Big Country Travel: Trips to Russia, Adventure Tours & Vacation Packages

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We invite you to embark on an incredible journey along one of the most beautiful, but also harsh trails in Russia — the legendary Kolyma highway.

An exciting route from Yakutsk to Magadan awaits you, passing through deserted expanses and unique settlements where the spirit of the past is felt. You will see endless rivers, meet reindeer herders, get a certificate of visiting the Pole of Cold and make memorable shots.

This tour is a real expedition in which you will experience the beauty and grandeur of the harsh north.

Location

Yakutsk

from

Early
booking

Contact the tour coordinator

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

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Tour highlights

Kolyma Highway

You will drive along a road rich in sculptures and visit a section of the highway built by Gulag prisoners

The pole of cold

You will find yourself in one of the coldest places on the planet, where in winter the temperature can drop to -67.7 °C and receive a commemorative certificate

Memorable shots

During the stops you will be able to capture the incredible beauty of nature and your emotions from the journey

Majestic rivers

You will be able to cross one of the largest rivers of Yakutia — the Kolyma

Magadan City Tour

You will get acquainted with the history of the city and will be able to visit the memorial "Mask of Sorrow", the Museum of Local Lore and the Museum of Natural History

Amazing animals

Visit a team of reindeer herders and maybe you will be lucky to see wild animals on the way

Itinerary

Day 1 - The way to Khandyga
For acclimatization, we recommend arriving in Yakutsk the day before the start of the tour.
Meeting and transfer to the hotel on the day of arrival. Meeting and transfer to the hotel are charged separately if the arrival is not on the day of departure for the tour.
09:00 pick-up at the airport. Those who are already in the city will be picked up from the hotels.
The route runs along the famous Kolyma highway.
Two ferry crossings across the Lena River (15 km) and Aldan River (1.5 km) are waiting for you on the way.
After 100 km, stop for lunch at a roadside cafe in the village of Tengyulu.
This part of the road is rich in sculptures, which are located along the highway.
Khandyga village is the center of the industrial Thompson ulus. The former territory of Dalstroy begins with the Aldan River, on which the village is located.
Arriving in Khandyga, you will visit the local museum, which has an exhibition dedicated to GULAG prisoners.
You will stay at the village hotel for the night.
The length of the car route: 432 km, 8-9 hours on the way.
Day 2 - The way to Tomtor
07:30 Rise, breakfast.
09:00 Departure.
A road begins from the village of Khandygi, which was built by prisoners of GULAG camps in the 40-50 years of the XX century. During these years, camps were located along the road every 20-30 km.
The route passes through the Tomporuksky ranges, Rocky Mountains and Suntar Khayata, winding among the high mountains.
Mountain passes in this area: Tomporunsky, Cherny Prizhim, Aldano-Indigirsky.
On the way, stops in the most picturesque places for photography.
Lunch at the Kuba roadside cafe.
Accommodation in a guest house in the village of Tomtor.
In the guest house, the facilities are located inside the house. There is a sauna.
The length of the car route is 481 km, 10-12 hours on the way.
Day 3 - Excursions in Oymyakon and Tomtor
07:30 Wake up, breakfast.
09:00 Departure to the village of Oymyakon. Tomtor is 40 km from Oymyakon. The journey time to Oymyakon is 1 hour.
There is currently a weather station in the village of Oymyakon. Since Oymyakon is located lower in sea level than Tomtor, the air is concentrated in the Oymyakon lowland, colder than in Tomtor.
The program in Oymyakon:
photographing at the stele of Cold;
obtaining a certificate of visiting the Pole of Cold — Oymyakon.
12:00 On a visit to the Lord of the Cold Chyskhan.
Participation in the Algys ceremony.
Algys is a Yakut blessing rite that includes worship of the spirit of fire.
Getting to know Chyskhan's photo gallery, socializing.
Cultural program with a short concert.
Lunch.
After lunch, visit the Indigirka River.
Return to Tomtor.
The program includes:
visit to the village museum. The museum is rich in materials and exhibits from the time of the Gulag.
visit to the Underground residence of the Lord of Cold — Chyskhan.
Dinner at the guest house, rest.
Car route length: 80 km.
Day 4 - Transfer to Ust-Nera village
Lunch at the Kuba roadside cafe.
Ust-Nera is the "golden" capital of the northeastern part of Yakutia.
Numerous gold mines are located along the road from the village and almost to Magadan.
Arriving in Ust-Nera, stop overnight at a hotel in the village.
Mountain passes in this area: Bryungyadinsky, Olchansky.
Car route length: 393 km.
Day 5 - Transfer to the village of Yagodny
Breakfast in the cafe of the village.
On the way, the road crosses the border of Yakutia and the Magadan region.
Lunch is a snack.
In the evening, in the village of Yagodny, visit the private museum of the GULAG history of Ivan Panikarov.
Dinner at the cafe in the village.
The mountain passes on this site are Kolymo-Indigirsky, Arkhagalinsky and Burkhalinsky.
In Yagodnoye, overnight in guest houses — apartments.
The length of the car route: 505 km.

1 more photo
Day 6 - Arrival in Magadan
Breakfast in the guest houses.

On this day, we will move from Yagodnoye to Magadan. Crossing of one of the largest rivers of Yakutia — Kolyma.

Lunch at the cafe in the village of Laryukovo.

In the city, accommodation in apartment-type guest houses (or for an additional fee, accommodation in
the hotel). The guest houses are located in 3-room apartments in the city center.

Mountain passes on this site: Gerbinsky, Dedushkino Lysina, Chernoozersky, Yablonevy, Karamkensky.

Dinner at the cafe.

The length of the car route: 525 km.

2 more photos
Day 7 - Sightseeing day in Magadan
On this day, you will see the memorial "Mask of Sorrow" dedicated to the memory of victims of political repression.
Visit the Museum of Local Lore and the Museum of Natural History.
Take a walk along the coast of Nagaevskaya Bay, where steamboats with prisoners arrived during the era of Stalinist repression, following the stage to the camps of Magadan and Kolyma.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner at the cafe are provided on this day.
Day 8 - Flight home
Transfer to the airport for a Moscow flight (for an additional feepayment).
Flight home.

Difficulty

Suitable for everyone

Accommodation

Guest House

6 nights
Hotel

1 night

Comfort

Basic+

For acclimatization, we recommend arriving in Yakutsk the day before the start of the tour.

The tour provides accommodation during the tour in guest houses in the villages of Khandyga, Oymyakon, Tomtor, Ust-Nera.

For an additional fee, you can choose and book a room at the Azimut 3* or Alaas 3* hotel in Yakutsk. Both hotels are located in the city center.

An apartment-type guest house. There is everything that is in well-maintained apartments.

Tour conditions

Group

From 6 to 10 tourists

Minimum age

5 years old

Duration

8 days 7 nights

Group meets at

Yakutsk

Included in price

meeting at the airport on the day of the tour start;
all transfers related to the tour;
all excursions included in the tour program;
accommodation and meals in guest houses in the villages of Khandyga, Oymyakon, Tomtor, Ust-Nera;
guide services;
accident insurance in JSC DalzHaso (Khabarovsk);
financial liability insurance of the tour.

Paid extra

flights to Yakutsk and back from Magadan;
hotel accommodation in Yakutsk;
meeting and transfer to the hotel, if arrival is not on the day of departure for the tour;
meals not specified in the program:
- breakfast on the first, penultimate and last days of the tour;
- lunch on the first, fourth, sixth and seventh days of the tour;
- dinners on the fifth, sixth and seventh days of the tour;
everything that is not included in the price of the tour.

It's important to know

Clothing and shoes:

the jacket is warm;
fleece jacket;
The trousers are warm;
headdress;
thermal underwear is warm;
thermal underwear woolen;
socks are warm;
trekking shoes with a good grooved sole.

Camping equipment:

spare batteries, batteries;
Charger (Power Bank);
individual first aid kit;
personal hygiene products (towel, soap, toothpaste, toothbrush, toilet paper);
thermos 600 ml — 1 liter.

Dates and Prices

$2,326

1 – 8 Mar 8 days 7 nights

Tour option - Kolyma auto tour: Yakutsk — Oymyakon — Magadan

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No need to pay now
$2,382

7 – 14 Aug 8 days 7 nights

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21 – 28 Aug 8 days 7 nights

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Kolyma Summer car tour: Yakutsk — Oymyakon — Magadan