The
Even reindeer herders migrated to Kamchatka
just 150 years ago. Their enclave in the Bystrinsky
Nature Park, are the villages of Anavgai and
Esso. Each summer coinciding with the summer
solstice is the celebration of the Even New
Year. This trip offers you a chance to participate
in this celebration.
Itinerary Day 1 Arrival in Kamchatka.Airport greeting
and transfer to bed and breakfast in Yelizovo.
Check in, rest, familiarize yourself with
Yelizovo, go for a dip in the hot springs
near Yelizovo.
Day 2 Depart for Esso. This is a 10-hour drive
into the central valley of the peninsula. Stop
for lunch in historic Milkovo, a small city
located along the banks of the Kamchatka River.
Continue driving to the Esso/Anavgai area,
one of the most welcoming villages of Kamchatka,
Esso. Anavgai, the site of the festival, and
Esso are about 27 kilometers (17 miles) apart.
Esso has a population of about 2000 and Anavgai
about 1500 people, most of whom are Even Natives.
Overnight at a B&B.
Days 3-6 Enjoy the Festival at Anavgai. You
may start your day with an early morning dip
in Esso’s huge hot springs-fed swimming
pool in the village. Tour the Esso Museum,
which offers a fine ethnographic collection
and a great way to see the culture of the Even.
Each day during the festival you will drive
to/from Esso to Anavgai and participate in
the activities including dances, traditional
games, food, story telling, and sharing of
cultures. At an appropriate time (weather dependent)
during this week, we’ll arrange a scenic
helicopter flight to Even reindeer herds in
the mountains and tundra above the villages.
Spend about 5 hours (depending on weather)
with the herders, picnic lunch, and return
to Anavgai/Esso.
Day 7 Drive to Yelizovo—stopping along
the way to take photos, pick berries, picnic.
Arrive in the evening to your B&B in Yelizovo.
Day 8 Visit Petropavlovsk-Kamchatksy
for sight seeing and shopping. In the evening
a Russian children’s folklore ensemble
concert at B&B.
Day 9 Visit Sosnovka Itelmen Camp. Drive one-half
hour to the birch forest camp of the Itelmen
people. This is a place that the Yelizovo-area
Itelmen are developing to restore and preserve
their ancient culture. Storytellers and dancers
from the Itelmen Pimchak Community will share
their traditions, dances, and music. Local
Kamchatka food will be prepared family style
over the campfire.
Looking Into
the Old Ways
Day 1
Days 3-6