Ethnographic photo expedition to Yamal
Start: March 29, 2024, Salekhard, Russia
End: April 6, 2024, Salekhard, Russia
Group size: 5 people
End: April 6, 2024, Salekhard, Russia
Group size: 5 people
On this photography expedition, we'll attend the famous festival called Reindeer Herder's Day: we'll watch local residents compete in wrestling and reindeer sleigh races, take pictures of beautiful Nenets women in traditional costumes and carefree northern children in bright multi-colored fur coats.
We'll stay with several families, capturing the unfamiliarly tough life of the locals, and live the ordinary life of nomadic reindeer herders in chums, traditional tents. There are not many places on Earth where you can still observe primitive societies, who continue to live their independent tribal lives. This tour is a fantastic opportunity to observe the primitive tribal culture from the inside and capture the beauty and spirit of indigenous people.
If we are lucky, we'll see the famous arctic lights, an astronomical phenomenon, over the endless tundra.
We'll stay with several families, capturing the unfamiliarly tough life of the locals, and live the ordinary life of nomadic reindeer herders in chums, traditional tents. There are not many places on Earth where you can still observe primitive societies, who continue to live their independent tribal lives. This tour is a fantastic opportunity to observe the primitive tribal culture from the inside and capture the beauty and spirit of indigenous people.
If we are lucky, we'll see the famous arctic lights, an astronomical phenomenon, over the endless tundra.
EXPEDITION ITINERARY
Day 1
Meeting in Salekhard. The Festival of reindeer herders.
Our journey begins right on the Arctic Circle in the city of Salekhard on the Yamal Peninsula. After our morning flight, we'll drive to the village of Aksarka, 60 km (~37 mi) north of Salekhard, the festival location with the largest gathering of nomadic reindeer herders in the Arctic. This festival takes place once a year on this beautiful and ancient Nenets land.
After the festival, we'll take a 6-wheeled all-terrain vehicle Trekol and drive through the tundra to reindeer herders' camp, where we'll stay in a chum, traditional herders' dwelling.
Meeting in Salekhard. The Festival of reindeer herders.
Our journey begins right on the Arctic Circle in the city of Salekhard on the Yamal Peninsula. After our morning flight, we'll drive to the village of Aksarka, 60 km (~37 mi) north of Salekhard, the festival location with the largest gathering of nomadic reindeer herders in the Arctic. This festival takes place once a year on this beautiful and ancient Nenets land.
After the festival, we'll take a 6-wheeled all-terrain vehicle Trekol and drive through the tundra to reindeer herders' camp, where we'll stay in a chum, traditional herders' dwelling.
Days 2-5
Reindeer herders of Yamal
On these days, we'll travel to and spend time in two different reindeer herders' camps, where we'll stay for two days with each family. We'll stay in chums, capture images of the locals' primitive life, and photograph herds of reindeer in the tundra. We'll dine together with our hosts and try local cuisine which mainly includes venison, fish, and taiga berries (however, there's a good chance you'll see more familiar foods on a table)
We'll sleep in our sleeping bags in chums, which are warm and cozy enough thanks to wood-burning stoves. In the evenings, our hosts start the generator so there will be electricity for you to recharge the batteries.
We'll learn how to lasso, harness and manage reindeer. Every night, we'll observe the polar sky in the hope of catching the arctic lights.
Reindeer herders of Yamal
On these days, we'll travel to and spend time in two different reindeer herders' camps, where we'll stay for two days with each family. We'll stay in chums, capture images of the locals' primitive life, and photograph herds of reindeer in the tundra. We'll dine together with our hosts and try local cuisine which mainly includes venison, fish, and taiga berries (however, there's a good chance you'll see more familiar foods on a table)
We'll sleep in our sleeping bags in chums, which are warm and cozy enough thanks to wood-burning stoves. In the evenings, our hosts start the generator so there will be electricity for you to recharge the batteries.
We'll learn how to lasso, harness and manage reindeer. Every night, we'll observe the polar sky in the hope of catching the arctic lights.
Days 6-7
The Festival
On this day, we'll drive the now-familiar Trekol through the tundra back to Salekhard. In the evening, we'll check-in at the hotel (double suite/twin bed).
The Festival
On this day, we'll drive the now-familiar Trekol through the tundra back to Salekhard. In the evening, we'll check-in at the hotel (double suite/twin bed).
Day 8
Flight home
In the morning after breakfast, we'll arrive at the airport and fly to Moscow, where you'll travel back home.
Flight home
In the morning after breakfast, we'll arrive at the airport and fly to Moscow, where you'll travel back home.
The nenets girl in the reindeer herders camp in Yamal, Siberia
The girl from the family of reindeer herders with the herd of reindeer
Aurora over Yamal, Siberia
Nothern lights over the camp of reindeer herders in the Polar Urals
6 wheel ATV Trekol
All Terrain Vehicle for driving in tundra
Participants of the Yamal Photo Expedition
The photographers from Singapore near the traditional nenets hut
Nenets reindeer herders at hte rest
Locals of Yamal on the rest in the tundra
Chum - traditional nenets hut
Chum in the camp of reindeer herders of Yamal
Nenets woman in Yamal
Yamal woman in the camp of nomads
The reindeer herder
Nenets reindeer herder with his reindeer
Reindeer sled
Reindeer riding in Yamal phototour
In the chum of reindeer herders of Yamal
The traditional house of the family of reindeer herders
The nothern princess
The girl from the family of reindeer herders of Yamal in national dress
The catching of reindeer
The reindeer herder catches the reindeer in the tundra of Yamal
The nenets family in Yamal
The famaly of nenets in their chum in the camp
The nenets boy dressed in the national costume
Rhe biy in the reindeer sguba, Yamal
Reindeer rider in the Tundra
the tundra of Yamal, reindeer herder drives the reindeer
INCLUDED IN THE PRICE
* Transport all along the route
* Accomodation and meals in the hut in the family of reindeer breeders
* Guide services and assistance in photography
* Transport all along the route
* Accomodation and meals in the hut in the family of reindeer breeders
* Guide services and assistance in photography
NOT INCLUDED IN THE PRICE
* Tickets to Salekhard and back
* Meals and excursions in Saleckhard
* Health insurance
* Alcoholic beverages
* Tickets to Salekhard and back
* Meals and excursions in Saleckhard
* Health insurance
* Alcoholic beverages
REGISTRATION FORM
To register for the tour please fill the form below. We will notify you about availability and payment options. If there are no available spots, your registration will be automatically placed to the waiting list.