Tour A Great Carpathians Tour

Transport

Local transportation by minibus

Optional

Insurance

Medical insurance

Meals

8 breakfasts 8 lunches 3 celebration dinners

Flights

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Day 1 Arrival To Lviv
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Arrival To Lviv

Lviv is one of the favourite cities in Ukraine among both Ukrainian and international travellers.

Lviv is a vibrant city that represents a charming mix of Ukrainian and Western European cultural and architectural elements.

Arrival and check-in are at any time during the day.

In the evening, we go to a popular restaurant for a dinner* by the walk enjoying the night city atmosphere.
Day 2 The Heart Of Western Ukraine
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

The Heart Of Western Ukraine

Lviv sometimes is called a “little Paris”, despite it being a little bigger than Paris (excluding suburbs), first of all, because of its similar architecture. It attracts guests with its mediaeval beauty of the 14th and 15th centuries preserved in buildings, Gothic churches and narrow cobblestone streets.

We start our trip by exploring the city, visiting St. George’s Cathedral, Lviv National University (former Galician Parliament), the House of Scientists, Liberty Ave and the famous Lviv Opera theatre.

Afterwards, we visit the local sculptor named Hordii, who decided to dedicate his life for preservation and restoration of the producing lyres tradition. His musical instruments have been sold to many countries worldwide, including Canada, South Korea, Sweden and Malaysia.

After lunch, you have a little free time, before we move on towards our next stop in Mukachevo city. There we have dinner at a 400-year-old celtic cellar with a dozen of craft drinks.
Day 3 Uzhgorod And Lumshory
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Uzhgorod And Lumshory

We start our day by exploring Uzhgorod where we are going to walk around the historical city centre and visit the ancient Uzhgorod castle.

The first records about this castle are dated back to the 9th century. It has a unique mixture of architectural styles and materials, because of multiple reconstructions, especially in the 14th century when firearms were invented. The castle was in possession of a Hungarian feudal family for about 350 years (14-17th century). Its walls have seen a lot of battles and sieges. This castle even has its own ghost.

After lunch, we drive to Lumshory and take a pleasant and easy walk to the Lumshory waterfalls.

Afterwards, you have an unforgettable experience of bathing in a Chan - a special Transcarpathian hot tub hitting on a fire during bathing. The water temperature reaches 40-45 degrees Celsius, and the bathing alternates with diving in a mountain river one step away.

In the evening with lighted mediaeval torches we will explore Saint Miklós castle. After that our dinner will take place within its walls.
Day 4 Mukachevo And Thermal Baths
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Mukachevo And Thermal Baths

Today it’s time for our first school visit! After some inspirational conversations with pupils where everyone will learn something, we get to know Mukachevo.

This is a charming mediaeval city, a real heart of the Transcarpathian region with its rich history and special atmosphere.

We visit the perfectly preserved majestic Palanok castle overlooking an amazing panorama of the whole city.

After lunch, we drive to a picturesque ethnic region - Berehove town, a corner of Hungarian culture. It is situated near Hungary border and in the past was in its possession.

Berehove is famous for its wines, delicious cuisine and thermal springs. The duration of Berehove town tour includes several hours of enjoying the best thermal springs of the Transcarpathian region.

The local wine tasting is a part of the evening programme.
Day 5 Narcissus Valley, Cheeses And Buffaloes
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Narcissus Valley, Cheeses And Buffaloes

We continue our journey to Khust - a town situated on a volcanic hill. There are ruins of the castle in the town. Originally, an appearance of this town began with the construction of the fortress in the 11th century (which later became a castle) intended to protect the Salt Path. In the 16th century the castle was a part of Transylvania and even belonged to the ancestors of Count Dracula. The castle has a very long and very interesting history, and our guide will tell you everything about it.

There is a unique place called Narcissus valley near the Khust. The location has the largest amount of narrow-leaved narcissus, and we will see the blooming valley in all its glory.

Next, we move on to a buffalo farm run by a German eco enthusiast.

After these tours, we take a beautiful drive over the Carpathians to our next stop in Verkhovyna.

We spend the evening learning how to make traditional cheese horses in a local creamery.

Finishing the day we have dinner with Hutsul folk singing and dancing.
Day 6 Verhovyna And Kryvorivnya
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Verhovyna And Kryvorivnya

Due to the inaccessibility of the mountains, Verhovyna village hasn’t been influenced much from outside for centuries and has preserved many interesting customs, traditions, folklore rituals, folk tales and legends that have disappeared from other regions of Ukraine a long time ago.

We will dive into the world of Hutsul embroidery to better understand this big part of Ukrainian culture, will learn the meanings of diverse colours and patterns and will hear the stories that live in the exhibits.

The next stop is the most joyful museum of the region - Roman Kumlyk’s museum of folk musical instruments. The owner was collecting pieces for his museum for more than 30 years.

We will be guided around by his daughter who took over the museum when Roman passed away. You will learn about local culture, see diverse household items, many instruments, some demonstrated in action and some you can try on your own.

We also will see a neighbouring village where one family bakes traditional bread. The recipe is secret, but a part of it is in the song that bakers sing throughout the process.

After lunch we move to another nearby village called Kryvorivnya. As a source of national traditions, the village has always attracted artists. This place inspired great Ukrainian poets such as Ivan Franko, Lesya Ukrainka and Mykhailo Kotsiubynsky. Here, Kotsiubynsky wrote his novel “Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors” and, half a century later, Sergej Parajanov filmed his famous eponymous movie.

We will visit the Hutsul house where this film was made.

And finish the day in Kosiv town where we stay at night.
Day 7 Kosiv And Yavoriv
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Kosiv And Yavoriv

Before exploring Kosiv town we visit another school.

Kosiv was known as a centre of folk art for a long time, we can say it is a cradle of art and craft.

Produces of craftsmen from the whole region can be found here, including ceramics, clothing, embroideries, carved wood, foods, tea and much more. Everyone can find something for themselves here!

We will meet with local craftsmen to see how real Kosiv ceramics (UNESCO World Heritage) are born by the masters hands, take a form from a piece of clay and come to life, vibrant and unique. You can also try yourself on a potter’s wheel.
Day 8 Kosiv, Babyn And Sheshory
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Kosiv, Babyn And Sheshory

Kosiv is well-known throughout the country for its Saturday market. You can buy

almost anything there - from food and household goods to electrical tool details. Visitors of the region appreciate the market for its huge range of local crafts for very reasonable prices. We are going to spend some time at this market, which is teeming with life in every corner.

Next, we visit a local motorcycle club that has been run by a local enthusiast named Vasyl for over 40 years. Each item of the impressive MC and car collection has its own story: something was bartered, others were bought, as for the owner, he knows everything about each of his “iron horses”.

Nearby Babyn village there is a residence Khata-Maysternya - a space for integrated learning and training, organising seminars, camps and retreats. Here, among the mountains, everyone can be themselves, comfortable and cosy.

The residence is located in the old Hutsul house, dating from the 1930’s, which has five hostel rooms, classrooms and bathrooms. In addition, guests have an opportunity to try authentic dishes made by locals.

Enthusiasts running the residence will tell us about its creation, their cooperation with the local community and about informal education in Ukraine.

Later, we move on to the village of Sheshory to visit a canyon with waterfalls and enjoy a dinner* with folk music in a local hut.

Then we move on for learning more about another handcraft - making woolen blankets in Yavoriv city. We will see how the warm and soft blankets are produced by about 60 craftswomen and their family members.

Also on the agenda today is a visit of one local designer who creates modern clothes inspired by classic folk motives.

You can get to know about a designer’s life, process of clothes creation and passion of keeping traditions alive through modern forms and interpretations.

In the evening, we pay a visit to another local family, practising woodcarving in several generations of the family.
Day 9 Kolomyya And Ivano-Frankivsk
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Kolomyya And Ivano-Frankivsk

Kolomyya is an old city with a rich history, first mentioned in chronicles of the 13th century and began its existence as a fortress. Today it is a cosy city with unique Galicia atmosphere.

Today we walk through the renovated historical and cultural centre of Kolomyya and get acquainted with its magnificent buildings dating back to Austro-Hungarian times (18th century).

We will see the central square, the town hall, churches of different denominations, and the oldest theatre in the Carpathian region. You will have some free time to explore the city more.

During that time you can visit the local Pysanka museum, the Ukrainian art of painting easter eggs. The architectural work in the form of a large, painted egg made of coloured glass became the postcard motif of the region and Kolomyya itself.

9 days tour

A Great Carpathians Tour

This tour includes:

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Itinerary of your trip A Great Carpathians Tour

Arrival To Lviv

The Heart Of Western Ukraine

Uzhgorod And Lumshory

Mukachevo And Thermal Baths

Narcissus Valley, Cheeses And Buffaloes

Verhovyna And Kryvorivnya

Kosiv And Yavoriv

Kosiv, Babyn And Sheshory

Kolomyya And Ivano-Frankivsk

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