Putorana Plateau

After breakfast, we leave the base and begin the trekking portion of the expedition.

Today’s hike covers about 12 kilometers along the Khoysi River.

The route passes through larch taiga, over rocky riverbanks, and into a valley surrounded by the Putorana Plateau’s distinctive table mountains.

By evening, we set up a tent camp by the river, have dinner, and rest.

We continue up the river valley. Ahead are about 12 kilometers through rocky ledges, canyons, and numerous cascades.

The highlight of the day is Khoysi Waterfall. We stop at its base to take it in, then set up camp nearby.

In the evening, we have a hot dinner and rest before the climb onto the plateau.

Today, we set out on one of the main stages of the route: climbing onto the Putorana Plateau.

The hike is about 9 kilometers long.

As we gain elevation, the forested valley gradually falls behind us. At the top, the landscape changes completely: basalt walls, rocky expanses, snowfields, and cold mountain lakes.

We set up camp by a high-altitude lake in the upper reaches of the Khoysi River.

We leave our main gear at camp and travel light to one of the Putorana Plateau’s best-known waterfalls, Princess, also known as the White Bride.

Water plunges from a basalt ledge about 76 meters high, forming a shape said to resemble a woman in a wedding dress.

From the viewpoints, we can see Lake Sobachye and vast mountain ranges. The central part of the plateau, whose boundaries coincide with those of the Putoransky Nature Reserve, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

After our walk, we return to the tent camp.

After breakfast, we set out light on a day hike from camp to the upper reaches of the Khikikal River.

The route crosses a rocky plateau, gorges, and patches of Arctic tundra. Along the way, we’ll see deep canyons, cascades, and the rugged landscapes of the largely untouched Putorana Plateau.

We return to camp in the afternoon for dinner and rest.

We pack up camp and begin our descent from the plateau.

Rocky expanses gradually give way to tundra, shrubs, and northern taiga. We return to the Khoysi River Valley and set up camp by the water.

In the evening, we rest after the demanding mountain section of the route.

We continue down the Khoysi Valley toward Lake Lama.

We retrace our steps through forest, rocky terrain, and river crossings. The plateau peaks are now behind us; ahead are the shores of Lake Lama and a return to civilization.

We set up our final tent camp on the route.

We finish the trekking portion of the expedition and return to Bunisyak base.

After several days in the mountains, we have time to relax, enjoy a hot dinner, and unwind in a traditional banya (Russian sauna) on the shore of Lake Lama.

We spend the evening by the water, sharing highlights and watching the last sunset over the plateau.

After breakfast, we leave the base and take a boat across Lake Lama toward Norilsk.

Once more, we pass steep mountain slopes, waterfalls, and the wild shores of the Putorana Plateau. On arrival, we transfer to ground transport and head into the city.

We wrap up the expedition with a dinner at one of Norilsk’s restaurants.