Day 1 till Day 8

 

Day 1

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

After a short rest for accommodation, 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 in Yakutia is the case that requires the implementation of a traditional ritual Algys, 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 at the restaurant of Chochur-Muran.

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

Dog sledding and snowmobiling after lunch. Visiting of the tourist complex the Kingdom of Permafrost arranged in the glacier insides of the mountain located just next to Chochur-Muran complex. The Permafrost Kingdom is a unique foot walk natural permafrost cave that maintains a constant temperature of - 10 degrees centigrade all- the year-round. Inside there are the results of hours of work on the world's clearest Yakutian ice by the best Russian ice-cavers.

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

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.

Stop in Cherkekh, where the museum of the political exile is located. Depending on the time availability, we can have a guided tour to 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. Taking the pictures.

Lunch at a roadside cafe (at your own expense), next to the Shaman trees.

Arrival at Khandyga, checking-in at the private simple apartment-hostel. Dinner cooked by your guide (with the help of the tour participants). Night in the private apartment in Khandyga (double room).

Day 3

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

Destination for today is Oimyakon (app. 500 km). We will pass by mini-bus the Verkhoyanski mountain range and go further along Kolyma tract called "road on the bones" due to its the price. It was built by the prisoners of GULAG during the Stalin repressions.

Arrival at Oimyakon late in the evening. Accommodation in a private hostel. Here you will have opportunity to experience the conditions of local live in (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

Oimyakon, the place where the lowest temperature in the Northern hemisphere was registered. After breakfast, we will have a folklore programme at the Archy House. The mayor of the settlement will hand out to us the Certificates of attending the Pole of Cold.

After lunch, 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 through all the winter. You can take a ride on the horse (one after another).

In the evening, experience hot banya (Russian sauna). Dinner and night in the private hostel (rooms for 3-4 persons).

Day 5

After breakfast is ice-fishing. 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.

In the afternoon, short entertainment programme - diverse practical 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!

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

Day 6

After breakfast, checking-out. Back trip to Khandyga.

100 km after Tomtor, stop in Yuchugey village, the settlement of Even reindeer breeders. Acquaintance with their lifestyle and culture. Reindeer sledding. After the lunch from the national cuisine, we depart for Khandyga.

Dinner cooked by the guide and your help, night in the already familiar apartment-hostel (double room).

Day 7

After breakfast (the help of the tour participants is 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 in the hotel, transfer to the airport and departure from Yakutsk for Moscow in the morning.

 

Services

 

Price is included:

• dining, according the tour program;
• all transfers, according the tour program;
• excursions, according the tour program;
• accommodation, according the tour program;
• visa support
• Russian guide

Price is excluded:

• alcohol beverages
• English or German speaking guide service (50,00 € per day and group).
• Lunch at day 2 and day 7
• 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