Ukraine Tour Kiev - Poltava - Kharkov - Zaporozhye

1	Landing in Boryspol International Airport, transfer to downtown hotel or apartment. This evening enjoy a welcome dinner with your Tour Director followed by a short evening orientation sightseeing.
1-4	Accommodation in Kiev downtown Private Kiev apartment (click and see examples) OR 3 or 4-star Kiev Hotel from the list
2	5h Observation car Kiev Excursion After breakfast you will be met by our guide and taken to unforgettable Kiev sightseeing tour. Your central location will enable you to see most of the significant places during your first day in the ancient city by foot. We'll go along the famous art market place Andriyivsky Uzviz, where you can see huge amount of works of Ukrainian folk artists. Our next stop - one the most beautiful churches of Kiev - St. Andrews Church. (Constructed on the site of the 13th century. The iconostasis is embellished with carved, gilded ornamentation, sculpture, and paintings�). Then you'll go across the reconstructed Mykhailivska square, pass the monument to Cyrill, Methodius, St. Andrew and Princess Olga and amazing Mykhaylovski monastery, and finish our excursion at the city's oldest surviving church, St. Sophia's (Holy Wisdom) Cathedral, dates from 1037 and contains the tomb of Yaroslav the Wise, the 11th-century ruler of Kiev. After dinner we visit Pirogovo - the famous Wooden Architecture Museum on the open air. Balance of day at leisure. Enjoy your second night at the hotel.
3	After breakfast view the beautiful Kiev via motorcoach, then walk around the Kiev's most celebrated historic site - the Pecherska Lavra (or Monastery of the Caves). Founded in 1051, the monastery covers 75 acres and comprises many churches, cathedrals, bell towers (one which reaches to the highest point on the Kiev skyline), and monastic cells. Two separate networks of underground caves beneath the monastery contain the mummified bodies of more than 100 monks and six subterranean churches. Than you'll visit the famous Word War II Museum, you will see real gloves made of human skin and many other impressive reminders of the terrible evil deeds of fascists and heroic fight of Soviet people during the war. Optional: 2h Dnipro River boat cruise And at the end of the day after dinner at one of the national Ukrainian restaurants our guide will show you the main street of Kiev - renovated Khreschatyk street and you'll find yourself in maelstrom of those who come to relax at one of the most popular places of the capital. The rest of the day is free to rest or maybe explore at your leisure.
4	Excursion around Poltava and arrival to Kharkov This morning we depart to Poltava, 800 years old city at Vorskla river, the place of a famous battle (1709) when Russian army of Peter I beat Swedish army headed by Carl XII. Here at the heart of Ukraine we'll visit the place of the great battle and museum devoted to that event. We visit a museum of the great Ukrainian writer M. Kotlyarevsky. His country estate remains the same as in early XIX century. After dinner we go on our trip and head out to Kharkov, the cradle of Ukrainian intelligentsia. After check-in to the "Kharkov" hotel located in the very centre of the city at the Liberty square - the biggest one in Europe. For the rest of the day you're free to step right out and explore this interesting city. Take advantage of your hotel's location and investigate the nearby shopping or pass the square and relax in the city park.
4-6	Accommodation in Kharkov downtown Private Kharkov apartment OR 3 or 4-star Kharkov Hotel from the list
5	4h Observation Kharkov excursion After breakfast, sightseeing tour around Kharkov with your English-speaking guide. You'll see the most remarkable places of Kharkov and travel in time from the times of the Pokrovsky cathedral (1689 - the oldest building of the city left from the times of Kharkiv fortress) to the Liberty Square ( the biggest square in Europe), Gosprom Building (the first Soviet high-rise building made from solid ferro-concrete) and always busy Sumskaya Street. Then dinner in one of many nice cafes in the central park. And exploring the Uspensky (Dormition) Cathedral (it's gold-domed bell-tower now serves as an organ hall where you may listen to music of great composers Bach, Beethoven and others), Blagovishensky (Blessed News) Cathedral - the biggest and most beautiful church in Kharkiv, Constitution Square, Art market where you'll be able to buy any kind of nice Ukrainian souvenirs, Palace of Wedding, Gorky Park (the most popular place of relaxation of Kharkovites), Forrest-Park and the Memorial complex devoted to perished in World War II, the famous Kharkiv Metro/Subway and other interesting & beautiful places of Kharkiv. Balance of day at leisure. Optional: Visiting Kharkov opera, ballet or concert of classic or modern music by your choice in one of Kharkov theatres or concert halls.
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6	Zaporozhye This morning we are bound to the South. We stop for a breathtaking view of the huge dam of Dniproges - famous first Soviet hydro-electric power-station in Zaporozhye. Registration in "Zaporozhye" hotel and excursion around Zaporozhye - Khortytsa Island (where we'll have dinner in an old style restaurant) the former place of the famous Zaporozhskaya Sich -the main Cossack host (XVII-XVIII century) and an important centre of Ukrainian statehood. And after dinner - excursion to Fedorovka area where you'll be impressed by view of tens of burial mounds, called kurhans, scattered throughout the region those considered the most unusual monuments of ancient Ukraine.
7	Yalta Early morning we start our 5 hours trip to the picturesque Crimean peninsula. After our arrival to Simferopol and a short car sightseeing around the capital of Crimea, we have 2 hours transfer to Yalta. During this trip our guide will give the brief information about Crimean history, attractions of Crimea and Yalta area. You'll have 1/2 hour rest for a lunch at the romantic mountain restaurant (meal is not included in your tour, but usually it's 15-20 USD) where you breath the freshest air in your life. Arrival to Yalta hotel and check in. Rest at your balcony with a view at the night Yalta, rustling Black sea and majestic Crimean mountains
6-12	Accommodation in Yalta Private downtown Yalta apartment or stay in Yalta Hotel, Levant Hotel* or Oreanda Hotel****
7-13	Excursions around Yalta and leisure time After breakfast at hotel seaside cafe, you have a short meeting with our Crimean guides and choose excursions you'd like to take (view the list of Crimea excursions). First sightseeing Yalta excursion. And for the rest of the day you have time for acclimatization and free time for exploring your hotel, its park, swimming-pool and beaches. During the next five days you'll have as much excursions and free time on the famous Crimean beaches as you wish. For sure you have a wonderful time - our agents and hotel managers will help you to enjoy your days in Yalta.
14	Departure to Simferopol and flight to Kiev After breakfast our driver and guide will help you with your luggage and start our trip to Simferopol. On your way you'll have a nice meal at one of the seaside restaurants in Alushta. In Simferopol our agents will help you to go through custom and wish you the nice flight Simferopol-Kiev.

Tour prices based on air fares and land costs as of June 1, 2006.
Itineraries and prices are subject to change without prior notice.

UKRAINE TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
Professional English-speaking Tour Manager for the entire tour;	Free Arrival and Departure Transfers and Baggage handling between airport and your hotel including pre/post tour hotel stays;	Specialized sightseeing excursions with local guides;
Specialized sightseeing excursions with local guides;	Guided countryside excursions and en route sightseeing;	Baggage handling during tour;
Leisure time at the most beautiful places of Ukraine for personal plans