Way to Russia Talk Lounge

Solivagant · Just Starting Joined: 30 Dec 2004 Posts: 1 Location: UK

A couple of years ago my wife and I were all booked (via a "western" travel company) to go on a Yenisei Cruise from Krasnoyarsk to Ost when it was cancelled. I am thinking of trying again - this time booking directly with a Russian company and fitting in some other nearby trips whilst we are there but all the web entries seem somewhat out of date - even the section on Krasnoyarsk on this site doesn't mention it!!
a. Is this cruise still available?
b. Do you know of any agents
c. Any views about it? Is it worth going on? I am perhaps unnecessarily influenced by seeing that it goes north of the Arctic circle and I do rather want to leave the "Trans-Siberian corridor"!
d Any recommended alternatives for reaching "the Far north"??

Siberian Tour Guide · Posted: Sun Feb 20, 2005 7:33 am Post subject:

There was the cruise-ship "Anton Chekhov", offering cruises along Yenisey river. It was the most comfortable and beautiful 3-deck passenger vessel on Yenisey river. All of these cruises were offered to take by this ship. Unfortunetly, about a 2 years ago the ship was relocated to Volga river and does not serve on the river anymore. This is why you have not found much cruises offered along the Yenisey.
Although, besides the "Anton Chekhov" cruise-ship there are quite a few of regular local passenger vessels serving for local people. Here is a typical one: http://www.sibtourguide.com/images/yenisey/yenisey04.jpg
But on the other hand to use one you might have difficulties with buying tickets for the boat trips along Yenisey river. The biggest cities upthere Norilsk, Igarka and Dudinka have a special administrative status. All foreigners supposed to have them mentioned in their visas in order to by tickets. Due to this special status this might be quite complicated unless you have relialbe contacts with local authorities there who can help. Once I witnessed it works. But on the other hand to get such a permit in Krasnoyarsk seems to be almost impossible.
But you can always consider a shorter trip as down to Yeniseisk. Check out this page to learn more information about Yenisei river trips: http://www.sibtourguide.com/yenisey.html

Anatoliy.

Elmindow

Hello there,

I am also very interested in traveling the Yenisey by a vessel to Dudinka. Anatolyj, you've mentioned that there are local ships that could get you there after Chekov is not available anymore. I wonder if it is possibe to order tickets or at least to find information about them on the net? Because now I have no idea about their schedules, prices etc. I would like to avoid "surprises" because I have not much time on vacations and what is more important - I will bring more people with me, so I wouldn't like to screw up against them and spoil their vacations Shocked

Another option could be to take a vessel from Irkutsk via Angara and eventually end up at Dudinka, but I don't know if there are such services at Irkutsk.... If it is, this would be fantastic - then we could see even Baikal! If somebody knows something about those ferries at Krasnoyarsk and/or at Irkutsk I would be very greateful to know that, thank you.

giny · Just Starting Joined: 05 Apr 2005 Posts: 3

I am working for Tozai Travel, Amsterdam, a Trans Siberia Specialist in the Netherlands. We are offciial agent for Intourist Moscow.

For 2 of my passengers I will arrange the Yenisei river cruise this summer.
There are 2 scheduled trips of 12-13 days (roundtrip) and if you want you can take the cruise one way, go by car to Norilsk and fly back the next day to Krasnoyarsk or ofcourse the other way around.

If you are in the UK, you can ask Intourist London to book the trip for you.
There are a few Yenisei rivertrips this summer, but not with the Tsjechov boat but with 2 Russian boats.
If you want you can book the trip via us, but we require then the whole trip inside Russia to be booked via us.

This is the cruise Krasnoyark-Dudinka-Krasnoyarsk
cabin of dlx class with shower at 1650 E per person.
I did not yet receive the cheaper categories yet.

There are 2 restaurants , reading hall, musik saloon, bar on the board of the ship.
there are 2 cruises available 1st date . 18/7-29/7, 2nd date . 2/8-13/8
( These dates are the start- and finish-dates.)

-the price includes:
-full board,excursions in Yeniseysk,Turukhansk,Igarka,Dudinka
-entertainment programme
-English-speaking guide
-accoomodation

I will get all the info, also about the sailing dates of ordinary much cheaper ships this week and will post it here as soon as I get it with the details.

Giny
Tozai Travel, Amsterdam
www.tozai.nl
email giny@tozai.nl

Elmindow · Posted: Wed Apr 06, 2005 12:13 am Post subject: Yenisey trip

Hello Giny,
Thanks for info, seems intereseting, especially if you post those cheaper boat prices (how much it would cost if we take a one-way trip to Dudinka). Also, what do you mean by booking the whole inside Russia trip - does this mean not only flight, but also train ticket from Vilnius to Moscow and then from Moscow to Kranoyarsk that we plan to use to reach Krasnoyarsk?
Thanks again for info, I'm looking forward to further information
Mindaugas

tomcasey · Just Starting Joined: 06 Apr 2005 Posts: 1

I am interested in a river cruise between Krasnoyarsk and Dudinka this summer, however am confused about the visa situation with Dudinka/Norilsk. I would prefer to fly back to Krasnoyarsk, however as far as I am aware, the notorious Dudinka/Norilsk 'permit' is near impossible to obtain without relatives living there or a business association with Norilsk Nikel (i.e. tourist permits are not granted). It would be helpful if someone could clarify as without a permit, the only way back is by boat.

Many thanks,

Tom.

giny · Just Starting Joined: 05 Apr 2005 Posts: 3

Passengers who arrange their whole Russian trip via us (Tozai Travel, Amsterdam, www.tozai.nl, email giny@tozai.nl) get the permit for Norilsk via us.
For getting the visa support for Russia, we require the whole trip to be arranged, booked and paid via us, so accommodation (budget to deluxe), trains, transfers, boatcruise, flight back Norilsk-Krasnoyarsk etc.

If you read Dutch you can see basic tours on our website www.tozai.nl, Trans Siberie Express.

As mentioned before we are an official agent of Intourist Moscow.

Giny

giny · Just Starting Joined: 05 Apr 2005 Posts: 3

So sorry, I typed a , behind the website, ofcourse it should be www.tozai.nl

Giny
Tozai Travel
Amsterdam

Siberian Tour Guide · Posted: Wed May 11, 2005 5:53 pm Post subject:

Thought I might add some more information. There are two ways you can take a cruise:
1. Independently by a local passenger vessel and pay local price for a ticket. Last year the prices were $30 - $200 (more or less) depending on class and duration. It will be regular boat with regular passengers heading upnorth, usually on their way back home after their time spent vacatianing or using this opportunity to transport big stuff to their homes. They normally have cars, furniture, big size luggage on decks. The only thing is that we don't know how a foreigner can get a ticket. Norilsk, Igarka and Dudinka supoused to be mentioned in ones visas. This information I recieved from a cashier at the River Station last year. Another option to use a local passanger vessel is to travel up to Yeniseisk where are no such administrative regulations, although it is much closser and takes one night to get there.

2. You can take an organised tourist cruise where will be only tourists and pay ammount mentioned above or so. In this case a travel agency would solve all the hassle related with visas and "permits". There is a travel agency in Krasnoyarsk organises such tourists trips "Dula": http://www.dula.ru/dulase/index.html Their cruises will be in July this year.

Shipping season on Yenisei starts in June. There are no boat trips upnorth earlier. Although in second half of May hydrofoil boats will start operating on the route Krasnoyarsk-Divnogorsk (town at the Krasnoyarsk dam) towards south. There is no schedule available yet untill end of May as "Yenisey Shipping Company" reported. It will be issued by the end of May.