8. Yakutsk Permafrost
At the Permafrost Kingdom in Yakutsk, Siberia, you can explore a world of frozen tunnels below the earth, filled with exquisite ice sculptures and ancient woolly mammoth tusks. This is one of the coldest places on the planet, with winter temperatures hovering around -34 degrees Celsius (-30 degrees Fahrenheit). Come in the summer instead, and you can still tour this icy underworld – without the bone-chilling temps outside.
After suiting up in a warm jacket, you will descend hundreds of feet into the earth, traversing an elaborate complex of tunnels. Along the way you’ll see dozens of ice sculptures carved by local artisans, ranging in design from animals to people. Creative lighting helps set the mood, and visitors can even enjoy some local vodka in glasses made of ice.
