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 A trip to the Great Arctic Nature Reserve can interest only a sophisticated tourist, a kind gourmet, or a fan of eco-holidays who got tired of foreign beaches. The Reserve is located beyond the Arctic Circle - on the Taimyr Peninsula and small islands with permafrost which can only be reached by air, and only during the summer season. However, the impressions acquired even during one trip will definitely be enough for a lifetime. 

How to get there

The administration of the reserve is the only authority that grants a permission to visit the protected territory and is located in Dudinka, besides, all tours start from there. To get to the town, you will have to use two types of transport: first, you get to Norilsk by plane, then - to the town to Dudinka by bus or taxi (the distance from Norilsk to Dudinka is 46 km).

A trip to the arctic summer

The most part of the reserve territory is not visited by people, and, as it is known, the reserve is the largest in Eurasia - its area exceeds 4 million hectares and is comparable to the area of Switzerland. That is why ecotourism, as they say, is in bloom here: that is the highlight of the reserve. Nowadays you can choose one of several interesting tours.

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Fishing in the middle of nowhere

From July 15 to September 5, the reserve holds fishing tours on the Efremova River, where the shoals of Arctic cisco come during that period. There are also such fish as nelma (Siberian white salmon), Arctic smelt, fourhorn sculpin, grayling, European cisco.

Bird watching

Great Arctic Nature Reserve is the place where you can try the new popular type of ecotourism – bird watching. It is held at the Willem Barentsz Biological Station located near the village of Dikson, where a lot of international ornithological centers are situated. With the onset of spring, the coast of the reserve turns into a huge colony of birds. It is inhabited by Ross’s and ivory gulls, Steller’s eiders, glaucous gulls, guillemots, white-fronted geese, northern waders, brant geese.

Taimyr labyrinth

This ethnographic and adventurous tour appeals to the fans of extreme sports. Roaming the labyrinth of hundreds of waterways of the Yenisei delta, tourists go to the Nenets camping ground and get acquainted with their life and traditions during three days. A tour usually lasts for 8 days and is held in July and August.

“Medusa” Bay

Those who wish to observe the unique Arctic fauna, visit the monuments to the history of Arctic exploration, should choose this ecological educational tour. This is a photo safari. You will live at the biological stations for 2 weeks. A ticket includes a transfer from Norilsk to Dikson, you will be taken there by an all-terrain vehicle or a motor boat. Tourists are accompanied by guides who are biologists, cooks and doctors at the same time.

Khutudabiga rafting

This is the name of the river which is translated as “a river full of life”. This name was given to the river by the native inhabitants of Taimyr, the Nganasans. Rafting, recreational fishing and even diving in the coastal area of the Arctic Ocean are available there. You will live in tents, the camp also has amenities. Rafting activities are conducted by instructors accompanied by game wardens, cooks and, if needed,   translators.