Greater Siberia. Cruise from Norilsk to Irkutsk

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Feel the greatness of Siberia!

You will explore amazing natural landscapes – from the harsh northern expanses of Norilsk to the picturesque shores of Lake Baikal. You will learn about the historical and cultural features of Siberian cities, get acquainted with local traditions and national cuisine. An unforgettable experience is guaranteed!

Location

the city of Norilsk

Contact the tour coordinator

Weekdays: 8am - 8pm
Weekends: 8am - 7pm (GMT +3)

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Tour highlights

A journey into the coolness of summer

Travel to the coldest (rarely, but sometimes up to -57° Celsius) and northernmost (69°21' n) city on the planet

The capital of Eastern Siberia

You will visit Irkutsk, a unique, ancient city, an ancient crossroads of trade routes

Boat trip

You will travel along the Yenisei, one of the largest rivers in Siberia and in the world.

Circum-Baikal Railway

You will see the road, built in the late XIX — early XX century, it connects the cities of Slyudyanka and Baikalsk

A city on the Yenisei

Take a sightseeing tour to Krasnoyarsk and visit the Krasnoyarsk Pillars National Park

The ancient heart of Siberia

Visit the ancient Yeniseisk, which is famous for its architecture

Itinerary

Day 1 - Norilsk Sightseeing Tour
In the morning, arrival in Norilsk, Alykel airport.
Group transfer to Norilsk.
Accommodation at the Talnakh Hotel.
13:00 Lunch.
15:30 Bus sightseeing tour of Norilsk. Norilsk got its name from the name of the area where it is located: the Norilskaya River flows near the city (the Pyasina River basin), the city itself is located near the Norilsk Mountains.
The Norilsk River and the Norilsk Mountains are mentioned in their reports by travelers Khariton Laptev, A. F. Middendorf, F. B. Schmidt.
Supper.
Day 2 - Putorana Plateau, Lake Lama and Kapchuk. South Neralakh Waterfall Tour
07:30 Breakfast.
08:00 Transfer to the pier.
Departure to Putorana Plateau, Lama Lake. The Norilsk River, or Norilka, flows in the Taimyr Dolgano-Nenets region. The length is 57 km. The bridge over the Norilka River is noted in the UNESCO collection "Bridge Building of the World" as "the northernmost of the large bridges in the world beyond the 69th parallel."
Lakes Melkoe, Lama, Keta, Glubokoe, Sobagye, Nakomyaken and numerous small lakes in the tundra play a regulatory role in the river's water regime, smoothing out floods.
Next, our path lies along the Talaya River, climbing up to the island of Melkoe, which is located about 25 km east of Norilsk. The lake is located in a wide basin between the western spurs of the Putorana plateau.
The lake is connected to Lake Lama by the Strait or, as the locals call it, the Lama River (Lamochen), 18 km long.
Here is the famous Lama Lake – northern Switzerland, Taimyr Baikal, polar Ritsa. This is perhaps the most beautiful and famous lake in Taimyr. According to scientists, the lake is about 100 million years old. The lake stretches for 80 km, while its width is not more than 14 km.
There are about 20 species of fish in the lake: muksun, taimen, whitefish, grouse, nelma, burbot, etc. By the way, the same name – the Lama – Evenks, who lived much further south, called Baikal.
Excursion to the waterfall "Yuzhny Neralakh" (the route length is about 2 km. one way). The waterfall is no more than 50 m high. It is one of the most beautiful waterfalls of the Putorana plateau. The walking accessibility of the waterfall allows a large number of tourists of all ages to admire such a natural phenomenon.
The trail to the waterfall passes through a charming tundra area filled with shrubs of rosemary, juniper, alder, blueberry, lingonberry, polar willow, dwarf birch and many other vegetation. Large stones are covered with colorful tundra moss.
Lunch (lunch box).

Kapchuk Lake tour is a small lake of tectonic origin surrounded by rocky mountains.
Climb to the observation deck, which offers stunning views of two fjord lakes: Lama on the right, Kapchuk on the left (the route length is about 2 km. one way, easy ascent).
Return to Norilsk.
Transfer to the hotel.
A late dinner.

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Day 3 - Excursion to the waterfall "Red Stones". Excursion to the Talnakh branch of the Norilsk Museum
Breakfast.
09:30 Transfer to the trail leading to the Red Stones waterfall.
Excursion to the waterfall (the length of the route is 3 km. in one direction, part of the way with an ascent) is one of the most accessible waterfalls of the Putorana plateau, often called the "Putorana plateau in miniature" or "window to the Putorana plateau".
The Red Stones got their name due to the color of the rock from which the slopes of the gorge are composed. The rocky shores of the lake, into which streams of water fall, are characterized by a pronounced red-brown hue.
The water cascades down several rocky ledges in a ringing cascade and flows into a clear lake up to 9 m deep.
13:30 Lunch.
16:00 Excursion to the Talnakh branch of the Norilsk Museum. The museum's exposition includes sections on the nature of Taimyr, the history of the development and construction of Talnakh, and the development of mining.
Museum materials make it possible to trace the geological and paleontological history of the territory of Norilsk from Archean times to the Cenozoic (present day).
The history of the discovery of deposits and the construction of mines, the life of the village, the city, and today the Talnakh district, the "ore capital" of Taimyr.
A walk along the observation deck.
Supper.

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Day 4 - The Taimyr Museum of Local Lore. Boarding the ship
Room release.
07:30 Breakfast.
08:00 Departure to Dudinka – the coldest (rarely, but sometimes up to -57 ° Celsius) and the northernmost (69°21' n) city on the planet.
It is located on the right bank of the river. The Yenisei River at the confluence with the Dudinka River, named after the first Russian merchant Dudin, who settled here in the first half of the 17th century, just above the mouth of the river.
Excursion to the Taimyr Museum of Local Lore.
Transfer to the passenger pier.
Boarding the scheduled passenger ship "A. Sailors", accommodation in first class cabins (in the cabin there are 2 upholstered sofas, a wardrobe, a washbasin). The ship departs at 12:00 from the Dudinka river port.
Lunch.
Boat tour. Information on the route of the ship.
Supper.
Overnight stop in Igarka.
Day 5 - Crossing the Arctic Circle. Stop in Turukhansk
In the morning, crossing the Arctic Circle (Kureika river).
Breakfast.
Demonstration of a film about Siberia.
Lunch.
Free time.
Supper.
The stop is in Turukhansk, located at the confluence of the Lower Tunguska with the Yenisei, 1,474 km north of Krasnoyarsk. Founded in 1607 as a winter quarters, since 1619 it has been inhabited by settlers from the burnt-out city of Mangazeya.
The former Turukhansk became the village of Staroturukhanskoye, and the modern village with the name Turukhansk was previously named Novoturukhansk. The landmark of the village is the Trinity Church (late 18th-early 19th century).
Here you will see the right tributary of the Yenisei – the Lower Tunguska. In the 17th century, Russian explorers named the Lower Tunguska River. Tunguska – because Tunguses (modern Evenks) lived on its shores, and the definition of Nizhnyaya distinguished it from the other two Tunguskas.

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Day 6 - Passage of the village of Verkhneimbatsk
Breakfast.
Demonstration of a film about Siberia.
Lunch.
Passage of Verkhneimbatsk village and Chulkovo village.
Supper.
Stop on the water near the village of Bakhta, named after the right tributary of the Yenisei river Bakhta.
Day 7 - Passage of the Osinovskaya system. Stops in Vorogovo and Yartsevo villages
Early morning stop in the village of Bor, here we pass another third largest tributary – Podkamennaya Tunguska.
It is a rapid river, characterized by its peculiar wild beauty. Its length is 1865 km. Podkamennaya is named because it makes its way to the Yenisei through many hundreds of kilometers of stone cliffs.
After 40 km, the Osinovsky threshold begins – the legendary narrow canyon, which is overcome with great difficulty. The passage through the threshold is narrow (700 m) and winding. The two steamers cannot separate, and the traffic here is one-way.
Passage of the Osinovskaya system. 30 meters from the ship, we observe Monastyrsky Island, which contains many legends and mysteries of the past.
Then the rocky islands of Korablik and Barochka suddenly appear in front of us, as if out of a haze, and beyond them the mighty Yenisei enters Osinovsky Cheeks, the most picturesque area in the lower reaches of the river.
The high granite shores form a corridor 50 m high.
Breakfast.
The village of Vorogovo is one of the southernmost settlements of the Turukhansky district. Local residents have organized a small market on the pier. On the shelves of "taiga exotic": assorted fish, mushrooms, wild berries, homemade cakes, mead, etc.
Lunch.
The stop in the village of Yartsevo is located in the middle reaches of the Yenisei River between two large left tributaries, the Kas and Sym rivers, and a colorful local market is organized here for the arrival of the ship.
Supper.
Day 8 - Arrival in Yeniseisk. The Museum of Local Lore. Sightseeing tour of the museum city
Breakfast.
Arrival in Yeniseisk.
Accommodation at the Yeniseiskaya Hotel. The hotel is located in the city center, has a unique architecture of the 18th century and an ancient interior. The rooms are equipped with handmade pine furniture (beds, bedside tables, cupboards), the halls are carpeted.
Lunch.
Excursion to the Museum of Local Lore. Sightseeing walking tour of Yeniseisk – the city is located on the Yenisei plain, on the left bank of the Yenisei, below the confluence of the Angara River, 330 km north of Krasnoyarsk.
Yeniseisk is called an "open-air museum", the urban development includes about 100 architectural monuments.
The complex of the Transfiguration Monastery and four churches are unique examples of Siberian Baroque, built in the middle and second half of the XVIII century. They are close to the Russian temples of the previous century in terms of planning and spatial structure and picturesque decor.
The stone civil buildings of Yeniseysk are mainly two–storey houses along the main street, on the embankment and central squares.
Supper.
Day 9 - Yeniseisk. Monastic Lake
Breakfast.
Continuation of the sightseeing walking tour of the city of Yeniseisk. Visit the Yenisei Spaso-Preobrazhensky Monastery, the Church of the Resurrection, the Church of the Holy Trinity, the Tatar Mosque.
And also the Cossack Gymnasium, where Valentin Felixovich Voino–Yasenetsky, one of the best surgeons of his time, an anatomist, scientist and at the same time a clergyman of the Russian Orthodox Church, worked for a long time.
Lunch.
Excursion to the Monastery lake, located 30 km west of Yeniseisk. Here, on the holy piece of the Yenisei land, prayer services and the sacraments of baptism are performed. A great place to relax and swim.
Supper.
Day 10 - Departure to Krasnoyarsk. Karaulny Island Hangar Tour
Breakfast.
Room release.
Departure by tourist bus to Krasnoyarsk.
On the way, stop at the Holy Cross Cathedral, the pearl of all Siberia and the main decoration of Lesosibirsk. There is a beautiful cedar park with an area of 5 hectares on the territory of the cathedral, a place of tranquility and solitude.
Angara tour to Karaulny Island – the most beautiful place in the Lower Angara region. The island is located on the Angara River near the confluence of the river with the Yenisei. Legend has it that the only daughter of Lake Baikal, the beautiful Angara, fell in love with the mighty Yenisei and decided to run away to him.
But Baikal was against their wedding, following his runaway daughter, he abandoned the palace, which was supposed to be her wedding gift. The palace fell apart into many fragments, they became the Strelkov Threshold, and the largest stone was Karaulny Island.
Nothing could stop the wayward daughter on the way to the Yenisei: neither the fierce rapids, nor the scattering of rocks, nor the cliffs that stood in the way of the fugitive.
Lunch-picnic on the island. We offer fresh fish soup with smoke, grilled fish and tea made from Siberian herbs.
Continuation of the journey to Krasnoyarsk.
Accommodation at the Krasnoyarsk Hotel.
Day 11 - Sightseeing tour of Krasnoyarsk
Breakfast.
10:00 Departure to the observation deck over the Yenisei River "Tsar Fish" — a monument in honor of the work of the same name by V.P. Astafiev was erected on this site in 2004.
Excursion to the village of Ovsyanka with a visit to the house-museum of V.P. Astafiev and the house of grandmother E.P. Potylitsyna.
The stop at the observation deck of the Krasnoyarsk hydroelectric power station is the second largest (6,000 MW) hydroelectric power station in Russia, with the Sayano-Shushenskaya HPP taking the first place.
On the way back, stop at the Divnogorsk embankment, which offers an impressive view of the Yenisei and the wonderful mountains.
14:00 Lunch at the hotel.
15:00 Bus sightseeing tour of Krasnoyarsk.
17:00 Excursion to the St. Nicholas Steamship Museum, a unique monument of history and technology, built in 1886 in Tyumen, now permanently berthed in the city of Krasnoyarsk.
Return to the hotel.
Supper.

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Day 12 - Krasnoyarsk Pillars National Park
Breakfast.
09:00 Departure to the Krasnoyarsk Pillars National Park.
10:00 Guided tour of the National Park (route length: climbing 317 steps and about 3.5 km along the ring trail). The park was founded in 1925 on the initiative of the residents of the city to preserve the natural complexes around the picturesque syenite remains — "pillars".
The main attraction of the park are the rocks. The name "Pillars" is common to all rocks, although all rocks and even some stones have their own names.
There is a direct distinction between "Pillars" — rocks open to tourists, and "Wild Pillars" — rocks located deep in the park, access to which is limited.
Return to the hotel.
14:00 Lunch.
Free time.
20:00 Dinner.
Day 13 - Flight to Irkutsk. City sightseeing tour
Breakfast.
Transfer to Yemelyanovo airport.
Departure to Irkutsk (1.5 hours on the way).
Meeting, transfer to the restaurant.
Lunch.
Sightseeing tour of the city. Irkutsk today is a major administrative, industrial, commercial, cultural and scientific center of Eastern Siberia. The population is more than 600 thousand people. Irkutsk is one of the five most visited cities in Russia.
The main attraction is Lake Baikal.
Transfer to the Angara Hotel.
Supper.
Day 14 - Pic. Big Cats. A simple hike along the Great Baikal Trail to the rocky cliff of Skriper
Breakfast at the hotel.
Transfer to the marina.
Departure by high-speed boat to the village. Big Cats.
Arrival in the village. Big Cats. It is a small village located on the western shore of Lake Baikal, 16 km northeast of Listvyanka.
There are two versions of the origin of the village's name. The first one comes from the word "cats": That was the name of a trap for fish that entered the river to spawn.
The second one comes from the word "cats" — wooden shoes for convicts who stayed here during gold mining in the 19th century.
The Big Cats have a real taiga, rich in mushrooms, berries and medicinal herbs, rare species of wild flowers: peonies, orchids, etc.
2-bed accommodation.
Lunch.
A simple hike along the Great Baikal Trail to the rocky cliff of Skriper (the length of the route is 8 km). Skriper is a picturesque rocky cliff on the western coast of Lake Baikal. It is a geomorphological natural monument of the Irkutsk region.
The cliff is composed of Jurassic conglomerates and has picturesque weathering patterns. Almost on the sheer part of the cliff, the entrance to the cave is visible, in which traces of a Neolithic human encampment were found.
We will climb to the top, which offers a picturesque view of the surroundings, and admire the panorama of Lake Baikal.
Return to the campsite.
Supper.
Relaxing on the lake.
Day 15 - Scallop Mountain. Museum of Baikal Studies. Departure to Listvyanka
Breakfast at the campsite.
Hiking up the mountain "Comb" (the length of the route is 3 km). This is an observation deck over Lake Baikal, offering panoramic views of the village of Bolshye Koty and Lake Baikal.
Return to the campsite. Lunch. Relaxing on the lake. Excursion to the Museum of Baikal Studies, one of the oldest museums in Russia, founded by Professor M. M. Kozhov. The museum has more than 400 different exhibits and a rich collection of insects. The museum is located near the shore, 100 meters from the pier.
Evening flight by water transport to the village. Listvyanka. Listvyanka is the oldest village on Lake Baikal and a port on the only river flowing out of Lake Baikal – the Angara.
The first inhabitants were free settlers, free Cossacks, and fugitive exiles. Listvyanka is one of the points of attraction for tourists, the village is called the gateway to Lake Baikal.
Arrival in Listvyanka.
Accommodation at the Mayak Hotel.
Supper.
Day 16 - The Taltsy Museum of Wooden Architecture. Baikal Museum. Chersky Mountain
Breakfast at the hotel.
Excursion to the Taltsy Museum of Wooden Architecture. The Taltsy Architectural and Ethnographic Museum is a unique collection of historical, architectural and ethnographic monuments of the 17th and 20th centuries. It is located on the right bank of the Angara River.
The open-air museum complex attracts visitors with the opportunity to directly experience the material and spiritual culture of the peoples of the Baikal region.
Return to Listvyanka.
Excursion to the Baikal Museum. There is only one lake museum in Russia, the Baikal Museum. The exhibition features stuffed fish, as well as exhibits of representatives of the animal world, including those living on the bottom of Lake Baikal, preserved by fixing liquid. A mock-up of the lair of a seal and a white seal.
Lunch.
A chairlift ride to the observation deck on Chersky Mountain. The Chersky Stone is a mountain peak near the village of Listvyanka. The unique location and the view from above add mystery and mystery to this observation deck.
From the top point there is a stunning view of Lake Baikal, the source of the Angara, Shaman-stone, Khamar-Daban ridge. It is named after Jan Dominik Czerski, a Polish patriot who was exiled to Siberia and became a famous explorer of Lake Baikal.
Return to the hotel.
Supper.

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Day 17 - Circum-Baikal Railway
Breakfast at the hotel.
Transfer to the marina.
Departure by ferry to Port Baikal. Boarding the train.
Tour of the Circum-Baikal railway.
Lunch on the train.
Arrival at the railway station in Slyudyanka. The city is located on the western shore of Lake Baikal, 110 kilometers from Irkutsk and is considered one of the southernmost settlements of the region.
In 1899, the railway settlement of Slyudyanka was founded on the site of the winter quarters, which received the status of a workers' settlement in 1928.
The name Slyudyanka is of Russian origin. It is based on the appellative "mica", the name of a mineral that has been mined for 350 years in the vicinity of the settlement. Slyudyanka did not change its name, being a prison, a winter quarters, a village and a city.
Transfer to Arshan village. Arshan is located 120 km from Slyudyanka. The village appeared at the beginning of the 20th century and developed thanks to the sources found at that time. In 1930, it turned into a resort of national importance. Arshan means "healing water" in the Buryat language.
2-bed accommodation at the Irkut Hotel.
Supper.

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Day 18 - Tunka Valley and the Nile Desert
Breakfast at the hotel.
Arshan village walking tour. Hike to the waterfall of the river Kyngarga (ascent along a well–maintained trail - 2 km). The canyon of the Kyngarga River (kyngarga means "drum" in Buryat) makes a lot of noise. It is located in the Tunka valley, in the vicinity of the resort village of Arshan.
It originates on the southern slope of the Tunka Chars at an altitude of about 2000 m. It flows in a southerly direction, breaks through a steep slope, forming a canyon and 12 waterfalls. Arshan mineral springs are located at the outlet of the river into the Tunka Valley.
Lunch.
Tunka Valley car tour. Tunka Valley is located in the south-west of the Republic of Buryatia, located 40 km west of the southern tip of Lake Baikal. It stretches from west to east for 190 km and is bounded by the Tunka Chars range from the north and the Khamar Daban mountain system from the south.
The Nile Desert is located in the southwestern part of the republic in the Tunka district. More precisely, there is a desert in the village of Nilovka of the same name on the lively mountain river Ihe-Uhgun. The word desert means a small settlement of monks.
The Irkutsk Archbishop Nil Nerchinsky once visited the mineral spring discovered here. He wanted to make a place here where Orthodox ministers could take baths. The name Nile Desert came from his last name.
Visit to the datsan.
Return to the hotel in Arshan.
Supper.
Day 19 - Departure
Breakfast.
Room release.
Departure by regular bus to Irkutsk (length – about 200 km, 4 hours).

Difficulty

Suitable for everyone

Accommodation

Hotel

8 nights
Cabin on the boat

4 nights
Camp Site

6 nights

Comfort

Basic+
Midscale
Upscale
Premium

The tour includes accommodation in hotels and tourist bases along the way, as well as on the Alexander Matrosov cruise ship:

The cost of the tour per person: 272,600 rubles .

Surcharge for single occupancy:

at the Talnakh Hotel (3 nights) — 7800 rub.;
Krasnoyarsk (3 nights) — 5400 rub.;
in the hotel "Angara" (1 night) – 2400 rub.;
Big Cats (1 night) — 2500 rub.;
in the Mayak hotel (2 nights) – 3,800 rubles.;
in the Irkut hotel (2 nights) – 3400 rub.

The surcharge for a double room with amenities at the Yeniseiskaya Hotel (2 nights) is 8,800 rubles (4,400 rubles/person).

Located in Norilsk. It offers modern rooms with a flat-screen TV, free Wi-Fi internet access, and a stylish international restaurant.

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Tour conditions

Group

up to 20 tourists

Minimum age

7 years old

Duration

19 days 18 nights

Group meets at

the city of Norilsk

Included in price

transfers according to the program;
flight Krasnoyarsk – Irkutsk;
2-bed hotel accommodation;
1-2-bed accommodation in a first class cabin on a ship;
meals specified in the program: 3 meals a day;
the excursion program;
museum entrance tickets;
accompanied by a tour guide;
Arshan– Irkutsk regular bus ticket.

Paid extra

air and railway tickets to Norilsk and from Irkutsk;
accommodation before and after the tour;
baggage on the flight from Krasnoyarsk to Irkutsk.

It's important to know

Medical preparations for individual needs.
Documents: passport, insurance policy (medical).
Comfortable athletic shoes: light running shoes and, if possible, canyoning shoes, replacement shoes (light running shoes or sneakers).
Sportswear for hot and cool weather:
- The jacket is windproof, waterproof;
- raincoat;
- warm tracksuit (sweatshirt, pants);
- T-shirts with long (from sunburn) and short sleeves;
- sports trousers;
- shorts;
- socks.
Headdress: cap, panama hat (with a visor!).
A bathing suit.
Personal hygiene products.
Useful equipment:
- small backpack (20-30 l);
- a flashlight with spare batteries;
- sunscreen (required!);
- sunglasses.
For photo and video equipment, take care of airtight packaging in case of rain.;
We recommend that you do not take large suitcases on the tour, as some hotels do not have an elevator (in the Talnakh Hotel, the Yeniseiskaya Hotel).

Reviews Leave a review

Z
Zhanna

about provider

20 Aug, 2025

It was an impressive trip with a very diverse route. The food was plentiful, maybe even a bit too much. For such a long journey, there wasn’t as much walking as I would have liked.

Big Country Travel

Hello Zhanna, Thank you for your feedback! We’re glad to hear that you enjoyed the trip overall. We’d be delighted to welcome you on one of our other tours around Russia!