Weekend getaway: How to dive into an icy kingdom without leaving Yakutsk
Chochur Muran hill is located on the exit from Yakutsk on the Vilyuy tract; it«s easy to get there by bus, taxi, or private car. Its height is 192 meters (630 feet), at the top there is a pine forest, and inside the hill lies the complex itself. What»s worth going there for and what can you see—in the 14.RU article.
A bit of history
The adits inside the glacier were made back in the 80s, and the glacier was turned into a giant refrigerator for food storage. The decision to organize a tourist complex was made in 2005.
The development of the complex is handled by LLC Management Company «Center», which belongs to the joint-stock company «Rik Plus». The General Director of «Center» is Aitalina Trofimova. In 2024, the company«s revenue amounted to 237.9 million rubles (approximately $4.2 million at current rates), net profit—30.5 million rubles (approximately $534,000 at current rates).
The kingdom doesn«t have an official website, but information about opening hours and ticket prices can be found on 2GIS. The complex works year-round and every day from 10:00 to 19:00.
An adult ticket (from 18 years old) costs 600 rubles (approximately $11 at current rates), a child«s ticket from 6 to 18 years old—400 rubles (approximately $7), students with a student ID card pay the same amount. Beneficiaries can use a discount: pensioners, labor veterans, parents with many children, participants of the special military operation (SVO), and even newlyweds who got married no more than a month ago can buy a ticket for 400 rubles (approximately $7), children from beneficiary categories—for 200 rubles (approximately $4).
The tourist complex«s rating on the 2GIS website is 4.8 stars out of five. Reviews are mostly positive: people are delighted with visits regardless of the season. By the way, inside the glacier it»s warmer in winter than outside; the air temperature in the kingdom of permafrost stays at -10°C (14°F) year-round.
What«s inside?
Here you can feel like in a winter fairy tale; guests are greeted by the Yakut Father Frost, Chyskhaan. Then begins the ceremonial hall, where national rites can be held, and various ice sculptures by masters of the republic are exhibited. The sculptures are very diverse—from hearts with neon inscriptions to dogs and even... (here fans of George R.R. Martin«s work will rejoice) the Iron Throne from the series »Game of Thrones«. For greater authenticity, next to the throne they placed a direwolf, which is actually a stuffed ordinary gray wolf.
Also, guests can lounge on an ice bed, which is covered with fur for comfort and warmth, have a drink at the ice bar counter, and snack on it all with «Indigirka» salad, made from raw frozen fish, most often broad whitefish (a local whitefish).
It«s not just about entertainment; for lovers of history and antiquities, the complex organized a mini paleontology museum, where you can see the remains of mammoths and other animals of the Ice Age.
In 2025, the complex was visited by the famous Russian comedian Pavel Volya; he showed on his social networks how he relaxes inside the glacier. The place shocked the artist.
«We are underground, it»s minus here! Everything is in ice, in snow! And it«s like this everywhere! Well, it»s hard to believe, of course, but one and a half meters underground—everything is like this, everywhere! Very beautiful place! Incredible!«—admired Volya. 14.RU followed the artist»s rest; to see what else Pavel did in Yakutsk, you can here.
Also in the kingdom, there is a mailbox of Father Frost, from which every year on December 1, Father Frost from Veliky Ustyug personally picks up letters. Also, for the New Year, they decorate separate installations with an ice fireplace—it looks cool.
