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Provideniya/Chukotka3 Days/2Nights
Fly from Nome to Provideniya on Bering Air. Visit Provideniya and enjoy a wonderful home stay and exploration of the city. Visit Novoe Chaplino, the home of Chukotka's Eskimos and enjoy sharing conversation with Chukotka Eskimo population. You will be accommodated in a B & B in Provideniya. Destination Information Chukotka was historically the land of the Chukchi who throughout the ages herded reindeer across the tundra. The Chukchi people, descendants if ancient paleosiberian tribes, are believed by anthropologists to have crossed the Bering Strait, 25,000 years ago, and settled in North America. After a difficult time during the communist era, when entire native populations were moved to larger city, native people have resettled in their original communities and make up about ten percent of the population of Chukotka: Chukchi (11,924), Eskimo (1,425), Even (1,356), Chuvantsi (944) and Yukagir (100). Most Chukchi live in villages across Chukotka. Their major activity is still reindeer herding although some of them live off the rich marine resources. Native Chukchi is still spoken, but almost every one knows Russian. There is some assimilation and trade with smaller Eskimo villages. The Eskimo population makes their living as marine mammal hunters and fishermen. They generally live in mixed communities with Russians, Ukrainians and Chukchi. Most Eskimos speak a Siberian language, similar to that spoken by Eskimos living on St Lawrence Island. Provideniya is situated on a picturesque bay surrounded by mountains. The city was founded in the late 1930's as the eastern terminus for the northern sea route, the passage along the arctic cost of Siberia, kept open by icebreakers that supplied cities on the mouth of the Lena and Kolyma Rivers. It is the former Soviet administrative and military center of Chukotka. Along with its sister city, Nome, Alaska, Provideniya was particularly important during WWII when aircraft and supplies reached Europe via Alaska and Siberia during lend-lease. The city is isolated, only accessible by air and water. In the past six years, the population of Provideniya has decreased significantly. Now whole apartment blocks are empty and the city offers a somewhat forlorn sight. Shores along the Emma bay support Bering type flora and habitat for large bird colonies. Program Itinerary ** Travelers participating in the tour should be aware that itineraries are subject to change due to weather conditions. All though specific activities in the itinerary may change, you can be sure that your Russian hosts will do everything in their power to make your trip unforgettable and memorable Day 1 Depart for Provideniya by Bering Air. Departure time: Nome 12:30 pm Sunday Arrival in Provideniya 09:30 + one day, due to crossing the International Dateline As you step into tomorrow, you will proceed through Russian customs and immigration. Your English-speaking guide will meet you and you will drive to the city of Provideniya. Your guide will escort you to your accommodation and you will have some time to settle in. There will be a briefing about your tour by your guide, lunch and afterwards a visit to the museum in Provideniya. At this accredited museum you will see native ivory carvings, artwork and traditional clothing skillfully made by the local people. The rest of the afternoon will be spent walking through the city and meeting with the local people of Provideniya. Dinner will be at your B & B, where you will overnight also. Day 2: After breakfast at your B & B, you will travel by car to Nuevo Chaplino, the home of 500 Eskimos. Nuevo Chaplino is situated on a deep beautiful bay, one of the most picturesque spots in Chukotka. There are also some historical military sites located on the shoreline. More than 50,000 military and border guard were housed in Provideniya and Ureliki during the Cold War. The new village of Nuevo Chaplino was built in 1958, when Yupik Eskimos were relocated from the original village on the gravel spit of Cape Chapin. The territory is host t at least 170 species of birds during the migration period. During lunch Russian Eskimo dancers will entertain you. A late afternoon snack will be served during our drive back to Provideniya in the tundra. We enjoy a typical dinner again tonight. Day 3: After a wonderful breakfast at your B & B, you will have some time to do some things on your own before you depart for the airport for your departure flight at 12:30 pm. Arrival time in Nome, 5:00 or 6:00 pm the day before you left Russia. **Please note that we are a full service tour operators and can make any arrangements for you in Alaska either prior or after your trip. You may also contact us for airline reservations and ticketing. Visas We will provide you with a letter of invitation once we receive your deposit. We ask that you handle your visa processing through our company to assist in smoother operation of our itineraries in Russia. Visa processing is extra and with optimum time periods to process will cost $150 per person. You need to have a valid passport for at least six months after your trip to Russia. Tour Operations All local arrangements are made through our Russian partners with whom we have been working for a period of at least six to ten years. Our local partners are knowledgeable and care about your welfare, safety and security. Most of our travelers form long-term relationships with our Russian partners. We chose our itineraries for uniqueness to areas that are not well known or in most cases are not easy to access or explore on your own. These areas are without a doubt the most representative of the unique natural and cultural wealth of Russia. However, we also include a variety of other activities in our itineraries, giving you a chance to learn more about Russia and its people. Meetings with local people form a very important part of our programs as well as educating ourselves about this very rich and historically interesting culture. Eastern Russia has changed a lot over the past decade, however some of the less desirable trends are still with us. Your patience and cooperation are very much appreciated as we encounter moments of delay, changes and the inevitable bureaucracy. We know from our long-term experience, that afterwards these moments are easily forgotten. Climate Chukotka has a foggy, cool climate with some sun breaks. Temperatures wiol hover between 40 and 60 degrees Celcius. Weather patterns change through out the day. You should always be prepared by layering your clothing, be prepared for cool weather and rain and bring a warm jacket and raingear. Insurance We highly recommend that you purchase trip insurance. You may do so through our company, your travel agent or through any company you prefer. Our policies Your $300 deposit is refundable except for a $250 administrative charge up till 60 days prior to departure. Final payment is due 60 days prior to departure. Our cancellation policies are described in our tour documentation. Payment can be made by check or credit card. Credit card charges carry a 4 percent additional fee. Airline tickets can be purchased by either credit card or check payment. We reserve the right to change your departure date if weather or other conditions require this. If for any reason the departure is cancelled all together, we will refund you your entire payment.
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