Ukrainian Carpathians

 

 

 

Meeting at the airport. Transfer to the hotel. Accomodation. Walk in the city center: Khreschatik Avenue, Independence square. In the evening cruise over the Dnipro river (optional). Overnight.

 

 

Breakfast. Panoramic city tour in the capital of Ukraine and the cradle of Eastern Slavonic states. The tour includes Golden Gates and Vladimir’s hill, which is supposed to be the place of foundation of Kiev-city, Bogdan Khmelnitsky’s Monument, National Opera and Ballet Theater, St. Vladimir’s Cathedral – a splendid architectural pearl, with beautiful paintings of V. Vasnetsov and St. Michael’s Golden Domed Monastery founded in 1108, Kyiv Founders’ Monument, Khreschatik Avenue, Independence Square – the scene of many notable events in the capital city of Ukraine.

Excursion St. Sofia Cathedral – the world famous historical and architectural monument of the first half of the 11th century. The cathedral is famous for its mosaics and frescos by Byzantine masters. It is the first monument in Ukraine listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Visiting the Holy Kyiv Pechersk Lavra – the Orthodox Christian monastery that is the holiest place of pilgrimage in Ukraine. It was founded in times of Yaroslav the Wise in XI century and is one of the most ancient monasteries in Old Rus. Trinity Church, the Assumption Cathedral (renovated in 2000), the Refectory Church and the labyrinth of the Near and Far Caves, with their relics of saints, are real masterpieces of world architecture.

Transfer to the railway station and departure to Lviv by night train in the 2nd class.

 

 

Breakfast. Lviv is a very beautiful city with its narrow medieval streets paved with stones, architectural decoration done in different styles preserved in its original form. This is an ancient picturesque city founded by Prince Danylo Halystky in the middle of the 13th century. During the panoramic tour you will have an oportunity to admire St. George Cathedral (1765) in baroque-rococo style with unusual ornamental entry, National University Ivan Franco – one among the oldest in Europe founded in 1661, Lychakiv memorial cemetery – most beautiful necropolis in Ukraine, which is rather a sculpture garden or a museum under open air than just a cemetery; High Castle from where you can enjoy the whole panoramic view of the city and surroundings beyond.

Excursion in the ancient part of the town. You will walk through the cozy streets of Lviv where each building is an architectural masterpiece with a rich history. You will discover The Opera House (1900) – an architectural masterpiece with gorgeous paintings and sculptures in the interior; Taras Shevchenko’s monument; Rynok square (16th century) – the heart of the city listed by UNESCO World Heritage Site; Armenian quarter with a splendid Armenian Virgin Mary’s Dormition Church (1370), Dominican Cathedral (1798); an interesting Pharmacy Museum that is one of the oldest operating pharmacies in the world; Baroque style Jesuit Cathedral; the Latin Cathedral and the Transfiguration Church; Jewish quarter with the remains of the Golden Rose synagogue; etc. Free time. Overnight.

 

 

Breakfast. Excursion to the ancient town Zhovkva. Panoramic city tour including Main Market Square, the Cathedral of Saint Lawrence (1606) as well as the castle (1594-1606) and its ruins of old defensive constructions, the monastery of the Dominicans (1653-1655), the synagoge dating from the 17th century, the Monastery of the Basilians with the church of the feast of Christ rom the 17th century, the Church of the Holy Trinity etc. Departure to Krekhiv and visiting the buildings of Monastery of Vassilius, dating from the beginning 17th century. Returning to Lviv. Overnight.

 

 

Breakfast. Departure to Chernivtsi – a wonderful city is spread out at the foot of Carpathian Mountains, on the picturesque hills of the Prut River. It fascinates with its eclectic architecture, rich cultural heritage and the spider-web like labyrinth of ancient European streets and squares. Panoramic city tour including St. Nicolas Cathedral, Holy Virgin Nativity Church. Visit to the University – the former residence of Bukovinian metropolitans. Accomodation in the hotel. Free time. Overnight.

 

 

Breakfast. Departure to Kolomyya – peculiar corner of Ukraine, who combined in himself the Austro-Hungarian character development and atmosphere of a European town.

Visiting Pysanka Museum – one of the most interesting museums in the whole Ukraine. And the aura of its building, unique 13,5 m high stone egg, fills everyone with joy and gladness. The funds of museum have an abundant collection of pysanky, over 12,000 examples of this unique art, from every region of Ukraine and abroad. Visiting the museum Hutsulshchyna and Pokuttia where collected the largest collection hutsul life and art.

Excursion to Vyzhnytsya. Visiting college of Applied Arts. Returning to Chernivtsi. Overnight.

 

 

Breakfast. Transfer to Kamianets-Podilskyi - a town that has preserved the spirit of the Middle Ages. Its impressive fortress is a landmark in the history of construction of fortified places and strongholds. Excursion: “Flower on stone” – historic-architectural complex of the Old city and fortress (14-18th century). The town`s scenic beauty is enhanced by the Polish and Russian Gates, Armenian Bastions, Turkish Bridge (enigma of centuries), Dominican Roman-Catholic Church (14-17century), Trinitarian Roman-Catholic Church, Petropavlivska (Peter and Paul’s) Church, Mykolayivska Church (14th century), Polish and Armenian Market Squares, and other ancient monuments.

Transfer to Khotyn – that was a trade hub in the Middle Ages, fortunately situated at the crossroads of trade routs. Visiting Khotyn Castle constructed in the 13-15th centuries. Transfer to Ivano-Frankivsk. Accomodation in the hotel. Overnight.

 

 

Breakfast. Departure to Mukachevo. Stopping in Rakhiv – geographical centre of Europe. Arriving to Mukachevo – an ancient city built in 10- 11th centuries. Visiting Palanok Castle (14th century) recognized as one of the most interesting and well-preserved fortifications in Ukraine. Transfer to Uzhgorod. Accomodation in the hotel. Overnight.

 

 

Breakfast. Panoramic city tour in Uzhgorod. Unique location and multicultural influence have made it one of the most attractive places in western Ukraine. Visiting Uzhgorod castle (X-XVI). Nowadays, the collection of the Zakarpattia Local History Museum, numbering over one hundred thousand unique exhibits, is located here. Not far from the castle there is another unique landmark, the Trans-Carpathian Museum of Folk Architecture and Heritage. Original wooden buildings still stand here, representing the ethnic traditions of different nations that inhabited Zakarpattia. Among them, you will find tidy Guzul houses, a school, a windmill, and a watermill, and – the main treasure of the museum – St. Michael's wooden church from the 18th century, with its uncanny architecture.

Transfer to the reilway station and departure to Kyiv by train in the 2nd class.

 

 

Arriving to Kyiv. Breakfast. Transfer to Folk Architecture Museum Pirogovo – the biggest open air museum in Europe which offers a great collection of our national ethnographical heritage. There are approximately 300 unique objects of folk architecture, dating back to XVI−XX centuries from all the regions of Ukraine. During the visit you will see unique collections: windmills, watermills, forges, an old traditional sauna, village administration houses, a church school, a priest mansion, cafes named “shynok”, huts, barns, stalls, cellars etc. Returning to the city centre. Free time or optional visiting.

 

 

Breakfast. Transfer to airport for your flight back home.

 

Program price in euro per person
	10+1 pax	15+1 pax	20+1 pax	25+1 pax	Additional payment for single room
Hotels 3*	945	828	730	690	205
Hotels 4*	987	880	780	745	245

    

- Accommodation in the 3* ou 4* hotels: 2 nights in Lviv; 1 night in Ivano-Frankivsk, 1 night in Uzhgorod, 2 nights in Chernivtsi, 2 nights in Kyiv; standard double rooms;

- 10 breakfasts;

- Transport services according to the program;

- Train tickets in 2 class: Kyiv-Lviv; Uzhgorod-Kyiv;

- English guides service during the tour (the guides will not accompany the group during the train transfer).

- Entrance fees according to the program;

- One free of charge for tour leader in single room.

 

- Meals: lunches and dinners;

- Services not mentioned above;

- Personal expenses.