Winter tour of Central Yakutia (7 days)

🌄 Day 1. Getting to know Yakutsk

8:30 – Meeting with guide at the airport, transfer to hotel. Time difference with Moscow – +6 hours.
Check-in at hotel from 14:00. If you arrive on a morning flight, you can leave luggage in storage and go on excursion.

10:00–11:00 – Departure to ethnographic center ‘Us-Kut’. Ancient blessing ceremony ‘Algys’ and presentation of Yakut amulets.
The center is located near Yakutsk, founded by the Atlasov family. You will hear khomus and toyuk, see national rituals (spirit offering, purification, sun greeting).

11:15–11:45 – Excursion in the underground complex ‘Kingdom of Permafrost’. Meeting with Chyskhaan (Yakut Father Frost). Certificate of visiting the largest city on permafrost.
The complex is located inside a mountain: ice sculptures, paleontological exhibition, Ice Bar.

12:00–13:15 – Ascent to the viewpoint of sacred mountain Chochur Muran. Walk.
The mountain offers a view of the Tuymaada valley. The name translates as ‘pointed hill’. According to legend, it was here that Elley Botur first organized Ysyakh.

13:30–15:30 – Lunch at the restaurant of ‘Chochur Muran’ complex (not included, pay by menu). A brief tour of the ‘Expedition 16.32’ complex (a replica of Yakut Cossack fort, decorated with items from private collections).

16:00–17:00 – Museum of History and Culture named after E.M. Yaroslavsky (may be replaced with another museum).
Exhibitions: archaeology, ethnography, nature. Animal stuffed mounts, skeletons of Tirekhtyakh mammoth and Greenland whale.

17:00 – Transfer to hotel.

🌄 Day 2. Lena Pillars

8:00–13:00 – Meeting with guide at hotel lobby, departure to Lena Pillars Nature Park (220 km, ≈4 hours).
From December to mid-February, part of the route (3 km) – by snowmobile over the ice of the Lena River. In spring with strong wind the road may be blocked – then transfer to snowmobile is also possible.

En route – stops in Khangalassky District:

• Ancient caves and rock paintings (age ~4000 years, if ice road is available – usually from February to April)
• Venue of Ysyakh
• Road over the frozen Lena River
• Yakut villages, unique horses and cows

12:00 – Packed lunch or at a café en route (not included).

13:00 – Arrival in Batamay village, transfer to snowmobile and ride to Lena Pillars (3 km).
Lena Pillars – a natural monument, stretching for 35 km, height about 200 m.

13:00–16:00 – Ascent to the pillars, excursion, photos.

16:00–21:00 – Departure along the route ‘Labydia locality – Yakutsk’ (220 km).

21:00 – Arrival in Yakutsk, transfer to hotel.

🌄 Day 3. Religious exile in Yakutia and ethnographic excursion to Namsky District

09:00 – Departure from hotel.

09:45–10:30 – Markha settlement. Sightseeing tour ‘Religious exile in Yakutia. Skoptsy’.

11:00–11:30 – Kildyamtsy settlement. ‘Wooden architecture of Russian farmers’.

13:00–14:00 – Nikoltsy settlement (Namsky Ulus). ‘Nikolskaya Sloboda. History of agriculture in Yakutia’.

14:30–15:00 – Namtsy settlement. Lunch at a café (included).

15:00–16:30 – Namtsy settlement. Visit to Namsky Historical and Ethnographic Museum named after P. Sivtsev (on working days; return to Yakutsk may be earlier).

18:30–20:00 – Return to Yakutsk.

20:00 – Transfer to hotel.
Upon group request – a visit to a shaman is possible with itinerary adjustment.

🌄 Day 4. Reindeer farm

08:00 – Meeting with guide at hotel lobby, departure to reindeer farm.

11:00–13:00 – Visit to reindeer farm near Yakutsk. Walk around the camp, reindeer sledding.
Bring a snack or stop at a roadside café (not included).

13:00–16:00 – Transfer to hotel, rest.

16:00–17:00 – Excursion in the World Mammoth Museum (may be replaced).

17:30 – Transfer to hotel.

🌄 Day 5. Yakut horses and horse breeding

8:00 – Breakfast. Departure to Khangalassky or Megino-Kangalassky district to a horse breeding base.

• Meeting with the owner, excursion. Transfer to off-road vehicle (for large groups – in turns).
• Drive to the horse farm, stops at herds of Yakut horses, photo.
• Lunch at the horse breeder’s. Tasting of national dishes and natural kumis.
• Tour of production. Free time: feeding horses, horseback riding (optional), you can try milking a Yakut horse.

16:00–17:30 – Departure to Yakutsk.

🌄 Day 6. City of Yakutsk

10:00 – A short sightseeing tour of the city, walk in the ‘Old City’ district.
Historical and architectural complex in the center: 19th century buildings, streets paved with wooden blocks, cafes, restaurants, shops. Vehicle traffic is limited.

11:00–12:00 – Exhibition ‘Treasury of Yakutia’.
Thousands of exhibits: gold, silver, platinum, nuggets, precious stones. Collection of diamonds and brilliants. History of jewelry art.

12:00 – Lunch at a restaurant or café (not included; on weekdays – business lunch, on weekends – from the menu).

14:00–16:30 – Souvenir shop and Yakutsk peasant market.
The coldest outdoor market in the world. Fresh-frozen products are sold here, and in the covered part – souvenirs, meat, fish, dairy products.

16:30–17:00 – Transfer to hotel, rest.

🌄 Day 7. Way home

— Transfer to airport.