Tough Trucks Siberia Backgrounder
| JOURNEY GUIDE | |
| 1. HIGHLIGHTS | |
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In this episode Zay Harding travels by truck across the frozen ice roads of north-eastern Siberia, en route to the Arctic Circle. Located in east Asia, 5000 miles east of Moscow, the province of Yakutia where he’s travelling is the coldest inhabited place on earth, where midwinter temperatures can drop to well below minus 60 degrees Centigrade. Starting his journey in the world’s coldest city, the provincial capital Yakutsk, Zay firstly heads north to join fuel trucks travelling Yakutia’s most dangerous ice road in order to supply heating fuel to the remote mountain village of Sebyan-Kyuyol. Returning to Yakutsk in a historic Soviet Army truck now used as a taxi, Zay continues his journey along the infamous ‘Road of Bones’, built at the cost of huge loss of life by prisoners of Stalin’s Gulag. En route Zay stops at the village of Tyoply Klyuch to hear how its remote airfield played an important role during World War Two, and then diverts to the very isolated village of Topolinoe, in order to catch a spectacular reindeer-racing festival. Finally, Zay ends his spectacular Siberian journey travelling north on a tough goods truck navigating a once totally frozen river, which is melting all too fast in the spring thaw, threatening his ability to reach his ultimate goal – the Arctic Circle. |
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| 2. CLIMATE: | |
| When To Go:
The most popular time to visit Russia in general is during the summer (June to August), when the weather is warm and at its most reliable. However, as long as you pack appropriate warm clothing, the most attractive time to visit Siberia is probably in April/May, when there’s still snow on the ground, but the weather is warming and Russians are celebrating the long-awaited arrival of spring. |
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| 3. TRAVEL: | |
| Getting There: International/domestic travel by air, sea, road (max. 100 words)
Moscow has three international airports, Sheremetyevo, Domodedovo, and Vnukovo, whilst there are also direct flights to St Petersburg International Airport. To get to Siberia you need to catch an onward flight – but be warned, it’s a long way, much of Siberia is over 5000 miles and 7 times zones away from Moscow! |
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| 4. TOP TENS | |
| Must See and Dos – e.g. attractions or activities along the way(max. 10)
1. Yakutsk (the world’s coldest city) 2. Omyakon (the world’s coldest inhabited place) 3. Reindeer-herding Festivals to celebrate the arrival of spring (various dates in late March/early April) 4. The ‘Road of Bones’ (from Yakutsk to Magadan) |
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| 5. SLEEP | |
| List any hotels, guesthouses, hostels, B&Bs featured or stayed in along the route:
1. Tygyn Darkhan Hotel, Yakutsk www.tygyn.ru/en
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| 6. USEFUL WEBSITES | |
| Websites used to research show – include tourist office, museums, galleries, iconic buildings etc.
5. www.expeditionkithire.co.uk
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| 7. USEFUL BOOKS | |
| List any books you used to research/prepare show
1. Lonely Planet Russia 2. Lonely Planet Trans-Siberian Railway
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