Dog Sledding in Yakutsk, Siberia!

Group Size: 1-4 PAX.

Duration: 8 days/ 7 nights. We have sled dog tours for 7 days (see the itinerary below) including 1 full day for sled dog training, 1/2 day for a city tour, and 4 full days for dog sledding through the dense Siberian forest and on the ice of the Lena River to Sottintsy.

Type of sledding: self-drive.

Tour type: winter adventure expedition.

Difficulty level: medium.

Sled dog breed: Yakutian Laika, a real Siberia-originated sled dog. 

Quantity of sled dogs: 6 in each harness.

Sled type: DANLER and traditional wooden.

Warm clothes: fur coat, pants, gloves, and pants are provided if requested.

Safety: support team on a snowmobile.

Just one week in Yakutsk! You’ll get friended with blue-eyed Yakutian Laika dogs, learn to drive a dog sled on your own, see the beauty of Siberian winter forest, and the majestic Lena River, learn the history and culture of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) in the unique museums of Yakutsk and Sottintsy village, experience a local life during overnights in a hunting hut and a traditional Yakut balagan (small wooden house). And try the finest traditional cuisines of the Northern peoples at the restaurant of the “Chochur Muran” ethnographic complex.

Highlights: 7-day standard program includes 1 training day, 1-day training sledding to the Shaman tree, 2-day dog sledding in the forest, 2-day dog sledding on the Lena River, and 1 full day for city tour in Yakutsk.

Tour is arranged upon request. As private guided.

Itinerary

Day 1 – Arrival at Yakutsk Airport by midday.

– Transfer from airport to hotel in the city.
– Check-in at Tygyn Darkhan Hotel (4*) in town. One night in the hotel is required for migration registration in Yakutsk.
– Transfer from hotel to the “Chochur Muran” ethnographic complex, 7 km.
– Brunch at the restaurant.
– Welcome with traditional Yakutian purification & blessing ceremony.
– Meeting Yakutian Laika (a local sled dog breed, originated in North Kolyma, Russia’s Siberia).
– Theory lecture about specifics of driving dog sleds.
– Lunch at the restaurant of the complex. European, Russian and Yakut cuisine.
– Training. A guide will show how to handle dogs, put them in harness, and self-drive.
– Dinner at the restaurant of the complex.
– Transfer to the hotel.
– Overnight at Tygyn Darkhan Hotel in the city.

Day 2 – Dog sledding to the Shaman Tree, 17 km.

– Breakfast in the hotel.
– Moving from hotel to the “Ambarchik” guest house on the territory of the “Chochur Muran” complex. Since this day your accommodation is over here.
– Preparation for the first dog sledding.
– Helping to prepare sleds and put dogs in the harness.
– Dog sledding to the Shaman Tree. 17 km.
– Light snacks at the place of the Shaman Tree.
– Dog sledding back to the complex.
– Lunch at the restaurant of the complex. Since that moment, this is a restaurant for all your meals inside the complex
– Visit to the “Kingdom of Permafrost” ice tunnel, known also as the Museum of Permafrost.
– Dinner.
– Overnight in Ambarchik Guest House.

Day 3 – Excursion Day in Yakutsk.

– Breakfast.
– Free time.
– Dinner.
– City tour in Yakutsk. Visits to Mammoth Museum and Yakutia Treasury, shopping in souvenir & jewelry shop in the old town.
– Overnight in Ambarchik Guest House.

Day 4 – Two-day dog sledding through the forest with an overnight in a hunter cabin.

– Breakfast.
– Dog safari to a hunter cabin, 24 km. Hot tea/coffee en route.
– Dinner and overnight in a hunter cabin.

Day 5 – Way back to the complex.

– Breakfast in a cabin.
– Dog sledding back to the complex. Hot tea/coffee en route.
– Dinner in the complex.
– Overnight in Ambarchik Guest House.

Day 6 – Two-day dog sledding on the ice of the Lena River to Sottintsy village, 70 km.

– Breakfast.
– Transfer from the complex to the Lena River by a truck.
– Dog sledding with a support snowmobile. Hot tea/coffee en route.
– Dinner and overnight in the traditional Yakutian wooden house.

Day 7 – Way back to the complex.

– Breakfast in a wooden house.
– Excursion to the “Druzhba/Friendship” outdoor museum in Sottintsy. That’s where Yakutsk was initially established by Russian Cossacks in 1632.
– Continue of dog sledding back to the city.
– Arrival in the complex in the evening.
– Farewell dinner at the “Chochur Muran” restaurant.
– Overnight in Ambarchik Guest House.

Day 8 – Departure.

– Breakfast (take on, if the flight is in the early morning).
– Transfer to Yakutsk Airport.
– Flight from Yakutsk.

Early birds deserve discounts. Write to us to learn your quote.
If you can speak Russian fluently, feel free to request a quote w/o the cost of the interpreter’s service.
If you don’t need to have migration registration in Yakutsk, please, let us know, so we could provide you with the adjusted itinerary.

Package includes:

– Visa support (the Letter of Invitation, if required).
– Transfer airport to the hotel and the complex to the airport on Day 1 and 8.
– Accommodation at Tygyn Darkhan Hotel (4*) in Yakutsk on Day 1. Single/DBL Room. W/ breakfast. With migration registration.
– Transfers across the city as per itinerary.
– English/German/French- or Spanish-speaking guide for all days.
– Brunch, lunch, dinner on Day 1-2; breakfast and dinner on Day 3; breakfast, hot tea/coffee and dinner on Days 4-7;
– Accommodation at the “Ambarchik” guest house on Days 2, 3, 5, 7.
– Accommodation in a hunter cabin on Day 4.
– Accommodation in a traditional Yakutian wooden house on Day 6.
– Excursion to Druzhba Outdoor Architectural Historical Museum in the area of Sottintsy.
– Training activities on Days 1-2.
– All expenses related to the arrangement of dog sledding on Days 2, 4, 5, 6, 7.
– City tour with venue entry tickets on Day 3.
– Extra warm fur clothes rental (available only on extremely cold days).

Does NOT include:

– Airfares to/from Yakutsk.
– Personal travel insurance / personal items.
– Alcoholic beverages (not recommended during mushing days).
– Tips & gratitude.