Expedition to Nenets reindeer nomads' camp
YAMAL
March 7 to 12, 2020
Tour Yamal peninsula, Russia
Have you ever dreamed of going to the world's edge? But every people has its own one. Nenets nomad tribe calls it Yamal peninsula, where they migrate year in year out with their countless reindeer herds, and where further there is only cold Kara Sea and ice of the Arctic Ocean. Here, at the world's edge, you will experience fascinating "chum life" of Nenets people, who live practicing reindeer breeding and fishing despite the weather, migrating to new pasture areas and setting their chums as easy as if it was a tourist tent.
The expedition provides deep dive into everyday life and culture of reindeer herders in remote nomad camps.
SCHEDULE ANS COST:
Dates: March 7 to 12, 2020
Duration: 6 days / 5 nights
Number of participants: 5 – 10
Cost per person:
- 100 500 Russian rubles subject to 10 participants, or
- 108 500 Russian rubles subject to 8 participants, or
- 119 500 Russian rubles subject to 5 participants.
Everything is included except for flight, Russian visa and travel medical insurance.
Single supplement: 4500 Russian rubles. Single accommodation is not provided in the nomads' camp.
TRAVEL PROGRAM: TOUR TO YAMAL
Day 1. March 7. Acquaintance with Nenets nomads
At 8 a.m. meeting at the airport of Salekhard. Set out for Yamal Tundra in order to reach reindeer herders nomad camp, area of Landiq'yato lake and Yenzor Yaha river, Yamal peninsula (TREKOL snow and swamp-going vehicle and snowmobile, way-time approx. 7-9 hours, subject to weather and road condition). Depending on the weather and road conditions, there can be chosen the alternate destination to the Nenets nomads camp in Panaevskaya tundra, on the right bank of Ob river.
Lunch (lunch box) en route. Evening arrival to chum, meeting with the family. Dinner in chum (incl.national cuisine).
Meals included: lunch, dinner
Accommodation: chum (traditional Nenets dwelling)
Day 2. March 8. Ice-fishing
After breakfast ice-fishing. Setting or check-up of fishing nets with driving to the lake/river. Reindeer herder uses any opportunity to catch fresh fish for his family, as he knows which river or a lake is full of fish. As soon as a new nomad camp is set near such location, they take their nets and ready for catch. But it is not as easy as it may seem. You need to cut through one meter thick ice to set the net, yes, you have to work hard to catch the fish.
Guests can attend traditional fishing or try fishing with the rod and line if there is one in the nomads' camp.
Wood cutting, ice chopping, and other everyday activities of Nenets nomads.
Lunch, dinner (incl. national cuisine), night in chum.
OPTIONALLY (to be confirmed by reindeer herders and to be additionally paid): the evening devoted to customs and traditions of indigenous people.
Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation: chum (traditional Nenets dwelling)
Day 3. March 9. Visiting reindeer herd. Optionally – migrating along tundra.
After breakfast set out for the main herd on snowmobiles or reindeer sleigh. Slow deep dive into the world of Nenets reindeer herder, i.e. in the world of His reindeers. Here is the whole life of a human is devoted to the pace of reindeers life... Every day despite the weather, they entrap reindeers. For this purpose they set corral of sledge, made in the morning at the herd coming. Thud of hooves as wake up clock. Sledges are forming semi-circle, tied with a rope. First reindeers come into this corral, then they are caught and taken for gear up. Men leave the corral stepping over the rope, but women go under it.
Involvement into reindeers lassoing, sleigh riding, reindeers' bread feeding, taking pictures.
Lunch, dinner (incl. national cuisine), night in chum.
OPTIONALLY (to be additionally paid): migration – moving of the whole nomad camp to a new place in tundra. All chums are being dismantled and loaded to sledges with the whole stuff. Nenets people get together the whole herd, harness reindeer to sledges and move to a new location many kilometers far from the previous one. They set up chums at a new place and set up housekeeping. Migrating along tundra is an essential part of life of these nomadic people, who move hundreds kilometers to the north and back every year. Dismantling, setting-up and migration usually takes the whole day. There is an opportunity to take pictures of the whole process. Participants can drive in TREKOLs (not to be paid separately) or by specially prepared for them nartas (sledges) hitched to the horses (to be additionally paid by such person who uses nartas).
Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation: chum (traditional Nenets dwelling)
Day 4. March 10. Participation in Nenets life.
After breakfast getting 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.
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 (You can take meat with you) or traditional hare/quail hunting.
Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation: chum (traditional Nenets dwelling)
Day 5. March 11. Participation in Nenets life and return to Salekhard
After breakfast series of master-classes: making poles for chum (choosing wood, preparing tree trunks, preparation and finishing), cargo sleigh repair or throwing the tynzyan (lasso) onto khorey (pole for steering the sledge).
About 10 a.m. set out for Salekhard (TREKOL all-terrain vehicle/ snowmobile, way-time approx 7-9 hours, subject to weather and road condition). Quick lunch on the way.
Arrival to Salekhard. Dinner in Okhota restaurant, traditional cuisine of Russian North.
Hotel accommodation.
Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation: hotel Parallel or similar
Day 6. March 12. The flight back
Breakfast. Transfer from the hotel in Saklekhard to the airport (by minivan)
Meals included: breakfast
Accommodation: no
* Activities schedule on days 1-5 may be changed depending the weather conditions or subject to chum owners.
Cost includes:
- transfer as per program (minibus)
- transport services (TREKOL snow and swamp vehicles available for 5 days, snowmobiles).
- accommodation (in comfortable twin/double rooms)
- accommodation in nomads camp
- three meals daily in chum (incl.national cuisine) and full board in Salekhard
- permits for entering border area
- experienced local driver-guide (Russian-speaking)
- English and Russian speaking team leader and ethnographer Mzungu (Alex)
- all program activities and workshops
- photo and video shooting
- visa support
Additional cost:
- air ticket to Salekhard (roundtrip)
- medical travel insurance
- souvenirs
- ritual reindeer slaughter ceremony
- migrating with nomad's camp across tundra
- hiring snowmobile and other additional reindeer herders' services (marked as optional in the program)
- single supplement
To take with:
- very warm winter feather coat with windstopper
- wear sets up to the weather (warm wool socks, cotton socks, wool sweater, thermal underwear, warm winter jacket)
- warm boots, warm and waterproof high boots
- buff / balaclava
- sleeping bag for -5/-10 degrees Celsius comfort temperature (can be minus 5 in the morning in chum)
- inflating tourist mattress
- personal hygiene products (incl. towel, hygiene tissues, soap)
- minimum set of favorite snacks and drinks (nowhere to buy)
- personal medical kit (analgetic, antiseptic, antibiotic, antiviral, intestinal, multivitamins, rehydron, court plaster, your personal medications)
- thermos
- gifts to locals
- sunglasses (alpine skiing glasses)
- sun and wind protection
- head torch
- cameras, spare batteries, tripod