Ancient Ukraine

 

 

Meeting at the airport in the afternoon. Transfer to the hotel. Walk in the city center: Khreschatik Avenue, Independence square. 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 Kyiv-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.

Walk and shopping along Andrew’s descent. Free time. Overnight.

 

 

Breakfast. 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 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 center. Overnight.

 

 

Day 4. Kyiv – Medzhybizh – Kamianets-Podilskyi

Breakfast. Transfer to Medzhybizh. The town preserved the Large Castle dated back to XIV–XVI centuries and the Palace of XVI century on the territory of the castle. The town is considered to be a cradle of Hasid movement in Judaism, as here in 1740-60 lived Israel Baal Shem Tov – the founder of the Hasid movement. Departure to Kamenets-Podilsky. Overnight.

 

 

Breakfast. 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.

Departure to Chernivtsi. Free time. Overnight.

 

 

Breakfast. 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. Accomodation in the hotel. Panoramic city tour including St. Nicolas Cathedral, Holy Virgin Nativity Church. Visit to the University – the former residence of Bukovinian metropolitans.

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. Departure to Yaremche. Overnight.

 

 

Breakfast. Transfer to Kossiv. Visiting artisanal hutsul market. Transfer to Ivano-Frankivsk the gateway to the Ukrainian Carpathians. Panoramic city tour including Market Square with the Town Hall, Egg Fountain, Holy-Pokrovsky Orthodox cathedral – former Armenian Church, Church of Virgin Mary , Church of the Holy Resurrection etc. Continuation to Galych – ancient capital of Kingdom of Galicia–Volhynia. Visiting Church of Assomption. Departure to Lviv. Accomodation in the hotel. Overnight.

 

 

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 Cahedral; the Latin Cathedral and the Transfiguration Church; Jewish quarter with the remains of the Golden Rose synagogue; etc. Free time. Overnight.

 

 

Breakfast. Transfer to Olesko. Visiting the old Olesko castle - an important architectural monument of the XIV-XVII centuries. Nowadays the Olesko castle displays the collections of antique art and furnishings from 16-17 centuries, sculptures, paintings, weapons and objects used in everyday life from different epochs. Transfer to Berestechko. Excursion to the Museum-reserve “Cossack tombs”. Continuation to Lutsk. Panoramic city tour around Lutsk: Lyubart castle, Cathedral of the Sacred Trinity, Pokrova’s church. Overnight.

 

 

Breakfast. Transfer to Pochaiv. Visiting the Pochaiv Lavra, the second largest Eastern Orthodox monastery in Ukraine after Kyiv. Transfer to Ostrog. Visiting the Ostrog Castle’s complex (14 th) wich includes the elegant Epiphany Cathedral, raised in the 15th-16th century. Departure to Kyiv. Overnight.

 

 

Breakfast. Free time. Transfer to the 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*	942	823	728	688	247
Hotels 4*	1070	938	835	795	326

  

- Accomodation in the 3* or 4* hotels: 4 nights in Kyiv; 2 nights in Lviv; 1 night in Lutsk, 1 night in Kamianets-Podilskyi, 1 night in Yaremche, 1 night in Chernivtsi ; standard double rooms;

- 10 breakfasts;

- Transport services according to the program;

- English guides service during the tour;

- 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.