EAE2. At the Edge of the World

                This survey trip grants an opportunity to see all main features of Chukotka in one respectively short trip. You will see majestic tundra landscapes of plains and mountains. You will cruise along sea coasts and observe sea birds and mammals. You will visit native settlements and field stands of aborigines: the Chukchi and the Eskimo (the Siberian Yupik) and get to know their real traditional lifestyles.

              The sea part of the trip is spent at the Senyavin Strait and its islands, exclusively rich with sea mammals and birds. You will see feeding grey whales, seals and walruses as well as multiple colonies of sea birds. If you are lucky, you will see hundreds or even thousands of walruses lying at a rookery. There are good chances to watch traditional walrus hunting by local Eskimo hunters. You will visit the world famous Whale Bone Alley – an ancient memorial of Eskimo culture. Walks in mountain tundra will acquaint you with specific local flora and fauna. Bathing in hot springs close to our field camp will charge you with additional energy for each next day. Local landscapes with water and isles surrounded with mountains are truly great at this most remote edge of the Eurasian landmass.

            A caterpillar off-road vehicle will transfer you for several days into the heart of tundra to localities where Chukchi reindeer herders roam with their herds like centuries ago. You will see a herd with several hundred of reindeers and deep into different sides of true herders' lifestyle: from a modern stationary settlement Yanrakynnot to a nomadic stand with traditional yarangas and to a real roaming herd.

 

 

Type: Adventure
Tour duration: 12 days
Months of Operation: August
Recommended Group Size: 4 - 12 PAX
Mode of Travel: airplane, minibus, ATM bus, motor boat, caterpillar off-road vehicle, on foot

Itinerary:

Day 1.(MON). Arrival in Anadyr. Transfer to the city by minibus and motor boat. Accommodation in hotel “Anadyr”. City tour of Anadyr. Dinner. Free time. (D)

Day 2. Visiting Chukotka Heritage Museum Center and Art Gallery.  Free time. Masterclass on tailoring the Chukchi-Eskimo things. Overnight. (BLD)

Day 3. Free time in Anadyr. Excursion to rhe Geological Museum. Fishing (payable on spot). Overnight. (BLD)

Day 4. Transfer to airport by minibus and motor boat. Flight to Provideniya (AD-13, 10:30 – 12:15).  Transfer to the settlement. Walking tour of the settlement. Visit to Museum of Local Lore and History. Folklore perfomance. Accommodation in apartments “Goryaghie kluchi” (“Hot Springs”) in place of mineral geothermal water – Lorinskie springs. Dinner with tasting of national cusine.  (B)

Day 5. Photographing and swimming at the hot springs. Transfer to the Lorino village. The village has a fox fur-breeding (300 heads). Extraordinarily beautiful surroundings of the village. You will be amazed a riot of colors summer tundra. Introduction to the village. Departure for Yanrakynnot (approximately 4 hours). Walking around Yanrakynnot village. Feast on the Bay: dancing, singing, running national sports. Departure for Senyavinskie springs. Dinner. Accommodation on springs. Overnight. (BDL)

Day 6. Sea passage by boat to Kygynyn Cape at Arakamchechen Island. En route, good chances to observe feeding grey whales, walruses and fur-seals (nerpas). Small distance walking to a big rookery of walruses (usually 500-3000 animals). Photo and video shooting.  Lunch - picnic. Visiting the ancient memorial of Yupik culture ‘Whale Bone Alley’.  Boat based observation of the huge seashore colony of sea birds as guillemot, seagull, pelagic cormorant. Return to the base camp. Hiking. Bathing in hot springs. Possible fishing. Overnight in base camp. (BLD)

Day 7. Departure to the Yupik native settlement Novoe Chaplino. Acquaintance with the settlement. Visit to a local house and lunch with aborigines. Souvenirs.  Optional Russian bath ‘banya’. Entertainment program. Transfer to Provideniya. Accommodation in hotel. Free time.(BDL)

Day 8. Visit to Museum of Local Lore and History. Flight to Anadyr. Arrival in Anadyr. Visiting camp of reindeer herders. Overnight in a camp.

Day 9 – 10. Acquaintance with traditional Escimo dwellings, national customs and games. Overnights in camp. (BDL)

Day 11. Transfer to the airport. Accommodation in hotel of the airport. Overnight.

Day 12.  Breakfast. Flight from Anadyr.

Legend: B – breakfast, L – lunch, D – dinner
The itinerary may be tuned to weather conditions

 

 

 

Recommended flights:

• Moscow – Anadyr UN-111 (dep. 19:05 SUN; arr. 11:25 MON)
• Anadyr – Moscow UN-112 (dep. 14:25 FRI; arr. 14:50 SAT)

All the times are local

 Highlights:

• Whale Bone Alley – an ancient memorial of the Yupik culture, a sacral place for locals
• Landscapes, flora and fauna of tundra and sea coast
• Rookery of walruses
• Rookery of ringed and spotted seals (nerpas)
• Colonies of sea birds  
• Nomadic stand of herders
• Roaming with reindeer herd
• Anadyr – the renovated capital of Chukotka
• Novoe Chaplino – the native settlement of the Eskimo (Siberian Yupik) sea hunters with  around 420 inhabitants
• Yanrakynnot – the native settlement of Chukchi reindeer herders and sea hunters with around 360 inhabitants

  

Fixed departures – 2010 (from Anadyr to Anadyr):

02/08-13/08/2010 – English speaking guides
09/08-20/08/2010 – English speaking guides


Costs for individual tourists  for joining in a fixed group 10 -12 PAX – 2010 - 2713 EUR

 

Included:

• TWN accommodation in hotels, apartments and tents (QDR is possible in Yanrakynnot)
• meals as per itinerary
• excursions per program with entrance fees
• all transfers including arrival/departure
• on-land transportation according to the program
• air flight Anadyr – Lavrentiya ; Provideniya - Anadyr
• local English speaking guides and interpreters
• all necessary permits
• camp and safety equipment
• subsidiary crew when needed

Not included:

• air tickets Moscow – Anadyr – Moscow
• insurance
• visa

Supplements:

• SGL accommodation in Anadyr and Providenia + 361 EUR per person

All the costs are valid at the date of publication and are subject to reconfirmation at the time of booking

Bookings should be made not later than 75 days before the departure to get permissions and to book local flights.