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Expedition to the Pole of Cold
Expedition to the Pole of Cold

Ethnic trip to Yakutia in winter

Most popular
Expedition to the Pole of Cold
Difficulty
Difficulty levels
Easy. Passive relaxation and sightseeing — cruises for example. No physical activities. Good for older people.
Normal. Active tours. You don’t have to be a sportsman, but you need to be strong enough to ride a snowmobile or go hiking in the mountains.
Advanced. Get ready for a challenge — long trekking with a heavy backpack on the shoulders, rafting along mountain rivers.
Hard. Professional training and perfect physical fitness are required. The level involves climbing to the tops of the mountains (above 3000 meters), freeriding and North Pole diving.
Age
14 y.o.
Group size
from 4 to 11 person
Duration
8 days

Accommodation during the trip

5 nights
2 nights

Languages

EN
guide
We update the dates and tour price.
Leave your email and we’ll notify you when get this info.

Oymyakon is one of the most inclement inhabited places on Earth. It is the land of permafrost, where thermometers record the lowest temperatures in the world. Not only people, but also animals have to survive in such harsh conditions. You will see special breeds of Yakut horses and cows, go on dog sledding, taste traditional Even cuisine and participate in the mysterious ethnic purification rite.

Most popular
Expedition to the Pole of Cold
Difficulty
Difficulty levels
Easy. Passive relaxation and sightseeing — cruises for example. No physical activities. Good for older people.
Normal. Active tours. You don’t have to be a sportsman, but you need to be strong enough to ride a snowmobile or go hiking in the mountains.
Advanced. Get ready for a challenge — long trekking with a heavy backpack on the shoulders, rafting along mountain rivers.
Hard. Professional training and perfect physical fitness are required. The level involves climbing to the tops of the mountains (above 3000 meters), freeriding and North Pole diving.
Age
from 14 y.o.
Group size
from 4 to 11 person
Duration
8 days

Accommodation during the trip

5 nights
2 nights

Languages

EN
guide
We update the dates and tour price.
Leave your email and we’ll notify you when get this info.

Experiences you'll have

Winter journey to Yakutia

For a few days you will see a completely different reality and become a member of ethno-expedition to one of the coldest places of our planet.

The main feature of this expedition is a visit to the Pole of Cold — the place where the lowest temperatures in Russia and the world are recorded: -71,2 °C (−96.16 °F )

It is not easy to reach Oymyakon: you will have been travelling by car for 8-10 hours a day. You should be ready to get up early, but you will manage to see a lot of interesting and unusual things:

  • you will see the daily life of evens-reindeer herders and find out how they survive in extremely low temperatures
  • climb the famous Lena pillars — a UNESCO world heritage site
  • meet with the charming Yakutian Laika and visit the farms where the special Yakut cows and horses are bred
  • participate in the pagan purification rite 
  • try ice-fishing
  • get acquainted with the cultural and historical heritage of Yakutia during a visit to the ethnographic museum of Tomtor
  • visit the "Kingdom of permafrost", where you will see unusual ice sculptures and meet with the "Yakut Santa Claus" known as Lord of the Cold Chyshaan

Note: for your group of two or more people, we can organize this expedition on any other dates, see details in the "Common question" section.

 

Photos by Sergey Dolya

Itinerary

The journey begins in Yakutsk, where you should travel to on your own. We are ready to assist with the purchase of tickets. If necessary, leave a comment in the application.

Day 1 Kingdom of permafrost

You will be met at the airport of Yakutsk and taken to the hotel. Here you will check in and have breakfast. Next you will go to the ethnographic complex "Us Kut", where you will take part in the pagan purification rite called Algys. It includes a pray to the Supreme deities, as well as mystical rituals of lighting and feeding the fire.

 

Then you will visit the ethnographic complex "Chochur-Muran". Here you will meet with the Yakutian Laika and have a dog sledding tour on the lake Ytyk Kuel. Lunch will be served in a restaurant in "Chochur-Muran" complex.

 

In the afternoon you will visit an underground ice gallery "Kingdom of Permafrost". It is a tourist complex set inside the mountain where the throne-room of Chyskhaan — the Yakut Lord of Cold is located. Also you can see here the residence of Father Frost from Veliky Ustyug and chamber of Lord of the North, as well as a unique showroom of ice sculptures called "Planet Yakutia". 

 

In the evening you will come back to the hotel, have dinner and rest. 

Day 2 Lena pillars

After breakfast you will go to one of the most famous natural places of interest in Yakutia — Lena pillars. This is a complex of steep bizarre shaped rocks, the height of which reaches 220 meters.

 

You will have a light snack on the way, and then you will go up of the pillars.

 

Then you will have lunch in a cafe and go back to Yakutsk. In the evening you will have dinner and relax in the hotel.

Day 3 The route to Oymyakon

After breakfast you will leave Yakutsk and start travelling to Oymyakon. The distance is 1000 km, so you will have an intermediate stop for the night in Khandyga village.

 

Along the way you will have lunch in a cafe. Upon arrival to the village you will stay in a private hotel and have dinner.

Day 4 Arrival in Oymyakon

After breakfast you will continue travelling to Oimyakon. The route lies through the Verkhoyansk mountain ranges, along the Kolyma Tract. It was called "Road on bones" because it was built by Gulag prisoners during Stalin's repressions.

 

You will stop for lunch at a cafe en route, and arrive to Oymyakon late at night. Here you will have dinner and accommodate in a private hotel.

Day 5 The coldest place of the planet

You will have breakfast and then visit the Yakut horses farm, learn about the features of their habitat and horse breeders' life. Upon request, you can ride a horse.

 

Next an excursion to the coldest place on the planet is waiting for you. The extreme negative temperature -71,2 °C  (−96.16 °F) was registered here. Then you will participate in ice fishing on the Indigirka river and learn the skills of cutting fish.

 

Today you will also watch the performance of children's ethnographic dance ensemble in Oymyakon, after which the participants of the expedition will be awarded with the Pole of Cold certificate.

 

In the evening you will take part in the program "The tricks of the Cold Pole" and then return to the hotel. Here you will have dinner and go to the bathhouse.

Day 6 A visit to the ethnographic museum of Tomtor

After an early breakfast you will move from Oymyakon to Tomtor village, where you will visit the ethnographic museum and get acquainted with the history and culture of the peoples of Yakutia.

 

Then you will continue the way to Khandyga village with a stop for lunch at a cafe en route. Arriving to the village, you will stay in a private hotel, have dinner and rest.

Day 7 Free time in Yakutsk

After an early breakfast you will go back to Yakutsk and stop for lunch at a cafe on the way. You will arrive to the city approximately at 4 pm, check in at the hotel and get some rest.

 

After that you will have free time for a walk, souvenir and jewelry shopping. In the evening, you will have a farewell dinner in the restaurant of national cuisine.
 

Day 8 End of journey

After breakfast you will be taken to the airport, from where you will have a flight back home. 

Most popular
Expedition to the Pole of Cold
Difficulty
Difficulty levels
Easy. Passive relaxation and sightseeing — cruises for example. No physical activities. Good for older people.
Normal. Active tours. You don’t have to be a sportsman, but you need to be strong enough to ride a snowmobile or go hiking in the mountains.
Advanced. Get ready for a challenge — long trekking with a heavy backpack on the shoulders, rafting along mountain rivers.
Hard. Professional training and perfect physical fitness are required. The level involves climbing to the tops of the mountains (above 3000 meters), freeriding and North Pole diving.
Age
14 y.o.
Group size
from 4 to 11 person
Duration
8 days

Accommodation during the trip

5 nights
2 nights

Languages

EN
guide
We update the dates and tour price.
Leave your email and we’ll notify you when get this info.

Accommodation during the trip

In Yakutsk you will be accommodated in standard double rooms in Azimut hotel 4*. Each room is 26 sq.m. and has one double or twin bed, a private bathroom, a TV with cable channels, free Wi-Fi, a closet, a work area and a refrigerator. The hotel has a restaurant with European cuisine, bar, indoor pool and spa center.

 

In Khandyga village and Oymyakon village you will accomodate at private guest houses (accommodation up to 2-3 persons in the room).

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Common questions

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Who will be my guide +

One guide and one driver accompany a group of tourists. Instructors with great experience will help traverse the route safely and comfortably. They are ready for any unexpected situation: they finished first aid Red Cross courses. The guide has a satellite phone for communication with the Emergency department in case of force majeure, as well as a first aid kit with necessary medicines.

Meals +

The cost of the tour includes three meals per day, except for lunches and dinners in Yakutsk restaurants (guests order from the menu and pay for themselves, +25-35 EURO per person for lunch/dinner). There are also light snacks during long journeys (hot tea and coffee, sandwiches with cheese/sausage/fish, fruit, sweets).

 

If you are a vegetarian, please inform the ьanager when booking the tour.

Can children take part +

You can take children over 14 years of age on this trip.

What will the weather be like +

There are frosts from -30 to -40°C in Yakutsk, and extremely low temperatures up to -65°C may occur in Oymyakon. As a rule, there are no strong winds, the weather is usually sunny.

 

Taking into account the severe weather conditions, the travel route is composed in such a way that you will not have to spend a lot of time outside. You will always have a car nearby, where you can warm up and drink hot tea or coffee. After climbing the Lena pillars, you can warm up and have lunch in a warm cafe. While fishing in Oymyakon, a tent with a stove will be set up nearby.

Insurance +

The cost include a health insurance, which will also cover the costs of emergency evacuation to a medical facility and payment for treatment. Medical expenses are compensated within the insurance coverage of 3 000 USD, accident and evacuation – within 5 000 USD.

Cost of the program for groups of two or more people +

For your group of two or more people, we can organize this program on any other dates suitable for you.

 

The cost will depend on the size of the group:

  • 4-11 people – 2050 EURO per person 
  • 2-3 people – 2800 EURO per person
What transport is used on the route +

All transfers along the route will be organized on a comfortable Toyota Hiace minibus (with capacity of 11 people). The car is of 2013 year of manufacture and undergoes a technical inspection before each departure.

Mobile communication on the route +

Mobile communication will only be available while your staying at the towns and villages. In Yakutsk, there is mobile Internet and Wi-Fi in the hotel. In the villages of Teply Klyuch and Oymyakon, mobile communication of the Beeline mobile operator works well, there is no mobile Internet.

What to bring with me +
  • the most warm clothes
  • thermal underware
  • wool socks
  • fleece jacket (or warm sweaters)
  • warm pants
  • a warm cap
  • an anorak
  • mittens (you can take two sets to put on each other)
  • a scarf
  • warm shoes (boots, felt boots, Baffin or Kamik boots)
  • personal care items
Do I need cash +

In Yakutsk, you can pay with a bank card everywhere (except for markets). Only cash (Russian rubles) is accepted on the route to Oymyakon and in the village itself.

Booking

Most popular

Expedition to the Pole of Cold

Difficulty
Difficulty levels
Easy. Passive relaxation and sightseeing — cruises for example. No physical activities. Good for older people.
Normal. Active tours. You don’t have to be a sportsman, but you need to be strong enough to ride a snowmobile or go hiking in the mountains.
Advanced. Get ready for a challenge — long trekking with a heavy backpack on the shoulders, rafting along mountain rivers.
Hard. Professional training and perfect physical fitness are required. The level involves climbing to the tops of the mountains (above 3000 meters), freeriding and North Pole diving.
Age
from 14 y.o.
Group size
from 4 to 11 person
Duration
8 days

Accommodation during the trip

5 nights
2 nights

Languages

EN
guide
1 990 EUR
What's included in the price:
  • double/twin accommodation in Azimut hotel 4*

  • accommodation in private hotels in Oymyakon and Khandyga villages

  • meals as per program

  • meeting/sending off at the Yakutsk airport  

  • transfers according to the program

  • excursions according to the program

  • guides' service

  • insurance

  • satellite communications

Extra charge:
  • airfare to Yakutsk (starting at 400 EURO for a rouns-trip ticket)

  • single accommodation in Azimut hotel 4* (+100 EURO per person), optional

  • meals in Yakutsk (3 lunches and 3 dinners)

  • an interpreter's service (+530 EURO in case you are the only foreign tourist in the group)

  • rental of a set of warm clothing (jacket and pants that can withstand temperatures up to -50°C): + 40 EURO per person, optional

In the price:
Included Extra charge
  • double/twin accommodation in Azimut hotel 4*

  • accommodation in private hotels in Oymyakon and Khandyga villages

  • meals as per program

  • meeting/sending off at the Yakutsk airport  

  • transfers according to the program

  • excursions according to the program

  • guides' service

  • insurance

  • satellite communications

  • airfare to Yakutsk (starting at 400 EURO for a rouns-trip ticket)

  • single accommodation in Azimut hotel 4* (+100 EURO per person), optional

  • meals in Yakutsk (3 lunches and 3 dinners)

  • an interpreter's service (+530 EURO in case you are the only foreign tourist in the group)

  • rental of a set of warm clothing (jacket and pants that can withstand temperatures up to -50°C): + 40 EURO per person, optional

Best price
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Discounts for
regular clients
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Testimonials

JOAN PARCERISA JANER
JOAN PARCERISA JANER 17 Января 2020

I would like to thank you for all your help to organize my trip!!!
 
The visit to Yakutia was one of my best trips ever, it was an awesome experience!!!
People, landscape, culture, food and the experience of extreme cold, “all of them were fabulous”
 
Our guide “Vasily” was very competent and friendly. My English translator “Nariana” had a very good English level and was very attend and helpful to me. The two car drivers were also very friendly and competent.
 
I will definitely recommend this trip to my family and friends!!!
 

Flavio Ferrari
Flavio Ferrari 20 Марта 2019

I arrived only a few hours ago, to stay on the safe side I had a very long connection in Moscow and then Istanbul and finally Rome! Anyway, it has been an amazing trip, thank you for assisting me all the way!

Great experience, I didn't learn any russian but have made new russian friends!

Let's stay in touch, I also would like to visit Kamchacka in a near future!

Thank you!