Photography Tour with Karen Pidskalny | 2020 September 22 – October 4 | 13 days , 2020 | 14 Days Ukraine is a photographer’s dream destination. If you got an artistic eye and love capturing moments, both big and small, then this tour is for you! This is truly a cultural journey throughout the picturesque scenery of Western Ukraine… Travelling Cobblestone style, you will experience the traditions and the Ukrainian lifestyle first hand through local people, while exploring and appreciating the vibrant colour and variety Ukraine has to offer. Whether it’s the bustling city of Lviv, or the tiny village of Tulova, you’ll be taking home not just amazing photos, but some amazing memories too! Lviv – Carpathian Mountains – Chernivtsi – Kamianets-Podilsky – Ternopil - Lviv Sightseeing | Cultural Experiences | Photoshoots | Village Visits Day 1 TOUR START DATE |Tuesday, September 22: Lviv (/-/-) Lviv is an ancient, historic city in Western Ukraine that is quickly becoming one of the most popular tourist destinations in Ukraine, and for a good reason! With its quaint charm, cobblestone streets and classical architecture, you won’t fail to be charmed by this city of love and UNESCO heritage site. Famous for its beer, coffee and chocolate, but also for being a place where time stands still – Lviv truly is a city of a laid- back, café culture where you can pick a spot, relax, and watch the world go by… Welcome to Lviv, the cultural capital of Ukraine! Upon arrival, your Cobblestone Freeway Tour Leader will meet you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel in the heart of the city. After some time to freshen up, we will take you for a brief city orientation around this medieval town with a modern vibe. You’ll be pointed to the nearest ATMs, exchange booths, convenience stores and unique restaurants with delicious food. Evening at your leisure. Day 2 |Wednesday, September 23: Lviv (B/-/-) In the morning, we’ll take show you around this picturesque city, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. See some of Lviv’s most famous attractions and photograph them, on a guided walking city tour. Visit one of the main symbols of Lviv – its grand Opera House. Take in the beauty of the city and capture it with your camera! After some free time for lunch, experience an avant-garde fashion shoot in a stunning location – the House of Scientists! This is the site of the former aristocratic casino, and one of Lviv’s most amazing architectural structures and a valuable neo-baroque monument. Enjoy working with professional models and take some amazing snaps in this fabulous interior. Enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure, looking for more photo opportunities - Lviv has plenty of them! You could visit the local souvenir market “Vernissage”, or climb the High Castle hill, which presents a bird’s eye view of the city. The sunset from this hill is particularly great! We will give you suggestions for several Lviv restaurants with roof terraces, for some panoramic shots of the city at night. Accommodation: Number of Nights: Highlights: Tours & Museums: ‘Rudolfo’ Hotel or similar 2 Nights House of Scientists City Tour https://rudolfo.com.ua/?lang=en Photoshoot Opera House Tour Day 3|Thursday, September 24: Lviv - Carpathian Mountains (B/-/-) Visit a traditional village deep in the Carpathian Mountains, and experience a lifestyle that has remained the same for centuries. home to sweeping green forests, flowing rivers and breath-taking waterfalls –it’s hard not to feel at-one with nature when you breathe in the fresh mountain air...This is the land of the Hutsuls, Boykos, and Lemkos – meet the local villagers, dance the Arkan and eat traditional food sat around one table. Experience how simple, open and hospitable these mountain people are. In the morning after breakfast we’ll set off to the Carpathian Mountains, the land of “Hutsul” people, known as the highlanders of Ukraine! On the way, we will have plenty of opportunities for some more awesome photos – we ‘ll have a leisurely drive, observing village life and stopping in ancient towns, discovering old wooden churches and castles along the way. Once you arrive in your hotel, surrounded by the mountains and offering stunning views, you’ll have time to unwind – wander around, relax in the sauna, visit the local crafts bazaar, spend some time with the locals, or just enjoy the view of the mountains. Rest of the day at your leisure. Day 4|Friday, September 25: Carpathian Mountains (B/L/-) Today we will have a trip to a unique place called ‘Pysanyi Kamin’ (which means Painted or Written Stone). Here, huge sandstone blocks have grown into massive monoliths up to 20 meters tall. It’s an interesting historical and geological monument, but also has a magnificent panorama of ridges and peaks, and views out over the Carpathian Mountains. You’ll be able to get some stunning photos of these beautiful vistas! On the way up and down, enjoy the views of small wooden houses, old Hutsul churches and never-ending hills – endless opportunities for more shots. Next, in the small mountain village of Bukovets we will visit a local Hutsul family, who live high up in the mountains. Enjoy a traditional Hutsul-style lunch together, wander around the ancient households and village. This is another incredible opportunity to capture traditional village life amongst ancient wooden houses, and meet and photograph the local people, for some brilliant character-rich photos. After we’ll return to hotel, where you can enjoy an evening at your leisure. Day 5 |Saturday, September 26: Carpathian Mountains (B/-/-) Today we have prepared something absolutely unique – early in the morning we will travel to the town of Kosiv to visit its famous Kosiv Crafts Market. Kosiv is famous for its outstanding artists who not only create beautiful artefacts, but also keep century’s old traditions in folk crafts. Once a week vendors and artisans from the area get together to buy and sell art supplies, embroidery, antique items, food stuff, car parts and even live animals! There will be a chance for some incredibly unique photographs. Even if you don’t buy something – it’s a real experience! After, we will visit a local woodcarvers’ house. See and capture the magic of this ancient process, admire his artwork, and maybe even try your hand at some woodcarving! Transfer back to the hotel after for a free afternoon. Acommodations: Number of Nights: Highlights: Tours & Museums: ‘‘Maetok Sokilske’’ Hotel 3 Nights Kosiv Crafts Bazaar Pysanyi Kamin’ trip or similar Hutsul family visit http://www.sokilske.com.ua/ Woodcarvers’ house visit Day 6 |Sunday, September 27: Carpathian Mountains - Tulova (B/L/D) After breakfast and check-out, we’ll move on to the small village of Tulova for an authentic village experience. Here you’ll get the unique chance to live a local’s life for a day in the village. Start by exploring the countryside; attend a church liturgy; help work the fields or look after the animals, and of course capture some village life and character-rich shots while you do! After, we’ll have a party with the locals, and it’s going to be one to remember! Eat and drink Ukrainian style – there may be some “samohonka” or Ukrainian home-made vodka involved! We’ll stay overnight in the village in some of the homes. Lunch and dinner included. Day 7 |Monday, September 28: Tulova - Chernivtsi (B/-/-) Chernivtsi – the Capital of Bukovyna” is a cosmopolitan and multicultural city is currently twinned with seven other cities around the world, and is also considered one of Ukraine’s most important educational and architectural sites. Its stunning University is an ancient, magical collection of buildings, marked a UNESCO world heritage site, and will take you back in time as you step through its doors. In the morning, we move on to the capital of the region of Bukovyna and a photographers’ dream – the beautiful multicultural Chernivtsi! After checking-in to your hotel, we’ll take a walk through the city, often called “Little Vienna” for its architectural reminiscence of Austria's capital. Learn the city’s fascinating multicultural history, visit the most beautiful and notable sights of its elegant past – numerous city squares, unique cathedrals, museums, stylish coffee shops and restaurants. In the evening, don’t miss the opportunity to capture some night photography of the city – Chernivtsi old town is lit beautifully! Day 8 |Tuesday, September 29: Chernivtsi (B/-/-) Today we will visit an architectural gem, and a place you won’t want to leave – the Chernivtsi National University, also known as the Ukrainian “Hogwarts”. Part of the architectural ensemble of the main campus of the university, the Residence of Bukovinian and Dalmatian Metropolitans are included on the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. We guarantee you will be impressed by both exterior and interior of this site! In the evening, enjoy a private concert of the brilliant ‘Gerdan’ ensemble. Dressed in authentic costumes of the region, they will blow you away with their voices and raw talent! You’ll get a true taste of the rich cultural heritage of this region. Acommodations: Number of Nights: Highlights: Tours & Museums: Tulova village 1 Night Gerdan concert Chernivtsi city tour Chernivtsi University Tour ‘‘Central Magnat’’ Hotel or 2 Nights similar https://central-magnat- cinema- chernivtsi.hotelmix.com.ua/ Day 9 |Wednesday, September 30: Chernivtsi – Khotyn - Kamianets-Podilsky (B/-/-) Today we will travel back in time! Not literally, of course, but you’ll get to see how the local princes and rulers lived as we visit the fortresses of Khotyn and Kamianets Podislky! Our first stop is the medieval Khotyn fortress.