ferry

The Lena River in November. Near Yakutsk, Yakutia, Russia. Photo by Alexander Li

The Lena River in November. Near Yakutsk, Yakutia, Russia. Photo by Alexander Li, Yakutsk Vecherny Newspaper, Vecherka.Ykt.ru

Often asked, if it is possible to drive roads (ice roads) and crossing rivers in Yakutia in a particular month. Yes, such questions arrive mostly from independent vehicle drivers.

So decided to give description of the conditions of roads, ice roads and river crossings month by month.

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A ferry on the Lena River near Yakutsk on Nov. 15th, 2010. Photo by Alexander Li, Yakutsk Vecherny Newspaper, Vecherka.Ykt.ru

Is it possible to cross the Lena River near the Siberian city of Yakutsk in November? This is a really good question. The answer is Yes and No. Everything depends on weather, precisely, on the condition of the ice cover on the Lena River.

November is the period of transition and so-called freezing-over. It’s time for the Lena River to get frozen, acquire ice cover thick enough for the use of ice river roads.

Keep in mind, there are no bridges over the Siberian river of Lena at all. The river might be crossed by ferry (in navigation period) or ice roads (in winter).

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Siberia: BackToBroke on the road between Tynda and Yakutsk

Oisin Hughes, an Irish Giant, is the first adventure biker of summer 2010, who arrived on his motobike to Yakutia on the way to Magadan. Yesterday he made it to Yakutsk from Tynda. He spent two days on the road. Really fast! This morning (pretty early, at 8.00 am) on my way to the office, I found him in Lena Hotel. Actually, I woke him up… Read more…

Received two almost similar requests from German and Indian travelers. The first one asked about the best way of getting to Yakutsk from Seoul (South Korea). Another was curious about the flying route from Almaty (Kazakhstan).

The same issue I had already had with another international guests who eventually arrived to Yakutsk through Novosibirsk. And you know what? I would say that Novosibirsk is currently the best hub (intermediate center) when you plan your trip to so far away region as Yakutia. Yeah, that’s true. Locals even prefer to fly to Moscow via this Siberian city, though there are direct flights. Read more…