SCHEDULE & COST: Dates:
- March 9 – 15, 2025
Duration: 6 days / 5 nights
All inclusive (including full board meals and additional activities), except:- 129 900 rubles subject to 10 participants,
- 137 900 rubles subject to 8 – 9 participants,
- 149 900 rubles subject to 5 – 7 participants.
Everything included except for:- Flight to Salekhard roundtrip,
- Medical insurance,
- Russian visa (if needed).
Estimated cost of flight Moscow – Salekhard – Moscow: 26 000 rubles. Usually bought on your own.Single supplement: 5500 rubles (
single accommodation isn't provided in chum).
TRAVEL PROGRAM: TOUR TO YAMAL Day 1. March 9, 2025 (Sunday). MOSCOW — SALEKHARD — NENETS REINDEER HERDERS' NOMADIC CAMPAt 8:00 AM, we'll gather at Salekhard Airport, ready for our adventure into the heart of the Yamal Peninsula's tundra. Our destination: a nomadic camp nestled near the serene Lake Landikato and the winding Enzor Yaha River. We'll embark on our journey aboard a rugged TREKOL all-terrain vehicle, traversing the wild landscape for approximately 8-12 hours, depending on Mother Nature's mood and the road conditions.
As we make our way, we'll enjoy a packed lunch to keep our energy up. By evening, we'll arrive at a traditional Nenets chum, where a warm welcome from a local family awaits us. Dinner will feature an authentic Nenets cuisine served inside the chum. We'll spend the night under the same roof as our hosts, sharing stories and embracing their way of life.
Recommended flight:- Direct flight from Moscow to Salekhard with Yamal Airlines, departing at 3:15 AM and arriving in Salekhard at 8:00 AM.
Meals included: Lunch, DinnerAccommodation: Chum (traditional Nenets dwelling)Day 2. March 10, 2025 (Monday). TRADITIONAL ICE-FISHING WITH THE NENETSAfter breakfast, we dive into the age-old tradition of ice fishing with the Nenets. We'll head out to the lake to either set up or check the fishing nets. A reindeer herder knows every river and lake by heart, always eager to bring home the freshest catch. As soon as the new camp is set up near a promising spot, it's time to prepare the nets and await the haul. Cutting through ice up to a meter thick is no easy task, but the reward of fresh fish makes it all worthwhile.
Our day will be filled with the daily rhythms of the Nenets nomads: chopping wood, cutting ice, and more. We will enjoy meals featuring traditional Nenets cuisine, and spend the night in chums (authentic Nenets tents), sharing in the warmth and hospitality of Nenets families.
In the afternoon, we will capture the magic of the landscape with a photoshoot in the soft natural light, followed by an indoor session in the cozy glow of the traditional dwelling.
Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner Accommodation: chum (traditional Nenets dwelling)Day 3. March 11, 2025 (Tuesday). VISITING REINDEER HERD OR MIGRATING ALONG TUNDRAAfter breakfast, we will reach the main reindeer herd, traveling by snowmobile or reindeer-drawn sleds. This journey is a gentle dive into the nomadic lifestyle of the Nenets, more precisely, into the world of their reindeer. Life here pulses to the rhythm of the herd. Nearly every day, rain or shine, the Nenets train their reindeer. They set up a corral using sleds in the morning as the herd gathers. The thunder of hooves serves as a natural alarm clock. The sleds are arranged in a semicircle, tied with a rope to form a corral where reindeer are herded, caught, and prepped for work. Men step over the rope to leave the corral, while women gracefully duck underneath.
We will dive into the action by helping to catch reindeer, enjoying sled rides, feeding the animals, and capturing unforgettable moments on camera.
Should the weather gods smile upon us, we'll witness the incredible migration – the entire nomadic camp moving to a new location in the tundra. The Nenets dismantle their chums (traditional tents) and load them onto sleds, along with all their gear. They gather the herd, hitch the reindeer to the sleds, and embark on a journey, often covering many kilometers.
Upon reaching the new site, they set up chums and settle in. This migration is a vital aspect of the Nenets’ life, as they traverse hundreds of kilometers north each year and back again.
Dismantling, migrating, and setting up usually take the whole day. You'll have the chance to see the entire process. You can choose either to travel in TREKOL all-terrain vehicles (included in the package) or opt for a more traditional ride on specially prepared guest sleds drawn by horses (available at an additional cost).
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner (featuring traditional cuisine)Accommodation: Chum (traditional Nenets dwelling)Day 4. March 12, 2025 (Wednesday). TRADITIONAL SPORTS AND THE NENETS LIFEAfter breakfast we get acquainted with everyday life of Yamal chum-keeper. It is women who build house for the whole family. To build a house is to curry, adapt, foul reindeer coat with smoke, than to sew niuk, cover for chum. Women are also in charge of sewing dress and footwear for the whole family. In terms of -40c it is very important to make warm and comfortable malitsa (reindeer parka) for men and yagushka for women.
Master classes on reatment of reindeer skins, bead weaving, making special natural ropes of reindeer veins or sewing and fitting of national dress, taking pictures.
Today, we also acquaint ourselves with traditional Nenets sports, such as wrestling, stick pulling, lasso throwing, and many others. Weather permitting, we may witness reindeer sled races too!
Evening conversation around fire about culture and religion.
Lunch, dinner (incl.national cuisine), night in chum.
OPTIONALLY (to be additionally paid): ritual reindeer slaughter ceremony Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinnerAccommodation: chum (traditional Nenets dwelling)Day 5. March 13, 2025 (Thursday). HUNTING AND PARTICIPATION IN NENETS LIFEToday, we will experience the age-old traditions of the Nenets people. During this season, the Nenets typically hunt hare or ptarmigan. Hare hunting involves driving the prey along the Yerkuta River. The best hunting time is midday, under bright sunlight.
We will have ample time for additional photoshoots to capture the best shots. Both genre and portrait photography will be done outdoors and inside the dwelling.
OPTIONALLY (to be additionally paid): ritual reindeer slaughter ceremony.
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, dinnerAccommodation: Chum (traditional Nenets dwelling)Day 6. March 14, 2025 (Friday). PARTICIPATION IN NENETS LIFE AND RETURN TO SALEKHARDAfter breakfast, a series of workshops will take place: making poles for the chum (selecting the wood, preparing the tree trunks, processing, and finishing), repairing freight sledges, or throwing a tyngyan (lasso) at a khorei (a unique tool for steering a reindeer sled).
Around 10 AM, we will depart for Salekhard using a TREKOL off-road vehicle or snowmobile, with a travel time of approximately 8-12 hours, depending on weather and road conditions. A quick lunch will be provided en route. Upon arrival in Salekhard, we will dine at the restaurant "Okhota," which offers traditional cuisine of the Russian North. We will spend the night at a hotel.
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, dinnerAccommodation: Hotel "Parallel" or similarDay 7: March 15, 2025 (Saturday). SALEKHARD – RETURN FLIGHTBreakfast at the hotel. Transfer from the hotel to Salekhard airport. Flight to Moscow or another city.
Recommended Flight:- Direct flight from Salekhard to Moscow with YAMAL Airlines, departing at 9:10 AM and arriving in Moscow at 10:10 AM.
Included Meals: BreakfastAccommodation: no* Activities schedule on days 1 - 6 may be changed depending the weather conditions or subject to chum owners.