Hiking expedition in Yakutia

Day 1 Flight to Chokurdakh village

After arrival to Yakutsk, you will take a flight to Chokurdakh village via a local airline (flight tickets for the flight from Yakutsk at 12:20 am and transfer to the airport are paid additionally).

At Chokurdakh airport you will be met by local guides and taken to the guest house where you will have dinner and rest

Days 2-3 Along the Indigirka river to the East Siberian Sea

These days you will travel by small motor boats to the first base camp on the Sundurun River. At the beginning the route will pass along the Indigirka River. Along the way you will make a stop to visit the ancient "Stanchik" church, built in the XVIII century. It is considered to be the northernmost Orthodox church in the world. 

Then you will move along the northern arm of the Indigirka River Delta to the Kolyma Bay and reach the East Siberian Sea. You will land on a small island for some rest and bird watching. Here you will find Canadian goose nestings, and see white and gray cranes, which are included in the Red Data Book of Russia. Polar bears also often come to this island.

Then you travel a further 170 km along the Sundurun River to get to the first base camp. During the river crossing you will see ancient yurts and abandoned fishermen's plots along the shore. You will spend the nights in tents these days.

The length of the route is 400 km by boat (9 hours during the first day, 5 hours during the second day).

Days 4-5 Reserve day

These days will be used as the reserve days in case of low water level in the rivers. At low tide there are long shoals in these areas that make it difficult for boats to navigate.

If the waterborne trip to the first camp was successful on the previous days, these days you will have additional walks to the Sundurun stone pillars. In case the boat cannot reach the first base camp by water, you will have to hike about 11 km with the backpacks.

Days 6-14 The The Stone People of Sundurun

On these days you will explore the unique landscapes of the Beyl Urukchen Sundurun. The name translates from the Even language as "Stone People of Sundurun". They are unique rock outcrops of sandstone and shale up to 30 m high, scattered in the middle of the tundra on the territory of about 100 sq. km. The rocks have a variety of forms: some of them resemble figures of people and animals, others resemble stone castles and intricate structures.

The Sundurun River Valley in Yakutia is a real "terra incognita". During this expedition you can feel yourself not only a discoverer, but also a paleontologist. The remains of mammoths and cave bears are preserved here in the depths of subarctic tundra.

On day 6 you will make a radial hiking route from the first base camp to the nearest rocks. On day 7 you will hike with backpacks to the second base camp, located at the foot of the far rocks (11 km on foot with backpacks with equipment and personal belongings). On days 8-12, you will explore the surrounding area and do lightweight excursions to the far rocks of the Sundurun River (20-30 km on foot). On day 13 you will return on foot to the first base camp on the riverbank.

The length of the route is 22 km on foot with backpacks (personal belongings + equipment) and 20-30 km on foot without backpacks.

Days 15-18 Return trip to Chokurdakh settlement

These days you will have a return trip by boat to Chokurdakh village. Upon arrival you will be accommodated in the guest house and have a rest. You will be able to visit a bathhouse (sauna) if you would like.

In case the water transfer takes place as planned in these days you will have free time in Chokurdakh village. You may go on an excursion to the Russkoe Ustye settlement (paid extra). The first mentions of it date back to 1638: at that time a Cossack detachment led by Tobolsk Cossack Ivan Rebrov opened a sea route across the Indiga River and built two fortresses in the lower reaches of the river. For a long time the settlement was isolated from the outside world. Thanks to this, the locals managed to preserve the traditional lifestyle and culture of the first Cossacks.

Day 19 Flight to Yakutsk

This day you will have free time in Chokurdakh village. In the evening we will take you to the airport from where you will depart to Yakutsk at 6:45 pm by local airline (flight tickets are paid additionally).

Upon arrival in the city (about 10 pm) you will be met and taken to the hotel, which you should book by yourself. 

Day 20 Departure

On this day you will depart from your hotel on your own to the Yakutsk airport.