For last weeks, I received similar inquires from Poland, UK, Hong Kong and the Netherlands. All of them regarded the longest voyage along the Lena River, of course, in Yakutia. The question was like “Is there any regular passenger boat that goes from Yakutsk to Tiksi? Not expensive one?” The first one arrived in the early May. At that time, I knew that there was one passenger ship going on the route. That’s “Mechanic Koulibin.” So, I thought it would be easy to find out the requested info.
In the beginning of May, I called Yakutsk River Port. A traffic superintendent told me that the river port doesn’t deal with “Mechanic Khoulibin,” because it doesn’t own it. She said “Call the ship owner, LenaTourFlot LLC.” Well, I called LenaTourFlot that, actually, is located in the office building of Lena River Transportation Service. A travel operator said that he didn’t have any info on the ship schedule. “It is not approved yet. The timetable will appear on June 1, more likely. If need info urgently, give a call to the ship captain,” he said. “Wow!” I exclaimed. If I need the timetable, I have to ask the captain himself. That’s cool.
Rejoice. Today is a good day. This morning I talked to Sergei G. Kourin, director of Mechanic Koulibin LLC, LenaTourFlot’s daughter enterprise. He is actually the head of the company that controls the ship’s activity. A little bit complicated. If to be simple, he is the captain.
Mr. Kourin wasn’t surprised by my request. “Last summer we had four Polish passengers,” he said. So, he was easy to give required info.
Departure from Yakutsk for 2009 navigation period:
July 13, August 5, August 24, September 7. As far as you might know, in the Arctic zone, navigation starts late. Ice cover is melted by the end of June only.
Trip length: 8-10 days (for two ways) or 4-5 days (one way).
The period varies, because dark nights get much longer by the end of summer.
Foreigners are accommodated in cabins of the 1st class with two beds on the upper deck only. They are more comfortable, as explained. Cabins of the 1st class are limited, certainly. 16 cabins for 32 passengers only.
One way trip costs 9990 rubles per person.
Advance ticket purchase will be possible, but in the span of two weeks before the departure day. No online sale, unfortunately. Mr. Kourin said tickets must be booked and purchased in the office by cash and at least by travelers’ representative. “If you wish, you can do it on behalf of international tourists,” he added. “Sorry, I need info for the weblog only. I am not a travel agent,” I replied. He was like “You can do good deed at any time though.”
Additional information might be obtained at +7 (4112) 42-51-51. That’s the fax number as well. Btw, Mr. Kourin said “Of course, we’ve got a person, who can say a few English words, but it would be much better, if all questions would be asked in Russian.”
About “Mechanic Koulibin”
The middle passenger vessel designed for river and seashore navigation. The German mark is BiFa Typ B, Binnenfahrgastschiff Typ B. The ship has 1-, 2- and 4-beds cabins, two canteens, and saloons (no idea of what it is). Used by local travelers.
Hope this info is sufficient and helpful.
PS. Mechanic Koulibin Ship Timetable for the next summer will be known by the end of May 2010.
Similar Posts:
- 2009 Lena River Passenger Boats Timetable: Osetrovo (Ust-Kut) – Peleduj – Lensk – Olekminsk – Yakutsk
- Some rates: Ust-Kut – Lensk by a barge, Olekminsk – Yakutsk by a motor boat
- Russian River Cruises: The Lena River by ‘Demian Bednyi’
- The way from Yakutsk to Tiksi in September 2009
- Clif Maberly’s report “Our trip on the Lena River 2009″. Yakutsk – Tiksi – Yakutsk.
