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JOIN MY Tour to Oymyakon, Siberia; The COLDEST place on earth

Oymyakon is the coldest inhabited place on Earth. Come with me in February 2026, winter in Siberia. . I’ve done some wild trips over the years – crossing the Sahara, rowing the Atlantic, climbing Everest. There aren’t too many adventures left on my bucket list. BUT THIS IS A BIG ONE! The coldest place on earth, Oymyakon, AKA the Pole of Cold. Deep in Siberia. In Winter. A record -71.2°C was recorded here. This is about extremes, isolation, survival, and one of the rawest, most intense environments on the planet. LET’S GO! Am I weird for wanting to go here? Do other people even wanna do this?! Who knows. I’m going anyway.

This is a real adventure. To be honest, this isn’t a normal ‘group tour’. I don’t even know if people will join me. It’s Russia (not great optics, I know). It’s freezing. It’s not cheap. But it’s f*cking epic. And it’s a trip I’ve always wanted to do. So even if no-one joins me, I’m going anyway. Like I said, rather than a normal tour, this is a trip that I’m taking. And you’re welcome to join me if you want. If not, no worries too.

On another note, as the first person to complete the Ultimate Explorers Grand Slam (every country, 7 summits, North and South Pole) I think that that title should also mean you have to do the highest, lowest, hottest and coldest too, right? So this will complete that for me too.

JOIN ME AND BOOK IT HERE. Or the button below here:

What about the Ukraine/Russia War?

Let me be clear: this trip is not an endorsement of the Russian government or its actions. I believe we can travel responsibly without supporting policies we disagree with. When I visit China, it doesn’t mean I support the treatment of Uyghur Muslims. When I visit the USA, it doesn’t mean I back their foreign policy in places like Iraq or Yemen. It’s the same here. If we only visit places with clean records, w won’t make it out of our back yard.

Siberia, and Yakutia especially, feels like another world entirely. It’s a remote republic with its own people, language, and culture. This trip is about them. And us. And the world is better when we mix.

So, February 2026, I’m taking (a probably very small) group of legends with me on a once-in-a-lifetime adventure. We’re heading deep into the Siberian wilderness to visit Oymyakon, the coldest place on Earth.

I’ve wanted to do this for years. To feel the burn of -50°C (- 60°C, -70°C???) air in your lungs, to ride the infamous Road of Bones, to shake hands with Chyskhaan, Keeper of the Cold… and to say you’ve stood where -71.2°C was once recorded. A place so frozen that even your eyelashes can snap!

How it works?

All the details are down below, in.. err. detail, but the gist? We start in Irkutsk and push east, across Yakutia. A soviet republic the size of India, yet home to less than a million people. From the Gulags of the Soviet era to the frostbitten wilderness of Oymyakon. This is your, and my, probably only chance to visit the coldest place on Earth. Come suffer with me.

What is ‘Oymyakon’?

Oymyakon is a small village in northeastern Siberia, Russia, with just around 500 residents. It’s nestled in the heart of Yakutia, officially the Sakha Republic, a place so remote and vast it’s practically another planet.

Reportedly, less than 2000 foreigners have ever visited. Around 1300 in the last decade:

Coldest place on earth record

In January 1926, a temperature of −71.2°C was recorded in Oymyakon. That number has never been beaten in any other permanently inhabited place on Earth. Not in Canada, Alaska. NOT EVEN in Antarctica’s research stations.

Despite these extreme conditions, life carries on. Locals still herd reindeer, raise hardy Yakut horses, and fish in icy rivers that never freeze completely. I can’t wait to learn about experiencing what life is like on the very edge of human endurance.

The Road to Oymyakon: The Road of Bones

Our road trip will take us along the infamous Kolyma Highway, known to locals as the Road of Bones. This haunting nickname comes from the horrifying history behind the road’s construction.

During Stalin’s regime, prisoners from the Dalstroy Gulag were forced to build this 2,000km highway using nothing but shovels and picks. No heavy machinery. No breaks. No mercy. Thousands perished and their bodies buried in the permafrost beneath the road itself.

We’ll sleep in Tomtor, a freezing town of 2,000 people, also one of the coldest inhabited places on Earth. From there, we continue deeper still into Yakutia’s frostbitten heart.

The Itinerary: February 2026

DAY 0: Arriving in Russia

The tour officially starts in the morning of February 17th in Yakutsk. DAY 0, listed here, is not included (although available on request).

For me personally, I will fly to Moscow, directly after my group Libya Tour – (COME JOIN ME ON THAT ONE TOO!). I will land in Moscow on February 15th and chill there. Then on the 16th, I plan to take the evening flight from Moscow to Yakutsk with S7 airlines (all subject to change depending on flight times).

February 17th, 2026. Day 1 – Arrival in Yakutsk

Fly into Yakutsk, capital of the Sakha Republic, where winter temperatures regularly drop below -45°C. We’ll pick you up at the airport, get you checked into your hotel, and after some rest, we’ll dive straight in with a cultural tour:

• Treasury of Yakutia
• Museum of the Peoples of the North
• Mammoth Museum
• Ethnographic Dinner at Chochur-Muran

Sleep warm. Tomorrow, it begins.

OVERNIGHT: Yakutsk hotel

Day 2 – The Kolyma Highway Begins, Into the Siberian Wild

DRIVING LEG 1/2. Depart Yakutsk early and begin the long, desolate journey to the Pole of Cold via the infamous Kolyma Highway — the “Road of Bones,” built by Gulag prisoners.

900+km through ghost towns, permafrost, and silence. We overnight halfway in Khandyga, a sleepy village of frost and history.

Expect basic homestays, roadside café stops, frozen landscapes, and your first true taste of Siberia.

Overnight: En-route to Tomtor. Local homestay.

Day 3 – Deeper into the Freeze – Tomtor & the Gulags

DRIVING LEG 2/2. Khandyga to Tomtor, crossing mountain passes and memorials:

• GULAG cross
• Tomporuk Pass
• “Black Clamp” & “Hare’s Loop” photo stops Arrive in Tomtor — a town of 2,000 enduring -50°C winters. You’ll feel it in your soul.

Dinner, banya, and gear check. This is it. Oymyakon awaits.

Day 4 – THE POLE OF COLD. Oymyakon – The Coldest Place on Earth.

A full day in Oymyakon, the legendary Pole of Cold:

• Meet Chyskhaan, the Keeper of the Cold
• Official certificate at the Oymyakon monument
• Visit the Eyumu River (never freezes!) — optional plunge
• Explore the Sivtsev photo gallery
• Ring the merchant’s bell for good luck
• Return to Tomtor. Rest.

This is the coldest permanently inhabited place on Earth. A privilege. A memory burned into your frostbitten mind.

OVERNIGHT: Back in Tomtor.

Day 5 – Gulags, Reindeer & Healing Springs

DRIVING LEG 1/2. We leave Tomtor, heading west via Teply Kluch:

• Ride Yakut horses bred for -60°C
• Visit the Ice Residence of Chyskhaan
• Reindeer sledding with northern tribes
• Stop at healing Shaman Springs
• Refuel at roadside cafés

Overnight: Teply Kluch or en route.

Day 6 – Departure, Return to Yakutsk – Final Stretch

DRIVING LEG 2/2. Finish the loop, arriving back in Yakutsk by evening.

Check into a hotel, enjoy a proper bed, hot shower, and toast your frostbitten adventure with a well-earned drink.

Day 7 – Buffer Day / Bonus Half-Day Tour

A bonus day in case of weather delays (very possible in Yakutia). If all’s smooth, we use it to explore more hidden corners of Yakutsk, shop for mammoth ivory souvenirs, and unwind before your onward flight.

Day 8 – Moscow-bound. Or home.

I’ve got the SEXIEST TRIP EXTENSION EVER, if you want to spend another couple of days in Russia with. Moscow, complete wit vodka tasting, and ballet or opera. Redsquare, 5* hotels, and the Kremlin of course. A little bit of a splurge after all that brutal cold. Come sign off Russia with style with me! More details at the bottom to join this section too.

Why Go?

This is REAL ADVENTURE TRAVEL. Only a handful of people have done it. Most don’t even consider it. This is more than a cold-weather destination. This is the coldest place on Earth. The last true frontier of winter. A region of frozen rivers, resilient people, and haunting history. It’s not easy to get here. But that’s the point.

Very few foreigners ever make it this far. But for those who do, it changes something inside you. This is about legacy. Bragging rights. Adventure. And understanding just how far the human spirit can go.

Tour Dates

February 17-24, 2026

(Moscow extension is February 23-26)

Tour Price

$2,999 USD per person

Included

• All accommodation
• Western group leader (me!)
• Local Guide
• Transfers and transport
• All breakfasts and some meals
• Entry to museums and activities
• Your official Pole of Cold Certificate

Not Included

• International/Domestic flights to Yakutsk (I can help)
• Some lunches and dinners (cheap and local)
• Travel insurance
• Russian visa (we help with this)
• Vodkaaaaaa (well maybe I’ll provide some, let’s see!)

WHAT ABOUT THE RUSSIAN VISA?

Good question. Most nationalities can now apply for a Russian visa relatively easily. And I’ll help you every step of the way.

Most nationalities

(like EU, Aussie, Canadian): You may be eligible for Russia’s streamlined e-Visa system, which is cheaper and faster. Again, we’ll guide you through the process.

US & UK travellers etc:

You’ll need to apply through your local Russian embassy or visa center. It’s not difficult, just a little old-school. But don’t worry, we provide your official invitation letter and detailed step-by-step instructions to make it smooth. Just make sure your passport is valid for at least 6 months after your trip and has a couple of blank pages. And you’re good to go.

Can Anyone Join?

Yes. We help with all logistics. All nationalities welcome, including Americans, Brits, Aussies, and beyond.

Is Siberia Safe (is Russia safe too)?

Yes. Yakutia is far removed from any unrest. The region is safe, welcoming, and proud of its culture. That said, it’s brutally cold. But we’ll help you pack the right gear, and we’ll be ready.

How to Join

👉 DM me on Instagram @onestep4ward

👉 Or book now on WeTravel with your credit card (the nonrefundable deposit is just $300). You can do that HERE. Or here:

JOIN THE MOSCOW EXTENSION; Luxury, Legends & a Little Vodka

3 days in Moscow to sign this baby off IN STYLE.

Optional Add-on: 3 Days / 2 Nights | $1,349 USD

So you’ve survived Yakutia, the coldest place on Earth. You’ve seen frozen rivers, tasted -50°C air, and earned your bragging rights in Oymyakon. Now? Let’s finish the trip in style.

We’re flying west to Moscow. Russia’s heart and soul. And we’re cranking the comfort up to 5 stars. This isn’t some watered-down tour. It’s high-end, cultural, indulgent, and just edgy enough to keep that adventure traveller in you satisfied. Think Kremlin. Vodka flights. A black-tie night at the opera. Lenin’s tomb before lunch. And yes, a final night out on the town to toast what we’ve just accomplished.

This is your reward. And trust me, after Siberia? You’ve earned it.

Moscow Extension Itinerary – 3 Days of Class, Culture & Caviar

DAY 1 – Fly into Moscow / Red Square Icons / Russian Feast

We’ll fly back together from the wilds of Yakutia and check into our 5-star hotel in the heart of Moscow. That afternoon, we hit Red Square, explore the Kremlin, and stand before St. Basil’s Cathedral. Then it’s time for a high-end Russian dinner and our first toast to celebrate our survival!

Sleep: 5-star central Moscow hotel

DAY 2 – Lenin, Vodka & Velvet Seats

We’ll visit Lenin’s Mausoleum first thing. Eerie and fascinating. After some downtime and a bite, we’ll sample Russia’s finest vodkas at a slick vodka tasting session. Then it’s black tie as we head to the theatre or opera, followed by a decadent dinner and late-night cocktails in the Moscow night.

DAY 3 – Departure

Sleep in, breakfast like a Tsar. Fly home, epic story complete

Final Word

Oymyakon is the coldest inhabited place on Earth. And this might be the wildest trip you ever take.

So if you’ve ever dreamed of testing your limits, standing in a frozen world, and coming back with a story few people on Earth can tell, this is your chance (and mine!). Join me. Let’s freeze time together.

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