12 Days Pearls of Ukraine and Moldova Travel date 01 to 14 Sep 2019 TOUR INFORMATION UKRAINE AND MOLDOVA INTRODUCTION Ukraine, Europe’s largest country, is one of the most untouched travel destinations in Europe, a nation rich in culture, hospitable people and off-the-beaten-track experiences. Moldova is well known for its unspoiled countryside and superb wine tours, visit this charming little nation before it becomes popular. This trip starts in Kiev, the capital of Ukraine and the city of the golden domes. With its 2 UNESCO sites here, it’s a feast for the eyes. Then we fly to Lviv, this UNESCO-listed city is the country’s least Soviet and exudes the same authentic Central European charm. Take a break from the city and visit the land of the Hutsuls, Carpathian. Then head south to Chernivtsi city - “little Vienna” or “Small Paris”, further south to Moldova and end the trip in Odessa, a city buzzing with energy in the south of Ukraine! SPECIALS • Guided by specialist / curator in all local museums • Explore the Chernobyl Exclusive Zone and meet by the participants in the elimination of a nuclear power plant in 1986 • Discover Hutsuls culture, an ethnic group in western Ukraine • Visit Gypsy’s capital, be invited to their house and interact with the family about life in the local community • Tour Cricova Winery with VIP wine tasting and enjoy dinner in the Presidential Hall where Putin celebrated his birthday • All meals & beverages included (except for premium wine & hard liquor); • Small group size of maximum 16 people; • Tipping to Guide, Driver & Porter included; • Accompanied by Scott Dunn Travel Concierge; • Comprehensive Travel Insurance included ITINERARY DAY BY DAY DEPARTURE DETAILS Day 1 02 Sep (Mon) Arrive Kiev Day 2 03 Sep (Tue) Kiev / Chernobyl / Kiev • Land Tour Price: Twin Sharing: S$ 11,880/- Single Supplement: S$ 1,550/- Day 3 04 Sep (Wed) Kiev / Lviv • Airfare (subject to availability) Day 4 05 Sep (Thu) Lviv Economy from S$ 1,728/- Day 5 06 Sep (Fri) Lviv / Carpathian Business from S$ 6,946/- Day 6 07 Sep (Sat) Carpathian / Chernivtsi • Deposit amount: S$ 2,000/- per person Day 7 08 Sep (Sun) Chernivtsi • Registration Closing Date: 31 May 2019 Day 8 09 Sep (Mon) Chernivtsi / Soroca / Chisinau or when tour is fully subscribed Day 9 10 Sep (Tue) Chisinau • Early Bird Promotion: First 4 rooms Day 10 11 Sep (Wed) Chisinau / Odessa booking enjoy complimentary room upgrade from Standard Room to Junior Suite at Day 11 12 Sep (Thu) Odessa Grand Hotel Lviv & Radisson Blu Chisinau Day 12 13 Sep (Fri) Depart Odessa Raffles City Tower #10-03, 250 North Bridge Road, Singapore 179101 | Tel: +65 3158 6530 | Travel Licence No: 029233 [email protected] | www.scottdunn.com ITINERARY UKRAINE AND MOLDOVA DAY 01 - 02 SEP (MON) - SINGAPORE ISTANBUL KIEV Flight: 01 Sep Singapore / Istanbul TK 55 2325/0525+1 (11h 00m) 02 Sep Istanbul / Kiev TK 457 0700/0855 (1h 55m) Kiev is the capital of Ukraine and one of the most beautiful city which attracts with its history and legends. 1500 years ago, the brothers Kyi, Schek and Horeb and their sister Lybid founded the city and named in honor their older brother - Kiev. Thus arose the Kiev state - Kievan Rus. Here in 988 Kievan Rus was adopted in Christianity by Prince Vladimir. This late afternoon, we will visit the Assumption Kiev-Pechersk Lavra (UNESCO World Heritage since 2007) is one of the largest Orthodox Church in Ukraine, a landmark of history and architecture, as well as a functioning monastery of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church with status of lavra. Kiev Pechersk Lavra was awarded as “masterpiece of human genius”. Since its foundation as a cave monastery in 1051, the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra has been a permanent center of Orthodoxy in Kievan Rus. Accommodation: Fairmont Hotel Kiev Meals: Lunch & Dinner DAY 02 - 03 SEP (TUE) - KIEV | CHERNOBYL OR CHERNIHIV | KIEV Today, you have 2 options: 1. Chernobyl Make an excursion to Chernobyl to gain insight on the setting & aftermath of this most unfortunate disaster. 2. Chernihiv Make an excursion to Chernihiv, famous for its monuments since the Kievan Rus. Visit Ancient Val, Mazepa House, Transfiguration Cathedral, Boris and Gleb Cathedral, Colegium, Khmelnitsky Monument, Pyatnitskaya Church (touch dream stone) Accommodation: Fairmont Hotel Kiev Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Raffles City Tower #10-03, 250 North Bridge Road, Singapore 179101 | Tel: +65 3158 6530 | Travel Licence No: 029233 [email protected] | www.scottdunn.com ITINERARY UKRAINE AND MOLDOVA DAY 03 - 04 SEP (WED) - KIEV | LVIV This morning, we will visit St Sophia Cathedral (UNESCO World Heritage) is the oldest Cathedral of Kievan Rus period, which is already over 1000 years old. Experts find in St. Sophia not only prayers, but also inscriptions of a secular nature. For example, on one of the walls, an unknown author wrote: “Kozma (thief) - stole meat. Log on your head. Amen!”. There are insciptions, with humor: “Thomas (the eunuch) wrote it during studying”. This inscription was crossed out several times. Perhaps Thomas did it himself. After lunch you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Lviv. Flight: Kiev / Lviv PS 35 1455/1605 (1h 10m) On arrival, you will be tranferred to our hotel. An UNESCO World Heritage site, Lviv with its Polish influence is considered by many as the most beautiful city of the country and the highlight of any visit. Accommodation: Grand Hotel Lviv Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner DAY 04 - 05 SEP (THU) - LVIV Morning visit the Potosky Palace, now an Art Gallery and spend time on the Rynok Square. Continue to enjoy Farmacy Museum with Iron wine tasting before continuing to Ethno Museum. After lunch, continue the walking tour with St George Church visit and some free time to explore the nooks and corners on your own. Be treated to Livarnya Beer tasting and catch a performance at the Opera House (details to be announced). Accommodation: Grand Hotel Lviv Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner DAY 05 - 06 SEP (FRI) - LVIV | CARPATHIAN Today, we drive toward Carpathian, after 2½ hours drive we will arrive Ivano-Frankivsk, the historical city of Western Ukraine. Enjoy a walking tour and lunch. Then we continue 4 hours drive to a local village and a dinner in Verhovyna with the Hutsul wedding performance private for us. After dinner, transfer to Bukovel and check into Radisson Blue. Accommodation: Radisson Blu Resort Bukovel Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Raffles City Tower #10-03, 250 North Bridge Road, Singapore 179101 | Tel: +65 3158 6530 | Travel Licence No: 029233 [email protected] | www.scottdunn.com ITINERARY UKRAINE AND MOLDOVA DAY 06 - 07 SEP (SAT) - CARPATHIAN | CHERNIVTSI This morning, we will drive to Mykulychi village and change to 4x4 jeeps to explore the Carpathian Mountains. Traveling to the peaks, ridges, plains to see a panorama of amazing beauty. We will also combine walking and some exciting ride. After we enjoy Banosh making lunch in a local village, we will drive towards Chernivtsi around 3 hours. Chernivtsi city, often called “little Vienna” or “small Paris”. Where modern Ukrainians, Hungarians, Romanians, Jews, Russians and Poles live together in spite of their historical differences and mentality! Accommodation: Allure Inn Hotel Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner DAY 07 - 08 SEP (SUN) - CHERNIVTSI Spend a full day in this historical city and now an UNESCO World Heritage site. Start the morning with a visit to the Metropolitan Residence and the City Garden. Catch the everyday horn performance on City Garden roof - “Marichka” (ukrainian national song). After the lunch, enjoy a walking tour of the historical centre and visit the St Nicholas Church also known as the drink church. Have some free time before dinner in a local restaurant. Accommodation: Allure Inn Hotel Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner DAY 08 - 09 SEP (MON) - CHERNIVTSI | SOROCA | CHISINAU We’ll leave Chernivtsi and Ukraine and drive to Soroca town from Republic of Moldova, known for its sizable Roma minority and the medieval fortress. You’ll visit the fortress – a unique monument of defensive architecture of Europe. For the fortress visit we will have as guide – the director of Soroca History Museum. Further drive around the Roma hill famous for its special house architecture and visit to a Roma house. One of the family members will interact with us and speak about life in the local community. In the late afternoon, we will be transferred to Chisinau, capital of Moldova. Check in our hotel and enjoy dinner. Accommodation: Radisson Blu Leogrand Hotel Chisinau Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Raffles City Tower #10-03, 250 North Bridge Road, Singapore 179101 | Tel: +65 3158 6530 | Travel Licence No: 029233 [email protected] | www.scottdunn.com ITINERARY UKRAINE AND MOLDOVA DAY 09 - 10 SEP (TUE) - CHISINAU This morning we will enjoy a tour in the city, it has a rich and diverse history, and beautiful architecture of white stone earning it a nickname the “white stone flower”. including the Nativity Cathedral, the Arch of Triumph, the Park of Steven the Great and the various museums. After lunch, we will visit Cricova Winery, one of the biggest underground wine cities in the world (12 km away from Chisinau). The length of the winery is 120 km at a depth of 40-85 meters. At the end of the tour we will enjoy a wine tasting and dinner in the Presidential Hall where Putin celebrated his birthday. Accommodation: Radisson Blu Leogrand Hotel Chisinau Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner DAY 10 - 11 SEP (WED) - CHISINAU | ODESSA This morning, we will be transferred to Belgorod-Dniestrovsky, Strategically located on the high rocky bank of the firth of the Dniester river, it was the last outpost of Christians after the fall of Constantinople on the Black Sea.