Nicolas Vanier's Wild Odyssey – A Historic Flight Plan for MSFS, FSX & Prepar3D
Follow an Epic Siberian Expedition from the Sky
Discover the vast wilderness of Siberia with Nicolas Vanier's Wild Odyssey, a historic flight plan inspired by the famous 2013–2014 expedition of French explorer Nicolas Vanier.
This Rikoooo flight plan transforms the spirit of an extraordinary dog-sled journey into an aviation adventure. Instead of travelling across frozen rivers and remote landscapes by sled, virtual pilots can follow the expedition route from the air using an amphibious aircraft.
It is a unique way to explore some of the most remote regions of Russia, China and Mongolia in your flight simulator.
The Story Behind the Journey
Between December 2013 and March 2014, Nicolas Vanier travelled more than 5,700 kilometres across Siberia with his sled dogs.
His expedition crossed the Pacific coast region, followed the frozen Amur River and continued through China and Mongolia toward the shores of Lake Baikal.
The journey became known as L'Odyssée Sauvage (The Wild Odyssey).
Rikoooo's historic flight plan recreates the atmosphere of this adventure through a virtual aviation route.
Flight Plan Overview
Route: Pacific Coast to Lake Baikal
Period: Inspired by the 2013–2014 expedition
Aircraft: Amphibious Cessna Caravan
Approximate Route Distance: 4,173 km
Departure: UHWW – Vladivostok
Destination: Olkhon Island, Lake Baikal
Route Points: 16
Flight Plan Segments: 3
The route follows major rivers, remote settlements, lakes and wilderness areas across eastern Siberia and neighbouring regions.
Three Chapters of the Journey
1. Pacific Coast and the Amur River
The adventure begins near Vladivostok and heads toward the Pacific coast and the Amur River.
Key locations include:
UHWW – Vladivostok
Vanino
UHHH – Khabarovsk
Leninskoye
Tongjiang
This section introduces the vast landscapes of the Russian Far East and the impressive Amur River system.
2. The Sino-Russian Border
The second chapter follows the route through the border regions between Russia and China.
Important waypoints include:
Heihe
UHBB – Blagoveshchensk
Huma
Huzhong
Hulun
Expect long stretches of remote terrain, rivers and open landscapes.
3. Mongolia and Lake Baikal
The final chapter heads west through Mongolia and Buryatia toward Lake Baikal.
The route includes:
ZMDA – Dalanzadgad
Batshireet
Mongonmorit
Kyakhta
UIUU – Ulan-Ude
Olkhon Island
The journey concludes at Lake Baikal, one of the world's most remarkable natural landmarks.
Recommended Aircraft
Rikoooo recommends an amphibious Cessna Caravan for this adventure.
An amphibious aircraft is particularly suitable for the spirit of the journey because it can operate from suitable water surfaces as well as conventional runways.
The route is designed around rivers, lakes, remote settlements and water landing locations.
Flight Simulation Experience
To enjoy the route:
Choose an amphibious aircraft with suitable endurance.
Prepare manually entered waypoints before departure.
Use cold winter weather where appropriate.
Follow the Amur River and major waterways at a suitable altitude.
Take your time exploring the landscape instead of rushing between destinations.
Some navigation points are geographical references rather than conventional airports. Certain water landings and historical locations may require manual positioning.
Simulator Compatibility
The flight-plan package provides route files for several simulator platforms:
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020
FSX
Prepar3D
FS2004
X-Plane 11
X-Plane 12
The package includes PLN route files and a ZIP archive containing French and English instructions.
Download Nicolas Vanier's Wild Odyssey
Visit Rikoooo's official Historic Flight Plan page to access the route files and read the accompanying flight notes.
Final Thoughts
Nicolas Vanier's Wild Odyssey is more than a conventional flight plan. It is an opportunity to experience the immense landscapes of Siberia while following the spirit of one of the great modern wilderness expeditions.
From the Pacific coast and the Amur River to Mongolia and Lake Baikal, this route offers a memorable long-distance adventure for flight simulation enthusiasts.
Choose an amphibious aircraft, prepare your navigation points and take off on a journey through the wild heart of Siberia.
Disclaimer: This is a virtual flight-plan adaptation inspired by Nicolas Vanier's real expedition. The aviation route is not the original dog-sled route and should not be interpreted as an exact reconstruction of every expedition track.
