Russian steam sauna) in the evening.

Dinner and night at the private hostel (rooms for 3-4 persons).

Day 5

We are not in a hurry today. After a late breakfast, going to try your luck in ice-angling. You will learn the local way of angling and taste "stroganina", a local specialty - fresh fish immediately frozen outside of the water hole and sliced thinly.

Today - provided the temperature allows it - we will have another opportunity to practice snowmobiling, this time trying to cope with the veteran of snowmobiles - a Russian-made and locally very appreciated Buran. The terrain is flat, so you will have an excellent possibility to develop and enjoy a high speed.

In the afternoon, have fun participating in the short but stunning entertainment programme - diverse physical experiments on the cold & frost. For example, do you know if one can hammer a nail with a banana? Of course, if you are at the Pole of Cold - check it by yourself!

Dinner, rest and night at the private hostel (rooms for 3-4 persons).

Day 6

After breakfast, checking-out. Today we are starting a way back to Yakutsk, our destination is the already familiar Khandyga - but also today is a way towards new discoveries.

100 km after Tomtor, we will stop in Yuchugey village, the settlement of Even reindeer breeders. Typically the herders live in mobile tents and are migrating together with the herd.

We will meet the people; get acquainted with their lifestyle and culture. We will enjoy deer sledding - first in sleds tied one after another behind the sled of the local musher, and then - provided that you have desire and confidence about your skills - you can try to cope with 2 deer in your individual sled on your own. Our hosts welcome your participation in harnessing and taking care of the deer.

After the lunch from the national cuisine, we are leaving for Khandyga.

Dinner cooked by the guide and your help, night in the already familiar apartment-hostel (double suit). A small and simple joy - there is a shower!

Day 7

After breakfast (the help of the tour participants is very welcome), we continue our way to Yakutsk - along ride of 430 km awaits us, with a stop for lunch at the roadside café (at your own expense). Arrive at Yakutsk in the evening, checking-in at the hotel.

Farewell dinner in Yakutian complex Ytyk-khaya, with an obligatory traditional ritual of thanking and saying good-bye to the guests.

Day 8

Breakfast at the hotel, transfer to the airport and departure from Yakutsk for Moscow in the morning.

 

Services

 

Price is included:

• dining, according the tour programme;
• all transfers, according the tour programme;
• excursions, according the tour programme;
• accommodation, according the tour programme;
• Visa support.
• Russian tour guide

 

Price is excluded:

• alcohol beverage.
• Lunch on day 2 and day 7
• Russian- (English-, German-) speaking guide service (50,00 € per group and day)
• Airfare

 

 

Things to know

 

 

Bring along:

• balaclava or hat with earflaps;
• Sunglasses
• warm clothing;
• warm boots;
• personal equipments and clothing;
• individual preferences in food, drinks, medicine;
• camera.

 

• For detailed explanations to the degrees of difficulty please follow this link: Explanation to the degrees of difficulty
• Information about visa and entry regulations, health information and tips for equipment, see this link: Things to know-1
• Please note our information about possible exchange rate fluctuations: Exchange rate fluctuation