Tour Svydovets Hike | Visit Ukraine

Accommodation

We are sleeping in the tents. You can have your own tent or we can provide it for additional fee.

Others

national park permits group equipment (pot, first aid kit, navigational tools etc.)

Transport

Drive from Ivano-Frankivsk (railway station) to the mountain village and back to Ivano-Franklivsk included.

Guide

Ukrainian and English speaking local guide

Meals

We cook food on fire (3 nights) or using gas burners (2 nights)

Not included:

Flights

Meeting point is Ivano-Frankivsk town. You can fly to it, or to Lviv / Kyiv and then take a train.

Insurance

Others

personal equipment (clothes, gear) reaching Ivano-Frankivsk from your home country

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Day 1 Day 1: Meeting In Ivano-Frankivsk – 2,5 Hours Driving To Kvasy Village – 5 Km Hiking – Camping At The Field Brailka, 1300 M.
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 1: Meeting In Ivano-Frankivsk – 2,5 Hours Driving To Kvasy Village – 5 Km Hiking – Camping At The Field Brailka, 1300 M.

From Ivano-Frankivsk, we go to the mountainous village of Kvasy on the banks of the Black Tisza river in Transcarpathian region. The village is known for springs of mineral water. The very name of the village comes from «kvass» (sour) water, which is the local dialectic word for mineral water. Before start, we’ll fill the bottles with a natural «soda».

On this day, we plan to hike 5 km and gain almost 750 m of height, which is not easy to do on the first day in the mountains. But after one hour the body becomes accustomed to the load and climbing will be easier. Usually, at 6 p.m. we already arrive at the place of the first camp.

We spend the first night on the Menchul valley at an altitude of 1,238 m. The path will lead us through the fragrant Carpathian beech-fir forest.

In the evening, we do camp routine (set up tents, collect firewood, cook dinner), have a rest near the fire, sing, play and meditate on the sounds of the Hutsul drymba.
Day 2 Day 2: Climbing To Blyznytsia Mount, 1881 M – Ivor Lake – Gendarmes – Foot Of The Mount Stig, 1704 M – Camp At Vorozheska Lake
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 2: Climbing To Blyznytsia Mount, 1881 M – Ivor Lake – Gendarmes – Foot Of The Mount Stig, 1704 M – Camp At Vorozheska Lake

Every morning starts at 7 o’clock. Two hours for: physical exercises, breakfast, packing and cleaning up a camping spot.

Today we go upper to the Svydovetsky Ridge and climb to the first summit, which is also the highest at all Svydovets – Blyznytsia Mount (1,881 m). The peak is especially dangerous in the winter and in the season of snow melting. However, even in the summer, the weather can seriously complicate the climb; sometimes you have to deal with storm winds.

To the right of Blyznytsia at an altitude of 1,600 m we will see the lake Ivor (or Dragobratske lake): rather small (55 m in length and 21 m in width, 0,1 ha), hidden behind the mountain ridge. It is best to observe it from above, so we will not go down to it. According to the legend, it’s the tears of Hutsul girl for two men. She wanted to get a lovely flower from the slopes of Blyznytsia, thus deciding which of them to give preference. Then we will pass the summit of the Gendarme with three highest points – they say, they are those gendarmes who came to investigate the tragedy and fossil from what they saw. Since then, they are unbroken on the approach to Blyznytsia and protect the calm of the lovers. And indeed, from afar the shape of these rocky steps looks like human figures.

The lake consists of an upper (0.7 ha) and a lower one, several times smaller (0.2 ha), located in a deep circus where once was a glacier. The sun is practically not getting here, so snow is typical here in the summer. The snow, which feeds the lake, completely melts only in very hot years.

We cook dinner on gas burners this evening because the trees remained below the sub-alpine zone, and local mountain pines are forbidden to cut. Mountain pine is considered to be the most high-altitude tree of Ukraine, but its distribution is very suffering from the indifference of tourists and shepherds.

But, of course, it will be one of the most beautiful camping sites.
Day 3 Day 3: Hiking Along The Svydovetsky Ridge – Lake Herasashka – Camping At The Lake Apshynets
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 3: Hiking Along The Svydovetsky Ridge – Lake Herasashka – Camping At The Lake Apshynets

The third day is our most «lake» day!

In the morning, we have breakfast and gain some freshness: by coffee or bathing in a clean mountain lake with a water temperature close to zero.

This day, the equator of our trek, is easier than the others: in general, the distance is only 7 km. Our plans are just admiring the lakes and the alpine relief with its moraines, valleys, rocky walls and sharp ledges.

We go up again to the main Svydovetsky ridge and head to the largest lake of the mountain range – Herashaska (or Dohyaska), where we have a lunch break. The lake occupies 1,2 hectares and is a hydrological monument of nature of local importance, located at an altitude of 1,577 m at the northeastern slope of the Dohyaska Mount. It is filled mostly with water from melting snow and gives beginning to the Kosivska River.

After Herashaska we pass another 4 km, which separates us from the lake Apshynets (or Troyaska) (1,487 m). Its depth is more than 3 m, the water is blue and clear, it reflects superbly the surrounding peaks and clouds. The nearby forest massif contains rare species of plants and plays an important water-regulating role, therefore it is protected within the limits of the hydrological reserve of national significance (Apshynetsky reserve).

At this camping site, we do not use wood again; we cook food on a gas burner.
Day 4 Day 4
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 4

We should wake up early, so as not to miss the morning fog over the lake.

In the first half of the day, we head to the northern branch of the main ridge, passing the Troyaska (1,702 m) and Tataruka (1,707 m) Mounts, from which the stone massif of Gorgane is clearly visible, as well as the path already done by us.

From the summits, we go down to the Ripta Apshynetska field, where you can get acquainted with the way of life and buy fresh dairy products from the shepherds.

Then the path leads us to the forest, where the Svydovets Range ends. After a break for lunch, we pass the Okole pass (1,193 m), where there was a road, built by the Austrians and the Germans, which connected the villages Chorna Tysa and Ust Chorna.

After 1 kilometre we arrive at the place where the Black Tysa River begins, which together with the White Tysa forms a full-flowing river Tysa, that is the largest left tributary of the Danube. At the begins of the river, there is a memorial sign, with the symbols of all the countries through which it flows – Ukraine, Hungary, Romania, Slovakia and Serbia.

At the forest glade, we will stay for the night, still having the opportunity to see Svydovets.
Day 5 Day 5
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 5

This day will be especially remembered: firstly, because of a rather difficult climb to Bratkivska peak with an altitude gain of 500 m in 2 km; and secondly, it is the longest day. However, on the 5th day of the trek, when everyone has been adapted, a few food stocks left, and all the extra clothes have been burnt in the fire while trying to dry, this distance will not seem so difficult!
Day 6 Day 6
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 6

Distance: 6 km

6 days tour

Svydovets Hike

This tour includes:

Not included:

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Itinerary of your trip Svydovets Hike

Day 1: Meeting In Ivano-Frankivsk – 2,5 Hours Driving To Kvasy Village – 5 Km Hiking – Camping At The Field Brailka, 1300 M.

Day 2: Climbing To Blyznytsia Mount, 1881 M – Ivor Lake – Gendarmes – Foot Of The Mount Stig, 1704 M – Camp At Vorozheska Lake

Day 3: Hiking Along The Svydovetsky Ridge – Lake Herasashka – Camping At The Lake Apshynets

Day 4

Day 5

Day 6

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