Why Oymyakon is called the Pole of Cold
Oymyakon is a legendary village in eastern Yakutia that competes with Verkhoyansk for the title of the coldest inhabited place on Earth. A temperature of −67.7°C was officially recorded here. But the Pole of Cold is not just about frost. It’s a place where strong‑spirited people live, preserving centuries‑old traditions and able to enjoy life despite everything.
How people live at −60°C
Life in Oymyakon is a daily challenge. Cars are kept running for months, eyelashes get covered with frost in seconds, and the ink in a pen freezes outdoors. But locals take the frost philosophically: “If you dress properly, the cold isn’t scary.” Homes are heated with wood and coal, and the menu is dominated by high‑calorie food — raw frozen fish (stroganina), foal meat and hot tea with milk.
What you’ll see and taste
- The “Pole of Cold” stela — the famous sign where all travellers take photos.
- Meeting Chyskhaan — the Yakut Lord of the Cold, a fairy‑tale character who gives certificates for visiting the coldest place.
- Oymyakon cuisine — stroganina from chir, salamat, grayling fish soup and definitely hot kumis.
- Ice roads — travelling along winter roads across the Indigirka and Kyubyume rivers.
- The “Pole of Cold” festival — if you come at the end of March, you’ll become part of a folk festival with reindeer sled races and national songs.
“When you stand at the Pole of Cold at −55°C, you realise how truly alive you are. This feeling is indescribable.”— from a tourist review
How to plan a trip to Oymyakon
We organise tours to Oymyakon in individual and group formats. You can choose a duration from 4 to 8 days. The programme includes a Yakutsk city tour, travel along the Kolyma Highway, overnight stays in guest houses, a visit to the Pole of Cold and, if you wish, rafting on the Sordonnokh or a trip to the legendary Lake Labynkyr. All transfers, meals and warm clothing are included.
