Oymyakon is one of the most inclement inhabited places on Earth — a land of permafrost where thermometers register some of the lowest temperatures in the world. Here, both people and animals must adapt to extreme conditions. You will see special breeds of Yakut horses and cows, go dog sledding, taste traditional Evenki cuisine, and take part in a mysterious ethnic purification ritual.
On this journey, you will step into a completely different world during an ethno-expedition to one of the coldest places on Earth. You will visit the Pole of Cold — Oymyakon — where Russia and the world have recorded the lowest temperatures: −71.2 °C (−96.2 °F).
Reaching Oymyakon is an adventure in itself. You will travel by car for 8–10 hours a day and start early each morning, but the effort is worth it. Along the way, you will witness extraordinary landscapes, encounter unique wildlife, and experience cultural traditions that few travelers ever see.
At the Kingdom of Permafrost, meet Chyskhaan — the mythical Lord of the Cold
Climb the iconic Lena Pillars — a breathtaking UNESCO World Heritage Site
Take part in the traditional Algys purification ritual and visit the ethnographic museum in the village of Tomtor
Stop by a farm that breeds unique Yakut horses, adapted to survive in extreme cold
Explore the Treasury of Yakutia, where you’ll see giant gold nuggets, precious gems, and the works of Yakut artisans
In the morning, you will be met at Yakutsk Airport and taken to the hotel. Then you will head to the ethnographic complex "Us-Kut," where you will take part in the algys purification ceremony. A fire is lit in the stove and "fed" with fat and wool — this is how the spirit of fire, the mediator between people and the upper deities, is appeased. Participants are passed through the smoke of smoldering wool — purification from everything unnecessary. At the end, a cup of kumys is passed around in a circle: the blessing has been accepted and sealed.
Next — the ethno-complex "Chochur-Muran." Here you will get acquainted with Yakut Laikas — they are friendly and open to interaction. Blue eyes are the hallmark of the breed, and the gene that produces them has not yet been identified. You will ride in a dog sled across the snow-covered Lake Ytyk-Kyuyel.
Lunch — on your own, at the complex's restaurant.
Afterward, you will visit the underground ice gallery "Kingdom of Permafrost." This is a unique museum complex created inside a mountain. Here, the lord of cold Chyskhaan sits on a throne, and next to him are the residences of Ded Moroz and the Master of the North.
In the evening, you will return to the hotel and have dinner on your own at the restaurant.
For the festival tour starting March 23, the first day of the program includes a visit to the "Treasures of Yakutia" and the Mammoth Museum.
After breakfast, you will head to one of the most famous natural attractions of Yakutia — the Lena Pillars. These limestone giants reach up to 220 meters in height and are 550 million years old. In winter, they are covered with frost and snow fringe — towers, columns, and spires stretching for 40 kilometers along the bank. An equipped eco-trail with wooden boardwalks and staircases leads to the top. From the summit, a view of the snow-covered valley of the Lena River opens up — an endless white expanse and stone ridges stretching into the distance.
You will have lunch in the "Lena Pillars" park and dinner at a restaurant in Yakutsk on your own.
The road route covers 200 km. Travel time — 3.5 hours.
For the tour starting January 2, days 2 and 7 are swapped: the excursion to the Lena Pillars is moved to day 7, and the Yakutsk program is moved to day 2.
After breakfast, you will visit the exhibition Treasury of Yakutia, which showcases large gold nuggets, sparkling diamonds, rare gemstones, and the work of Yakut artisans.
Then, you will begin your overland journey toward Oymyakon (950 km), traveling by minibus with an overnight stop in the village of Khandyga. Along the way, you will pass mountain passes, river valleys, and larch taiga, with plenty of photo stops at scenic points, monuments, and roadside steles. Your first major stop will be the winter crossing of the Lena River, which is about 10 km wide.
Lunch will be at a roadside café (extra charge). Upon arrival in Khandyga, you will check into a private guesthouse and have dinner at a café (extra charge).
Car route: 410 km — 8-10 hours.
Note: During the January holidays, the Treasury of Yakutia is closed, and the visit will be replaced with a tour of the local history museum.
For the festival tour starting March 23, the visit to the "Treasures of Yakutia" is not held on that day — the group departs from Yakutsk straight to Khandyga.
Today you will have breakfast and continue your journey to Oymyakon along the Kolyma Highway — the very "road on bones." In the 1930s, Gulag prisoners built this road through the permafrost at minus fifty degrees, and those who died here were often buried right in the embankment.
The route will pass through the Verkhoyansk Range. This section is the most scenic along the entire Kolyma Highway: the road winds between deep gorges and cliffs, completely covered in snow. You will stop at a mountain pass — an incredible panorama of the range stretching to the horizon will open up before you. If you are lucky, from above you will see larch trees covered in frost and, somewhere in the distance, a herd of deer.
Along the way, you will have lunch at a café for an additional fee, and you will arrive in Oymyakon late in the evening. You will have dinner on your own and check in at a guesthouse.
The road route covers 530 km. Travel time — 12–14 hours.
After breakfast, you will go to a horse-breeding farm, where you will get acquainted with frost-resistant Yakut horses. Then you will visit the place where the record temperature of −71.2 °C was recorded.
After lunch at the guesthouse, you will continue exploring Oymyakon: you will visit an ice photo gallery and a Yakut balagan, and learn about local traditions. In the administrative center of Oymyakon, a performance by a children's ethnographic ensemble awaits you.
You will receive a "Pole of Cold" certificate from Chyskhaan, try hot tea, and learn more about people's life in conditions of extremely low temperatures. In the evening — the "Cold Tricks" program, dinner, and a banya.
The road route covers 30–40 km.
For the tour starting March 23, the "Pole of Cold" festival is held in Tomtor on this day. The program includes: the "Pole of Cold" stele, receiving a certificate, the Algys ceremony, the opening of the festival, Chyskhaan's Ice Residence, tasting of cold dishes, a Chyskhaan master class, the local history museum, a theatrical performance, an extreme tourism exhibition, and the "Miss Pole of Cold" contest. After the program ends — return to Oymyakon and dinner.
Early in the morning, you will depart from Oymyakon toward Khandyga, via Tomtor. Along the way, you will visit the Ebe-Khaya Cave and the ice gallery in a mine located in the permafrost zone.
You will have lunch on your own at a roadside café.
If the group wishes, along the way you can stop at a reindeer herders' camp and go for a ride in reindeer sleds. Paid additionally.
After the excursion program, the journey to Khandyga will continue. Upon arrival, you will check into an apartment-style hotel and have dinner on your own.
The road route covers 530 km. Travel time — 12–14 hours.
For the festival tour starting March 23, on this day a visit to the reindeer herders' festival in Tomtor will be added: reindeer sled races, northern competitions, and an introduction to the culture and cuisine of the Evens. After lunch — transfer to Khandyga.
After an early breakfast, you will depart from Khandyga to Yakutsk. Along the way, you will stop at a café where you will have lunch on your own. You will arrive in Yakutsk around 16:00. You will check into the hotel and rest a bit.
Then you will have free time to walk around the city. You can visit a jewelry store and the market to buy souvenirs and Yakut delicacies. Carved figurines, statuettes, and keychains made of mammoth ivory are among the most popular souvenirs. The main souvenirs from the market are stroganina, nelma, foal meat, and berries. They will be packed for transportation.
In the evening, a farewell dinner awaits you at the restaurant of modern Yakut cuisine "RekaOzeroLes." The menu features reimagined northern delicacies: steamed chir and grilled chir, cutlets made from northern fish, venison steak, and salamat with black caviar. Dinner is paid for on your own.
The road route covers 410 km. Travel time — 8–10 hours.
After breakfast, you will be transferred to the airport for your flight home.
In Yakutsk, you will stay in standard double rooms at the Alaas Hotel.
In the villages of Khandyga and Oymyakon, you will stay in private guesthouses (2–3 persons per room)
You will stay in double rooms designed in the style of a Yakut yurt. Each room includes either one double bed or two single beds, plus a bathroom, TV, safe, work area, and air conditioning. The property also offers a restaurant, mobile network coverage, and Wi-Fi.
You will stay in a private apartment-style guesthouse with single beds, a shower, and a toilet. Mobile coverage is available on the premises.
Accommodation is in shared rooms (2–3 people per room). A toilet and a traditional bathhouse are available on the premises.
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.
The price depends on the group size and travel dates:
• Group of 4–14 people — 2,300 USD per person
• Group of 2–3 people — 3,574 USD per person
Your group will be accompanied by a professional guide-instructor and an experienced driver, ensuring maximum comfort and safety throughout the journey. The guide carries a satellite phone for emergency communication with rescue services, as well as a first-aid kit with essential medicines.
The tour includes three meals a day in Oymyakon, breakfasts throughout the route, two dinners in Khandyga, a festive New Year’s dinner, and snacks with hot drinks in the car. Additional expenses include lunches (except on Day 5) and dinners in Yakutsk restaurants (à la carte, from 2,000 RUB per person). Meals at roadside cafés en route to and from Oymyakon are also paid separately.
If you prefer vegetarian meals, please inform your manager when booking the tour.
Winters in Yakutia are extremely cold: in December temperatures range from –30 to –39 °C (–22 to –38 °F), in January from –28 to –40 °C (–18 to –40 °F), and in February from –23 to –35 °C (–9 to –31 °F). The weather is mostly cloudy. By March it becomes milder, with temperatures between –6 and –25 °C (21 to –13 °F), and by late March it gets noticeably warmer.
In Oymyakon, strong winds are rare, and the weather is usually sunny.
Considering the severe climate, the itinerary is designed so you won’t have to spend too much time outdoors. A vehicle will always be nearby where you can warm up and enjoy hot tea from a thermos. After climbing the Lena Pillars, you’ll be able to relax and have lunch in a warm café, and during ice fishing in Oymyakon, a heated tent will be set up.
This trip is suitable for children aged 14 and above.
The program price includes health insurance, covering both emergency evacuation to a medical facility and treatment expenses. Medical costs are covered up to 3,000 USD, while accident and evacuation coverage extends up to 5,000 USD.
All transfers are carried out in a comfortable Toyota Hiace minibus (11 seats). The vehicle, manufactured in 2013, undergoes a full technical inspection before each departure.
Mobile coverage is available only in towns and villages. In Yakutsk, you will have mobile internet and hotel Wi-Fi. In Teply Klyuch and Oymyakon, Beeline provides good mobile service, but there is no internet connection.
Documents & Medical Kit
Clothing & Gear
In Yakutsk, bank cards are accepted almost everywhere (except at local markets). On the way to Oymyakon, and in the village itself, only cash (Russian rubles) is accepted.
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!!!
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!
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Expedition to the Pole of Cold 8 days
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