Expat Explore - Version: Fri Sep 24 2021 16:30:17 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) Page: 1/14 Itinerary for Ukraine, Moldova & Romania • Expat Explore Start Point: End Point: Hotel in Kiev, Hotel in Bucharest, To be confirmed To be confirmed 10:00 hrs 10:00 hrs DAY 1: Arrive in Kiev Laskavo prosymo! Welcome! Ukraine is the biggest country in Europe, outside of Russia. Kiev (also spelled Kyiv) is its magical capital and it’s here where your journey kicks off. Arrive this afternoon and settle into your hotel room. Meet your tour guide in the hotel lobby to ask any questions or get sightseeing advice. This evening, sit down for a welcome dinner with your fellow travellers. Experiences If you arrive early you’ll have free time to explore the capital city. Top sights include St. Michael's Cathedrale, Saint Sophia Cathedral and the State Aviation Museum. Walk around to explore the vibrant city. You never know what gems you’ll stumble across. Expat Explore - Version: Fri Sep 24 2021 16:30:17 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) Page: 2/14 Included Meals Breakfast: Lunch: Dinner: DAY 2: Kiev city tour - Free afternoon Kick off the day with a guided tour of the city for the perfect overview of the history, culture and lifestyle of the Ukrainian capital. With free time after the tour, stroll the main avenue of Kiev, Khreshchatyk street - known as one of the most expensive streets in Europe. Or visit Andriyivskyy Descent (Uzviz), a famous creative street often compared to Montmartre in Paris. While there, visit the famous literary and memorial museum of Mikhail Bulgakov. Kiev’s beautiful parks (like Feofaniya or Maryinsky) are the perfect spot for some people watching and downtime. Experiences Guided tour of Kiev: A local guide will take you on a walking tour of Kiev to see all the must-see sights and attractions: the golden domes of Pechersk Lavra; the famous The Motherland Monument of Ukraine outside the museum of the Great Patriotic War; and the famous Independence Square (Maidan Nezalezhnosti) - the site of the Orange Revolution. Included Meals Accommodation Expat Explore - Version: Fri Sep 24 2021 16:30:17 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) Page: 3/14 Breakfast: Lunch: Dinner: Hotel Rus Optional Excursions Lavra Christian Monastery & Dnipro River Cruise: € 25 * Stated prices and availability are subject to change. DAY 3: Kiev: Free Day Another free day in Kiev with the option to join a full-day outing to the residence of Ukraine's former president, Victor Yanukovych. After being ousted and fleeing the country, the Museum of Corruption, became Ukraine’s latest travel attraction. The excursion includes a visit the National Museum of Folk Architecture in Pirogovo to experience traditional Ukrainian architecture and folk traditions. Included Meals Accommodation Breakfast: Lunch: Dinner: Hotel Rus Expat Explore - Version: Fri Sep 24 2021 16:30:17 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) Page: 4/14 Optional Excursions Museum of Corruption & Pirogovo: € 50 * Stated prices and availability are subject to change. DAY 4: Kiev: Free Day Today is yours to explore as you wish. Spend the day at your leisure and explore more of Kiev. Or choose a fully guided trip to Chernobyl nuclear power plant, the location of the world's worst nuclear disaster. Before 1986 the deserted town of Pripyat was home to more than 40,000 people connected to the nuclear power plant of Chernobyl. The full-day optional excursion gives you the opportunity to explore with the guidance of a local expert and see the most iconic sights in the area. Before you leave Kiev, make sure to enjoy a few traditional Ukrainian dishes like chicken Kiev and sweet vareniki (dumplings). Included Meals Accommodation Breakfast: Lunch: Dinner: Hotel Rus Optional Excursions Expat Explore - Version: Fri Sep 24 2021 16:30:17 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) Page: 5/14 Chernobyl day trip: € 80 * Stated prices and availability are subject to change. DAY 5: Kiev - Strategic Missile Force Museum - Odessa An early departure takes you southwest through the Ukrainian heartland towards Pervomaysk. Enjoy the rare opportunity to visit a former top-secret Soviet nuclear missile base. Walk with a local guide to learn all about this command post and launch bunker that was retained as a museum. Explore the grounds, and encounter an open-air exhibition of nuclear missiles. Once this experience comes to an end, you’re off to Odessa, the Pearl of the Black Sea. Experiences Visit the Strategic Missile Force Museum: Explore the Museum of Strategic Missile Forces Base near Pervomaysk. All equipment and facilities are as they were during the Cold War period. This museum is staffed by former troops from the 46th division of the 43rd Rocket Army of Ukraine. This is the last remaining nuclear base in Ukraine that allows the rare opportunity to go behind the scenes of a previous secret military project. Included Meals Breakfast: Lunch: Dinner: Expat Explore - Version: Fri Sep 24 2021 16:30:17 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) Page: 6/14 DAY 6: Odessa Time to see what the fuss is about! Odessa is a major cultural centre in eastern Europe and also the biggest commercial trading port along the Black Sea. Start the day with a walking tour alongside your tour leader. Famous sights you’ll see on your way include the Mother-in-Law Bridge, Duc de Richelieu Monument, Spaso-Preobrazhensky Cathedral and Odessa Passage. Spend the afternoon at your leisure. Soak up the sun as you visit Arkadia, Lanzheron or Otrada, Odessa’s beautiful beaches. Head underground to the Odessa Catacombs, walk down vibrant Deribasovskaya Street with cafes and gift shops, or taste everyday Odessa life at a local market like Privoz. Experiences Orientation tour of Odessa: Perched on the shore of the Black Sea, Odessa lures tourists from all over the world. Take a walking tour to see only the very best the city has to offer. Encounter famous sights like the Spaso-Preobrazhensky Cathedral, Monument to the 12th Chair, Shah's Palace, and Potemkin Stairs. A sight of particular interest is the opera house, which is the second largest in the world, after Milan’s Opera house. It’s famous for unique acoustics and many famous musicians have performed here. Included Meals Accommodation Breakfast: Lunch: Dinner: Black Sea Hotel Risheliyevskaya Expat Explore - Version: Fri Sep 24 2021 16:30:17 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) Page: 7/14 DAY 7: Odessa - Tiraspol - Tighina Fortress - Chisinau This morning, take a drive to the Moldovan border and prepare to experience the cultural overlap between two closely-related countries. Then, cross the border from Moldova to Transnistria, an unrecognised state located between Moldova and Ukraine. This mysterious piece of land is a forgotten remnant of the Soviet Union. Visit the capital, Tiraspol, to see and explore the major attractions. After a traditional lunch, cross over to Moldova and visit the Bender fortress. The final experience of the day takes you to Chisinau, the capital of Moldova. Here, you’ll be acquainted with the city on a driving tour of central Chisinau upon arrival. Experiences Visit Transnistria (Pridnestrovie): Set foot and explore the capital of an independent Soviet state that has been in existence since 1992. Even though Transnistria is an unrecognised state, it’s often referred to as the last outpost of the Soviet Union. Enjoy a traditional lunch in Transnistria Visit Tighina Fortress (Bender Fortress): The historical fortress of Bender was built by the Ottomans in the early 15th century. It was an important trade outpost and was later expanded and modernised by the prince of Moldavia, Antioh Cantemir. This is the perfect spot to enjoy exceptional views of Bender and its surrounding landscapes. Expat Explore - Version: Fri Sep 24 2021 16:30:17 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) Page: 8/14 Panoramic tour of Chisinau: Get an idea of what the city is all about with a quick driving tour upon arrival. Encounter Soviet-era architecture and historical sights like the parliament, Stefan del Mare monument, the president’s residence and the Triumphal Arch. Included Meals Accommodation Breakfast: Lunch: Dinner: Bristol Central Park Hotel DAY 8: Curchi Monastery - Cricova wine cellar - Chisinau Venture out of the city to visit the Curchi Monastery. It is one of the most beautiful and iconic monasteries in the region. Experience the splendour of Orheiul Vechi (Old Orhei), a centuries-old natural amphitheater. After sitting down for an authentic Moldovan lunch, you're invited to world’s second largest wine cellar, in Cricova! This evening you’re free to explore Chisinau at your leisure. Experiences Visit Curchi Monastery: An important architectural monument located in the most pristine of surroundings. Several churches were built on the premises in the 1700s and many ancient traditions are preserved here to this day. The main church, the cathedral Naşterea Domnului (1872), has the highest dome in Moldova and was inspired by St. Andrew’s church in Kiev. Expat Explore - Version: Fri Sep 24 2021 16:30:17 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) Page: 9/14 Visit Orhei Vechi Monastery complex: ‘Old Orhei’ and its cave church is one of Moldova’s most famous tourist attractions. Monks dug out and built this monastery into the limestone cliffs overlooking the meandering Raut River in the 13th century. The complex was shut down during the Soviet times and restored after 1996. Enjoy a traditional lunch in Moldova Visit Cricova Wine Cellar: The wine town of Cricova is known as being the location of the second largest wine cellar in the world. It has avenues, streets and broadways, and a car can even drive in the cellar! Wine tasting: Taste some of Moldova’s indigenous wine varietals.