Solidarity Tours (TM): Ukraine
Solidarity Tours (TM): Unique Ukraine - 12 Days
Ukraine has suffered under conflict for the last two and half years and needless to say, tourism has come to a near standstill. However, you are able to both help Ukrainians and see this wonderful country by joining our Unique Ukraine tour in January. I've partnered with Sasha Vosk, founder and president of Rebuild Ukraine Travel, to offer a "Solidarity Tour" to the westernmost area of the country (centered in Lviv, pictured) and the magestic Carpathian Mountains. Whether you're seeking cultural enrichment, thrilling entertainment, or unforgettable nightlife adventures, Ukraine promises an exhilarating experience that will leave you wanting more.
"Tourism is the best form of humanitarian aid" - Sasha Vosk, President, Rebuild Ukraine Travel
Day 1 – Begin the Journey
- Depart US on a flight of your choosing to Krakow
- In Krakow, we will stay at the Copernicus Hotel which is centrally located and on the oldest street in the city (Nicolas Copernicus was once a guest)
Day 2 – Discover Krakow
- Our day tour will visit the major sites including the UNESCO World Heritage's protected Old Town, Rynek Glówny (main square, pictured), Planty Park (with the city's medieval walls), the Royal Castle overlooking the Wawel Hill and St Mary's Basilica
Day 3 – Transfer to Lviv, Ukaine
- Today we make our way from Krakow to Lviv Ukraine
- Train from Krakow to Przemysl; car from Przemysl to Border Control in Shehyni; car from Shehyni to Lviv
- We will stay at the Grand Hotel Lviv (pictured). Built in 1894, it is one of the oldest hotels in the city and is just minutes from all major sites
Day 4 – Explore Lviv
- Today we spend the day discovering Lviv's major sites including Rynok Square, Potocki Palace, House of Scientists (carved oak staircase pictured), St. George's Cathedral, the Arsenal Museum, City Hall and we climb its Observation Tower
- In the evening we eat at a traditional Galician restaurant and attend a performance at the Lviv Opera Hall
Day 5 – Famous Resorts of Lviv
- We continue exploring Lviv with back-to-back resorts outside the city. First we travel to the famous Edem Resort (pictured) for a tour, lunch and wine tasting; we'll meet with the resort GM, Sommelier and Chef
- We then head to a modern marvel, the Emily Resort for a tour an dinner at their famous MYASO Restaurant: "a robust restaurant for true meat connoisseurs, located at the heart of Emily Resort amidst a picturesque lake"
Day 6 – Tustan and Drohobych
- Today we visit two unique sites outside of Lviv; we first venture to Tustan to view the medieval cliff-side fortress castle complex and surroundings.
- The cliff-side city and fortress of Tustan has a special place in wooden construction of the Middle Ages. Rock formations, which are mighty defence walls themselves, were smartly used by builders. Gaps between rocks were closed with wooden walls, preventing any approaches to the fortress.
- We then travel to the UNESCO protected St. George's Church in Drohobych (interior pictured). Built in the 15th century entirely of wood - without using any nails - it is one of the oldest and best preserved churches of Galicia.
Days 7 – Ivano-Frankivsk and the Probiy Waterfall
- Today we have more logistics as we head south for another picture perfect fairytale town: Ivano-Frankivsk (pictured)
- We explore the town and then we're on to our next stop at the Probiy Waterfall, St Micheal's Wooden Church and have lunch
Days 8, 9 & 10 – Winter Activities
• Enjoy various winter activities: everyone will start with horseback riding in the mountains, then your choice could be downhill or cross-country skiing, snowboarding, or snowmobiling, or you might prefer being driven around the mountains on a large snowmobile.
• Dinner could potentially include a 'round table' gathering with members of the local Hoteliers Association and representatives from other key travel businesses.
• Relax in a whirlpool-sized Carpathian traditional 'bowl' (chan) with heated water sourced from natural springs, enhanced with fragrant herbs for an ultimate relaxing experience under a starry sky.
Day 11 - 12 – Chernivtsi
- Spend a wonderful day in Cernivtsi seeing the cathedral and unique sights.
Day 13 – Malanka New Year's Celebration
Malanka is the New Year celebration in Ukraine – celebrated under the Julian calendar on 13th January, which is why it does not fall on the 31st December. It celebrates the “Old New Year.” This celebration is so deeply embedded in Ukrainian identity and culture, that no one is quite sure exactly where it came from or how old it is, but over time it has developed and evolved from a variation of a Pagan celebration, to a huge New Year celebration.
Day 13 – Khotyn Fortress
- Today we travel to see the magnificent Khotyn Fortress which is a fortification complex located on the right bank of the Dniester River in Khotyn, Chernivtsi Oblast of southwestern Ukraine. It lies within the historical region of northern Bukovina, a Romanian territory occupied in 1940 by the Soviet Union following the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact.
Day 14 – Kamianets-Podilskyi Castle
- Today we travel to see the Kamianets-Podilskyi Castle is a former Ruthenian-Lithuanian castle and a later three-part Polish fortress located in the historic city of Kamianets-Podilskyi, Ukraine, in the historic region of Podilia in the western part of the country.
About Sasha Vosk and Rebuild Ukraine Travel
Sasha Vosk is a Brooklyn-based tour operator and Destination Management Professional specializing in Ukraine as a tourist destination, producer of an Emmy-award winning film, director and Tell award-winning circus producers/worldwide tour manager, and author of the first visual reconstruction of New York City's earliest hisotry. Kyiv Ukraine is where he was born and grew up, and where his family has lived for two centuries.
Rebuild Ukraine Travel has a unique mission to pioneer tourism in Ukraine, offering unparalleled insightts into the country's treasures through the expertise of top hospitality professionals nationwide. Their itineraries are richly diverse, and are competitively priced thanks to their exclusive deals with suppliers, ensuring guests access to the finest authenic experiences at exceptional value. Their motto is "Rebuilding LIves Through Travel." Every booking contributes 10% towards rebuilding Ukraine's infrastructure and providing modular homes for the displaced, supporting a vital social cause.
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