Cruise across the deepest canyon of Siberia
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
Highlights
- Cruise on the Lena - the greatest Siberian river
- Sailing through the Lena Schyoki
- Getting acquainted with the Yakuts and their culture
- Conference on Yakutia and russian language class
- Acuqaintace with the nature of the permafrost region
Tour Overview
Welcome on board!
This tour gives you the opportunity to explore one of the most mysterious regions of Siberia: Yakutia.
Aboard the cruise ship you will sail up the third greatest river in Russia: the Lena River.
You will begin your tour with a visit of Yakutia's capital: Yakutsk. Then, as soon as the ship gets going you can admire the beautiful landscapes and distinctive features that the banks have in store, including the Lena Pillars and the impressive Lena Schyoki Canyon.
This cruise will also allow you to meet the Yakuts, whose history and daily life is intimately linked to the Lena River.
The cruise is held on board of the ship "Mikhail Svetlov" (or "Demyan Bedniy" - the sister ship.
Technical description: year built - 1986 (1985), length - 90,3 m, width - 15 m, maximum speed - 21 km/h, cabins - 66, accommodation - 210 berths expedition.Tour programme
- Day 1Start of the navigation and open-air museumYakutsk — Lena river
- Day 2Great rocks - Lena PillarsLena river
- Day 3Naviagation near the DapparaiLena river
- Day 4Visit of exile placeLena river
- Day 5Acquaintance with people of YakutiaLena river
- Day 6Vitim villageLena river
- Day 7Lena Schyoki canyonLena river
- Day 8Discovery of LenskLena river
- Day 9Discovery of the Mirnyi cityLena river
- 09:00Arrival to Yakutsk*The indicated time is approximate and can be changed according to the chosen flight.
- 11:00Transfer to the river port
- 12:00Accommodation in the cabins and the start of the navigationRest. Start of the navigation. This day we will go to the Sottintsy village where the open-air museum.
- 13:00Lunch on board
- 14:00Excursion to the museum of history and architectureExcursion to historic-architecture open-air museum "Druzhba" ("Friendship") located on the place of the primary foundation of the "Lensk fortified town" founded by Russian cossacks, the future city of Yakutsk. The Museum shows samples of ancient wooden architecture in traditional Russian and Yakut styles. The wooden home utensils, national Yakut clothes and monuments of Russian Orthodoxy are very interesting. Wonderful landscapes and interesting historical excursions make the museum visit both informative and pleasant.
- 19:00Dinner
- Overnight on board
Photo of the day
Route
Yakutsk — Lena river
Accommodation
Accommodation in the twin cabin, Mikhail Svetlov
Twin cabin
- 09:00Breakfast
- 11:00Lena Pillars national parkStay in the "Lena Pillars" national park where one can see steep rocks - in the form of 200 meters high pillars that are stretched for 40 km along the river. One can distinguish colonnades, arches, battlements in their shapes. You will enjoy a wonderful rest in this fairy "land".
- 13:00Lunch during the excursion
- 14:00Continuation of the excursionAfter having a welcome ceremony with ritual dance and "Purifying with fire" ceremony you will be taken to rock massif (a trip for tough and strong people!). There is no way to express how you will feel up there. From the top of one of the "towers" you will get a magnificent view of the great river, endless taiga zone and rocks. Looking up at the sky in all its different shades of colours one really feel like he is a part of this untouched nature.
- 19:00Dinner
- Overnight on board
Photo of the day
Route
Lena river
Accommodation
Accommodation in the twin cabin, Mikhail Svetlov
Twin cabin
- 09:00Breakfast
- 11:00Navigation to the Dapparai riverYou will spend this day on board. Navigation from the Buotama river till the Dapparai river mouth.
- 13:00Lunch
- 15:00Free timeOn board you have a possibility to watch films about Yakutia and attend lectures about culture and history of the regios.
- 19:00Dinner
- Overnight on boarf
Photo of the day
Route
Lena river
Accommodation
Accommodation in the twin cabin, Mikhail Svetlov
Twin cabin
- 09:00Breakfast
- 10:00Visit of Ancient OlyokminskYou can enjoy the untouched nature and greatness of the Lena territory in the area of the Olekma River estuary. The first settlement of Olyokminsk - yasak winter houses - was established in the Olekma River estuary in 1635. Olyokminsk was also the place where the Decembrists were sent in exile. Old believers also settled there as they were looking to escape the reforms.
- 13:00Lunch
- 15:00Continuation of the excursionAgriculture including crop farming was widely developed here due to mild climate. In Olyokminsk are located the woodworking industry and plaster mine. Just a little bit further lies the Chara River which is known for its deposits of rare semi-precious purple stone.
- 19:00Dinner
- Overnight on board
Photo of the day
Route
Lena river
Accommodation
Accommodation in the twin cabin, Mikhail Svetlov
Twin cabin
- 09:00Breakfast
- 11:00Station near the Dapparai villageOn the riverside you will be welcomed by the folklore concert and local rites.
- 13:00Lunch
- 15:00Walking along the shoreOur station is situated on the Lena River’s right bank. It’s not far away from Dapparai river mouth. Dapparai is a nice place for fishing. If the height of water is normal you will go to the sand and stony riverbank or deserted wood trails. Also you will enjoy an autumn beauty of taiga nature.
- 19:00Dinner
- Obernight on board
Photo of the day
Route
Lena river
Accommodation
Accommodation in the twin cabin, Mikhail Svetlov
Twin cabin
- 09:00Breakfast
- 10:00Stop near the Vitim villageVitim is a right tributary of the Lena river. It is formed by junction of Vitimkan and Cheena, one of the wildest and oldest rivers of South Siberia. Great expert of the area academician V.A. Obruchev wrote that Vitim was more original, magnificent and impressive than the slow Lena. The full length of the river is 1978 km. The Vitim River is technically complicated, with various set of natural obstacles. Navigation is made difficult by the important rush of water caused by autumn rain. At the river mouth is you can find the village of Vitim, which totals 6 000 inhabitants. Within the framework of mega-project and the growth of the Talakan oil deposit, a city is to be built right there in the near future.
- 13:00Lunch on board
- 14:00Walking excursionWe will visit the local school where the local history museum is situated.
- 19:00Dinner
- Overnight on board
Photo of the day
Route
Lena river
Accommodation
Accommodation in the twin cabin, Mikhail Svetlov
Twin cabin
- 09:00Breakfast
- 11:00Visit of Lena Schyoki canyonThe Lena Schyoki are located 269 km far from Kirensk downstream and 172 km from the Vitim estuary upstream. It is narrow canyon made of three copper-like red cliff formations that rise 200m above the river. These fancy cliffs covered by forests are one of the most beautiful and renowned places in the Lena River area.
- 13:00Lunch
- 14:00Continuation of the excursionAccording to description of I.A. Goncharov in his book "Fregate Pallas": "These are huge magnificent rocks that I hardly saw on sea shores. They are wild and scary, and one just wants to pass them and get it over with". The river sheers from the first "cheek", comes to the second located right opposite the first one and then goes to the third, the biggest rock formation. The walls of the flexuous canyon reflect the sound of the ship 24 times. On the left bank there is a rock called "Drunk bull". This area is the narrowest on the Lena river (only 200 meters) and the most dangerous one.
- 19:00Dinner
- Overnight on board
Photo of the day
Route
Lena river
Accommodation
Accommodation in the twin cabin, Mikhail Svetlov
Twin cabin
- 09:00Breakfast
- 10:00Lensk city-tourLensk is a large river port which mainly serves the import-export traffic for the diamond extraction company ALROSA. It was built in 1963 in the Mukhtuya village area which was founded in XIX century as a post station on Prilensk road. Nowadays it is a modern town with a developed industry and cultural center. Lensk has a really tragic history linked with floods that swept away the town several times. But as a Phoenix bird the town was reborn again and again. In 2001 the town suffered its worst natural disaster. Since then a new block was built (with ALROSA's money) to replace the damaged wooden houses.
- 13:00Lunch during the excursion
- 15:00Continuation of the excursionWalking along the river quay
- 19:00Dinner
- Overnight on board
Photo of the day
Route
Lena river
Accommodation
Accommodation in the twin cabin, Mikhail Svetlov
Twin cabin
- 08:00Bus tour to Mirnyi city (to pay on site) — Not includedDeparture early in the morning. Breakfast (lunch-box). City-tour in Mirnyi, visit of the quarry "Mir", of the museum of kimberlites, excursion to centre of diamonds triage. *If you go for this excursion, the lunch will be proposed in the city. *The excursion costs 6000 RUB (the price can be changed a little).
- 09:00Breakfast on board
- 10:00Transfer to the townEnd of the programme.
- Overnight on board — Not included
Photo of the day
Route
Lena river
Discount system
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Price includes
- English-speaking guide services
- Accommodation as per itinerary
- Meals
- Medical insurance
- 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
- Meals according to the program
Price does not include
- Administrative registration
- Personal expenses and tips
- Visa fees and travel insurance
- Airline tickets
For more info, please download the detailed description of the trip.
Note
The price is for one person and includes accommodation in a twin cabin. The price is fixed in euros. Single supplement - 500 euros. After the cruise, we can help you with the booking of the supplement services: - accommodation in the hotel "Zarnotsa" of the Mirny town ; - flight Mirny - Yakutsk or Mirny - Moscow. Don't hesitate to contact us for all details. Everyday lectures about Yakutia, the Russian language classes and movie demonstration are offered. Thematic entertaining program in the musical saloon will be available in the evening.
Reviews
Total score
Work of BaikalNature office before and during travel / customer support
Quality of accommodation
Quality of transport / transfers
Quality of meals
Friendliness and professionalism of guides / management
Quality and originality of visits / attractions / events
Stephen
From 19 June 2013 to 30 June 2013
Destination: Yakutia
Would you like to travel with BaikalNature again? Yes!
Very good cruise. The ship is clean and well organised. The crew and staff are pleasant and helpful. The entertainments and informative talks and films were good. Excursions along the way were interesting and well organised. Overall a very pleasant and relaxing holiday.
No reviews anymore or no reviews at all for this tour. Below reviews for destination:
Total score
Work of BaikalNature office before and during travel / customer support
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Francis
From 22 March 2018 to 19 July 2018
Destination: Yakutia
Custom tour: Découverte 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
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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.Total score
Work of BaikalNature office before and during travel / customer support
Quality of accommodation
Quality of transport / transfers
Quality of meals
Friendliness and professionalism of guides / management
Quality and originality of visits / attractions / events
Eric
From 27 January 2018 to 3 February 2018
Destination: Yakutia
Tour: Pole of Cold
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 !Total score
Work of BaikalNature office before and during travel / customer support
Quality of accommodation
Quality of transport / transfers
Quality of meals
Friendliness and professionalism of guides / management
Quality and originality of visits / attractions / events
Serge
From 27 January 2018 to 3 February 2018
Destination: Yakutia
Tour: Pole of Cold
Would you like to travel with BaikalNature again? Yes!
This guest did not leave a comment.
Total score
Work of BaikalNature office before and during travel / customer support
Quality of accommodation
Quality of transport / transfers
Quality of meals
Friendliness and professionalism of guides / management
Quality and originality of visits / attractions / events
Serge
From 27 January 2018 to 3 February 2018
Destination: Yakutia
Tour: Pole of Cold
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
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