A memorable journey in 2009 with Heritage Expeditions that began in Petropavlovsk-Kamchtka (PK), via Commander and Kuril Islands, Wrangel Island – ended in Anadyr, Chukotka. Upon our arrival at Anadyr – an unexpected opportunity arose – to explore by boat the Anadyr River which winds for over 1,000 km through Chukotka. Usually frozen from October to May, the rest of the year it flows into the Gulf of Anadyr. Now it was summer and our group of five, including the captain, began our 400 km navigation up the river. Every night we camped at a different location, in old fishing camps that were in a state of collapse or disrepair. Every day was different as the 5 of us glided through the most awe-inspiring, pristine wilderness for 10 days – to revel in the unique character of the tundra fauna, flora and migrating species of birds, as well as the constant changing light and colour….We met the friendliest Chukchi and Evenki people in their isolated yarangas and villages where we enjoyed the most extraordinary hospitality and generosity. Surprisingly, we discovered that we were the first non-Russian visitors to those remote villages – only accessible by helicopter or by boat. Lack of transport between villages seemed a real challenge for this scattered population of about 11,000 in this autonomous region of Chukotka: a vast, largely inaccessible area of tundra with a sparse population of some 50,000 Chukchi, Evenki, Koryak, Yupik and Russians living in a harsh climate.
