Experience an ancient part of the natural life cycle of Kamchatka’s Koryak people as you visit remote nomadic reindeer herding people. Each April they pause for several weeks from their constant migration to feed their reindeer so that their reindeer may give birth to spring calves. This group of herders left the village area of Vivenka to preserve their lifestyle and reindeer when the changes of “perestroika” decimated their culture and most reindeer herds. Now throughout the year they travel a circular migration route through the mountains and tundra and you are invited to be one of their few and honored guests.
This is a rugged trip for people who can withstand camp conditions with few comforts besides a warm tent with beds made on top of a thick layer of reindeer hides. Also be aware that weather is changeable and it is possible to have flight delays between Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky and your point of entry to Koriyakiya at the village of Tilichiki.
Your guide is hydrologist Mikhail “Misha” Petrov who has forged strong friendships and a love for this northern Kamchatka area when he traveled with US adventurer Jon Turk on many expeditions (www.jonturk.com).
Itinerary
Day 1 Arrival in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, transfers to hotel, meet your guide. Talk about the trip, go over maps. Double check gear and clothing for the trip. Day 2 Fly Petropavlovsk- Tilichiki on a fixed wing plane. Waiting for you at the airport will be snow machines and sleds to take you 2-3 hours to the tiny village of Vivenka. Meet your Koriyaki traveling companions and local hostess Lidia, a Koriyak woman who teaches English in the local schools. Day 3 Vivenka-visit the village, learn about their remote and challenging life in this northern outpost. Enjoy some traditional Koriyak cultural activities including dance and story telling. Overnight accommodations are in apartments in the village. Day 4-5 Travel by snow machine in the sled or on the back with the driver of the snow machine. En route you may visit a sacred healing stone of the Koriyaki people. If you are a good skier, you may be towed by the snow machine on your skis. Camp in the snow, sleeping in tents lined with reindeer skins making sure you are warm even though sleeping on the snow. By day 5 arrive at the reindeer herders’ camp. Day 6-7 Visit with the herders, photograph, watch how they handle the reindeer. Day 8-9 Return by snow machine to Vivenka. Day 10 to Tilichiki by snow machine and fly to Petropavlovsk. Overnight at hotel. Day 11-13 Reserve days in case of non-flying weather. We can arrange city tours, hot springs visits and more. Overnight at hotel. Day 14 Departure.
Experience an ancient part