Hiking in the Polar Urals
to the very north of the Ural Mountains

Valley of the Bolshaya Khadata River – Valley of the Vorgashor River – Valley of the Ngodayakha River

Early in the morning we pack up the camp and set off on a journey that will first pass along the Bolshaya Khadata River, then along the valley of the Vorgashor and Ngodayakha Rivers. In these places there is a high probability of meeting reindeer herders, who traditionally drive their herds here, usually reindeer herders are friendly to tourists, which gives a chance to get to know their way of life better. We will walk about 17 km. We will stop for the night in the valley of the Ngodayakha River.

Ngodyakha River Valley – Ngodyakha Mountain (the easternmost point of Europe) – Maloye Shchuchye Lake

We are heading through the tundra to the easternmost point of Europe. In 2017, scientists from the Institute of Geography of the Russian Academy of Sciences determined that the easternmost point of Europe is located in Yamal, in the Polar Ural Mountains, on the summit of Ngodyakha (mountain height 793 m). In 2019, a memorial sign in the form of a column with a double-headed eagle was erected here. Having visited this iconic place, we head to Maloye Shchuchye Lake, on the shore of which we will stop for the night. We will cover about 17 km per day.

Lake Maloe Shchuchye - Nudya River Valley - Pyryatane - Gerausvayu River Valley

Today we will walk along Maloe Shchuchye Lake, enjoying the panorama of one of the most beautiful lakes of the Polar Urals, by the way, it is not that small - its length is about 7 km, and it is called small in comparison with Bolshoe Shchuchye Lake, which we will get to know a little later. Walking along the shore of Maloe Shchuchye Lake, we will reach the Nudya River Valley - Pyryatane, and then cross into the Gerausvayu River Valley, where we will set up camp. We will walk about 17 km in a day.

Gerausvayu River Valley - Nenzayakha River Valley - Bolshoe Shchuchye Lake - Pyryatane River Valley

We continue moving along the valleys of the Gerausvayu and Nenzayakha Rivers, overcoming the pass along the way. Today our goal is to walk about 10 km and reach the Pyryatane River valley near the place where it flows into Bolshoe Shchuchye Lake. Bolshoe Shchuchye Lake is the largest lake in the Ural Mountains by volume of water, and the largest lake in Yamal, its length is 13 km, it is also one of the deepest mountain lakes in Russia. The rocky slopes of the ridges (up to 1000 m high) descend steeply to the lake, and in some places the banks drop almost vertically into the water. The bottom of the lake is a stone placer, similar to the stone placers covering the slopes of the banks. For its impressive size and high transparency of water (up to 8 m), Big Shchuchye Lake is sometimes called Yamal Baikal. We will see Lake Shchuchye from the north, having climbed one of the mountains towering over the Pyryatane River valley, not far from the pass through which we will reach the river. We will also spend the night in the Pyryatane Valley, so if we wish, we can walk lightly to see the lake closer.

Bolshoe Shchuchye Lake. Photo by Sergey Sutkovoy

Pyryatane River Valley - Bolshaya Kara River Valley

Our path will continue first along the Pyryatane River Valley, then we will climb one of the mountains, about 700 m high, to enjoy on one side the view of the path we have just covered - the Pyryatane River Valley and Lake Shchuchye, and on the other - the view of the Ochenyrd Ridge headed by the highest peak of the entire region - Mount Ngetenape, 1338.2 m high. After admiring the views, we will go down to the Bolshaya Kara River Valley, where we will stop for the night. We will walk about 15 km per day.

Valley of the Bolshaya Kara River - Lake Tisnezato - the Nyarmayakha River

A difficult part of the route awaits us, having forded the Bolshaya Kara River, we will walk along the marshy, willow-covered shore of Lake Tisnezato, and then ford the wide bed of the Nyarmayakha River, on the bank of which we will set up camp. The route for the day will be about 17 km.

Nyarmayakha River Valley – Pass to Ngysyhyyakha River Valley

Our path lies to the pass connecting the Nyarmayakha River Valley with the Ngysyhyyakha River Valley. From the pass we will enjoy the picturesque views of the Polar Ural Mountains, which will be left behind. There will be no high mountains ahead. The last kilometers of the Urals await us, where with each step the mountains become lower and lower, to disappear, turning into endless tundra. We will spend the night at the pass with this picturesque view, having walked about 10 km.

Valley of the Bolshaya Khuta River – Mount Bolshaya Khudyalakhape

We descend into the valley of the Bolshaya Khuta River and head through a swampy valley to Mount Bolshaya Khudyalakhape. The height of this mountain is not great, only 686.6 m, but it offers a view for many kilometers ahead. We will climb it to inspect the surroundings and, in particular, finally see the goal of our route - Konstantinov Kamen. It is still more than 30 km away, but from the mountain it is already visible in the distance. In the foreground rises the peak of Bolshaya Manyasey - we will go to it tomorrow, but for now we will spend the night not far from Bolshaya Khudyalakhape. In a day we will walk about 11 km.

Mount Bolshaya Khudyalakhape - Mount Bolshoy Manyasey - Lake Manyaseyto

We will go along a narrow low ridge, stretching from Bolshaya Khudyalakhape to Bolshoy Manyasey, to avoid heavily swamped areas. This ridge is the only elevation in the middle of the endless tundra, here the Urals already come to naught, and we are moving forward to its northernmost peaks. The day promises to be long, we will have to cover about 25 km (the longest transition of the entire hike) to find ourselves at the foot of Mount Bolshoy Manyasey, its height is 653 m, and it is the highest mountain of the ridge along which we will go. Of course, you can stop for the night a little earlier, but it seems very attractive to set up camp in a beautiful and mysterious place, on the shore of the sacred Lake Manyaseyto, located between some of the northernmost mountains of the Urals: Bolshoy and Maly Manyasey. Mount Maly Manyasey has a beautiful pyramidal shape and is a cult mountain for the Nenets.

Lake Manyaseito - Mount Maly Manyasey - Konstantinov Kamen

If you wish and the weather is good, we will start the day by climbing Mount Maly Manyasey (525 m high), which offers picturesque views of the surrounding area, including Mount Konstantinov Kamen. Then we will continue our route and finally reach the cherished goal of our journey - the northernmost peak of the Ural Mountains. Further on - only tundra, and 45 km away - the Kara Sea. Of course, we will climb Konstantinov Kamen to inspect the surrounding area and record our success in a photo. We will walk about 9 km per day. We will spend the night right here at the foot of Konstantinov Kamen.

Spare day

Spare day in case of severe weather and other unforeseen circumstances.

To civilization!

About 2 km from Konstantinov Kamen mountain there is a road along which we will travel by transport 165 km to Vorkuta to return to civilization.

The air temperature in the area of ​​our hike in August usually fluctuates between 9 and 18 degrees during the day and from 2 to 8 degrees at night, but lower temperatures are also possible, including frost, so we will definitely need a hat, gloves and a warm jacket.

The Polar Urals are famous for their damp and windy weather, so you definitely won't be able to do without a membrane jacket, raincoat and waterproof shoes.

For crossing rivers and streams, as well as moving through marshy terrain, wading boots will come in handy, it would be a good idea to grab some OZK shoe covers (putting them on your boots will make it easy to move through marshy terrain and mud, and cross shallow fords).

Don't forget about bloodsuckers. It's worth taking at least two bottles of repellent with you. It would be a good idea to take a mosquito net hat.

We will have to move around a lot on mountainous terrain, rock slides of various sizes, so you should take the choice of footwear seriously. You will need high-quality trekking boots, tested and worn in enough. You will also need: a backpack (80-100 l) with a rain cover, a sleeping bag (comfort temperature -5 or lower), a mat, a seat, a headlamp and spare batteries for it, a plastic bottle for water and/or a thermos, a KLMN (mug, spoon, bowl, knife), trekking poles.

List of equipment:

• backpack (80-100 l) with rain cover;
• sleeping bag (comfort temperature -5 or lower);
• mat (foam or inflatable);
• seat;
• headlamp and spare batteries for it;
• plastic bottle for water and/or thermos;
• personal tableware (mug, spoon, bowl, knife);
• hat;
• light headwear (cap/bandana);
• personal hygiene products, personal first aid kit;
• repellent (several bottles);
• mosquito net hat;
• raincoat;
• trekking poles;
• trekking boots;
• wading boots;
• crocs or other similar rubber slippers,
• insulated jacket (down or with synthetic insulation)
• membrane jacket;
• gloves;
• thermal underwear;
• several pairs of synthetic trekking socks;
• wool socks;
• two pairs of walking pants;
• fleece jacket;
• several T-shirts, underwear.

We also recommend taking OZK shoe covers (putting them on your boots will make it easier to move around marshy terrain and mud, and to cross shallow fords), a dry bag or plastic bags (to pack things in a backpack to protect them from getting wet).

1. If you are interested in this trip, leave a request using the form below or call the numbers listed, we will contact you and answer all your questions.
2. To reserve a place, you must make an advance payment of 30% of the tour cost. The advance payment is refundable 45 days or more before the start of the tour and non-refundable, unfortunately, less than 45 days before the start of the tour, if the refund is due to your refusal to participate (for any reason). If the tour does not take place due to our fault, due to the group not being formed, or due to force majeure, the advance payment will be guaranteed to be returned to you in any case.
3. The advance payment is made through the Payment section on this website. The final payment can also be made via the website, but not less than 5 days before the start of the trip, or in cash on site, on the first day of the tour. Before making an advance payment, first send an application or contact the organizer in any other way (phone, messengers, email), make an advance payment only after receiving confirmation from the organizer!