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Pole of Cold Festival 2020

Destination: Yakutia
Easy - nothing more than normal walking while sight-seeing
Moderately Easy - 1-3 hours of physical activity daily
Moderate - 3-5 hours of physical activity daily
Challenging - 5-7 hours of challenging physical activity daily
Extreme - 7+ hours of challenging/extreme physical activity daily
Difficulty
Basic — most of nights in tents or rooms with shared WC, some nights in comfortable rooms.
Standard — most of nights in comfortable rooms, some nights in tents or rooms with shared WC.
Upgraded — all nights in comfortable rooms.
Comfort
Minimum age of the participant of this trip
8 Days
Highlights
  • Visit of Oymyakon village - the coldest village in the world, known as pole of cold
  • Trip through the permafrost regions
  • Miraculous snowy landscapes
  • Accommodation in the local family
  • Meeting with the indigenous people of Russia
  • Folklore performances and the annual Miss Pole of Cold contest
  • Evenk and Yakut dishes tasting
  • Races of the Evenks reindeer herders
  • Public festivities and sport games
  • Possibility to observe the northern lights
Tour Overview
In the coldest inhabited place of the planet, near the Yakut village Oymyakon, there is an annual «Pole of Cold Festival». This special event is held in the unique place where the lowest temperature of -71,2 °C was fixed. Here the purity of the North nature is mixed up with the cultural sustainability of the Evenks and Yakuts.

The Pole of Cold Festival is a very special event with the intermixture of the Yakut and Evenk cultures almost unchanged. During this festival you will make the acquaintance of the everyday life, traditions, and culture: folk costumes, dances, songs and legends. You will see very spectacular races of the Evenks reindeer herders. The special part of the festival is a "Miss Pole of Cold" competition with the most beautiful Yakut girls. The gourmets can taste the national dishes proposed in the competition. You will meet Chyskhaan, “Guardian of the cold” and visit the Kingdom of the permafrost. You will be awarded by the certificates of reaching the Pole of Cold.

We propose you to dip into the culture of the native Yakutia people who live in the extreme climate but whose hearts are really hot and brave!

Tour programme
  • Day 1
    Arrival to Yakutsk
    Yakutsk
  • Day 2
    Khandyga and road of bones
    Yakutsk — Khandyga
  • Day 3
    Road to the Pole of Cold
    Khandyga — Tomtor
  • Day 4
    Oymyakon - Pole of Cold
    Tomtor
  • Day 5
    Continuation of the festival "Pole of Cold"
    Tomtor
  • Day 6
    Return to Khandyga
    Tomtor — Khandyga
  • Day 7
    Aquaintance with Yakutsk
    Khandyga — Yakustk
  • Day 8
    End of the programme
    Yakutsk
  • 11:00
    Arrival to the airport of the Yakutsk city
    Transfer to the chosen and booked hotel. Check-in. Rest. *The time of the transfer can be changed according to the chosen flight.
  • 13:00
    Lunch Not included
  • 16:00
    Meeting with your guide in the hotel
    This first meeting will allow us to get to know with each other and to discuss the tour details.
  • 19:00
    Dinner Not included
  • Overnight in the hotel Not included
  • 09:00
    Breakfast in the hotel Not included
    *Normally, when you book a room in the hotel, the breakfast cost is included but the conditions can be varied.
  • 10:00
    Departure to the Khandyga village
    Khandyga village earlier used to be one of the forced-labor camps known as Gulag. It was founded in 1939 as a base for construction of the road from Aldan river towards Oymyakon
  • 14:00
    Lunch in the cafe en route Not included
  • 15:00
    Continuation of the road
    Arrival to the village in the evening. Accommodation in the homestay. Rest.
  • 19:00
    Homemade dinner
  • Overnight in the homestay
Photo of the day
Route
Yakutsk — Khandyga
Accommodation
Accommodation in the homestay Khandyga
Bed in the homestay
Note

8 h 4x4  (419km)

  • 09:00
    Departure to the Tomtor village
    Tomtor village is one of the contenders for the title of "Pole of Cold". Its main competitor is Oymyakon. Moreover, since 2001 the village of Tomtor traditionally gathers hundreds of people to a festival known as "Pole of Cold". The festival brings together all the Santas from the major league - from Santa Claus from Lapland to the main Russian Father Frost from Veliky Ustyug. Chyskhaan - a severe Yakut "Keeper of the cold," is present by default: it is his "home", a cave in the mountain Ebe-Khaya that is considered sacred for the local people. The village has a commemorative monument dedicated to the victims of Stalin’s repressions. It is called “The Memory Bell”.
  • 14:00
    Lunch Not included
  • 15:00
    Continuation of the road
  • 19:00
    Arrival to Tomtor
    After the long road, we have a possibility to have a rest in the homestay of a very kindly resident.
  • 20:00
    Dinner
  • Overnight in the homestay
Photo of the day
Route
Khandyga — Tomtor
Accommodation
Accommodation in the homestay in Tomtor
Bed in the twin room
Note

10 h 4x4  (472km)

  • 09:00
    Breakfast at the homestay
  • 10:00
    Departure to Oymyakon
    On these days, in Tomtor there is an international festival "Pole of Cold". Every year this festival unites thousands of people. At first, you will go to the Oymyakon village where you will see the stele with the lowest temperature -71,2°C. Then you will receive a certificate for visiting the coldest permanently inhabited settlement in the world.
  • 13:00
    Lunch at a roadside café
  • 15:00
    Return to Tomtor and participation in the festival
    During the festival the people from the neighbouring ulus arrive to Tomtor. You can see and even participate in the national sporting competition. The gourmets can taste the national dishes proposed in the competition. Moreover, there will be workshops and the fair where you can buy the authentic objects of the craftsmen.
  • 19:00
    Dinner at the guest house
  • Overnight in the homestay
Photo of the day
Stele "Oymyakon - Pole of Cold"
Route
Tomtor
Accommodation
Accommodation in the homestay in Tomtor
Bed in the twin room
Note

4x4  (40km)

  • 09:00
    Breakfast
  • 11:00
    Reindeer sledge race
    You have possibility to see very spectacular races of the Evenks reindeer herders. Before the departure, they put on traditional costumes and decorate the sledges. The Tomtor village is the finish point where the ceremony of awarding the winners takes place. You will get acquaintance with the everyday life of the nomads, their culture and peculiarities of the life in tundra. And, of course, you have possibility of reindeer sledding !
  • 13:00
    Lunch
  • 16:00
    Concert and "Miss Pole of Cold" competition
    Every year during the festival there is a "Miss Pole of Cold" competition. The participants of the festival are the most beautiful Yakut girls. After the competition, you can go to a concert of the ethnic dances and songs.
  • 19:00
    Dinner
  • Overnight ine the homestay
Photo of the day
Route
Tomtor
Accommodation
Accommodation in the homestay in Tomtor
Bed in the twin room
  • 09:00
    Breakfast
  • 10:00
    Departure to Khandyga
  • 13:00
    Lunch in the cafe Not included
    Payment on site.
  • 14:00
    Continuation fo the road
  • 19:00
    Arrival to Khandyga
    Accommodation in the homestay, rest.
  • 19:00
    Dinner Not included
  • Overnight in the homestay
Photo of the day
Khandyga in Winter
Route
Tomtor — Khandyga
Accommodation
Accommodation in the homestay Khandyga
Bed in the homestay
Note

10 h 4x4  (472km)

  • 10:00
    Return to Yakutsk
  • 13:00
    Lunch Not included
  • 14:00
    Continuation of the road
    Arrival to Yakutsk. Accommodation in the hotel according to your choice.
  • 19:00
    Dinner Not included
  • Overnight in the hotel Not included
Photo of the day
Tourist Complex Chochur-Muran
Route
Khandyga — Yakustk
Note

8 h 4x4  (420km)

  • 09:00
    Breakfast Not included
  • 11:00
    Transfer to the airport
    End of the programme.
Photo of the day
Lena Road A-360
Route
Yakutsk
Detailed description
New departures available soon
Price includes
  • Accommodation as per itinerary
  • Transport as per itinerary
  • Excursions and visits as per itinerary
  • Transfer from airport / railway station on first day
  • Transfer to airport / railway station on last day
  • Letter of invitation
  • Meals according to the program
  • English-speaking guide services
Price does not include
  • Personal expenses and tips
  • Visa fees and travel insurance
  • Optional activities
  • Accommodation in the hotel of Yakutsk the 1 and 7 days
  • Airline tickets
For more info, please download the detailed description of the trip.
Note

The price given is for a group of 6 people. If there are less than 6 persons, the price of the tour will be recalculated. Accommodation in Yakutsk is not included. Optionally, the accommodation in the hotels: "Polar star", "Sonata" or "Sterh". Take attention that in Yakutia the temperatures can be really low. Please, follow our check-list before the departure. Meals included: breakfasts for the following days: 4-6; lunches for the days: 4-5, dinners for the days 2-5. All the other meals will be negotiated with the group members once on spot (additional charge). The itinerary of the tour can be changed according to the road or weather conditions as well as unforeseen events.

Reviews
No reviews anymore or no reviews at all for this tour. Below reviews for destination:
4.67
4.67
Total score
5.00
Work of BaikalNature office before and during travel / customer support
4.00
Quality of accommodation
4.00
Quality of transport / transfers
5.00
Quality of meals
5.00
Friendliness and professionalism of guides / management
5.00
Quality and originality of visits / attractions / events
Francis
From 22 March 2018 to 19 July 2018
Destination: Yakutia
Custom tourDécouverte de l'Extrême Orient Russe
Would you like to travel with BaikalNature again? Yes!
Hôtels excellents, à l'exception de l'hôtel de Iakoutsk ORTO DOYDU. Personnel très bien mais hôtel en mauvais état général (chambre et espaces communs) et petit-déjeuner très médiocre. Transferts excellents, sauf trajet Tommot - Iakoutsk : véhicule inconfortable et en très mauvais état, et chauffeur fumeur peu amène. Les trois parties du voyage du voyage nous ont enchantés. Nous avons été ravis par
  Read more
BaikalNature's reply
Bonjour Francis, Merci beaucoup pour ces détails très important pour un voyage tellement grand! Ces commentaires nous aiderons à revoir la qualité des services proposés en Yakoutie.
4.33
4.33
Total score
5.00
Work of BaikalNature office before and during travel / customer support
4.00
Quality of accommodation
4.00
Quality of transport / transfers
4.00
Quality of meals
4.00
Friendliness and professionalism of guides / management
5.00
Quality and originality of visits / attractions / events
Eric
From 27 January 2018 to 3 February 2018
Destination: Yakutia
Would you like to travel with BaikalNature again? Yes!
Voyage original au coeur de l' hiver Sibérien hors des sentiers touristiques. Dommage qu' il y ai eu un manque d'informations et d 'explications de la part du guide. Les "aventuriers" choisissant ce voyage ont tous soif de découverte, d'une part, du pays et d'autre part de la culture russe, ce qui nous a sensiblement manqué. Néanmoins ce voyage est à recommander pour son authenticité. Eric
BaikalNature's reply
Merci beaucoup pour votre remarque. Nous le prendrons en compte pour nos futurs voyages !
4.00
4.00
Total score
4.00
Work of BaikalNature office before and during travel / customer support
3.00
Quality of accommodation
4.00
Quality of transport / transfers
4.00
Quality of meals
5.00
Friendliness and professionalism of guides / management
4.00
Quality and originality of visits / attractions / events
Serge
From 27 January 2018 to 3 February 2018
Destination: Yakutia
Would you like to travel with BaikalNature again? Yes!
This guest did not leave a comment.
4.17
4.17
Total score
4.00
Work of BaikalNature office before and during travel / customer support
5.00
Quality of accommodation
4.00
Quality of transport / transfers
4.00
Quality of meals
4.00
Friendliness and professionalism of guides / management
4.00
Quality and originality of visits / attractions / events
Serge
From 27 January 2018 to 3 February 2018
Destination: Yakutia
Would you like to travel with BaikalNature again? Yes!
beau voyage; l'organisation est bonne dans son ensemble et le programme est bien respecté; une remarque au niveau du guide: il devrait donner au groupe plus d'explications sur l'histoire de la yakoutie, les coutumes du peuples yakoutes et la vie d'aujourd'hui; sinon le point très positif est que le guide parlait très bien le Français..... en conclusion, continuez donc à organiser des beaux voyages
  Read more
5.00
5.00
Total score
5.00
Work of BaikalNature office before and during travel / customer support
5.00
Quality of accommodation
5.00
Quality of transport / transfers
5.00
Quality of meals
5.00
Friendliness and professionalism of guides / management
5.00
Quality and originality of visits / attractions / events
Pierre
From 19 June 2016 to 28 June 2016
Destination: Yakutia
Would you like to travel with BaikalNature again? Yes!
Nous sommes rentrés de voyage ce jour mardi 28 juin 2016. Beaucoup de découvertes, de péripéties, mais tout dans la bonne humeur. Pour les fêtes, le samedi, départ à 10:00 et 2,30 heures de trajet. Arrivée à 12:30. Bien évidemment nous ne sommes pas rentrés à 14:00. Le dimanche, le trajet a été beaucoup plus rapide, 45 minutes. Le dernier jour, retour à l'aéroport. Un taxi est venu, une
  Read more
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