7 Nights / 8 Days
The 鈥淧ole of Cold鈥 is a place where the coldest temperatures on Earth have ever been recorded. In the northern hemisphere, the honour goes to a remote Siberian township known as Oymyakon, widely regarded as the coldest permanently inhabited place on the planet. When you travel to Oymyakon on this tour with us, it will be about much more than just experiencing one of the most unique cultural festivals on Earth. It鈥檚 about immersing yourself in a completely different reality, a place where people rely on time-tested traditions to live in a place that challenges the very limits of human endurance.
This is the harsh, frozen Siberia of your imagination. A real place, where the cold brings people closer to each other, both literally and figuratively. During the Pole of Cold festival, you鈥檒l be astonished not only by the incredible fortitude of the people who survive here but also by their extraordinary warmth and hospitality. On this tour, you鈥檒l travel by road from the Yakutian capital, Yakutsk, to Oymyakon, 970km to the east. In Tomtor, a small village in the Oymyakon valley, Russian scientist Sergey Obrychev recorded a bone-chilling, record-breaking temperature of 鈭71.2 掳 back in 1924. Around here, the average low temperature for January is 鈭50掳C. Our Pole of Cold tour takes place during March when the average low is a comparatively comfortable 鈭40掳C!
Astoundingly, around 500 people make their homes in this seemingly uninhabitable environment, mainly engaged in traditional occupations such as reindeer herding, hunting, and fishing. In the last few years, another small, specialised industry has emerged here 鈥 tourism. Tourism in Oymyakon is reserved for the hardiest of travellers, hoping to get a taste of daily life in the most extreme of climates. The Pole of Cold International Tourism Festival has taken place in Tomtor village annually since 2001. During the festival, you鈥檒l witness lively celebrations showcasing the traditional costumes, music, and dance of the indigenous Evens people as well as reindeer racing, ice fishing, dog sledding and native cuisine.Flights, travel insurance, visa, optional excursions, individual transfers, tips
Welcome to Yakutia, Siberia鈥檚 arctic wonderland. Our group meet at the airport and transfer to a hotel in downtown of Yakutsk.
In the afternoon, we head out on a tour of city starting with a visit to the Old City district.
Next we drive to Chochur Muran, a fascinating cultural ethnographic complex and reproduction of the original Yakutsk fort built by Cossacks
in 1632.
After lunch, we spend a few hours with the famous Yakut Laika dogs. Enjoy dog sledding experience! Next, we wander through the extraordinary underground gallery, The Kingdom of the Permafrost.
Relish a cool drink from the ice bar and admire the gallery鈥檚 stunning ice sculptures, which are stored year round in natural permafrost.
After we will be transferred to Ytyk-Khaya Tourist Center, which is famous for its traditions, and hospitality. It is an introduction to a world of ancient rites such as fire taming, sun welcoming, purification, and shaman fortune telling.
Our journey by road to the northern Pole of Cold begins!
Today we鈥檒l travel for 8-9 hours to the small settlement of Khandyga, 432km east of Yakutsk.
Our route passes through four districts: Megino-Kangalassky, Churapcha, Tattinsky and Tomponsky.
On the way, our bus will navigate two ice crossings over the Lena and Aldan rivers. En route, we stop to visit the Cherkehsky Musuem complex.
This open air museum was opened as a memorial to the exiles banished to Gulag camps in remotest Yakutia. Built on the banks of the peaceful Tatta River, it contains several fascinating reproductions of the houses and yurts of Russia鈥檚 political prisoners.
We arrive in Khandyga by late evening for a traditional meal and homestay accommodation.
We continue onwards to Oymyakon, 540km (about 12 to 14 hours) further east.
This historic route passes through the spectacular Verkhoyansk mountain ranges on the iconic Kolyma Highway, Russia鈥檚 infamous 鈥淩oad of Bones鈥.
Built under the rule of Joseph Stalin, the Kolyma Highway was notorious - back-breakingly carved out of the sides of mountains by over 800,000 slave labourers 鈥 political prisoners and captives from the German-occupied territories.
Scores of prisoners died from cold and hunger, and their bones were buried just below the surface and rolled into the road, giving the highway its haunting nickname.
We arrive at Oymyakon at night in time for dinner and a well earned night鈥檚 rest.
Our time in the coldest inhabited place on earth begins with a morning tour of the township.
We visit the official Pole of Cold monument. You鈥檒l be given an official certificate from the local government commemorating your visit!
We鈥檒l also drop into the Ice Residence of Chyskhaan, the mythical Lord of Frost.
Set underground beneath the permafrost, this icy gallery contains unique exhibits on the local history and wildlife, the throne room of Chyskhaan, numerous icy tunnels to explore and an ice bar where you鈥檒l taste Yakutia dishes and local vodkas.
Our next stop is the Literary Museum which reveals the harsh realities of life in the Gulag prison camps.
In the afternoon, we鈥檙e absorbed into the colourful celebrations of the Pole of Cold Festival.
Today鈥檚 events include folklore performances, an 鈥榚xtreme tourism鈥 photo exhibition and the annual Miss 芦Pole of Cold禄 beauty contest, featuring some mightily inappropriate outfits! Our evening is spent at a homestay in the village.
Today, we visit Yuchyugey village, 50km from Tomtor, in time for the annual reindeer herders celebration.
This fascinating show is based on the ancient customs of the indigenous Evens people.
Reindeer sleds are elaborately decorated in traditional ornaments, ready to take guests for a ride through the Taiga.
The main event is the reindeer races, where herders demonstrate the strength and agility of their animals.
The reindeer has a vital place in Yakutian culture, providing transport, meat, milk and the fur clothing essential for survival in these freezing conditions.
We spend the night in Yuchyugey village, in the cosy, wood fire warmed home of a reindeer herding family.
Our return journey to Yakutsk takes place over the next two day
Our return journey to Yakutsk takes place over the next two day
Our extraordinary adventure to the Pole of Cold has comes to an end.
In the morning, we transfer from our hotel to Yakutsk airport, ready for the journey home.
No of pax | Age Limit | Price per pax (Rs) |
---|---|---|
Adult | Above 12 years | $ 4650 / Adult |
56th Parallel is an Independent travel company specialising in providing package tours and travel services in Russia, with offices located in Sydney and Moscow. We鈥檙e driven by travellers who are seeking a wholesome and unique travel experience in Russia. Our goal is providing seamless, life enriching travel. Experiencing it ourselves by returning many times to various destinations in Russia since 2002, we felt that there is a big knowledge gap in the market regarding Russia as a travel destination. We decided that people deserves to know and experience real Russia. Read More...
Lower Volga River Cruise Package
Moscow - Yaroslavl - Kazan - Volgograd - Uglich - Nizhny Novgorod - Samara - Sarato..
Arctic Rail Explorer - Quest for Norther..
St.Petersburg - Murmansk - Petrozavodsk - Vladimir - Suzdal - Moscow - Kirkeness - ..
Naadam Festival - Trans - Mongolian Expr..
Irkutsk - Novosibirsk - Kazan - Moscow - Mongolia - Ulaan Bataar - Yekaterinburg
Golden Eagle, Luxury Trans-Siberian Expr..
Moscow - Kazan - Novosibirsk - Irkutsk - Vladivostok
Imperial Russia, Classic Trans-Siberian ..
Moscow - Kazan - Novosibirsk - Irkutsk - Beijing
Delhi Shimla Manali Honymoon Package
New Delhi - Shimla - Manali - Chandigarh City