Akishma River

Each summer, a few hearty NWRC guests travel to the remote Siberian wilderness with native river guide Vladimir Gavrilov. Vlad and Zach, the NWRC owner, have guided together for over 15 years, and the two work closely to coordinate these rafting and kayaking expeditions to a different Russian river each year.

Traveling in Siberia is for the true adventurer, and offers the opportunity to explore a vast, unspoiled wilderness. The whitewater is often big, and the geology stunning. You’ll get a glimpse of unique Russian cultures that exist outside of the cosmopolitan cities, and encounter people that lead vastly different and interesting lives.

For 2016, we’ll head to the Akishma River in the far east of Siberia. Renowned for its remoteness and unique natural beauty, this stunner flows among whimsically-shaped boulders as it meanders through the Taiga (the dense forest found in Siberia).

“The mountains are carpeted intermittently with the taiga and the explosive colors of alpine meadows. There are gooseberries growing on the steep banks. Among the upper reaches are numerous enticing stopping points. In short, this is an unforgettable journey.” – Vladimir Gavrilov

Guests will take in some Russian history as we journey to the river including the settlement of Sofiysk, which was the largest gold mining center during Soviet era, as well as a stop at a GULAG camp where Stalin’s prisoners worked a Molybdenum mine.

In 2013, National Geographic listed NWRC’s trip to Siberia as one of their 50 Tours of a Lifetime. This award is given to the year’s “most authentic, most innovative, most immersive, best-guided, and most sustainable tours.”

Don’t miss this opportunity to raft with Vladimir Gavrilov, a Siberian rafting legend who wrote the guide book Rivers of an Unknown Land about the rivers of the former Soviet Union. With Vlad as your guide, we’re confident your trip to Siberia will be a tour of a lifetime.

• Itinerary
• Trip Details (PDF)