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Whale & Walrus ObservationSenyavin Strait, Chukotka
Fly from Nome to Provideniya on Bering Air. Visit Provideniya and enjoy a wonderful home stay and exploration of the city. Explore Yttygran Island, and the historical "Whale Bone Alley." and Toporkovyl, with amazingly diverse bird colonies. Board an original whaling boat to visit the small reindeer herder's village of Yannakynnot. Converse with local reindeer herders and whale hunters at Lorino. Included:
Destination Information Chukotka was historically the land of the Chukchi who throughout the ages herded reindeer across the tundra. The Chukchi people, descendants of 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. Novoe Chaplino is located on Tkachen Bay, a small typical deep-water fjord with a mountainous craggy coastline. Tkachen Bay is part of Senyavin Strait, which complex geological formation includes a number of islands and fjords. There are seal and bird rookeries on the islands. Another important feature of this coastline is the existence of numerous very old native campsites. On Ytigran Island, a religious and cultural monument of the Eskimo native Culture is called "Whalebone Alley'. The island served for centuries as a whale-hunting base. As you enter the Valley a sense of mystery prevails. Old remnants of stone foundations, one or two foot walls are placed around the lichen-covered vertebrae. Jawbones are either placed individually or in groups of three or more. Some are placed opposite of each other, the curves of the jawbones forming an arch. Yanrakkynot is a small village in the northern part of the Senyavin Strait. This is a perfect place to hike and observe both reindeer herding and local flora and Fauna. The coastline and further inland tundra gently slope to the coast, with mountainous terrain only south of the village. The tundra allows limited reindeer herding and the village actually developed only when local Chukchi moved here to commence their marine mammal hunting. 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 Day 2: 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. We will have a short tour of Provideniya and Ureliki, including a presentation about the history of the city and the culture of its inhabitants. After a tasty Russian lunch at our home stay we have a tour of the local museum, where we will see ivory carving, art and costumes made by the local people. There might be a dance performance by a Chukchi and Eskimo dance ensemble. Afterwards we walk through the town and talk with local people. We have dinner at a local restaurant or at our home stay. Day 3: After a light breakfast, we travel by ATV bus (25km) to the native village of Novoe Chaplino (population 425) and meet with the local Siberian Yupik people. We drive to the hunter's camp (12km) at Inahpak where we will spend the night in wooden cabins. We will have lunch there and afterwards have an opportunity to watch gray whales and seabirds in the Chechekuem Strait. Depending on the weather we may go to the Gil'mimil Lagoon (around the Sinyavina hot springs) by two aluminum skiffs equipped with outboard motors, CB radios, GPS, safety vests and raingear. During the boar ride we will be able to observe gray whales, walrus, seals and sea birds. If we take this option we will overnight in a tent camp, otherwise we"ll spend the day exploring the whale hunter's camp and overnight in the hunting camp's cabins. Day 4: After breakfast today, we take a boat ride to Ytigran Island (14km) and visit "Whalebone Alley." We have lunch in the tundra. We will than proceed to Nunengan Island where we will find one of the richest bird colonies (murals, kittiwakes, puffins and cormorants). We return to our base camp, take a hike, or enjoy the hot springs. We'll have a typical hunter's dinner with salmon, mushrooms, berries, and seal and walrus meat. Day 5: Today we will load our boats and ride along the Senyavin Strait to the entry of the Penkiynet Bay where we will visit Merninkan Island (Toporkoviy) where we have the opportunity to observe tufted and horned puffins, and pigeon guillemots. We'll have a picnic lunch and proceed in our boats to the village of Yanrakynnot. We will have an excursion of the village, stopping in the hospital, shops and abundant fox farm We'll have dinner at the home of one of the native people and enjoy such food at reindeer meat, berries and mushrooms. We will stay with local people tonight. Day 6: This morning our boats take us to Lorino (32km). On our way we will visit Getlyanin Lagoon, with a possible stop to visit with the reindeer herders. After we arrive we will tour the town and meet with local walrus and whale hunters. We spend the night in the homes of local people. Day 7: Weather permitting, we will be able to join a whale hunt. We'll have lunch at the hunters' base. Afterwards we return to Lorino. Day 8: Our bus is awaiting us this morning to take us to Lavrentiya (24km) Upon arrival we will visit the local museum and stop at the "Etti" Club where we will watch a local dance performance. We overnight with a local family. Day 9: Ready or not today is the day to return to Lorino and from there to Yanrakynnot. If the weather is nice, we'll enjoy sailing through the Senyavin Strait. Overnight with family in Lorino. Day 10: We return today to the hunters' base at Inahpak and take the bus to Provideniya. We'll have free time in the afternoon, before we have a wonderful Farewell dinner. Day 11: This is a reserve day in case of bad weather. Otherwise we will stay longer at one of the villages. Overnight in Proivdeniya. Day 12: We depart for the airport for our 12:30pm flight. 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 will hover between 40 and 60 degrees Celsius. 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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