Khatanga
There’s nothing particularly pleasant about Khatanga, unless you enjoy decaying Soviet villages with a post-apocalyptic feel thousands of miles from anywhere. It’s more of a gateway town to more interesting parts of the Taymyr Peninsula further north where one can find nomadic reindeer herders, polar bears, walrus, muskox and huge wild reindeer migrations. In fact in late August the reindeer migration passes right through the Khatanga area and a quick walk along the village’s beach will often reward you with the sight of reindeer swimming across the river or even running off into the village!
Reindeer migrating across the Khatanga River, Taymyr, Arctic Siberia
The village has a cold, dirty hotel next to the airport, a horrendously overpriced hotel with clean but simple rooms a bit further from the airport and a third private hotel with dorm rooms sleeping eight people per room on rickety bunk beds. Many of these are booked up months in advance by government officials, geologists or gold seekers transiting on their way up to do 6-month shifts on the Severnaya Zemlya archipelago.
A reminder – Khatanga is closed to all outsiders. Permits are checked on the airplane as soon as you touch down. If you do not have one you will not be allowed off, you will be deported from Russia and you will be refused visas in future.
