putorana plateau tour

PUTORANA.TRAVEL

About plateau putorana, 15.06.22 - 15.10.22.

• Transfer to the city center
• Boat trip on the Moscow River on Radisson Royal Boat (with viewing of all major attractions)
• Transfer to the airport
• Ground transfers by car or minibus and water transfers to the route point of the program of the tour of the hovercraft
• During the 5 nights trip you will live in the recreation center "Manor, located on the shores of Lake Lama
• Accommodation in Norilsk for 2 nights in the hotel "Norilsk" 3 *, which located in the city center. The standard double room - comfortable furniture, bath or shower, TV, internet.
• During the tour, you will be with experienced guides and instructors.
• Gift set with local fish and meat products.
• Transportation of baggage 30 kg / person inclusive, above the norm is negotiated and paid apart (paddle boats, etc.)
• Interpreter
• Flight Moscow - Norilsk - Moscow
• At the Norilsk Airport and the Moscow Airport during their stay in the city, the participants of the tour pay for lunch and dinner by themselves.
• Alcoholic drinks

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Putorana Plateau Tours

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PUTORANA PLATEAU

Putorano plateau vip tour waterfalls, canyons, packrafting fjord lake northern cuisine.

• 315,000 rubles for 11 - 12 participants
• 339,000 rubles for 10 participants
• 315,000 rubles for 8 – 9 participants
• Airfare to and from Norilsk,
• Medical insurance,
• Russian visa (if required),
• Dinner in Norilsk.
• by S7 Airlines, departure from Moscow at 23:50 on August 18, arriving in Norilsk at 7:50 a.m. on August 19, or
• by Nord Star Airlines, departure from Moscow at 23:45 on August 18, arriving in Norilsk at 8:05 a.m. on August 19, or
• any other flight from any city arriving in Norilsk no later than 9:00 a.m. on August 19 (flights are available from Moscow, St. Petersburg, Yekaterinburg, and Krasnoyarsk).
• By S7 Airlines, departure from Norilsk at 9:05 a.m. on August 25, with arrival in Moscow at 9:30 a.m. on August 25, or
• by Nord Star Airlines, departure from Norilsk at 10:30 a.m. on August 25, with arrival in Moscow at 11:00 a.m. on August 25, or
• or any other flight to any city departing from Norilsk at any time on August 25.
• Accommodation at the base on the Putorana Plateau: 4-bed lodging.
• Hotel accommodation in Norilsk, 4* standard, double occupancy.
• 3 meals per day on the Putorana Plateau (breakfast and dinner at the base, hot meals or a lunch box on the routes, depending on the program for the day).
• Transfer from Norilsk to the base on the Putorana Plateau and return by hovercraft.
• All transfers by boat and motorized transport according to the itinerary.
• Rental of speedboats and boats with an escort.
• Bathhouse with brooms and aromatherapy.
• The services of guides/instructors.
• Team leader throughout the entire route with English translation.
• Flights to Norilsk and back
• Medical insurance
• Russian visa (if required)
• Internet and satellite connection at the base
• Meals in Norilsk on the day of arrival and the day before departure
• Helicopter tour
• Sets of clothing suitable for various weather conditions, including light clothing (shorts, T-shirts, light trousers) and warm clothing (fleece, windproof jackets), as well as shirts with long sleeves.
• Rubber boots (preferably)
• Hats for different weather conditions (baseball cap, sun hat, warm hat)
• Comfortable trekking boots and lightweight shoes (sneakers)
• Bathing suits Raincoats Mosquito nets for sleeping (optional)
• Personal hygiene products
• Personal medications (including analgesics, antiseptics, antibiotics, antiviral medications, intestinal) Sun protection products (creams, sprays)
• Wind protection products
• Mosquito nets
• Headlamps Sunglasses
• Thermos (optional)
• Fishing rods (optional)
• Repellents (sprays, creams)
• A large backpack or trunk for belongings
• Small backpacks for walking (25-30 liters)
• Photo and video equipment, drones, tripods, spare batteries
• A hermetic package for equipment and documents is available (optional).
• 1 UNIQUENESS We find the most astonishing places on Earth and speed up to reach them. Our motto is to go ahead of road roller, touch the unique and unknown, before it disappears.
• 2 ADVENTURISM Wherever we go, we look for challenging activities and adventures, filling the journey with absolutely different spirit and emotions. That is why people join us over and over again.
• 3 SAFETY In our trips we pay special attention to safety. All our travels are based on personal experience, equipped with the best gear, involving proved providers and experienced local guides who perfectly know local features.
• 4 EXPERIENCE We have a unique experience of the most offbeat expeditions and ascents, deep knowledge of countries and peoples, and are ready to share it with you. All the expeditions and climbings are guided by Mzungu himself, guaranteeing exciting traveling and your comfort.
• 5 LOW PRICE All our trips are reach in adventures, with high quality accommodation, transportation and meals included. We do not save on it. Thanks to solid contacts with reliable providers we offer really good prices and high quality.

Putorana Plateau

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The Putorana plateau

Tour program

You are welcome to the airport of Norilsk named by the name of Nikolai Nikolayevich Urvantsev – a geologist, hydrograph, scientist, researcher of Taimyr.

Just imagine that you find yourself in a distant northern world where you can not get either by a car or by a train!

Norilsk airport is the only connection of these places with other regions of Russia. In addition to the aircrafts you may get here only by water along the Yenissei river and the northern sea route.

On the way from the airport to Norilsk you will make your first acquaintance with the nature of Russia’s largest Taimyr Peninsula (its area is 400 000 square kilometers), you will see its flora and fauna. If we are lucky – an ermine, sable or polar fox can cross the road and a partridge will fly overhead. Deeper into the tundra you can meet a reindeer, bighom and a polar owl but it will be in a few days. But now we are close to Kayerkan, the western district of Norilsk. On the way to it we will see a monument on the Ambarnaya river, an inactive old narrow-gauge railway bridge and a steam locomotive on it. This narrow-gauge railway was built back in 1936. This first railroad (this is one of the most northern roads of the world!) was built here by GULAG prisoners. At the entrance to the town we take pictures at the arch “Welcome to Norilsk!” We are sure that not many people have such pic-tures! Kayerkan is a unique town with a unique history. This is a working settlement that was built in the year 1940 on the site of the coal deposit. We shall also pass by Nadezhda, a metallurgical plant that is a stronghold of metallurgy at the Far North. If you wish we shall stop at the guard cross at the entrance to Norilsk. Did you know by the way that the custom to put such worship crosses arose in Siberia in ancient times? Travelers-pioneers thus marked the new borders od Orthodox Russia. Crosses were installed on the hills, mounds and passes through ridges. In Norilsk we shall visit the railway station that is the central station of Norilsk railway. This is the largest railway network in Russia isolated from the continent!

We leave to Dudinka.

During the next two days you will have a chance to get familiarized with the life, traditions and living conditions of the Nenets – the indigenous people of the North. We shall go to the real ethic camp! It’s located in Dudinka town and is a fabulous oasis of tundra life. The local people call it “Taimyr Oikumena”. Here you will not only see the life of the northern peoples but also get acquainted with their culture and customs. You will taste the dishes of national cuisine ad talk to the representatives of indigenous groups of Taimyr. You will also take part in fishing and reindeer sledding riding. In the program: - The rite of the purification before visiting the Nenets dwelling. - Acquaintance with the life, traditions and conditions of Nenets people housekeeping. - Visit to the karall (reindeer pen). - Acquaintance with the reindeer breeding peculiar features, the place of these animals in the life and culture of Nenets people. - Visit to putik (a hunting path); demonstration of the hunting traps and methods of the fur-bearing animals hunting. - National games of Nenets people (for those who wish). - Tour around the camp – immersion into the traditional ethnic environment; Nenets living on the tribal lands; reindeer care; living in the tents (chums). - Illustrative cooking of the traditional Nenets dishes: bread, fish, wild birds meat. - Demonstration of the national fishing techniques and participation in fishing. - Master-class in throwing a lasso (maut) and weaving a mat (or some other traditional crafts). - Reindeer sledding riding. - Overnight on the camp site.

Have a look at the photos of Putorana Plateau. Do you think that such landscapes are there in New Zealand or on the archipelago of Tierra del Fuego? Not at all! This is Russia and its geographical center. Let’s come back into the past – 250 million years ago. In many places of Siberia at that time red-hot magma through deep cracks in the rock flowed out to the surface, turning into lava. Then lava spread over the relief, forming a bizarre shape. Thus, the Putorana Plateau emerged – the second largest lava plateau in the world (250 000 square meters is more than the territory of Great Britain!) This contrast turned out to be so interesting: right next to Taimyr with its permafrost there is a frozen lava which once boiled and burnt everything on its path. Putorana Plateau is a truly unique place! There are 25 000 lakes here and thee name Putorana” translated from the local language means “lakes with round shores.” As to the fresh water reserves this entire network of the lakes is the second big – only after Baikal! There are real mountains here, the highest of which reaches 1701 meters. There are also turbulent mountain rivers, canyons and waterfalls. Putorana Plateau is the first in Russia in the number of the waterfalls. Here there is the highest waterfall of Eurasia – Talnikovy, with a height of 482 meters and lake Vivi is the geographical center of Russia. On the territory of the Plateau there is Putorana reserves which UNESCO recognized as the World Heritage Site of the planet. These are the last sites of virgin, untouched nature in the whole world. And today you’ll see them now! At 10:00 am we go to the recreation center(transfer – 150 000 rubles), at 14:00 pm we shall be there. We shall have lunch, try local soup (shurpa) with the wild reindeer meat. Then you may relax in a banya (sauna) - optional. For dinner there will be fresh fish (the northern kinds of fish) and salads. At your request you may stay in a real plague (chum), have tea and listen to the mystical stories about Putorana Plateau.

In the morning we have breakfast and go to a ravine to the mouth of the mountain river Kuranakh. Here we’ll fish in the open clear water. While fishing we have sandwiches, hot tea and buckwheat porridge with the reindeer stewed meat. After lunch we return to the recreation center. Optionally – banya (sauna), then you’ll have dinner (reindeer meat or fish).

In the morning we have breakfast and go to Lama Lake! This is one of the deepest lakes in Russia (more than 208 meters!) with the cleanest cold water. The name of the lake comes from Tungus-Manchur word “laama” that means “sea, big water”. The lake is not only deep but also large – its area is 318 square meters and its length is 70 km. If we are lucky we shall meet reindeers on the way! On our way we’ll have sandwiches and hot tea, visit the “lost” house built in the year 1939. In the evening we return to the recreation center where you will have dinner, go to the sauna and relax.

In the morning we have breakfast and go to explore the lake Kapchuk. It is located in the south-west of the Putorana Plateau and is of the tectonic origin like the majority of the local rivers and lakes. The lake is not very large but beautiful and clean. The water comes into it from the melting snow and rain. Perhaps, on its banks or on our way to the lake we shall meet the master of the tundra – a noble reindeer. On your request we may rent the quad bikes and ride through the wildest places of tundra. In the evening, as usual, we return to our warm place of comfort and relaxation - the recreation center. Here you’ll have dinner, go to banya (sauna).

Today there is a real sports day! After breakfast we go for a walk in the tundra, on foot. Just imagine: only you and the pristine beauty and unique landscapes! On our way we can meet local inhabitants: polar fox, fox, hare, partridge. Having walked with great pleasure we return to the recreation center where you’ll have dinner and to the banya (sauna). After diinner we pack things and return to Norilsk.

Return to Norilsk. You’ll have some options in Norilsk: - Visiting the USSR museum (optional) - Attending concert events (optional) - Sending the postcards with Norilsk postmark - A walk from “Moscow” (former store) to “Vorkuta” (also a former store). This is the shortest distance from Moscow to Vorkuta in Norilsk – 2 km, the length of Leninsky Avenue, the main street of Norilsk (if the weather permits). - Attendance of the library and library activities (optional and if there are any). Here you can see an all-year-round working library - an old refrigerator converted into a mini-library with cross-booking located at the wall of the library. - Taking photo with the Northern Man. You can whisper your cherished wish into his ear and it will come true for sure! - Visiting the exhibition hall “Vernissage” where the collection of folk craftsmen of Norilsk was created (optional and if we have time). - Dinner in cafes and restaurants of Norilsk (for those who wish). - Visiting the exhibition hall of the art residence where you can purchase the paintings of the local artists (optional).

Departure to the airport named after N.N.Urvantsev.

Check-in. Departure from Norilsk to Moscow. We say “Good bye” to you but you take priceless memories, vivid impressions, unique photographs and rare souvenirs with you! All the beauty of Russian North will stay in your hearts and your photos for a long time! Have a nice trip and come back again!

What's included in the price

Extra charge

Recommended equipment*

*Taking into account that the weather during this period is unpredictable (wind, rain, temperature from -5°C to +25°C).

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The Putorana Plateau

16th february, 2022

The Putorana Plateau is known for hundreds of lakes and waterfalls, as well as deep canyons resembling the Grand Canyon. A trip here is an opportunity to see one of the least explored and hard-to-reach areas of our planet.

The plateau is situated in the Krasnoyarsk region, near the Taymyr Peninsula. Its area is comparable to the area of Great Britain (250 thousand square km). The highest point of the plateau has an altitude of 1,678 m. In 2010, the plateau became part of UNESCO World Heritage.

As the plateau is located above the Arctic Circle, it features long and cold winters up to 10 months per year and temperatures between −30 °C and −40 °C. June, July, and August represent spring, summer, and autumn respectively, with the warmest summer temperatures of about 16 °C.

Here, you can find alterations of northern taiga and mountain tundra with arctic deserts and even glaciers on top of the mountains. During your walk in the forest, you can pick up berries, for example, crowberry or the Shiksha, which indigenous people eat and use as medicine.

The plateau is inhabited by ermines, lynxes, bears, wolverines, foxes, and hares. Through this territory also passes the migration route of wild reindeer, whose population on the peninsula is one of the largest in Eurasia.

What to see:

• The Putoransky State Nature Reserve occupies the main part of the area and ranks first in Russia by the number of waterfalls, which are thousands. The largest one is called Kandinsky, it is 108 meters high.
• There are over 25,000 lakes in the area. The largest one is Lake Khantayskoye. However, lakes defrost only in July.
• Lake Vivi is notable for being the geographical center of Russia. Due to a harsh climate, lakes defrost only in July.
• The Bucharama Mountains remind the Grand Canyon in the USA, according to many tourists.
• As the plateau is located above the Arctic Circle on the 70th parallel, you can be lucky enough to see the Northern Lights.
• The plateau is noteworthy for Putorana snow sheep, isolated from other habitats of the species for thousands of years and now listed on the Red List.
• Putorana Plateau offers plenty of opportunities for outdoor activities such as river rafting or salmon fishing in summer, and skiing or riding snowmobiles in winter.

While the mountains are pretty easy to climb, and you won’t need training, the plateau is hard to get to, so the easiest way may be to book a special tour.

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• Description

This site coincides with the area of the Putoransky State Nature Reserve, and is located in the central part of the Putorana Plateau in northern Central Siberia. It is situated about 100 km north of the Arctic Circle. The part of the plateau inscribed on the World Heritage List harbours a complete set of subarctic and arctic ecosystems in an isolated mountain range, including pristine taiga, forest tundra, tundra and arctic desert systems, as well as untouched cold-water lake and river systems. A major reindeer migration route crosses the property, which represents an exceptional, large-scale and increasingly rare natural phenomenon.

Description is available under license CC-BY-SA IGO 3.0

Plateau de Putorana

Ce site, qui coïncide avec la Réserve naturelle d'Etat de Putorana, se trouve dans la partie septentrionale de la Sibérie centrale, à une centaine de kilomètres au nord du cercle polaire. La partie du Plateau inscrite sur la Liste du patrimoine mondial abrite un ensemble complet d'écosystèmes arctiques et subarctiques dans une chaîne de montagnes isolée : des systèmes de taïga, de toundra, de désert et des systèmes lacustres et fluviaux d'eau froide intacts. Il est un lieu de migration de rennes sauvages, ce qui est un phénomène naturel exceptionnel, de grande ampleur et de plus en plus rare.

الموقع الروسي هو

هضبة بوتورانا (الاتحاد الروسي) إن هذا الموقع، الكائن في الذُخْر الطبيعي في ولاية بوتورانا، يوجد في الجزء الشمالي من سيبيريا الوسطى، على بُعد نحو مائة كيلومتراً شمال الدائرة القطبية. ويضم الموقع مجموعة كاملة من النظم الإيكولوجية القطبية وشبه القطبية في سلسلة من الجبال المعزولة، مثل: نُظُم التايغا والتُندرا والصحراء، إضافة إلى النُظُم البحيرية والنهرية السليمة ذات المياه الباردة. ويمثل الموقع ملجأً لهجرة الرنّة البرية، وهو ما يُعتبر ظاهرة طبيعية استثنائية ضخمة تتزايد ندرتها.

source: UNESCO/CPE Description is available under license CC-BY-SA IGO 3.0

Meseta de Putorana

Situado en la parte septentrional de la Siberia Central, a unos 100 km al norte del círculo polar ártico, la parte de la meseta inscrita en la Lista abarca la totalidad de la Reserva Natural Estatal de Putorana. La reserva comprende una cadena montañosa aislada con un conjunto completo de ecosistemas árticos y subárticos intactos de taiga, tundra y desierto, así como de lagos y ríos. Este sitio es un lugar de migración masiva de renos salvajes, un fenómeno natural extraordinario cada vez más raro.

source: NFUAJ

Putorana plateau

Dit gebied valt samen met het Putoransky staatsnatuurreservaat en ligt in het centrale deel van het Putorana plateau in noordelijk Centraal-Siberië. Het ligt ongeveer 100 kilometer ten noorden van de poolcirkel. Het plateau biedt een uitgestrekt en gevarieerd landschap van een opvallende natuurlijke schoonheid. Het deel dat toegevoegd is aan de Werelderfgoedlijst herbergt een compleet scala aan subarctische en Arctische ecosystemen in een afgelegen gebergte. Hieronder vallen ongerept boreaal bos (taiga), bostoendra, toendra en Arctische woestijnen en ongerepte meer- en riviersystemen. Het natuurreservaat werd opgericht om ’s werelds grootste kudde rendieren te beschermen.

Source: unesco.nl

Outstanding Universal Value

Brief synthesis

Comprising a vast area of 1,887,251 ha, the property is located in the centre of the Putorana Plateau in the northern part of Central Siberia. The part of the plateau inscribed on the World Heritage list harbours a complete set of subarctic and arctic ecosystems in an isolated mountain range, including pristine taiga, forest tundra, tundra and arctic desert systems, as well as untouched cold-water lake and river systems. The combination of remoteness, naturalness and strict protection ensure that ecological and biological processes continue at a large scale with minimal human influence. The property provides a dramatic demonstration of ecological processes, including the interactions between healthy populations of a full range of Arctic fauna. A major reindeer migration crosses part of the property. The property is also one of the very few centres of plant species richness in the Arctic.

Criterion (vii): A vast and diverse landscape of striking natural beauty, the Putorana Plateau is pristine and not affected by human infrastructure. Its superlative natural features include an extensive area of layered basalt traps that has been dissected by dozens of deep canyons; countless cold water rivers and creeks with thousands of waterfalls; more than 25,000 lakes characterized by a fjord-like formation that is associated with a large variation in the relief. The immense arctic and boreal landscapes remain intact with carpets of lichens and forest that are unusual at such northern latitudes.

Criterion (ix): The property displays a comprehensive set of ecological and biological processes associated with its diverse arctic and subarctic ecosystems. Its bio-geographical location, on the border of the tundra and taiga biomes and at the transition between Western and Eastern Siberian floras, makes the property one of only a few centres of plant species richness in the Arctic. The combination of landscape diversity, remoteness, naturalness and degree of protection are extraordinary. In addition, the property may provide valuable evidence on the impacts of climate change to large-scale natural arctic ecosystems if proper monitoring and research take place.

The property is a strictly protected State Nature Reserve, or “Zapovednik”: its boundaries coincide with those of the Putoransky State Nature Reserve, established in 1987. The property is large and is surrounded by an extensive buffer zone of 1,773,300 ha. The property's size, remoteness and naturalness, as well as the degree of protection afforded to it are essential attributes in ensuring the protection of the full range of largely undisturbed landscapes and processes that are the basis of its Outstanding Universal Value. The property includes the key areas and features that are essential for maintaining the property’s natural beauty. A full range of important natural features, such as lakes, canyons and waterfalls, is located within its boundaries. The property is also of sufficient size and contains the necessary elements to maintain the ecological and biological processes that are essential for the long term conservation of the property’s ecosystems and biological diversity, and the migratory species that rely on its natural state.

Difficult access is also a contributor to the property’s integrity: there are no roads within the property and large parts of the buffer zone, thus the property is only accessible by helicopter or boat. The property is also unaffected by the impacts of mining and other land-uses incompatible with its values. Important natural values linked to the property are located in the buffer zone, and their conservation is also an essential requirement.

Protection and management requirements

The property was declared a strictly protected State Nature Reserve (Zapovednik) in 1987. No land or resource uses are allowed other than scientific research and monitoring. A number of other federal and regional laws and regulations on nature conservation, land use planning, scientific research and monitoring, and environmental education apply to the property.

The combination of a strict legal and management framework, remote location and lack of any road infrastructure enables effective management of the property with relatively modest staffing and funding levels for a protected area of this magnitude. Increasing tourism in the buffer zone carries the risk of unauthorized access to the property, including for hunting and fishing. There is a need for unambiguous and rigorously enforced land use and building arrangements in the buffer zone and for regulations of tourism, including strict limits on air traffic.

Mining is a potential threat to the property. The Federal Law on Specially Protected Natural Areas prohibits mining in the property. It must be ensured that the impacts of existing and future mining outside the property will not affect in any way the Outstanding Universal Value and/or integrity of the property, for example through air pollution, pipelines or the development of any supporting infrastructure.

One of the most important inter-regional reindeer migration routes crosses the property. As the continuation of this natural phenomenon depends strongly on the natural conditions of the areas within and outside the property, effective legal and management systems are required to ensure that human use, including tourism, mining and other development will not adversely affect this phenomenon.

• Natural Heritage Protection Fund
• Zapovedsever (in Russian)
• Protectedplanet.net

The Nomination files produced by the States Parties are published by the World Heritage Centre at its website and/or in working documents in order to ensure transparency, access to information and to facilitate the preparations of comparative analysis by other nominating States Parties.

The sole responsibility for the content of each Nomination file lies with the State Party concerned. The publication of the Nomination file, including the maps and names, does not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever of the World Heritage Committee or of the Secretariat of UNESCO concerning the history or legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its boundaries.

• Destinations

Autumn on Putorana Plateau

• Visit of the inhabited plateau - more then 250 000 km²
• Possibility to observe the northern lights
• Unique itineraries inaccessible alone
• Thousands of lakes, rivers and waterfalls
• Shamanism culture of Evenks
• The most extraordinary massif of Russia
• Fishing and Russian banya

The Putorana plateau is a unique place that still saves from the civilization its solitariness and wildness. The area of this basaltic plateau is comparable with the territory of a European country. On the territory more then 250 000 km² there is no any settlements. Although the Putorana plateau is a geographical centre of Russia, there are a lot of places never before imprinted by the foot of man.

We propose you the unique tour meeting the nature itself! As there are no roads to the plateau, you will be delivered there by boats. You will see a lot of lakes and rivers with the purest soft water. Also there are canyons and countless number of overflowing waterfalls. It’s not for nothing that the plateau is also called “region of the waterfalls”. The rich program of visits is adaptable for the tourist with different physical training. The security of the itinerary is provided by the experienced Putorana biosphere reserve rangers.

This remote area can be interesting for all kind of travelers: photographers can make their best photo; the fishing fans can catch their biggest fish; people tired from the big city intense life can have a real rest without Internet and mobiles in wilds; for those who want some cultural discovery there is a possibility to get acquainted with the shamanism of the Evenks; the most active ones can make every day’s radial trekking along the wild trails. And, of course, of the most breathtaking experience of the tour to Putorana plateau is the possibility to observe the northern lights every evening when the weather is fine. This destination is not for everybody, but everybody who visited it would never forget the unassailable beauties of the most insufficiently explored plateau of the planet !

• Day 1 Journey to the Putorana plateau Norilsk  —  Lama lake
• Day 2 The Crying Rocks Lama lake
• Day 3 In the Vekhikay river valley Lama lake
• Day 4 Place of power - Shaitan mountain Lama lake
• Day 5 Fishing and Polar sunset Lama lake
• Day 6 Up the river Hoicy Lama lake
• Day 7 Lama lake by boat Lama lake
• Day 8 Following the ancient Evenk hunters Lama lake
• Day 9 Return to Norilsk Lama lake  —  Norilsk
• Day 10 End of the rpogramme Norilsk
• 0 8 : 0 0 Transfer airport - hotel Meeting in the Alykel airport à Norilsk. Transfer to the hotel. Accommodation and rest after a long journey.
• 12 : 0 0 Lunch in a cafe of the city — Not included Not included, to pay on site.
• 12 : 30 Transfer to the Valyok port On the way you can buy everything you need for the tour. As during next 9 days there will no any shops, please, take care of the shopping in advance.
• 13 : 0 0 Departure to the Lama lake You will be delivered to the lake by the motor boat KS-100 (10-12 persons by boat). Firstly, we will navigate the long and calm river Norilka, and then we will go into the river Talaya – very fast, meandering with steep banks. Also we will navigate the Melkoye lake where the forest-tundra changes for the taiga. There will be the river Lama and the lake of the same name. The landscapes changes, the banks are steep and you can see the first waterfalls falling from the mountain terraces that are very typical for these places. These places are not accessible to vehicles. The mountains are over 1000 -1200 meters high. They surround the lake like the forbidding walls, they are indented by the canyons and break-ups with a lot of waterfalls.
• 19 : 0 0 Arrival to the resort "Bunisyak" Accommodation at the resort by 3-4 persons per room (it's possible to organise single and twin accommodation).
• 20 : 0 0 Dinner After the dinner at the resort, there are things to do. The owner of the resort will show you his unique collection and tell you about the history of the Dolgans, shamans and the Nganasans.
• Overnight at the resort

6 h cruise / navigation   ( 165 km )

• 0 9 : 0 0 Breakfast
• 10 : 0 0 Deaprture to the Crying Rocks by motorboat In company with your guide and a park ranger you will navigate the lake by motorboat to the Crying Rocks (about 2,5 km). The Crying Rocks is a unique place where the rocks overtop the lake about 12-15 metres above water and go down the lake for 20-25 metres. The streams falling from the mountains form the waterfalls. At the same time little brooks flow down and it seems that the rocks cry.
• 11 : 0 0 Ascent to the rock along the stream Above the mountains there is a flat hidden area where more then 10 years ago the shamans did their rites. After the ascent there will be a panoramic view on the first 25 metres waterfall. if you go higher, there will the view on the Lama lake. More higher and there will be two more waterfalls. If you are in a good physical from, you can ascend the plateau, go around the waterfalls or to start the descent.
• 13 : 0 0 Lunch (picnic)
• 17 : 0 0 Return to the resort In the evening there will be the time at leisure. You can rent a boat for fishing or to walk around the resort's forest. In the evening, you have possibility to observe the northern lights - the most beautiful natural phenomenon!
• 19 : 0 0 Dinner The hot dinner with the dishes of the Dolgans and Nganasans cuisine.
• 20 : 0 0 Russian banya — Not included

ascension   ( 5 km )

• 10 : 0 0 Trekking along the Vekhikay river Firstly, you will go to the picturesque canyon situated in 1,5 km away from the resort and jagged by the river's bank. You will climb to the place that offers to you the panoramic view on the waterfalls cascades of the left Vekhikay confluents.
• 14 : 0 0 Continuation of the trekking Although this excursion is accessible for everybody, please, pat attention that the itinerary takes from 4 to 8 hours (about 15 km)
• 17 : 0 0 Return to the resort For those who want there is all necessary equipment for the fishing - tackle and boats. Once it's dark, don't miss your chance to observe the northern lights !
• 19 : 0 0 Dinner

trekking   ( 14 km )

• 10 : 0 0 Excursion to the Shaitan mountain Today you will go for 6-8 hours trekking (about 17 km according to the level of training of the group). You will visit one of the most mysterious places of the Putorana plateau - the Shaitan mountain. This name was given to the mountain because of the representation of face that appears on the mountainside. From the earliest times, the shamans performed there their rituals and ceremonies. It's said that the rare visitors of these places saw different abnormal phenomenons.
• 14 : 0 0 Continuation of the excursion For those who want there will be the ascent to the top of the mountain where you will see the great almost vertical basaltic wall. Higher, you can admire the view on the valley of three rivers from the brink of the plateau. Then, all group return to the resort.

• 10 : 0 0 Fishing and free time For those who wants we propose fishing from the bank or from the boat (you can rant it on site). If you don't like fishing, you can go for a walk along the nearby forest. The Putorana plateau is a mountain massif. Its most part is situated above the Polar circle. Thousands of rivers and lakes, canyons and waterfalls - these landscapes cut the breath ! During thousand of years it's a habitat for the animals of tundra, forst-tundra, taiga and mountain. There are more then 43 species of fishes, 184 species of birds, 39 species of mammals. There is the Putorana snow sheep, inscribed into the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
• 13 : 0 0 Lunch at the resort
• 17 : 0 0 Northern lights and Polar sunset September offers to you not only possibility to observe the northern lights but also the sunset of the spectacular beauty. Before the departure for the Polar night the sunsets are very special with various colours.

• 10 : 0 0 Excursion un the river Hoicy The distance of the itinerary is 15-25 km according to the physical conditions of the group's participants. Departure to the mouth of the river Hoicy by boat. The first part of the itinerary goes by the terraces of the river. Then, you ascend to the grand canyon. The height of its rocks is more then 15-20 metres and it extends for a few kilometres.
• 15 : 0 0 Continuation of the excursion Return to the resort by the same road.
• 18 : 0 0 Russian banya — Not included
• 19 : 0 0 Dinner During the dinner you will know about the history of the local people,of shamans and shamanism.

• 10 : 0 0 Transfer on the motor boat to the mouth of the Neralah river In company with the park rangers, you will go to the mouth of the Neralah river by motor boat. After this, you will go up to the canyon with the great loud waterfall. You will ascend to the terrace covered by larches and birches.
• 14 : 0 0 Crossing of the lake and return to the resort You will cross the lake till the isthmus between lake lama and Kapchug. This isthmus is covered by the northern taiga with a lot of reindeer moss.

cruise / navigation   ( 38 km )

• 10 : 0 0 Excursion to the Evenks site This day you will visit the places where the Evenks lived. Now the plateau is inhabited but earlier the shamans believed that these places have special forces. To our time the plateau saves this energy. You will visit the unique place - the shaman gates. There are two ancient idols symbolizing woman and man.
• 15 : 0 0 Continuation of the excursion You will lift to the flat terrace from where you will see the big craters. The origin of these craters isn't clarified until now. According to the legend, it's a place where the civilisation lived and hid their origin underground. return to the resort by the river Bunisyak.

• 10 : 0 0 Way to Norilsk The first part of the itinerary you will go on boat. In the city there will be transfer by car.
• 13 : 0 0 Lunch (picnic en route)
• 17 : 0 0 Accommodation in the hotel and rest
• Overnight in the hotel

• 0 9 : 0 0 Breakfast in the hotel
• 10 : 0 0 Transfer to the airport Check-out of the hotel. Transfer to the airport. End of the programme.

Discounts are applied to all services indicated on the official website of BaikalNature. Discounts aren't summarized with special offers and are not applied to individual tour programs.

• Accommodation as per itinerary
• Transport as per itinerary
• Excursions and visits as per itinerary
• Reserves and national parks entrance permissions
• Visa fees and travel insurance
• Transfer from airport / railway station on first day
• Letter of invitation
• Russian-speaking guide services
• Meals according to the program
• Medical insurance
• Airline tickets

The accommodation at the resort "Bunisyak" can be organized by 1 or 2 persons. For the foreign residents it's needed to get a special entry permit. The documents should be filed 3 months before the departure. For getting this document we need: - the notarised translation of your passport in Russia (all pages); - the copy of the visa. Don't hesitate to contact us fr all details. For this tour you need waders. You can buy them in Norilsk (about 2 000 roubles). The itinerary of the tour can be changed according to the weather conditions as well as unforeseen events.

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Golden Baikal

Golden autumn of kamchatka, putorana plateau by snowmobiles, putorana plateau and yenisei river cruise.

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The Putorana Plateau: How this unearthly Arctic landscape came to be (PHOTOS)

A cozy evening on the Putorana Plateau.

Exploring the Plateau.

The Putorana Plateau on the Taymyr Peninsula looks literally like something from a different planet. Imagine fantastical landscapes with numerous flat-topped mountains, intersected by waterfalls and deep gorges. And all this in the Arctic tundra. So, what is there to see on the Putorana Plateau?

Hibarba River. Vyacheslav Shut and Maxim Shapovalov.

The plateau itself is a huge mountain range covering an area of 250,000 square kilometers - in other words, about the size of the whole of Great Britain or New Zealand or almost as large as Ecuador. It would take more than a lifetime to visit all the beautiful places on the plateau. But, there are a few major attractions that all tourists are keen to see.

Into the wild.

Russia’s geographical center - Lake Vivi - is located on the plateau. It is the largest freshwater lake in the region and locals even call it the “local Baikal”. It has an elongated shape: 90 km long and measuring 4 km across at its widest point. For much of the year, the lake is covered with ice, because of the extremely cold weather conditions. The water stays cool even in July.

A waterfall on the Moya River. Vyacheslav Shut and Maxim Shapovalov.

The Putorana Plateau has the greatest concentration of waterfalls in the country. Russia’s highest waterfall - Kandinsky - is made up of a whole cascade of waterfalls which crash down into a river below.

Lakeshores in the western part of Keta Lake. Denis Simonov.

It is named not after the famous artist, but after the River Kanda into which it flows. The biggest free-falling “plunge waterfall” is 108 meters in height.

River-Dulismar. Denis Simonov.

A bit of mystery surrounds it, too. In late December or early January every year, the local weather station periodically registers spiral-shaped glowing rings in the sky in the vicinity of the waterfall. What are they?

Oransky Canyon. Vyacheslav Shut and Maxim Shapovalov.

One of the sites most accessible to tourists (relative to the others, of course) is Lake Lama, which was discovered by explorers in the early 20th century. It can be reached from Norilsk by motorboat in just five hours. It is one of Russia’s deepest lakes, with a known depth of more than 200 meters and also one of the most picturesque, set as it is among mountains and gorges. 

Lake Lama. Vyacheslav Shut and Maxim Shapovalov.

The Putorana nature reserve, which covers about 19,000 sq. km., is a conservation area for rare species of animals (for instance, snow sheep and wild reindeer), as well as for the unique tundra scenery.

Traces of human presence

The Putorana Plateau is very underexplored to date: It is full of places where (it seems to visitors today) no human has ever set foot. But, because of that, travelers sometimes find quite extraordinary things. For instance, there are traces of old Evenk camps and also the remnants of their ancient ceremonial and everyday artifacts (idols and sleds, respectively). These are particularly numerous in the area of lakes Lama, Melkoye and Glubokoye.

Lake Lama. Viktor Matasov.

Among the unexpected discoveries, one can mention two railway lines, each five km in length. It is not very clear where they led to and how and why they were constructed, but researchers exploring the plateau believe they may have something to do with the ALSIB air route dating back to the Great Patriotic War.

How do you get to the Putorana Plateau?

Lama Mountains. Vyacheslav Shut and Maxim Shapovalov.

Despite the fact that the Putorana nature reserve is one of the most inaccessible locations on the Eurasian continent, many travelers dream of visiting. It attracts both hikers, rafting enthusiasts drawn by the area’s whitewater rivers and people who come to photograph the unexplored wilderness.

Foothills of the Putoran. Denis Simonov.

The nearest city is Norilsk, which can only be accessed by helicopter or motorboat, although certain parts can be reached by all-terrain vehicle or on foot. Outside populated areas (approximately 30 km from the city), there is virtually no mobile phone signal. There is no public transport there either, of course. For these reasons, it is safest of all to visit the Putorana Plateau as part of a tour group. Don’t forget that foreign citizens wishing to visit Norilsk and the plateau need to get a special permit . And everyone is required to obtain permission for a visit to the territory of the Putorana nature reserve itself.

Akyrma Mountains. Denis Simonov.

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