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New Year's Eve 2023 at Pole of Cold

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
9 Days
December - January
Highlights
  • New Year's Eve celebration in the coldest place
  • Air temperature below 60°C and lower
  • Visit of Oymyakon village - Pole of Cold
  • Trip through the permafrost regions
  • Accommodation in the hospitable family
  • Magic landscape of frosty forest
  • Kolyma road - Road of Bones
Tour Overview

The New Year is the most incredible time of the year. Why not spend this fantastic holiday in the most mysterious, coldest and at the same time largest region of Russia?

We offer you our most unusual New Year's tour. In this tour, you will be able to meet a real Ded Moroz –Chyskhaan, the Yakutian King of the Cold! You will visit the coldest inhabited place in the northern hemisphere – Oymyakon. The lowest temperature ever recorded here is -71.2°C.

The tour begins in the capital city of the region, Yakutsk. From here, you will travel 1000 km along the famous Kolyma Highway – known as the Road of Bones – to Oymyakon. 

You will celebrate the New Year in the family of locals. Their kindness and warmth are never affected by the most severe northern frosts. After a gala concert at the local house of creativity, you will celebrate New Year 2022 at the family table of the hospitable hostess. You will see fantastic fireworks after which you will leave for a nightclub at a local club.

In addition, according to tradition, you will pass through a purification ceremony, visit the Museum of Local Lore and the Permafrost Kingdom, receive a certificate for visiting Oymyakon and climb up the observation mountain, from where you can enjoy breath-taking panorama views of the noiseless white expanses of the Oymyakonsky tundra. The most courageous tourists among you will be offered to swim in a non-freezing stream, whose water temperature remains at around 2°C every year.

The purpose of this trip is not just to celebrate the New Year in an unusual, exceptional place, but also to feel the lowest possible temperatures that exist at the end of December or beginning of January. For example, in January 2018, temperatures dropped to -63°C.

The mind-blowing landscapes of a real snow-white fairy tale and the warmest hearts of hospitable locals are a New Year's impression that can give you warm emotions and positive impressions for the coming year!

This program is an expedition. Description of the itinerary is the general plan of the expedition. In the event of any force majeure or severe weather conditions, the organizers may make appropriate changes.

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Tour programme
  • Day 1
    Acquaintance with Yakutsk
    Yakutsk
  • Day 2
    Khandyga and road of bones
    Yakutsk — Khandyga
  • Day 3
    Road to the Pole of Cold
    Khandyga — Tomtor
  • Day 4
    New Year's Eve au Pole of Cold
    Tomtor
  • Day 5
    Culture and ethnography of Yakutia
    Tomtor
  • Day 6
    Day in the Yakutian village
    Tomtor
  • Day 7
    Return to Khandyga
    Tomtor — Khandyga
  • Day 8
    Road to Yakutsk
    Khandyga — Yakustk
  • Day 9
    End of the programme
    Yakutsk
  • 10:00
    Arrival to Yakutsk
    Arrival to the airport of Yakutsk city. Taxi to the hotel. Check-in and time at leisure. *The time of the arrival and of the transfer is approximate. It can be changed according to the chosen time.
  • 13:00
    Lunch Not included
  • 14:00
    Briefing
    Meeting with your guide in the hall of the hotel. Briefing, examination of the equipment. Discussion of the programme.
  • 15:00
    Guided city-tour
    You will visit the Yakut ostrog (small wooden fort), the old town and learn about the life of this town, its history, the original traditions of local inhabitants and the fate of legendary personalities who contributed to the formation and development of the town.
  • 19:00
    Dinner Not included
  • Overnight in the hotel
Photo of the day
Route
Yakutsk
Accommodation
Accommodation in the hotel Orto Doydu, Yakutsk
Twin standard room
  • 08:00
    Breakfast in the hotel
  • 09:30
    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.
  • 20:00
    Dinner Not included
  • Overnight in the homestay
    Accommodation in Khandyga in an apartment (for two or three people in one room, shared kitchen, shared WC and shower).
Photo of the day
Route
Yakutsk — Khandyga
Accommodation
Accommodation in the homestay Khandyga
Bed in the homestay
Note

12 h 4x4  (640km)

  • 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 in the café en route 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
    Homemade 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)

5 h   (200km)

  • 08:00
    Breakfast at the homestay
  • 09:00
    Departure to Oymyakon
    Oymyakon is a true Pole of Cold. Here you will receive a certificate for visiting the coldest permanently inhabited settlement in the world. On the New Year's Eve you will meet with the Yakut Santa and the cold guardian - Chyskhaan!
  • 13:00
    Lunch at a roadside café Not included
  • 15:00
    Return to Tomtor and rest
  • 19:00
    Concert in the community centre
    The local people organise the annual concert in the community centre with dances and songs.
  • 22:00
    Festive dinner
    Home-made festive dinner in the family circle. Happy New Year!
  • Overnight in the homestay
Photo of the day
BaikalNature at Pole of Cold
Route
Tomtor
Accommodation
Accommodation in the homestay in Tomtor
Bed in the twin room
Note

cultural exploration  (40km)

1 h 4x4  (40km)

  • 02:00
    Dances in the local community centre
  • 11:00
    Late breakfast
  • 12:00
    Purification ceremony
  • 14:00
    Home-made lunch
  • 16:00
    Excursion to the museum of the natural history
    The exposition is devoted to the nature and history of the Tomtor village, to the everyday life of the Yakut peoples and to the Gulag period.
  • 19:00
    Dinner
  • Overnight in 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
    Experiments with the cold
    It's there in the coldest inhabited place where you can see the Yakut firework and nail up with an apple!
  • 11:00
    Excursion to the GULAG Museum
  • 13:00
    Lunch
  • 14:00
    Visit of Tomtor village
    You will visit the village, the airport closed for the winter. For the most courageous we organise the bathing in the non-freezing stream!
  • 19:00
    Dinner
  • Overnight in the homestay
Photo of the day
Route
Tomtor
Accommodation
Accommodation in the homestay in Tomtor
Bed in the twin room
  • 09:00
    Breakfast
  • 11:00
    Transfer to Khandyga
  • 13:00
    Lunch Not included
    Lunch in the cafe '' Kuba '' in Kubume
  • 15:00
    Continuation of the road to Khandyga
    We will stop to take pictures of the wonderful winter landscapes. We will pass the Verkhoyansk chains towards evening.
  • 19:00
    Dinner Not included
    We will stop for dinner in a café in the village of Typlyï Kluch or in Khandyga.
  • Overnight in Khandyga
Photo of the day
Route
Tomtor — Khandyga
Accommodation
Accommodation in the homestay Khandyga
Bed in the homestay
  • 10:00
    Return to Yakutsk
  • 14:00
    Continuation of the road
    Arrival to Yakutsk. Accommodation in the hotel.
  • 19:00
    Dinner
  • Overnight in the hotel
Photo of the day
On the Road to the Lena Pillars
Route
Khandyga — Yakustk
Accommodation
Accommodation in the hotel Orto Doydu, Yakutsk
Twin standard room
Note

8 h 4x4  (420km)

  • 09:00
    Breakfast in the hotel
  • 11:00
    Transfer to the airport
    End of the programme.
Photo of the day
Route
Yakutsk
Detailed description
New departures available soon
Price includes
  • Accommodation as per itinerary
  • Transport as per itinerary
  • Excursions and visits as per itinerary
  • Reserves and national parks entrance permissions
  • Transfer from airport / railway station on first day
  • Transfer to airport / railway station on last day
  • Letter of invitation
  • English-speaking guide services
  • Meals according to the program
  • Accommodation in the hotel of Yakutsk the 1 and 7 days
Price does not include
  • Airline tickets
For more info, please download the detailed description of the trip.
Note

The price given is for a group of 5 people. If there are less than 5 persons, the price of the tour will be recalculated. 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: 2,4-7,9; lunches for the days: 4-6, dinners for the days 3-6, 8. All other meals will be negotiated with the group members once on spot (additional charge). the approximate price of the meal in the cafe en route is 500-800 roubles, in the restaurant of the city 1000-1500 roubles. 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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