Itinerary
- Day 1
Kiev
You'll arrive at Kiev airport and get transferred to your hotel to settle in. The day is free for you to rest up after your journey. Later this evening, your guide meets with you to go over what's coming up on the trip.
- Day 2
Mizhrichynsky National Park
You head out to Mizhrichynsky National Park, a large landscape reserve in the Polissya region. In the morning you'll work with park volunteers doing conservation tasks like building bird houses or maintaining trails. After lunch at a local home, you'll head back to Kiev by afternoon.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Homemade lunch at local home)
Included Activities
- Visit Mizhrichynsky National Park
- Join volunteers in park conservation work on eco-trails
- Homemade lunch at local home
Landmarks Mizhrichynsky National Park - Day 3
Chernobyl
After breakfast you travel to Chernobyl, the site of the 1986 nuclear disaster. Radiation levels have dropped to safe now, so you can walk through the area with your guide. You'll learn about what happened that year and how it affected the people and wildlife in the region.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Visit Chernobyl nuclear disaster site
- Guided exploration of impact on local population and wildlife
Landmarks Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant - Day 4
Kiev to Lviv
This morning you explore Kiev on a guided tour, hitting St Sophia's Cathedral and St Michael's monastery with its golden domes. You'll see views of the Dnipro river and hear about the Maidan revolution from your local guide. Late afternoon you board a train to Lviv, arriving after about 5 hours.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided day tour of Kiev
- Visit St Sophia's Cathedral
- Visit St Michael's golden-dome monastery
- Learn about Maidan revolution history
- Discover lesser-known local sights
Landmarks St Sophia's Cathedral St Michael's Golden-Dome Monastery Dnipro River - Day 5
Lviv
You spend the morning on your own in Lviv's old town, which is UNESCO-listed. Walk through cobblestone streets past cathedrals, listen to street musicians, and grab coffee at one of the courtyards scattered around the city.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Explore UNESCO-listed old town of Lviv
- Walk cobblestone streets
- Visit cathedrals
Landmarks Lviv Old Town - Day 6
Lviv to Kosmach
After breakfast you have free time to check out Lviv on your own. Late morning you head toward Ivano-Frankivsk through back country roads, stopping for lunch at Urban 100 Cafe. From there you continue into the Carpathian foothills, passing wooden churches and rural villages, then arrive at Kosmach for an afternoon walk.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch at Urban 100 Cafe, community-owned cafe with profits supporting social projects), Dinner
Included Activities
- Lunch at Urban 100 Cafe
- Travel through scenic Carpathian Mountain region
- Walk around Kosmach village
Landmarks Carpathian Mountains Ivano-Frankivsk Kosmach - Day 7
Kosmach
You take a 4WD off-road trip into the highlands to meet Hutsul shepherds with their summer flocks. You'll look for mushrooms and berries in the forest, then spend the afternoon helping with farm work like field tasks, feeding animals, or stacking hay. The mushrooms you find get cooked up for your dinner.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Dinner featuring foraged mushrooms picked during the day)
Included Activities
- 4WD off-road journey into Hutsul highlands
- Visit shepherds and their flocks
- Forage for mushrooms and berries
- Participate in host family daily routine
Landmarks Hutsul Highlands - Day 8
Kosmach to Chernivtsi
You learn traditional Hutsul crafts, starting with an elder who teaches you how to make an intricately decorated Easter egg. You visit local artisans, including a weaver in Yavoriv, and stop at a 16th century wooden church in Kolomyya plus its Easter Egg Museum. From there you travel to Chernivtsi, called 'Little Vienna' for its Austrian-style architecture.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Learn traditional Hutsul Easter egg decoration from elder
- Visit Hutsul artisans
- Meet local woollen rug maker
- Visit 16th century wooden church in Kolomyya
- View Easter Egg Museum in Kolomyya
Landmarks Kolomyya Easter Egg Museum Wooden Church, Kolomyya Yavoriv Chernivtsi - Day 9
Chernivtsi
You explore Chernivtsi and see the UNESCO-listed Residence of Bukovinian and Dalmatian Metropolitans, which now houses the national university with its detailed architecture and park. You also visit two medieval castles at Khotyn and Kamyanets-Podilskyi. This evening you board an overnight train back to Kiev.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Explore Chernivtsi city
- Visit UNESCO-listed Residence of Bukovinian and Dalmatian Metropolitans
- Explore Khotyn Castle
- Explore Kamyanets-Podilskyi Castle
Landmarks Residence of Bukovinian and Dalmatian Metropolitans Chernivtsi National University Khotyn Castle Kamyanets-Podilskyi Castle - Day 10
Kyiv Departure
When you arrive back in Kyiv, you have leisure time to explore the city or relax in one of the many parks. Later, a transfer takes you to the airport for your onward flight, wrapping up your time in Ukraine.
- Meals
- Breakfast
