Believe it or not, there is still a place on Earth untouched by man!
In total, no more than a thousand people have visited here by this time — and these were only scientists and travelers.
SEVERNAYA ZEMLYA ARCHIPELAGO
Severnaya Zemlya, located in the Arctic Ocean between the Kara Sea and the Laptev Sea, is one of the Arctic archipelagos along with Greenland, Spitsbergen, Franz Josef Land, Novaya Zemlya, the New Siberian Islands and the Queen Elizabeth Islands.
Discovered in 1913 by the expedition of Boris Vilkitsky and explored and mapped only 20 years later, in 1930-1932, by the expedition of Georgy Ushakov, the Land of Emperor Nicholas II, later renamed Severnaya Zemlya, remains the last major geographical discovery on the planet.
Severnaya Zemlya consists of four large and a number of small islands lying north of the Taimyr Peninsula across the Vilkitsky Strait.
The southernmost island is Bolshevik, with an area of 3,450 sq. km.
Oktyabrskoy Revolyutsii Island is the central and largest, with an area of 4,200 sq. km. It lies northwest of Bolshevik Island across the Shokalsky Strait.
The smallest island, Pioneer, has an area of 480 sq. km.
The northernmost island is Komsomolets, with an area of 2,770 square kilometers. Many expeditions to the North Pole (990 km) and further into the Canadian Arctic started from Cape Arktichesky, located at its northern end. The founder of VICAAR, the recognized explorer Viktor Boyarsky, went on several expeditions on skis and dogs to the North Pole and Canada from Cape Arktichesky.
Severnaya Zemlya consists of glaciers, arctic tundra and picturesque fjords. The archipelago also has rivers and lakes. Four rivers are 45-65 km long, and the largest lake, Spartakovskoye, located on Bolshevik Island, has an area of about 60 sq. km.
The fauna of the islands is represented by birds (polar owl, snow bunting, ivory gull, skua, loon, etc.) and mammals (polar bear, reindeer, wolf, arctic fox, lemming). Seals, harp seals, belugas, walruses, and bearded seals live in the coastal waters.
For most of the year, Severnaya Zemlya is an extremely inhospitable place, with average winter temperatures of -30°C, sometimes reaching -47°C. Permafrost is found here at a depth of only 15 cm.
We invite you to visit the archipelago during the short summer — in July-August — when the temperature does not rise above +6°C, but the tundra is free of snow, the rivers become full-flowing and sparse vegetation appears. This is a unique opportunity to see one of the wildest, harshest and most inaccessible places in all its beauty.
Your journey will begin in Khatanga, an old Taimyr village with 2,600 inhabitants.
Here we will visit the mammoth museum, made underground in the permafrost, the center of history and folk art of the indigenous peoples of Taimyr — the Dolgan and Nganasan, the wooden building of one of the northernmost Orthodox churches.
On the way to Severnaya Zemlya, we will make a short stop at Cape Chelyuskin, the northernmost point of Eurasia, to honor the memory of travelers and pioneers of the 18th-20th centuries.
Upon arrival at Severnaya Zemlya, you will be accommodated at the Russian research station Mys Baranova, which has been operating since 1986, and will have the opportunity to observe the work of scientists in various fields: oceanology, glaciology, meteorology, biology, environmental pollution, climate change, etc.
You will live in a comfortable house with a toilet. Three meals a day will be provided in the station’s wardroom. A Russian bath will help you relax after an active day.
During your stay, helicopter tours will be organized to the most picturesque and interesting places of the archipelago, so that you can admire the beautiful fjords and bays, stunning glaciers and straits full of icebergs. In addition, on days free from flights, we will go hiking and get to the nearest places on all-terrain vehicles.
You will see a unique natural phenomenon in Zhuravlev Bay – stone pillars 15-20 m high.
You will learn why Akhmatova Bay is often called «Little Switzerland». The mountains surrounding it from the south create a microclimate that allows creeping grassy willow and unpretentious polar flowers to grow and bloom here.
Everyone will be able to try their luck at fishing for the northernmost fish – Arctic char – on Lake Tverdom, located just 6 km from the station.
A helicopter expedition to Severnaya Zemlya, which is exclusively offered by VIKAAR Company LLC, is a unique opportunity to set foot on an unknown and untouched land thousands of kilometers away from the hustle and bustle of your everyday life.
Take the chance to join a small group of lucky people and experience the adventure of a lifetime!
(Krasnoyarsk-Krasnoyarsk): 8 days/7 nights
(Recommended flight: Departure from Moscow to Krasnoyarsk by Aeroflot at 20:45 the previous day. Arrival in Krasnoyarsk at 5:05.)
| Day 1 | Meeting at Krasnoyarsk airport at 6:00 (Local time — Moscow +4 hours).
Breakfast at the airport is optional . Departure to Khatanga at 8:00 (flight time 3 hours 30 minutes). Arrival in Khatanga at 11:30. Meeting at the airport. Transfer to the Mamont Inn hotel. Accommodation. Lunch. Sightseeing tour of the village, including a visit to the Mammoth Museum in a cave in the permafrost, the local history museum, the center of arts and crafts of the indigenous peoples of Taimyr — Dolgan and Nganasan, one of the northernmost Orthodox churches. Dinner at the hotel restaurant. |
| Day 2 |
Helicopter flight to the Severnaya Zemlya archipelago via the Taimyr Peninsula and the Vilkitsky Strait. From the air, you can observe herds of musk oxen and reindeer. A short stop at Cape Chelyuskin, the northernmost continental point of Eurasia. S.I. Chelyuskin’s log, Amundsen’s cairns, a worship cross. Arrival at Bolshevik Island. Accommodation at the polar station Mys Baranova (79°17′ N 101°38′ E). Accommodation. Dinner. Bathhouse. |
| Day 3 |
A day free from flights. Getting to know the station and the work of scientists. Walking tours around the station. Bathhouse, tea, coffee. |
| Day 4 |
A helicopter tour of the picturesque places of the archipelago to see the majestic blue glaciers, broken-off icebergs and multi-colored canyons. A visit to Zhuravlev Bay with its natural phenomenon — stone pillars 15-20 m high. You may be lucky enough to see polar bears, walruses, seals and other representatives of the Arctic fauna. Walks, picnics with barbecue will be organized in the most memorable places. Bathhouse, dinner at the station. |
| Day 5 |
A trip on an all-terrain vehicle to Lake Tverdoe. Everyone will be able to try their luck in catching the northernmost freshwater fish — the Arctic char. Bathhouse, dinner at the station. |
| Day 6 |
Helicopter tour of Bolshevik Island. The first stop is on the shore of Akhmatova Bay, about 50 km from the station. This unique place is often called «Little Switzerland» because the mountains surrounding the bay from the south create a microclimate that allows creeping grassy willow and unpretentious polar flowers to grow here. Farewell dinner. |
| Day 7 |
Departure to Hatanga. Upon arrival, check-in at the hotel. Dinner. |
| Day 8 |
Flight to Krasnoyarsk. |
(Recommended flight: Departure to Moscow at 19:45 or 22:10 Aeroflot.
Arrival in Moscow (Sheremetyevo) at 20:45 or 23:05 the same day.)
