A quick survival guide for traveling to the Far North

The Far North regions of Russia are notorious for their extreme cold, endless winter and peculiar traditions. Travelers often wonder how one can voluntarily live in such a place. Since the Far North regions of Russia are very distant from anything, life can be challenging there and traveling to these places can be complicated. However, if you are brave enough and would like to experience something you never did before, I invite you on a journey to where I show you how traveling to the Far North can be easier with a quick survival guide!

Where to go to feel the extreme cold

Having in mind very cold winters and the North Pole conditions, I would recommend you to head to Bodaibo, a small town 1095 km from Irkutsk. Bodaibo was founded in 1863 on the Vitim River. There are several versions of the origin of its name. One states that it is a rough translation from the Evenk language, meaning “that place”. Bodaibo was discovered by chance by an Irkutsk merchant who found gold in the Vitim River. It turned out that Bodaibo had lots of gold mines. Hence, Bodaibo, a town of gold miners, was set around the goldfields. Although it** has town status, it is situated in a deep forest**.

Bodaibo has a continental climate - it means that winters are frigid and very long, while summers are short and hot. If you think that the Far North is only about the extreme colds, how do +40C during summers sound? Bodaibo has exactly this temperature in July. It is certainly a unique feature for a place situated at such a high altitude.

Go to taiga to feel the real wild sensation

If you plan on delving deep into the wild, I suggest you visit the taiga. Bodaibo is surrounded by wild coniferous forest (the locals call it “taiga”). It is just around the corner even though Bodaibo has the status of a town.

The boreal forests are usually opposed to pine forests, and they usually have swamps. A vast territory of Russia is covered by them. Scientists say that taiga biome had started to form long before the first glaciers appeared.

Meet bears, the taiga’s main inhabitants

When you go to the taiga, remember that wild animals inhabit it. The taiga is their home, and you are just a guest there. The most commonly met animal of the taiga is a bear.

It sounds frightening, right? But, here are the general rules of behavior if you meet one. Bear in mind, bears usually hibernate in winter, so chances are rather low of meeting them during winter strolls of the taiga. These animals peacefully sleep, surviving on the fat they managed to save during the warmer months. Early spring is characterized by their awakening. They can be aggressive during spring because they wake up quite hungry, so it's better to avoid visiting taiga during this time. While walking in the forest, try to keep your voice down. If you meet bears, do not panic. Try not to turn your back on them, and leave without making a lot of noise. Although it is possible to meet bears in the taiga of the Far North regions of Russia, do not be afraid to travel there. Keep in mind the tips from this quick survival guide and rest assured that your traveling to the Far North will be a real treasured experience!