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Yakutian Expedition: From Verkhoyansk Mountains to Lena Pillars

This tour is not available and is archived.
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
Highlights
  • Untouched nature of Verkhoyansk Mountains
  • Siberian wildlife: mouflon, reindeers, brown bear, moose
  • "Lena Pillars" Unesco site
  • Private flight in legendary sovietic biplane AN-2
  • A region alive with History and authenticity
Tour Overview

You like wast open spaces, untouched nature and exclusive tours?

Take part in our expedition in the very heart of Russian Far-East !

This 10 days tour is divided into two parts and will give you an insight into yakutian nature jewels. First, we will spend 4 days in the rather inaccessible Verkhoyansk Mountains. Then, we will spend a few days in the Lena valley to discover the outstanding Lena Pillars - Unesco listed.

On the day of arrival, we will visit Yakutsk, the capital city of Sakha Republic (official name for Yakutia) located 450 South from Polar Circle.

On following day, we will fly with a AN-2 biplane to lake Ilderkey, located in the South part of Verkhoyansk Mountains. In summer, the lake is only accessible by air. After meeting with reindeer and horse herders, who are going to guide during those few days in the mountains, we will have a walk around the lake. We will spend the next two days on horseback with the herders to track local animals (mouflon, moose, brown bear) in order to photography them.

We will then fly back to Yakoutsk where we will spend the night before heading to Lena valley. We will go back in time, when Yakutia was covered with water which teem with life and much later on, during Neolithic times, when hominids settled on the shores of the Lena. We will go by boat until the impressive Lena Pillars, a natural rock formation along the banks of the Lena river. We will walk to their top in order to admire the beuatiful landscape.

Our last evening will be organised in Yakutsk ethnographic centre, where a festive dinner based on both Yakutian and Russian meals will be served.

 

Tour programme
  • Day 1
    Arrival in Yakutsk. Transfer. Check-in. Lunch. City-tour in the centre of Yakutsk to discover the multiple treasures of the capital of Sakha Republic (Yakutia). Visit of Mammoth museum. Dinner and night.
  • Day 2
    Breakfast. Transfer to the take-off runway of the biplane AN-2. Flight to Ilderkey lake, inaccessible by car (320 km, 2,5 hours). Lunch. In the afternoon, herders, reindeer and horses arrive to the lake. Small walk on the shores of the lake. Preparation for our expedition in the mountains. Dinner and night.
  • Day 3
    Breakfast. Loading luggage on the horses. Departure for Verkhoyansk Mountains to track mouflons. Our aim is to observe them in their natural habitat and to photography them. Lunch during the expedition. Dinner and night.
  • Day 4
    Breakfast. Loading luggage on the horses. We are still following the track of mouflons and other wild animals (brown bear, moose...)to photography them. Late afternoon, we eventually return to Lake Ilderkey. Dinner and night.
  • Day 5
    Breakfast. Flight back to Yakutsk (320 km, 2,5 hours). Lunch. Transfer to Yakutsk. Check-in. Dinner and night. .
  • Day 6
    Breakfast. Departure for Khangalassky region. Visit of the zoo "Orto Doydu" located on a the picturesque shores of Lena River, 50 km from Yakutsk. The zoo has over 168 species from different geographical areas, including endangered species listed on the Red Book (Russian list of protected species). Among those endangered species: Golden Eagle, White-tailed Eagle, Siberian Grouse, Small Swan of Bewick, Sika Deer, Siberian Tiger, Muskox, Beaver. Transfer to the inn of Bulgunniakhtat village. Dinner and night.
  • Day 7
  • Day 8
    Breakfast. Visit of the neolithic settlement of "Diring-Iuriakh" and of the nature reserve of Bisons "Ust-Buotama". Lunch. Transfer to the inn of Bulgunniakhtat village. Dinner and night.
  • Day 9
    Breakfast. Excursion to "Kurulur"* river. Transfer to Yakutsk. Visit of the museum "Permafrost Kingdom". Lunch. Visit of the ethnographic center "Tchotchur Muran" and festive dinner in the throne room of lord "Chyskhaan". Both Russian and Yakutian meals will be served. Transfer to the accommodation and night. * This excursion might be cancelled if the ferry to cross the Lena comes late.
  • Day 10
    Breakfast. Transfer to the airport. End of the program.
                      Detailed description
                      New departures available soon
                      Price includes
                      • English-speaking guide services
                      • Accommodation as per itinerary
                      • Transport as per itinerary
                      • Meals
                      • 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
                      • Celebratory dinner with alcoholic beverages
                      • Letter of invitation
                      • Camping outfit rental
                      • Horse and equipment rental
                      Price does not include
                      • Medical insurance
                      • Administrative registration
                      • Personal expenses and tips
                      • Visa fees and travel insurance
                      • Optional activities
                      For more info, please download the detailed description of the trip.
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