The Ponoi - Acha Camp
Russia
The Ponoi River is one of the most productive salmon rivers on earth and you will have to search hard to find such a unique and unspoilt salmon stock. The Ponoi River, with an overall length of 400 km is the longest river on the Kola Peninsula. It flows parallel and just north of the polar circle, through the largest nature reserve on the Kola. With numerous lakes in the system, water flow is very stable and remains nearly unaffected by rain or dry conditions. Ponoi is regarded as a big river with 60 to 150 meters from bank to bank, but it is quite shallow with an average depth of about 1.5 meters. The fishing is productive both wadinf or from a boat and in many places you will find pools and holding places side by side across the river as if two or three rivers were braided together.
Wildlfe is prolific and from May through summer the area is practically invaded by a variety of birds of all kinds from ducks and songbirds to falcon and eagles. The area is sparsely populated by descendents of the ancient northern Sami people. A few miles west of Acha Camp you will find a village with around 60 residents through the year. Their main occupation is in line with the ancient traditions of “caribou-framing” and they have permission to fish for salmon in certain areas.
The Ponoi Acha Camp is situated just upstream from the well known Ryabaga stretch, with the camp at the junction where Acha River enters the Ponoi. Fishing the beautiful lower pools in Acha River is included in the program. The Ponoi river at Acha Camp is an easy river to handle physically, thus allowing you to direct your energy towards the fishing rather than getting to/from your fishing spots.
The following information will help you get a clear picture of the thrilling Salmon program you have signed up for – a program that is one of its kind in many aspect. To get a good start to your dream trip with a lot of fun and pleasant memories for the rest of your life, we kindly ask you to study this information.
Beat Rotation:
The Salmon Junkies camp manager will setup a weekly fishing schedule that suits the conditions and actual number of guests in camp, and usually there will be a mid-day-rotation after lunch. This system is tried and trusted and every guest will usually fish all pools more than once. The manager’s fishing schedule is worked out with the main purpose to give all equal opportunities, but this does not mean, it cannot be altered. The only criterion that must be fulfilled within that context is that all concerned guests agree, and that this agreement is established between the guests and then presented to the camp manager. Fishing after dinner is usually free around camp – but it is still under the direction and supervision of the camp manager. If necessary a schedule for evening fishing will be made. Early morning fishing is restricted to the beats you are going to fish after breakfast.
For extra tips guides will also be available for evening fishing on the beats further away from camp. Make these agreements before dinner directly with your guide
Itinerary:
Saturday Day 1: Arrive in Murmansk (MMK), Russia. Take helicopter flight from Murmansk to the camp (approximately a 3 hours ride). Fishing is possible Saturday evening under the guidance of your Salmon Junkies camp manager.
Sunday-Friday Days 2-7: Salmon fishing.
Saturday Day 8: Leave Acha camp in the morning for Murmansk. Catch connecting flight to Helsinki.
Visa Information:
To obtain a Russian Tourist Visa you will need an invitation letter – Fly Water will email your invitation letter during the month of April.
Everyone travelling to Russia is responsible for obtaining his or her own visa.
Please Note: Regulations stipulate that you can only do so within three months of the start of your Russian holiday.
To process your visa application it must be sent to an embassy/consulate or local visa agent. The Russian Embassy or similar authorities will then stamp the visa directly onto your passport. We strongly recommend you to send your visa application and documents to one of the many specialist travel companies in your country handling these visa procedures. The normal time to obtain a visa is 7 working days plus mailing time, which means approx. 2 weeks. If for any reason you encounter problems with your invitation or visa documents, please do not hesitate to contact us immediately.
You will need the following to obtain a Russian visa
• Russian invitation (you will receive an invitation letter no later than one month before your departure)
• Questionnaire form to be filled out and signed at the bottom – This questionnaire can vary from country to country, so please contact your local Russian embassy/consulate or visa support for further information – You can download this questionnaire from your local consulate or travel agency web page
• Your passport
• Four passport photos (with some embassies/consulates it is enough with two)
Please double-check your passport and visa long before departure from your home country. Remember a passport must be valid for six months after the date of the scheduled departure from Russia. Your visa must display your name exactly as it is written in your passport and the dates on your visa must cover the entire length of your stay in Russia. If these details are not correct you may be refused entry into Russia.
Emergency Medical Evacuation Coverage:
Medical evacuation coverage is required for this trip.
Traveling to Murmansk:
Most guests fly into Russia via Helsinki on Friday, and typically spend the night there. Arrival day in Russia and at the camp is Saturday.
Helsinki – Murmansk (MMK) (Recommended option)
Please contact Fly Water if you want to use the charter flight from Helsinki to Murmansk, leaving every Saturday morning. The timetable and rate for 2011 charter flights will be set in early 2011.
Alternative routes
St. Petersburg – Murmansk
You will arrive Friday evening to Murmansk airport (MMK). You will have to stay one night in Murmansk and Saturday morning you have to take a taxi back to Murmansk airport. You have to be at the MMK Airport no later than 10:30AM Saturday.
Moscow – Murmansk
Same process as for the St Petersburg flight.
Oslo – Kirkenes – Murmansk
Flight to Kirkenes, then bus from Kirkenes to Murmansk. For more info and booking contact:
Flight from Oslo to Kirkenes with SAS; or with Norwegian from Oslo to Kirkenes.
Bus transport from Kirkenes to Murmansk contact: booking@russland.ru
Recommended Hotels:
Helsinki:
The Hilton Helsinki-Vantaa Airport Hotel: Lentajankuja 1, Vantaa, Finland 1530; Phone: 358.9.73220; Fax: 358.9.732.22211
Salmon Junkies guest now get a 10% discount on best available rates so please mention that you are travelling with them. Hilton Website: http://www.hilton.com/corp10;
Helsinki website: http://www1.hilton.com/en_US/hi/hotel/HELAIHI-Hilton-Helsinki-Vantaa-Airport-hotel/index.do
The Hilton Helsinki-Vantaa Airport Hotel is only a 3 minute walk from the airport and can be reached directly from the terminal via a covered walkway. Revitalize yourself after your flight with a sauna, dine on healthy Finnish cuisine in the Restaurant Gui or unwind in a comfortable, soundproofed guestroom. Travelling is made easier with self-service airline check-in and flight information available at the lobby.
Murmansk:
The Hotel Meridian: It is in downtown Murmansk, a taxi from Murmansk Airport to downtown Murmansk costs approx US $30– $40. Website: http://www.meridian-hotel.ru/eng/index.php
Hotel Park Inn Poliarnie Zori: Website: http://www.murmansk.parkinn.ru/
Meeting place - Mrumansk Airport:
If you are taking an alternative route to Murmansk, it is very important to keep in mind that the Murmansk Airport departure hall is your meeting place. You will need to be in the Murmansk Airport departure hall no later than 10:30AM on Saturday morning.
Travel to Ponoi:
When you have passed through the Russian Passport control and cleared customs, you will be greeted by a Salmon Junkies representative and guided to a nearby place in the airport, where you will have to wait for the group to be assembled. At approximately 12:30PM you will be guided to a helicopter within the airport area.
The flight to Ponoi takes roughly 2 ½ hours with a small “pit stop” (refuelling) in Lavozero. Lavozero has the largest community of native people on the Kola Peninsula. These native tribes called Lapps are strongly linked to the Northern Scandinavian Samish people and their culture. Photographing during the entire helicopter flight is allowed except in the Murmansk airport. The refuelling stop in Lavozero takes approximately 15 minutes where after the helicopter heads directly to Ponoi.
Important info and details:
Health concerns
• No inoculations/vaccinations are required to enter Russia.
• The sun and wind can be strong on the Kola Peninsula. Sun block is HIGHLY recommended.
• There are no problems with drinking water, and the lodge serves drinkable well water. Bottled water is always available.
• Mosquitoes and bugs can be a nuisance from the end of June until the end of August – a good mosquito repellent is required.
• If you have a health condition, please make sure to bring ALL the medication you will require for your stay.
• Please notify the lodge of any health conditions or concerns we should be aware of.
• The lodge has a basic first aid supply, but do bring any item you think you might need. As with all destination travel, you should be covered by a general health and travel insurance policy before you fly.
Medications:
• Travellers should always pack medication for such common complaints as diarrhoea, upset stomach, motion sickness, headache etc. as well as prescriptions.
• Most visitors to Russia don't experience stomach problems, but it pays to have treatment available just in case.
Clothing:
The summer climate of this region of Russia is extremely changeable, and a wide range of temperatures and weather conditions should be expected. We recommend layering clothing, enabling you to add or subtract garments during the day. Pack polar fleece jackets, thermal underwear, polar neck, wool socks and a wool cap to be prepared for the extreme. Flannel or chamois cloth shirts and polars are ideal for the river, although you'll no doubt change to something lighter while in the lodge. Also take a reliable windstopper/rain jacket. GoreTex is excellent. It is waterproof yet breathes and so is comfortable on sunny, windy afternoons. Simms GoreTex and Patagonia SST wading jackets are popular and have withstood the strain of rough weather time and time again.
Travel Cash:
The camp would very much appreciate that all transactions in the camp (bar, tackle, gratuities etc.) be paid in cash, either USD or Euro.
Gratuities:
The guides and staff at Ponoi work hard to provide you with the best experience during your trip. Gratuities are discretionary, and show your appreciation with the standard of the services provided. They are much appreciated by all. A typical weekly gratuity for guides and staff per person ranges from Euro 300 to Euro 500 (or about US $425 - $700). The tip pool will be divided amongst all the staff by the camp manager.
