Received questions from Montenegro’s Round-The-World Motorcycle Expedition (www.theridearound2010.com), that plans to go through Yakutia (Sakha), Magadan Oblast and Chukotka to Alaska. Here is what they wrote:
“Three of us will be traveling around the world on our motorcycles. Somewhere around July 10th we will be in Chita and from there we want to travel to Magadan. Our questions are: 1. We have seen on the maps that there is a road (not the old road) from Yakutsk to Magadan? Is this true or will we have to use the old Road of Bones? 2. Do you know are there regular flights from Magadan to Anadyr? Is there, maybe, a possibility to travel by ship from Magadan to Alaska? 3. Do we need a special permit for Chukotka? In the Russian Embassy in Montenegro we were told that it is not necessary.”
Before clicking the link “Read more”, I would like to let you know that I am always online. I keep answering questions without any pauses. Just not all of questions with answers were published at AskYakutia.com. I am blogging, when I have free time between the family life and work. This is a little off-top remark.
1. We have seen on the maps that there is a road (not the old road) from Yakutsk to Magadan? Is this true or will we have to use the old Road of Bones?
There is the Kolyma Highway, that goes from Yakutsk to Magadan via Ust Nera. It’s in good condition all the year around.
Keep in mind that the part Kyubyume – Ust Nera – Magadan is considered to be a new route.
The old route we call the part Kyubyume – Tomtor – Magadan. It can be used only when river waters are low. Mainly in August. July and September are also good time, but they may have heavy rains. Check the post 2009 Photo Report: The old route of the Kolyma Highway (Road of Bones) by Czech OFF SIBERIA motorcyclists.
What is the difference between new and old routes, I wrote in this post 2009 August Road Report: the condition of the Kolyma Highway (the Road of Bones) in Oymyakonsky Ulus
Those, who want to make it to Magadan via the old route of the Kolyma road, please, consider the following opportunity to try it with local driver’s Yakutsk to Magadan expedition. They will go in August with trucks as support. Participation is totally free.
2. Do you know about any regular flights from Magadan to Anadyr? Is there possibility to travel by ship from Magadan to Alaska?
There is the direct flight done by Yakutia Airlines on Wednesdays. Ir Air, also known as Irkutsk Avia, does regular flights from Magadan to Bilibino and flies irregularly to Pevek and Koupol (Купол).
There is the trackway between Magadan and Anadyr, but it’s a winter road. There is another option to try in summer. The route is as follows. Magadan – Seimchan by a car/bike/bicycle, Seimchan to Anyuisk along Yakutia’s part of the Kolyma River by a barge, Anyuisk – Bilibino – Pevek by a car, and then from Pevek to Anadyr. The last part seems hard to go through. Wrecked bridges are reported.
Unfortunately, currently ships do not go straight from Kamchatka/Magadan to Alaska. Travellers tend to ship their vehicles to Vladivostok, then to Alaska or California. Check this post How to ship your moto or vehicle from/to Magadan & from/to Vladivostok by sea?
However, one Magadan off-roading enthusiast states that it is theoretically possible to get to Alaska by a barge, if to do the following things:
1. Find a barge [I think, he meant, in Magadan] and pay the captain.
2. Cross the frontier checkpoint in the settlement of Providenie or Anadyr.
Nevertheless, he highlights that he thinks it is impossible.
3. Do we need the special entry permit for Chukotka? The Russian Embassy in Montenegro told us, “We don’t need them.”
Chukotka with its Anadyr and Pevek is located in the Frontier zone. It means entrance permit might be required. In any case, you need to resolve this issue via travel agencies. The list of frontier zones is described on Wikipedia pretty good.
Have a good ride. If any, keep asking me about Yakutia and even about the rest of Siberia & the Far East :)
Similar Posts:
- How to get from Magadan to Anadyr in summer? Via Yakutia’s Kolyma
- Cycling through Tynda – Yakutsk – Magadan – Anadyr – Alaska
- The old Kolyma roadway: Kyubyume – Magadan Oblast
- 2009 August Road Report: the condition of the Kolyma Highway (the Road of Bones) in Oymyakonsky Ulus
- Dimitri Kieffer’s ultimate description of Russia’s Chukotka – Kamchatka – Magadan route. From Uelen to Anadyr, Omsukchan and Magadan.
