THE LAST HERDERS OF NORTHERN SIBERIA
Day 01 [DECEMBER 05, 2025].
After picking you up at the airport, we’ll have breakfast together and rent the technical clothing and sleeping bags needed for sub-zero temperatures. Then, we’ll board the specialized transport that will take us into the tundra. The snow can be very deep, so we’ll need a vehicle capable of crossing the frozen landscape.
We’ll spend several hours on the road that will take us to the settlement of the family we’ll be living with over the coming days. Along the way, and weather permitting, we’ll stop for a meal at service stations linked to oil extraction—where the first tingles of adventure will begin to set in.
The settlements are located in hard-to-reach areas, as the families move from place to place whenever they deem it necessary. That’s why we’ll be accompanied by an experienced driver and carry satellite phones to help us locate the exact site we’re heading to.
The communities are small and usually consist of two or three conical tents called “chum,” each of which houses members of the same family. We’ll divide ourselves among the different dwellings, drop off our backpacks, and after dinner, we’ll head to sleep.
Days 02, 03, 04, 05 [DECEMBER 06 / 09, 2025].
Over the following days, we’ll focus on living alongside the different members of the family, following their daily activities and learning more about their culture. We’ll eat traditional dishes, which may include soups, meat, or fish fritters, and drink local teas—though we’ll also have access to other ingredients like vegetables, fruit, or pasta that we’ll have brought with us from Salekhard.
During the day, we may go fishing, herd the reindeer using sleds pulled by snowmobiles, and enjoy learning more about their hunting techniques. We’ll be able to help the women cook, and may even witness the sacrifice of an animal. The ethnic groups of the tundra are known for eating the raw meat of their reindeer and drinking their blood—sometimes mixed with vodka—as a way to keep the body warm in sub-zero temperatures. Those who wish to can take part in this ritual and try one of the most unique dishes you’ll ever encounter.
Our aim is to fully immerse ourselves in the life of the families, following them in their daily tasks and, whenever possible, participating in their way of life. The activities we’ll engage in will depend on the needs of the families and the weather conditions, and may include the chance to take part in a migration. (During this process, the chums are dismantled and loaded onto sleds pulled by reindeer herds to be moved to a new location).
Weather permitting, during the day we’ll take part in walks and activities across the tundra, while during mealtimes we’ll gather inside the chum to warm up, recharge, and enjoy local food and drink.
At bedtime, we’ll share the only room in the chum with the rest of the family members. We’ll lay our sleeping bags over reindeer hides that insulate the floor from the snow and spend a warm night until breakfast wakes us the next morning. We’ll also be able to enjoy the darkness to admire some of the most incredible starry skies we’ll ever see — and if we’re lucky, witness the colorful northern lights in the middle of a dreamlike landscape.
Day 06 [DECEMBER 10, 2025]
We’ll wake up early to make the most of the morning light and enjoy our last breakfast with the family. After saying our goodbyes, we’ll take the specialized vehicle back to Salekhard. Once in the capital, we’ll have dinner together, reminiscing about the moments we’ve shared. After so many days in the tundra, we’ll surely appreciate the hot shower and the bed that await us.
Day 07 [DECEMBER 11, 2025]
It’s time to head home. Depending on our flight time, we might have the chance to take a short walk around the city. We’ll take you to the airport and now, this is it...
We say goodbye, until the next adventure!
Questions?
see our frequently asked questions or send us an email
