Charm of the Western A 11-day tour around the Western Ukraine visiting the most impressive sights of the region and strolling at the marvellous . All year round

Have you ever thought about spending some time in the enchanting city with the green Florentine domes, Central European charm and stunning architecture? And then make a journey to the fabulous woody mountains, walk in the real fresh air, horse-ride or go for rafting or jeeping or anything of a kind? And finally find yourself at the with all the mighty castles and courageous knights? Then this tour is right for you: enjoy the fabulous atmosphere of the most amazing Ukrainian cities and Lviv, visit the Carpathian Mountains and take a chance to see the majestic fortresses at Kamyanets-Podilsky and Khotyn.

Day 1, Kyiv 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 : 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. Visiting theatres (the Opera House, the philharmonic), clubs and discos optionally. Leaving for Lviv by a night train.

Day 3, Lviv

Arrival to Lviv. Breakfast. Lviv – a 3-hour tour around one of the main cultural centres of Ukraine – the Assumption Church (Uspinnya) and Three Saints Chapel, the Dominican Cathedral, the Rynok Square – the heart of the city (Renaissance period), the City Hall (Ratusha), the Latin Cathedral with the Chapel, the ancient Armenian quarter and the Armenian Cathedral, the Liberty avenue (Prospekt Svobody), the Opera House, Town Arsenal – a part of the city’s original fortification system. Accommodation at a hotel. Free time or visiting museums optionally. Dinner.

Day 4, Lviv Breakfast. The whole day free.

Optionally a) Visiting museums, exhibitions, famous cafes, theatres, clubs, discos. b) Lviv – Zhovkva – Krehiv – Lviv (80 km) Zhovkva – the castle (the defense building of the Renaissance period), the City Hall with the reconstructured building of the old casemates (17thcentury), parochial St. Laurentium Church, the Christmas Church and Monastery, the Dominican Monastery building. Krehiv – the building of the Basilian Monastery of St. Nicolas (14-16thcenturies), the healing springs in the ravine near the Monastery.

Day 5, Lviv – Ivano-Frankivsk – Yaremche (200 km)

Breakfast. Journey to the Ukrainian Carpathians through Ivano-Frankivsk to Yaremche. 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. Dinner.

Day 6, Yaremche - (Hoverla) (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/Tatariv. Dinner at the traditional hutsul restaurant, a master-class in the national dancing.

Day 7, The Carpathians

Breakfast. The whole day free.

Optionally a) Activities in Yaremche: horse-riding, cycling, rafting, jeeping, kayaking etc. b) Visiting Oleksa Dovbush 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 8, Vorokhta – Kolomyya– Chernivtsi (160 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 Chernivtsi. Accommodation at a hotel. Dinner.

Day 9, Chernivtsi – Khotyn – Kamyanets-Podilsky (100 km)

Breakfast. Chernivtsi - a tour around this lively and energetic city (the instantly intriguing University Complex – a former residence of Bukovynian patriarchies – with all red-brick facades, green domes and a few Moorish touches; an attractive building of the Music and Drama Theatre, the City Hall). Excursion to Khotyn – the 15th-century Khotyn fortress – an impressive massive fort overlooking the Dnister river, preferred by filmmakers above all Ukrainian castles, worth visiting by all means (a fortress can be called a real movie star). Journey to Kamyanets-Podilsky. Accommodation at a hotel. Dinner.

Day 10, Kamyanets-Podilsky

Kamyanets-Podilsky - a majestic stone fortress, built on a rocky island near the River Smotrych, with numerous fortifications and intricate architectural decorations, which dates back to the beginning of the 12th century; the Furrier’s and Potter's towers, Russian and Polish gates, the Castle bridge; the Complex of the of Old city – the City Hall, Rynok square, an Armenian well, St. Peter’s and Paul’s Cathedral, the Dominican Monastery. Dinner. Leaving for Kyiv by a night train.

Day 11, Kyiv Breakfast. Free time. 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