Beautiful Carpathians A 7-day tour to the most remarkable places of the Ukrainian Carpathians

Could anything bring you much pleasure than spending a week in the truly fresh air, admiring the stunning landscapes, climbing the woody mountains or just wondering in the shadow of beautiful green fir-trees? Could anything be more exciting than learning more about the everyday life of one of the most interesting ethnic groups in – , dancing the traditional dances and listening to the melodious national songs? Wouldn’t you like to sample the delicious hutsulian cuisine? We guess you wouldn’t miss a chance to experience all these. Spend a few days in Ukraine’s capital Kyiv with its magnificent architecture and engagingly energetic life and then go for a fascinating trip to the Carpathians, consider horse-riding, jeeping, rafting or anything of the kind, visit the traditional hutsulian market and buy the unique handmade souvenirs, visit the most interesting museums in Kolomyya. And all you have to do is just go for it!

Day 1 Meeting at the airport in Kyiv. Transfer to a hotel. Accommodation at the hotel. Welcome dinner. Meeting with a guide and a short presentation of a tour.

Day 2, Kyiv

Breakfast. Kyiv - a 3-hour bus tour around the historical districts of Kyiv: Golden Gate (the unique monument which reflects the art of fortification of Kievan Rus), a majestic St. Sophia’s Cathedral, St. Volodymyr’s and St. Michael’s Golden Domed Cathedrals, an exuberant St. Andrew’s Church. A walk along Andriyivsky Uzviz (Andrew’s Descent) – Kyiv’s “Monmartre” - where the peculiar Ukrainian souvenirs may be bought. Lunch (optionally). Excursion to the museum-reserve and monastery Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra (an ancient Kyiv Cave Monastery). A walk along the historical district of Lypky: the House of Parliament, Mariyinsky palace (an official residence of the President of Ukraine for ceremonial purposes) and Mariyinsky park, the marvellous panoramic views over the Dnipro river; Khreshchatyk street (the main street of a city with its splendid architecture) and Maydan Nezalezhnosti (Independence Square). Dinner. Leaving for Ivano-Frankivsk by a night train.

Day 3, Ivano-Frankivsk – (200 km)

Arrival to Ivano-Frankivsk. Breakfast. Ivano-Frankivsk – a city tour (Rynok square – a traditional heart of a city, where a mix of colourful buildings circle the star-shaped town hall, the baroque Cathedral of the Holy Resurrection, the former Armenian Church with an attractive, undulating baroque facade and twin, rounded bell towers). Yaremche - visiting a pretty resort at the Carpathians with the beautiful waterfall „Probiy” and the hutsulian souvenir market. Accommodation at a hotel at Yaremche. Dinner.

Day 4, Yaremche - () (35 km)

Breakfast. Carpathian National Nature Park – the heart of the Carpathians and Ukraine’s largest national park, visiting the Information centre. Hiking the highest peak of Ukraine Hoverla (2061 m) – pretty straight and not the most remote trail in the Carpathians; the breathtaking views from the mountain. Accommodation at a hotel at Vorokhta. Dinner at the traditional hutsul restaurant, a master- class in the national dancing.

Day 5, The Carpathians

Breakfast. A whole day free.

Optionally a) Activities in Yaremche: horse-riding, cycling, rafting, jeeping, kayaking etc. b) Visiting rocks (huge rocks and stones reminding the mysterious creatures). c) A walking excursion to the waterfall “Girl’s Tears” (“Divochi slyozy”). d) A walk to the rocky outcrops of the Carpathian flysch. Dinner.

Day 6, Vorokhta – Kolomyya– Ivano-Frankivsk (140 km)

Breakfast. Kolomyya - National Museum of Hutsulshchyna and Pokuttya Folk Art (one of the best exhibitions of its kind in Ukraine), the eye-catching “Pysanka” Museum, show-casing the colourful, hand-printed Easter eggs (Ukrainian tradition), the Old city. A master-class in Easter eggs painting. Journey to Ivano-Frankivsk. Leaving for Kyiv by a night train.

Day 7, Kyiv Arrival to Kyiv. Breakfast. Free day. Transfer to the airport. Leaving Kyiv.

*The organizer is entitled to the right to make the slight changes to the program without changing the general content of a trip.

www.terraincognita.info

[email protected] UKRAINE, Kyiv, Mala Zhytomyrska str., 16/3, of.4 Tel. +380443616801, Fax +380672313200, Mob. +380982259997