Well, the question asked by a Dutch seems easy to answer. But… when we talk about roads to remote settlements in Yakutia, everything appears to be so complicated. The same issue we get with this question.
Sebyan-Kyuel is a small village located by the Silyan River in Kobyasky Ulus, North Yakutia. Check the map. Known much as the place of reindeer herders’ settlement.
In winter, to travel to Sebyan Kyuel is very easy. Take a car and drive from Yakutsk by an ice road along the Lena River to the North. If to be precisely, to the village of Batamai that is right after the border of Namsky and Kobyaysky uluses. Then turn to the North-East. Go by the winter road leading to the village of Khara, afterwards to Segyan Kyuel, and finally to Sebyan Kyuel. The way may take around 5-6 hours. Depends on winter road conditions. Would be great, if there won’t be snowstorms.
In summer period, you can’t reach the final destination by a car. With snow melting in April, winter roads start disappearing and transforming into mud and impassable terrains. That’s the first problem. No passable roads to Sebyan Kyuel.
In the past, travelling to Sebyan Kyuel was simple. Polar Airlines (its website in Russian only) conducted direct flights. But last year the air company refused flying on that direction. Crisis, you know. And lack of passengers, not so many people can afford ~500 USD for their round trip. Besides, the republic’s government decided to reduce subsidizing home flights. So, the next problem is the absence of regular flights.
The third unpleasent thing is that no fast speed passenger boat goes to herders’ village.
How do Sebyan Kyuel dwellers manage to travel from Sebyan Kyuel, for instance, to the republic’s administrative center?
Two ways exist. One is mostly used. Another is a sort of adventure travel.
First. By a helicopter chartered by local organizations such as Sebyan Kyuel reindeer herders community and the geological survey company “Prognoz” headquartered in Yakutsk and owned by the Canadian firm “Silver Bear Inc.” In both cases, you need to come to an agreement with these organization about your joining helicopter charter flight as a passenger. Depends on your negotiation ability. Note that Prognoz can deliver you only to its base in Endybyl, then you need to go hiking to Sebyan Kyuel about 70 km. Hard mission.
Similar Posts:
- The northernmost transportation in Yakutia?
- 1-Day Trip to Holy Kihilyakh for the Light of the 2012 Children of Asia Sports Games
- How to cross the Lena River, when ice roads closed near Yakutsk?
- How do winter roads look like in Yakutia?
- Is it possible to charter a helicopter from Tiksi Airport?
