Photo credit: Max Sjoblom
Special Departure: Remote Russia: Yakutia and Kamchatka with the Ysyakh Festival
While we have been crafting custom itineraries to Russia’s most remote regions for decades now, our Remote Russia: Yakutia and Kamchatka small group tour is a relatively recent addition to the MIR catalog. This 14-day adventure focuses on the far-flung regions of Yakutia (also known as the Republic of Sakha) and the Kamchatka Peninsula in the Russia Far East, while also incorporating a day in the Trans-Siberian terminus of Vladivostok.
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The tour starts in Yakutia, an immense region in the far north of Siberia populated by the Turkic-speaking and Mongolian-influenced Sakha (or Yakut) people. Epic wilderness, the taiga, and mighty rivers dominate the landscape in the this largely roadless expanse. Yakutia was actually one of the last missing pieces on the MIR map, and part of why we created this tour. Given the extremely rough infrastructure in the region, the itinerary is based in the capital Yakutsk with day trips into the surrounding areas. Yakutia is famous for its diamonds, its cold, and its well-preserved mammoths (which are often found in melting permafrost or eroding riverbanks). Our itinerary includes all three elements (the cold in the form of a visit to the Kingdom of Permafrost Museum). We also head outside of town to explore the UNESCO-listed Lena Pillars, a geological formation southwest of Yakutsk on the Lena River. And we dive deep into Yakut culture with a village visit and lunch with a local family, followed by some time in an open-air ethnographic park.
The 2023 departure of this tour, led by veteran MIR Tour Manager Michel Behar, will feature an extra day in Yakutsk, timed to take in the eclectic Ysyakh Festival.
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In late June each year Yakuts from around the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) and travelers from all over the world gather just outside of the capital Yakutsk to participate in the annual Ysyakh Festival. This festival has ancient roots stretching back centuries, to long before the arrival of the Russian Empire. Ysyakh means “abundance” in the Sakha language, and the festival celebrates the summer, a time of plenty in this otherwise cold and harsh climate. The festival takes place over two days and includes a wide range of events, exhibitions, and food.
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Highlights include performances of traditional song and dance, especially the uniquely Yakut osuokhai, a sort of ring dance with call-and-response singing. Khomus (mouth harp) music is also an important part of the festival. Locals will stay up all night, dancing and singing, to welcome the sun back the next morning. Horse racing and wrestling are national sports in Yakutia and, of course, feature prominently in the festival as well. The traditional religion of the Yakut people is shamanic, and the festival showcases various shamanic rituals intended to purify the area and bring good fortune. Perhaps the main highlight, though, is simply people-watching. The traditional costumes are fantastic, and it is easy to mingle with locals while sampling Yakut fare like kumis (fermented mare’s milk) and dried fish from the Lena River.
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Traditional Costumes at the Ysyakh Festival. Photo credit: Alexander Mekheda
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Traditional Costumes at the Ysyakh Festival. Photo credit: Alexander Mekheda
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Traditional Costumes at the Ysyakh Festival. Photo credit: Alexander Mekheda
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Traditional Costumes at the Ysyakh Festival. Photo credit: Alexander Mekheda
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From Yakutsk we head to the Russian Far East, specifically the hub city of Vladivostok, located on the Pacific Coast. Vladivostok has long hosted the headquarters of the Russian Navy’s Pacific Fleet, and accordingly many of the sights here pay homage to the navy and sailors. We also explore the scenic coastline a bit, both in town and on nearby Russian Island. Russian Island is connected to the mainland by the world’s longest cable-stayed bridge, which we drive over on the way there. The island itself hosted several military installations and was completely closed to travelers during the Soviet period.
Next on the itinerary is the Kamchatka Peninsula, home to spectacular volcanoes and brown bears fat on the abundant local salmon.
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A Steaming Volcano, En Route to the Uzon Caldera. Photo credit: Jake Smith
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A Bear Walking Across the Uzon Caldera. Photo credit: Jake Smith
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The Valley of the Geysers. Photo credit: Jake Smith
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A Helicopter at the Valley of the Geysers. Photo credit: Jake Smith
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Wildflowers at the Valley of the Geysers. Photo credit: Jake Smith
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On our first full day (if the weather cooperates!) we head by helicopter to the Uzon Caldera and the Valley of the Geysers, with fly-bys of steaming volcanoes along the way. This is a spectacular, once-in-a-lifetime experience. In addition to the amazing volcanic and geothermal features, bear sightings aren’t uncommon! Other highlights include a sightseeing and fishing cruise on Avacha Bay, an overland trip north to meet reindeer herders near Esso, and optional light hiking on Avacha Volcano.
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Travel to the Russian Far East with MIR
MIR has more than 30 years of travel experience in Russia and has affiliate offices in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Irkutsk, and Ulan Ude, with a roster of contacts that can take you to places that you didn’t even know you wanted to go. Our full service, dedication, commitment to quality, and destination expertise have twice earned us a place on National Geographic Adventure’s list of “Best Adventure Travel Companies on Earth.”
You can visit the remote parts of Russia in a number of ways: on a small group tour, on a rail journey by private train, on a pre-built flexible essential tour, or on a customized private trip put together just the way you want it.
Chat with one of our destination specialists today!
