Arctic char
1.5–4 kg (3–9 lb)the main fish of winter
Holds in the river’s deep pools and in the mouths. We fish for it through the ice with jigging spoons and balance jigs.
Winter · Arctic tundra · 68°10′ N · 44°44′ E
Kanin Nos. The winter expedition
By snowmobile across the tundra to the only lodge on the peninsula. Arctic char, grayling and pike through the ice; hare, ptarmigan and Arctic fox on the tundra; a banya with an ice hole and the northern lights over the house. Six days at the edge of the Arctic.
Trip
All-inclusivewith our snowmobiles and fuel
Your own snowmobile
An optionfor riders with their own snowmobile and long-distance experience; you supply your own fuel, everything else is as in the standard trip
Length
6 days / 5 nightsincluding the crossing there and back
Season
January 31 – April 2the days lengthen fast and the ice is solid
Getting there
A day and a half380 km by car to Mezen (about 6 hours), then 317 km by snowmobile with a night in Nes
The crossing
By snowmobile across the tundrayou drive the snowmobile yourself, with the guide in front
Lodging
65 m² yurt-style house for 3–5 guestsradiators, bathroom in the house, shower in the banya
Guests
Up to 15 at the lodgegroups; solo travelers by arrangement
Fish
Arctic char, grayling, pikechar is the main fish of winter
Method
Ice fishingon tundra rivers and lakes
Hunting
Hare, ptarmigan, Arctic foxin season; we arrange the licenses
Temperature
−10 to −25 °Cwind, bright sun, northern lights at night
The expedition
Not a tour—a crossing
In winter nobody flies to Kanin—you travel overland. From Arkhangelsk to Mezen by road through Belogorsky, Pinega and Sovpolye, then by snowmobile to the village of Nes, where we spend the night. In the morning comes the final stretch across the tundra. In all, 317 kilometers over frozen rivers and tundra to a lodge under the polar sky. It stands 180 km north of the Arctic Circle; beyond it lie only the Arctic Ocean and its ice.
At the lodge: warm houses with central heating, a restaurant and a banya with an ice hole. The peninsula has six rivers, among them the Mesna and the Rybnaya, so you can fish a new spot every day. By day we fish for Arctic char, grayling and pike through holes in the ice of rivers and lakes, and those who love to travel ride out by snowmobile to the lighthouse on the cape or to the village of Shoyna. On clear nights the northern lights often show over the tundra.
- Heated BRP snowmobiles, a guide in front and a support crew bringing up the rear
- Arctic char through the ice—rare fishing even for the North
- Hare, willow ptarmigan and Arctic fox hunting between fishing sessions
- A snowmobile run to the lighthouse on the cape or to the village of Shoyna
Never ridden a snowmobile? The guide leads and picks the route, and the support crew brings up the rear, so no one is ever left alone on the tundra. The snowmobiles are heated BRP machines; the suit and helmet are on the checklist we send before the trip.
Catch through the ice
Arctic char and pike from the ice hole
Photos from our guests and guides on our rivers—shot on phones, not staged, not retouched.
Itinerary
Six days beyond the Arctic Circle
This is one possible version: we plan the program for each group individually, and the order of days depends on the weather and the ice. Any day can be swapped for hunting.
Day 1Arkhangelsk – Mezen – Nes
Morning
Leaving Arkhangelsk
We pick you up at your hotel: 380 km by road through Belogorsky, Pinega and Sovpolye, with stops along the way.
Afternoon
Mezen: onto the snowmobiles
We hand out the snowmobiles, brief you on the machines and the route, and ride the first stretch across the tundra.
Evening
Nes
A night in the village, dinner and rest before the crossing.
Day 2Nes – the lodge, first fishing
Morning
Snowmobiles
We leave Nes in convoy: the guide in front, the support crew bringing up the rear.
Midday
The lodge
We arrive by lunchtime: the houses are warm and the table is set.
Afternoon
First fishing
Straight out onto the ice, to the holes on a river or a lake.
Evening
Dinner and banya
Dinner by the chef, then a banya with an ice hole.
Day 3River fishing
Daytime
Arctic char and grayling through the ice
Holes over the river’s deep pools; your guide shows you the technique. Lunch by a campfire on the bank.
Evening
Banya and ice hole
After the banya, the northern lights over the tundra.
Day 4Lakes and coast
Daytime
Tundra lakes
Pike on the lakes with tip-ups and large balance jigs, lunch by the campfire.
Evening
Dinner from the chef
Your catch and reindeer.
Day 5Fishing or a snowmobile tour
Daytime
Fishing on the river or the lakes
We pick the spots by how the fish took on previous days.
Or
Snowmobile tour
To the lighthouse on the cape or to the village of Shoyna, for those who love not only to fish but to travel by snowmobile.
Evening
Farewell dinner
Stories, photos and a film of the trip.
Day 6Return
Morning
Crossing to Mezen
By snowmobile to Mezen, then lunch.
Evening
Arkhangelsk
By car to the city, in time for an evening flight or a night’s stay.
Kitchen
Restaurant food, because we are restaurateurs
The NORVEL team’s first business—and still a running one—is a chain of restaurants and cafés. Cooks we know and trust run the kitchens at our lodges, and the food on the table is restaurant standard.
At the lodge
Dinner in a warm house after a day on the ice: stroganina, reindeer, a hot dish from the chef, caviar, blini. Your char, the way you like it: stroganina, ukha or pan-fried.
On the ice
Lunch by the fire right where you fish: hot ukha from the fresh catch, fish over the coals, tea. Thermoses and snacks ride along on the snowmobile.
We go through the menu with you before the trip: what you love and what you don’t eat.
Fish atlas
What bites in winter
Ice fishing on tundra rivers and lakes. We provide winter rods and lures.
Grayling
up to 1 kg (2.2 lb)riffles under the ice
Mormyshka ice jigs and small spoons on stretches with current.
Pike
3–8 kg (7–18 lb)tundra lakes
Winter pike on the lakes near the lodge: tip-ups and large balance jigs.
Winter evenings
Snowmobile, banya, northern lights
By February there are already eight hours of daylight, with the sun low and bright. After fishing: a hot banya, the ice hole and the porch of your house under the northern lights.
Short videos
Winter Kanin in short videos
Ice holes, snowmobiles, yurts and the northern lights.
Rates
On request6 days / 5 nights · all-inclusive
No extra charges at the lodge: the journey to the lodge, lodging, chef, banya, guides, fueled snowmobiles, ice-fishing tackle and licenses are all included. Not included: flights to Arkhangelsk, a night in town, alcohol, personal insurance, and a snowmobile suit and helmet. With your own snowmobile you ride in the convoy with our guides: fuel for the crossing and at the lodge is your own, and everything else is as in the standard trip.
A 50% deposit secures your dates; the balance is paid on arrival in Arkhangelsk.
Rates for your group
Tell us how many of you there are and when you’d like to come—we’ll send rates and available dates within a day.
Dates 2027
Winter trips
Nine 6-day trips from January 31 to April 2. Tap a trip and we’ll tell you how many places are left.
What’s included
No extra charges at the lodge: the winter version
The drive and the snowmobile crossing to the lodge, warm houses, banya, chef, fishing and hunting guides, winter tackle, licenses and satellite internet.
Getting to the lodge and back
Lodging and banya
Chef
Guides and hunting guides
Ice-fishing tackle
Snowmobiles and fuel
Licenses and permits
Satellite internet
Photo and video
Not included
- Flights to Arkhangelsk and the night in town before departure
- Alcohol
- Personal insurance and expenses outside the program
- Snowmobile suit and helmet—bring your own
- With your own snowmobile—fuel for the crossing and at the lodge
No ice-tackle rental fees and no “guide surcharge.”
What to bring in winter: thermal underwear, a down or expedition jacket, warm boots rated to −30 °C, a balaclava and ski goggles. Bring your own snowmobile suit and helmet. The full checklist arrives after you book.
Winter guests
From those who have fished through the ice
Photos
Winter Kanin on camera
Next step
Check winter availability
We’ll tell you which trips have space, help you choose between our snowmobiles and your own, and send the gear checklist.
The NORVEL team is here for you+7 909 555-03-55 · booking@norvel.travel · 9 am – 9 pm Moscow time (GMT+3), every day