Chukotka: Cape Dezhnev and indigenous peoples

Today we'll explore the capital of Chukotka. On a guided walking tour, you'll see the city's main landmarks, such as the beautiful wooden cathedral. After lunch, we'll visit the Ergyron National Ensemble. At the ensemble's base, you'll have the opportunity to learn more about Chukchi-Eskimo culture, meet the group's leader, and even try your hand at traditional dancing and throat singing. We'll conclude the day with a visit to the Chukotka Heritage Museum Center.

We're heading to the east coast of Chukotka! After breakfast, you'll be transferred to the airport for a flight to the village of Lavrentiya, located in the bay of the same name. Here, we'll have lunch and then head to one of the main destinations of this trip—the village of Lorino, known as the whaling capital. The transfer will take about an hour and a half, and along the way, we'll pass through the harsh yet beautiful tundra. Lorino is inhabited by the indigenous people of Chukotka and is located on the site of the traditional Eskimo settlement of Nukak. Here, you'll be able to fully immerse yourself in the everyday life and authentic culture of the Chukchi.

Lorino is the center of whaling and fishing, traditional for the indigenous peoples of Chukotka. Today, we'll take a boat trip out to sea to witness firsthand how the locals hunt for deep-sea creatures. The 4-5-hour excursion will leave a lasting impression: it's like experiencing another life, yet for the indigenous peoples of Chukotka, it's a daily routine. On the way back to Lorino, we'll stop at some hot springs, thermal and mineral springs in a picturesque location. Upon return, enjoy a delicious dinner and some free time.

After breakfast, we'll take boats to the tour's highlight—Cape Dezhnev, the easternmost point of our country and all of Eurasia. The experience here is absolutely incredible: a wild, harsh land inhabited only by seabirds and walruses, the confluence of two oceans, the meeting of two continents (North America is only 85 km away!). On the way back, weather permitting, we'll stop in the village of Uelen. This settlement is not only interesting because it's the easternmost settlement in Russia, but also because it's located on a narrow strip of land sandwiched between the Chukchi Sea and the Arctic Ocean.

You can never have too many boat trips, so today we'll take a boat to Mechigmen Bay—a shallow but picturesque bay home to numerous waterfowl and sparse willow trees growing on the rocky shores. The bay is home to the ancient Inuit settlement of Masik, abandoned over a century ago but still attracting intrepid travelers with the remains of traditional dwellings, built primarily from whale bones and skulls. We'll also visit a bone-carving workshop today to learn more about another important local craft.

We continue our immersion in Chukchi culture. Today we'll head out to sea again, but in an unusual form of transport—kayaks covered in the skins of marine animals. Upon returning to dry land, we'll enjoy a delicious lunch and then head back to the Lorinsky hot springs. The healing water in this basin always stays at least 40 degrees Celsius, so even in cool weather, you can relax, rejuvenate your body and soul, and even improve your health a bit—the water is rich in minerals and beneficial for joints, helping with musculoskeletal conditions.

After breakfast, transfer from Lorino to the village of Lavrentiya (about an hour and a half). We bid farewell to the eastern coast of Chukotka and fly back to Anadyr. Here, after lunch, you'll have time for a walk and, if desired, souvenir shopping. In the evening, the entire group will enjoy a farewell gala dinner.