Major city · Russia
Ust-NeraУсть-Нера
Skip unless you are driving the Kolyma Highway or have a specific reason to visit a remote gold-mining town. One night is enough.
Ust-Nera is a gold-mining settlement of about 11,000 people at the confluence of the Nera and Indigirka rivers, surrounded by craggy mountains and taiga. It sits exactly halfway on the Kolyma Highway between Yakutsk and Magadan (1,017 km each way). The town has a small museum, basic accommodation and a seasonal airport. Most travellers use it as an overnight stop on the highway or a base for helicopter trips into the Indigirka gorge.
advisory country
More
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- RUB
- Best months
- June–August
- avoid October–April (extreme cold, road closures)
- Airport
- check
- Nights
- 1
Not a trip line yet
Rules in force · 8Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window…Reach this subregion only from the EU side — Romania for …Check your own government travel advice for Russia before…
- Europe ↗Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window, counted across all 29 Schengen states together — not per country; the Entry/Exit System now logs each crossing, so an overstay is detected automatically.
- Europe ↗On the first Schengen entry since EES began, non-EU travellers give four fingerprints and a face photo at the border instead of a passport stamp; there is nothing to apply for or pay in advance.
- Eastern Europe ↗Reach this subregion only from the EU side — Romania for Moldova — through crossings run by recognised authorities; no route through Ukraine, Belarus or Russia is planned here.
- Eastern Europe ↗Re-read your government's advice for Moldova (it covers Transnistria) in the week you travel; the situation next door changes fast.
- Eastern Europe ↗Carry euros in cash for Transnistria and village Moldova; cards stop working at the Dniester.
- Russia ↗Check your own government travel advice for Russia before any booking; advice depends on your passport and changes without notice.
- Russia ↗Direct flights from much of Europe and North America are suspended; no independent tourist route is documented here.
- Russia ↗Confirm that your travel insurance and medical evacuation cover apply to Russia before you rely on it.
Entry rules depend on your passport. Full visa guide
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Emergency numbers for Ust-Nera102 ▾
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Ust-Nera, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Foreign-issued cards, ATMs and most transfers do not work: see Insurance & payments above.Russia-wide
- SafetyUst-Nera is remote and experiences extreme cold.
- Emergency numbers102 police · 101 fire and ambulance · 112 Unified emergency (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- Airportcheckcheck Ust-Nera Airport (Seasonal flights to Yakutsk, Tomtor and Moscow; about 8 km (5 mi) west of town, bus service available.).check Ust-Nera Airport (Seasonal flights to Yakutsk, Tomtor and Moscow; about 5 mi (8 km) west of town, bus service available.).
- Getting aroundThe town is walkable.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- Budget bedCamp site near airport, a night, per personRUB 500
- Mid-range bedBasic single room (pink hotel), a night, per roomRUB 1,600
- High-end bedBasic single room (pink hotel), a night, per roomRUB 1,600
A day, not counting the bed: Budget RUB 2,500 · Mid RUB 5,000 · High RUB 10,000
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- check Ust-Nera Airport (Seasonal flights to Yakutsk, Tomtor and Moscow; about 8 km (5 mi) west of town, bus service available.)check Ust-Nera Airport (Seasonal flights to Yakutsk, Tomtor and Moscow; about 5 mi (8 km) west of town, bus service available.)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
Avoid
−34°C (−29°F)−29°F (−34°C)
Feb
Avoid
−28°C (−18°F)−18°F (−28°C)
Mar
Avoid
−15°C (5°F)5°F (−15°C)
Apr
Avoid
−3°C (27°F)27°F (−3°C)
May
not flagged
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
Jun
Best
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
Jul
Best
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
Aug
Best
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
Sep
not flagged
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
Oct
Avoid
−7°C (19°F)19°F (−7°C)
Nov
Avoid
−24°C (−11°F)−11°F (−24°C)
Dec
Avoid
−32°C (−26°F)−26°F (−32°C)
Best: Jun–Aug. Avoid: Oct–Apr. Month by month →
Warmest Jul (22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)), coolest Jan (−42°C (−44°F)−44°F (−42°C) low), wettest Jul (10 rain days), driest Jan (2). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Ust-Nera: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
−34°C (−29°F)−29°F (−34°C)
−42°C (−44°F)−44°F (−42°C)
2 rd
Feb
−28°C (−18°F)−18°F (−28°C)
−38°C (−36°F)−36°F (−38°C)
2 rd
Mar
−15°C (5°F)5°F (−15°C)
−28°C (−18°F)−18°F (−28°C)
3 rd
Apr
−3°C (27°F)27°F (−3°C)
−15°C (5°F)5°F (−15°C)
4 rd
May
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
−3°C (27°F)27°F (−3°C)
6 rd
Jun
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
7°C (45°F)45°F (7°C)
9 rd
Jul
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
10 rd
Aug
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C)
9 rd
Sep
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
0°C (32°F)32°F (0°C)
7 rd
Oct
−7°C (19°F)19°F (−7°C)
−16°C (3°F)3°F (−16°C)
5 rd
Nov
−24°C (−11°F)−11°F (−24°C)
−33°C (−27°F)−27°F (−33°C)
3 rd
Dec
−32°C (−26°F)−26°F (−32°C)
−40°C (−40°F)−40°F (−40°C)
2 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
The town is walkable. A bus runs to the airport.
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Indigirka gorge
goDoor to door: About 1 h flight each way
Helicopter from Ust-Nera (check availability and cost)
Spectacular rapids; fish cannot cross, so species differ above and below.
Tomtor
cautionDoor to door: About 1 h flight
Seasonal flight, about 200 km (124 mi) southSeasonal flight, about 124 mi (200 km) south
Northern Pole of Cold; extreme temperatures, limited services.
Gulag remains (50 km south)
cautionDoor to door: About 2 h drive
Decaying dirt track; 4WD required
Buildings collapsed; artefacts moved to museum.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Main street (Lenina)
One hotel in a pink building; single rooms about RUB 1,600/night, very basic. Camp site near the airport, but wild animals may visit.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- RUB 2,000–3,500 excl. bed
- Mid
- RUB 3,500–6,000 excl. bed
- High
- RUB 6,000+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Basic single room (pink hotel)1 × 1 night × RUB 1,600 | RUB 1,600 |
| Food, local transport, entries1 × 1 day × RUB 2,500 | RUB 2,500 |
| Bus to airport (one way)1 × RUB 100 · check | RUB 100 |
| Helicopter to Indigirka gorge (per person, group)1 × RUB 15,000 · check; price varies widely | RUB 15,000 |
| Buffer 15%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | RUB 2,880 |
| Trip total≈ RUB 22,080 per person per day, bed included | RUB 22,080 |
Very basic; check availability.
2026 estimate in rubles; flights and helicopter charters excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Basic hotel room (single)Very basic; check | RUB 1,600/night |
| Meal at a restaurant (Fri–Sat night)Most restaurants only open Friday and Saturday night. | RUB 500–1,000 |
| Corner store: juice or water | RUB 50–150 |
| Bus to airportcheck | RUB 100 |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Extreme cold in winter: temperatures can drop below -50°C (−58°F).Extreme cold in winter: temperatures can drop below −58°F (-50°C).
- Public alcohol consumption is frowned upon and may be illegal.
- Mobile reception is patchy; internet access is limited and billed per megabyte.
- The Kolyma Highway is difficult to drive; check road conditions before setting out.
Emergency numbers
- Police
- 102
- Fire and ambulance
- 101
- Unified emergency
- 112
Pocket card
Fill in, then print or save as PDF
Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.
Ust-NeraУсть-Нера
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
По этому адресу, пожалуйстаTo this address, please
Emergency
- Police102
- Fire and ambulance101
- Unified emergency112
Embassy
The nearest consular services are in Yakutsk (check) or Moscow. Contact your embassy in Moscow for assistance.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Ust-Nera Airport → town (bus): about RUB 100, 20 min (check)
- Taxi within town: RUB 200–400 (check)
Say or show
- Здравствуйте — Hello (ZDRA-stvooy-te)
- Спасибо — Thank you (spa-SEE-ba)
- Сколько? — How much? (SKOL-ka)
- Где гостиница? — Where is the hotel? (gde gas-TEE-nee-tsa)
- Помогите — Help (pa-ma-GEE-te)
Carry cash; cards are rarely accepted.
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Ust-Nera. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: June–August · avoid October–April (extreme cold, road closures)
- 1 airport and 1 area to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 3 day-trips, door to door
- 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Place pages: Local Lore Museum, Indigirka gorge, Kolyma Highway sections.
- Eat pages with verified opening hours (most restaurants only open Fri–Sat night).
- Transport pages: bus to airport, helicopter charter contacts.
- Safety page: extreme cold protocol, road conditions.
Sources
Ask about Ust-Nera
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