Harsh and beautiful, cold and impregnable, Siberia attracts travelers. A cruise along the Lena River - the great river of this region - allows you to explore the beauties of the North in very comfortable conditions - from the ship.
Every day, new landscapes, interesting and varied excursions on the shore, the possibility of fishing - all this can be obtained during the trip. Moreover, cruise participants do not need to think about overnight and board - all this they get on board the ship.
What are the routes around the Lena? How long does a cruise last? Which ship to go on a voyage to? What is the level of comfort and service? Where does the ship stop and what excursions are planned? We will describe all this in this article.
Great Lena River
This aquatic artery is the third of the longest in Russia (after the Yenisei and Ob) and the 11th in the world. The length of the river is over 4400 kilometers. There are no power plants, no dams, or artificial dams.
Lena rolls her waves along the channel that nature itself created millions of years ago. The large extent of the water artery leads to the fact that it flows in several geographical zones. Thus, while cruising along the Lena River, participants can see both the dense taiga and the tundra, admire the white nights, step on the lands of the permafrost, visit the Oymyakon, the capital of Siberian frosts, get acquainted with the diamond land of the Sakha Republic and culture indigenous peoples of the North.
A water artery begins on the northwestern slopes of the Baikal ridge, only 12 kilometers from the mirror of the lake. A river flows into the Laptev Sea of the Arctic Ocean. Almost a third of its course occurs in the mountainous Baikal region.
Further, the river rolls its waters in the Irkutsk region and Yakutia. Navigable Lena becomes from Kachug's marina. But in the upper reaches only small boats and boats can sail. The real waterway to the ocean, Lena becomes from the city of Ust-Kut (or rather, from the largest river port in Russia - Sturgeon).
The specifics of cruises in Siberia
In this region of severe cold weather, the navigation period is very short - from 125 (downstream) to 170 days. Back in May, the Lena River was chained with an ice shell. Since the river flows from south to north, the mouth freezes first, and water arriving from warmer territories forms hummocks.
An ice shell of more than a meter thick begins to melt only at the beginning of May, and flood occurs at the end of this month. The first fragile cover on the water forms at night in September. Thus, the navigation period is limited to the summer months.
It is best to go on a Lena cruise in the second half of June in order to fully enjoy the charm of the white polar night. If you plan to go ashore, you need to take care of protection against encephalitis tick. This blood-sucking parasite is a real scourge of the Siberian taiga (the south of Yakutia and the entire Irkutsk region). A special peak of insect activity is May and the summer months. Vaccination must be done no later than 45 days before the trip. By the way, it does not guarantee complete immunity from the disease, but makes its course easier.
Motor ships
Unlike cruises on other rivers, including Russian, only two passenger liners run along the Lena River. So the choice of travelers is quite narrow. There are also two points of departure. This is either Yakutsk or Ust-Kut (Irkutsk region).
River cruises along the Lena are carried out by the liners Demyan Poor and Mikhail Svetlov. The remaining passenger ships are much lower in terms of comfort and simply transport travelers to settlements along the banks.
At the beginning of the navigation period, when the mouth of the Lena is still ice-bound, but the middle course is open, the ships carry out short cruises for two to three days. Later, the length of travel reaches from ten days to two weeks.
At the height of summer, liners float to the very mouth of the river - the village of Tiksi on the Laptev Sea.
"Demian Poor"
The three-deck motor ship, named after the Russian poet, was made in Austria in 1985. Demyan Poor is the flagship of Lenaturflot. We will not describe here the length and width, passenger capacity and other technical parameters of this vessel.
For those who intend to relax on a boat on the Lena cruise, it is much more important to know about the comfort of its cabins and the services on board. Unlike sea liners, in which there are rooms with no windows at all (inside wide decks) or with small portholes at the water level, in the river vessels all guests are accommodated with great amenities. Which ones?
All cabins have windows. Rooms are located on the main and boat decks. Cabins are divided into standard, junior suite and deluxe categories. All of them have their own sanitary unit (wash basin, shower, toilet). Each room has air conditioning, TV and radio.
Standards come in different capacities: from one to four people. Cabins of a higher level of comfort - double. They also have a refrigerator, and the air conditioning is controlled by an individual remote control.
On board the “Demyan Poor”, a cinema room, a lounge, a music salon, a restaurant, a bar with a dance floor, a sauna, an ironing room, a hairdresser and a first-aid post are at the service of cruise participants.
"Mikhail Svetlov"
If you intend to go on a cruise along the Lena from Yakutsk, then most likely your trip will take place on board this three-deck motor ship. It was also made in Austria, in 1986, by order of the Ob-Irtysh Shipping Company.
Having served there one navigation, the ship changed the port of registry. In fact, Mikhail Svetlov is the twin brother of Demian Poor. At least the cabins and amenities on board are exactly the same.
Passengers of all cruises are provided with four meals a day (with a large occupancy of the ship, it is carried out in two shifts).
Routes Arctic Lena Cruise (14 days)
As we have already mentioned, you can travel along the river for three days or two weeks. Consider the longest route. It begins in Yakutsk. The ship "Mikhail Svetlov" delivers passengers to the Lena pillars. So-called high cliffs that stretch along the coast for 40 kilometers.
It is planned to land in the national park and the ritual of "purification by fire." The next stop at the mouth of the Buotama River will allow you to see the bison brought here from Canada. Landing is provided in Zhigansk, Kyusyur. There, cruise participants can get acquainted with the Evenki culture and learn about the Soviet policy towards the small peoples of the North, the so-called Churapchinsky tragedy.
Tiksi is an extreme northern travel destination. Landing in the tundra with tasting of national food is provided. According to tourists in the reviews, the Lena cruise is designed in such a way that the return road will be no less interesting than swimming in Tiksi.
The ship returns to Yakutsk along the Lena Pipe - a narrow channel, clamped on both sides by high cliffs. The motor ship for a photo shoot at the inscription "Arctic Circle" stops. He passes the tract “Forty Islands”. There is also a green stop with barbecue and songs for the guitar at the "bonfire of friendship."
Other routes of Mikhail Svetlov
In 2018, “Arctic Lena cruises” (from Yakutsk to Tiksi and vice versa) are scheduled for July 7 and 23, as well as for August 8 and 22. The cost of such a trip starts from 80 thousand rubles.
But if you book a cruise in advance (45 days before its start), you can reserve a place in the cabin for half the price. From the home port - Yakutsk - the ship "Mikhail Svetlov" also makes shorter cruises:
- To the Lena Pillars,
- To Tamenny Island (as part of a special tour “I love fish”),
- Pokrovsk - Olemkinsk - Lensk.
- Sangar - Vilyuysk - Verkhnevilyuysk - Nyurba (journey "Health Wave").
Routes of “Demyan Poor”
The flagship of the river flotilla in 2018 operated flights from Ust-Kut to Yakutsk and vice versa. He also cruised to Lensky Cheeks. This is a very interesting place. There, the river makes sharp turns of 90 degrees between high coastal cliffs.
In 2017, “Demyan Poor” cruised to Tiksi, to the shore of the Arctic Ocean. Now the ship is working on order or performs short pleasure voyages.
Description of the trip aboard the liner Demyan Poor
Until the end of navigation in 2018, only one 12-day cruise along the Lena River is planned. Reviews about him are very commendable. The steamer leaves Yakutsk on September 3 and follows to Leninsky Cheeks. The road includes stops at:
- the mouth of the Buotama River;
- the village of Dapparay;
- mouth of Ur;
- the city of Lenske;
- the village of Mirny;
- Vitime.
After passing through the Lensky Cheeks, the liner turns back. The tour program does not get boring from this.
Cruise participants will see the cities of Lensk and Olekminsk, as well as the notorious Pillars. In the village of Sottintsy, they will have a farewell dinner at the Bonfire of Friendship. The cost of such a cruise starts at 64 thousand rubles.
River cruises in Lena: reviews
These trips along the mighty Siberian river leave no one indifferent. And although for most people the word "cruise" evokes associations with tropical seas and southern latitudes, swimming in the Arctic will give you the opportunity to experience no less strong emotions.
The harsh nature of the North is beautiful, like the Snow Queen. And the Lena River is a unique miracle of nature. Its shores are surrounded by cliffs, approaching the water very close. Sometimes they retreat, and Lena spills to a width of 12-20 kilometers.
In this huge water area you can see islands in which many species of birds are found. As for the time of the cruise, it is always successful. In June you will find a polar day, in July and August - white nights.
Starting in September, it is likely to see the radiance in the sky. True, in autumn it is black and white. Colored aurora is only in winter.
Tourists praised the service. The cost of the cruise includes a transfer from the railway station or airport to the river port, meals, ground excursions, lectures, animation.
What are the most popular tours? Tourists enjoy a two-week cruise to Tiksi. There are also many commendable reviews about the Diamond Way tours (Yakutsk - Lensky Cheeks - Mirny) and the Pioneers Roads (from Ust-Kut to the capital of the Republic of Sakha).