Polar Urals: Trek in Search of the Muskox

Who this trek is for

The distance, duration, and self-supported nature of the trek are ideal for hikers with good physical fitness and prior experience on week-long autonomous hikes. Carefully selected gear is essential for staying comfortable in Arctic conditions while keeping the backpack's base weight low.

Indigenous peoples

The Polar Urals are home to the world's largest reindeer population! The indigenous Nenets people still lead a traditional nomadic lifestyle. In spring, their migration route runs across the mountains toward the shores of the Kara Sea — and this is where our paths cross. It is an opportunity to experience northern indigenous culture, taste traditional cuisine, and witness reindeer herds numbering in the thousands.

Wildlife

The reindeer is among the rare ungulate mammals that survived the Late Pleistocene extinction along with muskoxen and bison. Here, we have the chance to see two of these three remarkable animals in the wild — reindeer and muskoxen. 

After the trek

In Salekhard, we will spend half a day at an ethnic park to immerse ourselves in reindeer herding culture. The Polar Urals are wild and demanding in landscape and climate — a true challenge that we will take on together!