Expedition to the Pole of Cold - the place on earth where the lowest temperature has been registered - is not a usual tour, and it is definitely not for everyone.
This is an ethnic expedition for those who are open-minded and are not afraid to find themselves in a remote world, where people live their daily lives in unthinkable conditions, where every day is struggling for survival, where rituals are delivered to the Nature spirits, and where help to anyone next to you is a vital centuries-old rule.
We are inviting you to the Pole of Cold, where the frost makes people close to each other, where you re-appreciate small joys of life and where comes a different understanding of values.
Day 1 Morning arrival in Yakutsk by a night flight from Moscow. Meet the guide in the airport, transfer to the hotel, Tygyn-Darkhan or similar, check-in. Our first day in Yakutia will be busy, as we need to get accustomed to the jet lag, and rich in impressions. Go to the complex Ytyk-Khaya. As the arrival of the guests is the case that requires in Yakutia the implementation of a traditional ritual Algys, a traditional ritual of blessing and purification with praying to the Upper Spirits, lighting the fire and sprinkling with milk, it will be performed to welcome you. Breakfast at the complex held by the local family Atlasovs. Return to the city for a guided tour of Yakutsk, visit the Museum of the History and Culture of the North Peoples / Museum of Mammoth / or Treasury of Yakutia famous worldwide for its gold and diamonds. Lunch in the restaurant of the hotel. Transfer to Chochur-Muran complex located in the picturesque surroundings of the lake Ytyk-Kyuel next to the sharp-peaked Chochur-Muran mountain. Take your time looking at ice sculptures on the territory (this kind of art is very popular in Yakutia, and Yakutian artists always take prizes in the festivals of snow&ice sculptures). Visit the dog farm where Yakutian huskies (blue-eyed Alaska husky descendent) are raised. You can try out riding in the dog sleds (2 persons per sled). Walk to Chochur-Muran mountain. Get a true feel of Yakutia through visiting the Kingdom of Permafrost arranged in the glacier insides of the mountain located just next to Chochur-Muran, with the Throne Hall of Chyskhaan - the Yakutian Lord of the Frost, and paleonthology exhibition. Welcome drink in the Ice Bar.Dinner and night in the hotel in Yakutsk (double-basis).
Day 2
After early breakfast in the hotel, check out. Today we start our long way to Oimyakon, the Pole of Cold. During today’s ride (420 km, 8-10hrs) by 4WD mini-bus to Khandyga, we will cross the Central part of Yakutia and heading northwards, across the Lena river and its right inflow the Aldan river.
Around lunchtime we might stop in Cherkekh, where the museum of the political exile is located. Depending on the day of the week and time availability, we can have a guided tour of the museum (for extra-charge), walk around its collection of wooden buildings of the 17-19c brought from the nearby villages of Yakutia – churches, houses, gers where the exiled used to live.
Further stops – at cafes, at the Shaman tree or at serghe, the ritual poles for tying the horses, will be upon the tour participants request and subject to time available. Arrive in Khandyga and check-in at the apartment, which is referred to locally as a hotel. Lunch and dinner in a roadside cafe (at your own expense), night in the private apartment-hotel in Khandyga (double basis).
Day 3
After breakfast, walk around Khandyga to make an idea of how local settlements are, visit the church.
Our destination for today is Oimyakon (appr 500 km) - we will complete our travel. Pass by mini-bus over Verkhoyanski mountain range and go further along Kolyma tract. We can make stops upon your request at the Shaman-rivulet (or Rivulet of Separation as it was called by the political prisoners of GULAG), a never-freezing source of drinking water 130 km away from Khandyga, and in a roadside café for snacks.
Arrive in Oimyakon late in the evening. Accommodation in a private hostel. Here you will have opportunity to experience the conditions locals live in (there is no drainage system in the houses, so all the inhabitants use outside WC facilities). Dinner and night in Oimyakon (in rooms for 3-4 persons).
Day 4
This is our first day in Oimyakon, the place where the lowest temperature in the Northern hemisphere was registered (-71,2C).
After breakfast, we will have a tour of Oimyakon and 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 all through 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 it is unlikely you would be able to enjoy the ride over 15 minutes for the reason of the temperature outdoors.
Try your luck in fishing on the Idigirka river (15-20 km away). Find out the local style of angling, prepare the fish yourself and taste the traditional Yakutian stroganina (fresh fish immediately frozen out of the water hole, sliced thinly and served with spices). In the afternoon, the most courageous travelers might dip into the cool waters of the Indigirka river. Experience a hot and excellent banya (Russian steam sauna) at the meteorologist’.
Lunch, dinner and night in the private hostel (rooms for 3-4 persons).
Day 5
Wearenotinahurrytoday. After a late breakfast, have fun participating in the short but very entertaining programme – make diverse practical experiments on the effects of cold & frost. For example, do you happen to know if one can hammer a nail with a banana? The answer is: of course, if you are at the Pole of Cold! Check it out yourself.
In the afternoon, have some time for yourself to feel Yakutia. In the evening, attend a folklore programme specially performed for you by the children ethnographic dance band Eim.
Lunch, dinner and night in the private hostel (rooms for 3-4 persons).
Day 6
This day has new discoveries in store for us – we are going to the reindeer breeders settlement. Travel to Yuchugey village, the settlement of Evens. We will meet the Even people, get acquainted with their lifestyle and culture. 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 in your skills – you can try coping with the 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 of the national cuisine in Yuchugey, depart for Tomtor settlement. Have a guided tour of Tomtor, visit the exhibition of the ice sculptures and the Winter Residence of Yakutian Lord of Cold - Chyskhaan.
Dinner and night in Tomtor.
Day 7-8
After breakfast, we start a way back to Yakutsk.
Our destination for today is the already familiar Khandyga. Lunch and dinner in a roadside café, night in the already familiar simple apartment-hotel (double-basis).
Early next morning we continue our way. After breakfast, make the final section of the itinerary along Kolyma Tract, the “road on the bones” called like this due to the price it was built at by the prisoners of GULAG during the Stalin repressions. Make a ride of 430 km, with a stop for lunch in the roadside café (at your own expense).
Arrive in Yakutsk in late afternoon, check-in at the hotel. Free time in Yakutsk, buying the souvenirs.
Farewell dinner in Chochur-Muran restaurant, night in the hotel (double-basis).
Day 9
Breakfast in the hotel, transfer to the airport and departure from Yakutsk for Moscow in the morning.
Japanese travellers visited the Pole of Cold and made experiments on the effects of low temperature. See their short movie and have fun!
The cost includes:
A Russian/English-speaking guide, accommodation as per itinerary (double-basis in Yakutsk and Khandyga and triple/quadruple-basis, full board except meals on the way in the roadside cafes, transfers as per itinerary, museum visits and other cultural programme as per itinerary (except Cherkekh museum excursion fee), ice-angling, dog sledding and other activities as per itinerary.
The additional expenses:
Airfare Moscow-Yakutsk-Moscow (S7 airlines min from EUR 600 return, Yakutia airlines min from EUR 775 return), meals in the roadside cafes on the way Yakutsk-Oimyakon, alcoholic drinks, optional services not included in the tour programme and available on the spot, Cherkekh museum entrance and excursion fee (provided that it is open in winter 2011), guide with an appropriate language, supplement for a guide with the language other than English.
Sights of the tour:
The tour cost:
EUR 1970 per person by bank transfer from abroad
RUB 75 000 cash in Moscow
- Valid for individuals in set international group with English guiding.
- Departures are guaranteed from 4 pax in the group on the set dates.
- Group size: 2-8 pax.
Expedition to the Pole of Cold - the place on earth where the lowest temperature has been registered - is not a usual tour, and it is definitely not for everyone. 
Morning arrival in Yakutsk by a night flight from Moscow. Meet the guide in the airport, transfer to the hotel, Tygyn-Darkhan or similar, check-in. Our first day in Yakutia will be busy, as we need to get accustomed to the jet lag, and rich in impressions.
You can try out riding in the dog sleds (2 persons per sled). 
Wearenotinahurrytoday. After a late breakfast, have fun participating in the short but very entertaining programme – make diverse practical experiments on the effects of cold & frost. For example, do you happen to know if one can hammer a nail with a banana? The answer is: of course, if you are at the Pole of Cold! Check it out yourself. 
