FAQ

All of our small group adventure tours in Siberia have been carefully planned to make sure you get the best out of your time here. Our clients think meeting the Nenets nomadic reindeer herders is the most unique experience in this part of Russia, so you’ll get to do that on every tour.

If you’re short on time, take a look at our 4-day summer or winter homestays with the Nenets. You can easily add these on as a short trip from Moscow or St Petersburg. You definitely won’t regret it.

If you’re a keen photographer then you should consider one of our specialised photo tours. The first option is our 10-day Arctic photography tour. On this, you can do portrait photography with the Nenets, landscape photography and wildlife encounters. The second is a full week living with the Nenets, where you’ll get amazing opportunities to photograph daily life. These tours are supported by a professional photographer and include hands-on tuition throughout the trip.

For those who want something a bit more adventurous, we’d recommend looking at our cross-country skiing expedition or snowmobile expedition into the Deep Arctic. You can read about what to expect on the Deep Arctic expedition here. You’ll get to experience places that most people will never see.

A deposit of 30% of the total cost of the trip is required at the time of booking to confirm your place. Payment of the balance of the trip is required 30 days prior to departure.

If you cancel 31 days or more prior to departure, we will retain your deposit. If you cancel 30 days or less prior to departure then we will retain 50% of the total cost. Cancellations made by Russian Arctic Travel will be refunded in full.

We understand that Covid-19 has changed the predictability of travel. If you book with us and have to cancel for Covid-19 related reasons then we will refund the full amounts paid, less any bank fees.

Our full terms and conditions can be found here.

Insurance is mandatory on our trips and you will not be able to participate on your tour if you fail to provide proof of it. We recommend that you make sure your policy covers medical evacuation from remote areas and repatriation home.

We do charge a single supplement for our trips and this is outlined on the individual booking pages.

We’re rated #1 for outdoor activities in Salekhard, and you can read some of our client testimonials here.

Winter

Temperatures here can drop as low as -64°C. When you’re outside on a snowmobile the right clothes are really important. We recommend wool or synthetic base layers (not cotton!) with fleece mid-layers. Outer layers should be rated to withstand polar temperatures. Make sure you have bib-style pants so that the wind doesn’t get under your jacket on the snowmobile.

If you’re having difficulty sourcing outer layers we recommend that you hire them from us – our experience means we’ve got the warmest options for you. Hiring them will also save space in your luggage!

You can find our full winter packing list here.

Summer

It may surprise you to hear that the most important item that you can put in your luggage in the summer is good insect repellent! The weather can be very variable, so again we recommend that you pack clothing that can easily be layered. A waterproof jacket is essential.

Sleeping bags are included in the cost of your trip, as are tents, camping and fishing equipment where applicable.

We bring a generator on all our photography trips so you’ll be able to keep everything fully charged. For other trips please let us know if you have any particular equipment that requires electricity so that we can make the necessary arrangements.

There will not be wifi or data available once you leave the main cities. Depending on your trip this may mean that you are unable to contact people via your usual means for up to a week.

We have a satellite phone available at all times for any emergency situations.

Whilst there are no specific limitations on your luggage on the trip, we recommend packing as light as you can. Yamal Airlines has a limit of 20kg on checked luggage, and you will need to pay an excess for anything above this.

Camping in the middle of the Arctic does present a certain set of challenges when it comes to toilet facilities. We provide you with what we lovingly refer to as the “toilet tent”, which covers a hole in the ground. Since it’s so cold, there’s really no smell, and we think it’s a small inconvenice for the magic of the trips.

We’d suggest bringing wet wipes or something similar for a quick wash whilst you’re on the trip as there are no showers.

Winter here gets very cold, with subzero temperatures, but we get beautiful sunny days with clear blue skies. There’s nothing quite like fresh snow sparkling under an Arctic sun. In summer the weather can be quite variable, so it’s best to be prepared for 4 seasons in a day!

When camping we’ll be cooking for ourselves and can easily cater to any dietary restrictions. At the Nenets homestay, our hosts cook for us, so we simply need to know your needs in advance. Please inform us at the time of booking so that we can ensure we are able to source the required ingredients.

If you’re vegan or vegetarian, please be aware that meat and fish will be present at mealtimes. The main foods eaten by the Nenets are fish and reindeer meat, along with carbohydrates such as potatoes or pasta.

All our tours begin and end in Salkehard, which is the capital of the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Region. It’s a fun city to visit (you can see our top sights in Salekhard here) and you should definitely consider spending an additional day here at the end of your trip.

If there is a specific trip that you would like to go on and the dates don’t work for you then please contact us directly. We are very happy to discuss alternative possibilities with you.

We’re happy to discuss any customisations to trips. Please email or call us to discuss further.

No specific vaccinations are required for these trips.

We do everything to make your Russian Arctic expedition as safe as we possibly can, but there’s always a chance that something could go wrong. Our guides are trained in polar survival techniques and every tour is registered with the local search and rescue department. We’re confident that you’ll feel safe during every part of your trip with us.