Winter snowmobile tour

Alykel - Norilsk. Meeting at Alykel airport and transfer to Norilsk. Transfer to the base Valek - the place of snowmobiles’ departure with a stop at the shops in Norilsk for the purchase of the necessary things.

We will prepare for the trip, check and adjust equipment, have safety briefing and prepare for departure. Travel is carried out in a specially equipped snowmobile sleigh (2-4 people in each). A plywood bumper is installed at the front of the sled to protect it from wind and snow. The snowmobile is driven by rangers, carrying 4 people on two trailers, or 4 people in one, and cargo in a cargo sled. If the group is sufficient in number delivery is carried out on a hovercraft.

Departure by snowmobiles to the Bunisyak base. The length of the route is 150 km. Travel time is from 4 to 6 hours depending on the condition of the road. On a hovercraft travel time takes from 2.5 to 4 hours.

On the way there is going to be a snack - hot tea, sandwiches, sweets. We will arrive at the Bunisyak base which is located at the most remote eastern end of Lake Lama. On all sides it is surrounded by mountains over 1000 meters high. On the slopes there are numerous cascades of icefalls and picturesque terraces. In good weather, from the base, you can observe with binoculars the unique Putorana bighorn sheep, listed in the international Book of endangered species.

Accommodation in a comfortable guest house in double and triple rooms. A full dinner, rest and a sauna at a special order.

Khoisi river valley. Breakfast and drive up the valley of the Hoisi River, accompanied by rangers on snowmobiles. The total length of the route is about 50 km. The duration of the route is 6-8 hours.

The beginning of the path passes along the bed of the Bunisyak River to the confluence of the Khoisi River. This is a picturesque, steeply rising valley. In the lower part, the road passes through a very beautiful canyon along the slopes of which there are many icefalls. Then it comes to a huge icing stretching for 10-12 km.

Above the ice we will drive into a rather dense forest located in a very picturesque basin surrounded by beautiful high mountains with numerous frozen waterfalls. Height is about 500 meters above sea level. Further the river rises steeply and enters a picturesque canyon at the top of which there is a huge frozen waterfall of 30 meters high and more than 50 meters wide. You can get close to it which makes an indelible impression! It is this waterfall that was filmed in “Putorana Plateau. Unapproachable Beauty" film. Camping snack, fire, tea, sandwiches, sweets.

After that, we will go up to a high terrace on the right bank of the Khoysi from which a magnificent view of the entire valley is opened. The way back will be along the same path. Return to base. Full dinner with national Dolgan and Nganasan dishes, rest, bath (optional). In free time, those who wish can go ice fishing, go skiing or snowshoeing near the base.

Bunisyak river valley. Departure up the valley of the river Bunisyak, accompanied by rangers on snowmobiles. The total length of the route is about 45 km. The duration of the tour is 6-8 hours.

On the way, we drive up the valley of the Talaya River to a beautiful steep canyon filled with frozen ice. We will stop at a beautiful waterfall above the canyon. In the upper part of the canyon there are char pits. We can drill holes and watch young and adult fish through them.

Camping snack, fire, tea, sandwiches, sweets. If the snow cover allows, we will climb above the pits to the very top of Bunisyak river where the grandiose canyon is located. The way back will be along the same path.

Return to base. A full dinner, rest, a sauna at an order. In the evening we will arrange an excursion around the ethnographic museum.

Plateau. If the weather is good, the snow is not that deep and the roads are fine, today we will climb up the nameless stream with access to the plateau, accompanied by rangers on snowmobiles. The total length of the route is about 60 km. The duration of the route is 6-8 hours.

The road passes along a steeply rising stream which flows through a picturesque canyon filled in some places with frozen and at some spots with flowing ice. We will overcome a beautiful frozen waterfall of about 6-8 meters high and after passing about 5.5 kilometers we will get into a huge circus located at an altitude of 750 meters above sea level. Next, we will drive over the steep climb about 700 meters long along the slope of the circus with access to the plateau. We will rise to a height of 1150 meters above sea level. Here we will enjoy the stunning panorama of the Putorana Plateau.

We will walk along the edge of the plateau to the top of the Vekhikai river. There we will visit the habitats of the Putorana snow sheep. If we are lucky, we will see the sheep themselves from a distance of 300-500 meters. We will also go to the edge of the cliff above Lama Lake and look at the stunning, incomparable landscapes. Nobody has been here for decades. Camping snack, tea, sandwiches, sweets.

Then we will drive to the edge of the valley of the Amon-Yuryakh river. From here there is a magnificent view of the valleys of Lama and Kapchug lakes. Finally we will return to the base.

*** This route is not always accessible due to snow cover, avalanche danger, bad weather and other reasons. In this case, another route option is implemented: We drive up the Vekhikai river which flows into Lama Lake not far from the base. The river has a very picturesque narrow valley which after a few kilometers turns into a huge canyon with steep high sides. At the top, the valley splits into two. One of its tributaries ends in a narrow canyon with an icefall. The main valley rises steeply, and before reaching the plateau ends with a beautiful, spectacular circus. Height is about 900 meters above sea level. The circus offers a magnificent panorama of the Vekhikaya valley.

Camping snack, fire, tea, sandwiches, sweets. Return to base. A full dinner with a first course. Rest, sauna (optional) and free time.

Bucharama river valley. Today our route goes up the valley of the Bucharama River, accompanied by rangers on snowmobiles. The total length of the route is about 80 km. Duration 6-8 hours.

The Bucharama River has a wide, gentle, powerful valley covered with northern taiga. After driving along Bucharama river about 12 kilometers, we will turn along its tributary - the Geological River. This is a narrower valley that rises steeply and is difficult to pass in some spots. In the upper part of the valley, we will stop at a recently found small but very beautiful waterfall which we called Crystal.

At the top the river divides in two. On the right tributary there is a magnificent canyon and a cascade of waterfalls, in winter there are icefalls, the upper one is about 75 meters high. At the top of the main channel of Geological River there is a huge circus from all sides of which there are ice falls.

Camping snack, fire, tea, sandwiches, sweets. Return to the base. Dinner, rest, sauna (optional).

Amon-Yuryakh river. Today we are going to the river Amon-Yuryakh which in Evenki language means “A stream with many whirlpools”. The distance to the place where the river flows into Lake Lama is 25 kilometers. We will drive along the picturesque shores of the lake, drive into the valley, and up it for about 20 kilometers. On the way we will examine numerous icefalls, huge ice floes.

At the top of the river we will drive to a small but pretty waterfall. Camping snack and return back to the base along another, no less picturesque shore of Lake Lama. A full dinner with the first course will be waiting for us. Rest, sauna (optional).

Departure to Norilsk. Breakfast and driving back to Norilsk. In the middle of the road we will have a snack (hot tea from a thermos, sandwiches, sweets). Upon arrival, accommodation at the Norilsk hotel and dinner at the Norilsk restaurant. Accommodation in double rooms. Rest.

Norilsk - Reserve day. This day is necessary in case of bad weather, when due to weather conditions it is impossible to move on snowmobiles. If the weather is good upon arrival in Norilsk, then this excursion day is shifted to the end of the tour.

On this day, an excursion program around Norilsk is planned for the group:
9:00-10:00 – Breakfast.
10:00 - Gathering on the porch of the Norilsk hotel.
10:00-14:00 - Sightseeing tour of the city of Norilsk and the Norilsk Industrial District.
14.00-15.00 - Lunch.
15.00-17.00 - Excursion around the Museum of Exploration and Development of Norilsk. Excursion to the first house in Norilsk.
After 17:00 - Free time, purchase of souvenirs.
19.00-21.00 - Dinner.

Accommodation in "Norilsk" hotel. The excursion program for the Norilsk Industrial District may change in terms and content at the discretion of the organizers.

Departure. Breakfast. Transfer to Alykel airport. Flight to Moscow.