Fantastic Western Ukraine 2020
Duration: 10 days/ 9 nights – 1 country
Itinerary: Kyiv – Kamianets-Podilskyi – Chernivtsi – the Carpathians – Lviv & many more
Group size: 4-10 people
Tour dates
Start Kyiv End Lviv
FRI 05-15-2020 SUN 05-24-2020
FRI 09-11-2020 SUN 09-20-2020
FRI 10-09-2020 SUN 10-18-2020
Tour description:
Driving through the country and sightseeing on the way is the best way to see more sides of Ukraine from a local perspective – not only the most important sights, but also hidden, “undiscovered” breathtaking spots such as Verhovyna in Carpathians, cozy and real European city of Chernivtsi which has deep Romanian influence.
You will find out what it’s like to be a part of Ancient Kyiv – the source of culture and nationhood of Ukraine.
You’ll enjoy pleasant activities in Carpathians and will be involved in learning about life and traditions of Hutsuls.
Delicious Ukrainian cuisine with tastings are waiting for you.
Price – $2232 US dollars per person
Single Supplement
$ 585
Day Highlights Overnight
Day 1 Kyiv Arrival Kyiv
Day 2 Kreshchatyk street, Independence Square, Golden Gates, St. Sophia Cathedral, St. Andrew’s Church and decent, St. Michael’s Cathedral Kyiv
Day 3 Motherland Monument Statue, WWII Museum, Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra Kyiv
Day 4 Kamianets-Podilskyi Fortress, Cathedral of the Saint Peter and Paul, St. Nicolas Armenian Church Kamianets-Podilskyi
Day 5 Khotyn Fortress, Kobylyanska Street, Teatralna square, Chernivtsi National University Tatariv
Day 6 Hutsul Everyday Life and musical instruments museum, museum of Vyshyvanka Tatariv
Day 7 Market Square and the City Hall, Armenian Church, “a Hundred meter street” Lviv
Day 8 Rynok Square, Armenian and Jewish quarters, Armenian church, Dominican Cathedral, Boim Chapel, Opera House Lviv
Day 9 High Castle Hill, The House of Scientists, St. George’s Cathedral Lviv
Day 10 Lviv Departure –
Lodging level: Hotels are 3-4 stars with additional amenities, English-speaking staff, service and comfort level acceptable to western standards. Please, check the list below. Visit their website to find out more about services.
Hotels
City Hotel Name Stars Address Phone Website
Kyiv Aloft 4 Esplanadna st., 17 +380442222727 https://aloft-hotels.marriott.com/
Kamianets-Podilskyi Reikartz 4 Starobulvarna St., 2 +380384991635 https://reikartz.com/en
Tatariv Koruna 3 Pigy st., 660 +380674426000 https://koruna.ua/en/
Lviv Panorama 4 Svobody avenue, 45 +380322259000 http://panorama-hotel.com.ua/en/
Tour Type: Active – Walking tours in the cities, some of the cities are hilly or their historical center made of cobblestones. Some hikes, few elevations in the mountains, busy comfortable schedule and some long rides
Special notes: Some of the drives between cities and countries are long and many roads in Ukraine are not in good paved conditions (even though many of them are being repaired) and for a few of the driving days the tour will start quite early and end up quite late in the evening reaching the next destination, so patience is required for such long days.
Included: Not included:
· 9 nights accommodation standard twin rooms; · International flights;
· Air-conditioned minivan; · Other meals;
· Local English-speaking guides in Kyiv, Kamianets-Podilskyi, Chernivtsi, Verhovyna, Ivano-Frankivsk, Lviv; · Expenses of a personal nature such as: beverages with meals, camera fees, etc;
· Travel protection Insurance;
· Tour manager from Kyiv to Lviv throughout the tour;
· Airport transfers; · Trip surcharge to operate below required minimum participants;
· Early/late check-in/check-out
· Entrance tickets according to the program; · Tips and gratitudes to drivers and guides.
· 9 breakfasts, 2 dinners, 8 lunches;
· Bottled water per person per day;
· Local taxes
Included: Not included:
· 9 nights accommodation standard twin rooms;
· Air-conditioned minivan; ·
· Local English-speaking guides in Kyiv, Kamianets-Podilskyi, Chernivtsi, Verhovyna, Ivano-Frankivsk, Lviv; ·
· Travel protection Insurance;
· Tour manager from Kyiv to Lviv throughout the tour;
· Airport transfers; ·
· Early/late check-in/check-out
· Entrance tickets according to the program; ·
· 9 breakfasts, 2 dinners, 8 lunches;
· Bottled water per person per day;
· Local taxes
Not included:
· International flights;
Other meals;
Trip surcharge to operate below required minimum participants;
Expenses of a personal nature such as: beverages with meals, camera fees, etc;
Tips and gratitudes to drivers and guides.
Tour Itinerary
DAY 1 Kyiv Arrival
Arrival, meeting and transfer to a hotel. Check-in, free time for rest. Walk to a restaurant.
06:00 pm Welcome dinner (if you arrive on time), now you are a part of JC Travel team (D)
DAY 2 Kyiv Sightseeing
09:00 am – 04:00 pm
Our walking tour will start from exploring ancient part of Kyiv city center. You will enjoy seeing Bessarabskyi market, Golden Gates, walk along Volodymyrskaya street and explore St. Sophia Cathedral, will discover secrets of St. Andrew church and descent, will discover St. Michael Golden-Domed Church. After lunch, we continue with a walk along Khreshchatyk street-the shortest yet the widest main street in the world, Maidan- the square where all of the Ukrainian revolutions started and many more! Back to the hotel, free time. (B,L)
DAY 3 Kyiv sightseeing
09:00 am – 01:00 pm
We visit Kyevo Pecherska Lavra with its caves – the most ancient monastery and UNESCO Heritage site, then exploring the Motherland Statue complex and WWII museum. During the tour you will also see impressive administrative buildings, House of a crying widow, National Bank and many others. Back to the hotel. Free time. (B,L)
DAY 4 Kyiv – Kamianets-Podilskyi (440 km or 270 miles)
08:00 am – 07:00 pm
In the morning we drive to Kamianets-Podilskyi. After lunch we explore this beautiful town. Why does this city seem to be a phenomenon of the cultural and historical importance? You’ll discover the history from the moment of town’s foundation till recent times. You will see the Cathedral of the Saint Peter and Paul, St. Nicolas Armenian Church, Enjoy a breathtaking view of the Smotrich River Canyon and of course, the highlight will for sure be a visit to the Kamianets-Podilskyi fortress. (B,L)
DAY 5 Kamianets-Podilskyi – Chernivtsi – Tatariv, the Carpathians (237 km or 148 miles)
09:00 am – 07:00 pm
We drive to the Carpathians with sightseeing on the way!
First stop – Khotyn fortress, which was founded in 13th century and had Moldavian, Polish and Turkish influence. Then we continue to Chernivtsi – the real cozy European city, situated on the spot where the roads from Europe and Asia cross each other. We will have lunch in one of the local Bukovenian restaurants and then we visit the National University – it will be a real highlight! Then enjoy a 2-hour walking tour in the historical city center, walk along the main pedestrian street – Kobylyanska, will see the City Hall, Teatralnaya square and many other. After – we drive to Tatariv. (B,L)
DAY 6 Carpathians sightseeing – Tatariv – Verhovyna (150 km or 93 miles)
10:00 am – 04:00 pm.
This day is dedicated to the mountains and its people – Нutsuls.
We drive to Verhovyna – the capital of hutsuls. You will see traditional mountain villages, find out about people who live there: Ukrainian ethnical group – Hutsuls. We will visit the Hutsul Everyday Life and musical instruments museum, which is located on a hill (hiking required or you will be taken up and down by a soviet jeep 5 mins ride ) and will find out about Ukrainian embroidery and its different meanings in the unique museum of Vyshyvanka. A home-made lunch will be served in a private house of one of the museum’s owners to let you feel the life of locals. Back to the hotel and free time. (B,L)
DAY 7 Tatariv, the Carpathians – Lviv (218 km or 136 miles)
Optional* morning jeep tour to the top of the mountains.
11:00 pm – 07:00 pm Check-out and continue to Ivano-Frankivsk where we stop for lunch in a restaurant-museum of Galician way of life owned by a family. Afterwards, enjoy a 2-hour walking tour of the city which is often called “a small Lviv”. You will see the Market square and the City Hall, will stroll along the main pedestrian street which locals call “a Hundred meters street”, will see the Armenian church and much more. The we continue to Lviv. Check-in and free time. (B,L)
DAY 8 Lviv sightseeing
09:00 am – 04:00 pm
During our 6-hour walking tour we will see the architecture of Rynok Square, typical Austrian streets, as well as modern dwellings. Together they narrate Lviv’s glorious history. We will walk along the Medieval part of Lviv and will see Rynok Square, Armenian church and quarter, Dominican church, Boim Chapel, and many other impressive sites in the historical city center. Highlights of this tour include visits of the Opera House, built in the classical tradition with Neo-Renaissance details (subject to change). Your lunch will be served in a place where you can be inspired for new ideas! (B,L)
DAY 9 Lviv sightseeing
09:00 am – 01:00 pm
Today your tour includes a visit of the High Castle Hill (walk along the hill), where a castle once stood during 1300s to the 1770s to protect the residents of Lviv during attacks. The hill now offers the best views of the city. You will discover the former Austrian casino, presently called “The House of Scientists”. The casino was a meeting place for the aristocratic elite. You will also visit St. George’s Cathedral, which serves as a great example of rococo architecture and was built between 1744-1760. Today St. George’s Cathedral is the main Greek-Catholic church. Back to your hotel, free time.
Meet at 05:45 pm at hotel lobby and walk to a restaurant for dinner. After dinner – walk back to the hotel or a guide can assist with getting a taxi. (B,L,D)
DAY 10 Lviv Departure
Pick up from the hotel and transfer to the airport for your departure flight.
Saying goodbye to your new friends… We will be glad to see you again!
End of services. (B)
*Jeep tour description: This tour is for those who wish to enjoy the adventure and a bit of adrenaline! We will be riding soviet military jeeps off the beaten path, off the road, which will take you on top of the mountains. There you will enjoy the breathtaking panorama views of peaks, ridges and plains of the Carpathian Mountains. The tour includes bumpy roads, sometimes a bit of mud, nature is at your service.
We have all rights to change the order of activities or visited places, as well as hotels to similar ones due to unforeseen weather conditions or other reasons in order to make the itinerary run smoothly.
We reserve the right to apply either trip surcharge or service reduction during the tour if a group doesn’t meet minimum amount of participants in order to run the tour.