Putorana Plateau

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Welcome to Adventure Fix, the newsletter that helps you discover extraordinary journeys and experiences across the globe.

Today we are heading to the northernmost city in the world, Norilsk, Russia to…

Explore the Putorana Plateau, a large volcanic massif crossed by mountain ranges.

When touching down in Noilsk, the initial impression might give off industrial anti-utopia vibes. However, as soon as you step beyond the city limits, you'll find yourself transported into a wild Siberian realm, full of dense forests, pristine lakes, and roaring waterfalls.

Exploring the Putorana Plateau

One of Russia's most inaccessible places, the Putorana Plateau, is a volcanic massif covered with forests, lakes, and waterfalls.

About 100 years ago the plateau was entirely unexplored, and the first outsiders appeared here only in the 1930-40s.

Visiting this part of the world is no easy task.

The remoteness and bureaucracy scare off not just foreign tourists, but Russians as well.

Adventurous travelers who do make it to this wild place join a very exclusive group.

The reward for the arduous journey is experiencing landscapes like nowhere else on the planet.

Mile after mile flat-topped mountains melt into the Artic horizon.

This uninhabited plateau the size of Nevada is filled with deep-cutting canyons and seemingly never-ending rivers that form the highest waterfalls in Asia.

Highlights of the Putorana Plateau

Perhaps the best way to take in the rugged landscapes of the Plateau is by helicopter. Choppers let you get to the most inaccessible areas of the reserve and get a bird’s eye view of the endless massifs and steep mountains.

The Hibrarba Canyon is a unique rock formation that carves through the rocky terrain and makes for a stunning photo backdrop.

Hikers can walk the trails that lead to one of the most spectacular areas in the reserve, Lake Lama, and its nearby waterfalls, especially Neralakh.

Keep your eyes peeled for wild animals. Here, reindeer navigate the tundra and the wolves follow them closely from behind. Snow sheep, among the hardiest of animals around, cling to the mountain slopes. And the thick forests are home to bears, moose, and wolverines.

In winter, when the lakes and rivers are frozen, you can ride snowmobiles across the tundra, see frozen waterfalls, and have a go at ice fishing.

Explore More

If you would like to learn more, here are some links you can check out to get more information about visiting the Putorana Plateau.

• Putorana Plateau 360 (video)

• Putorana Plateau: Mountains without peaks, land of lakes and waterfalls (article)

How to Explore the Putorana Plateau

Because of the remoteness of the plateau and the bureaucracy involved in getting access to this part of Russia, travelers need to book a trip with a tour agency.

Some good options are Baikal Nature, Russia Discovery, and for a more luxurious experience, Remote Lands.

Most tours leave from Norilsk and will arrange either boat or helicopter trips to visit the Putorana nature reserve.

The weather in this part of the world is extremely unpredictable. Harsh Siberian winters change into overly hot summers that carry swarms of mosquitos.

Some consider July the best time to visit. This is when the leaves become vibrant red and yellow, and you can munch on wild berries. It’s also when the mosquito swarms tend to disappear.

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