Kyiv-Lviv-Odessa Tour

Kiev – Lviv – Odessa Tour schedule:

Day 1

Meeting at Boryspil Airport and a car transfer to Kyiv place of accommodation.
This evening is free to relax after a long flight, but if you happen to travel from Europe (or after a stop-over in Europe or Turkey, for example) you can explore surroundings on your own after enjoying a dinner in one of Kyiv downtown restaurants or even order an Optional 3h Kyiv introductory walking tour with our English-speaking guide and walk along Khreshchatyk Street to the famous Maidan (Independence Sqr), pay tribute to those who lost their lives fighting for freedom during the2013/14 Revolution of Dignity and then enter St. Sophia Cathedral – one of the major monuments representing the architectural and the monumental art of the early 11th century.

Day 1-4

Kyiv 1st class downtown accommodation

Private Kyiv apartment (click and see examples) OR

Kyiv Hotel RUS*** or Kyiv Hotel Podol-Plaza**** or similar from the list

Day 2

5h car Kyiv City Tour Pecherska Lavra is the main highlight of this day tour. We visit the Dormition Cathedral, the Trinity Gate Church, the Great Bell Tower (with an optional climb upstairs for the great view) and then we go underground to explore the caves of the Kyiv-Pecherska Monastery, with relics of saints buried in caves. Also for a small additional entrance fee guests can visit the Scythian gold museum and the Museum of Miniatures. After a short break we visit the World War II memorial complex known for its centerpiece – the massive 62 m tall titanium statue of Motherland. We learn about the Nazi occupation of Kyiv and Ukraine while going through 18 different galleries and on the way out you can explore an outdoor display with military planes and other equipment from various wars including Russian “hybrid war” against Ukraine. Then we drive to the Babiy Yar memorial complex created to commemorate those thousands of Jewish & Ukrainian people who perished there during the Nazi occupation of Kiev that lasted for 777 days. (Car, English-speaking guide, tickets incl.)
Optional: Evening 3h Tour around one of the oldest and most interesting neighborhoods of Kyiv – Podil with Dnipro River public boat cruise at the end. (Car, English-speaking guide, boat tickets incl.)

Day 3

Day Tour to Chernobyl
10-hour Group tour on mini bus with exploring the most interesting sights of the exclusion Zone: Chernobyl Nuclear Station and ghost town of Pripyat.

Day 4

6h Tour of Kyiv region starting with walk around the Museum of folk wooden architecture at the open air in Pirogovo near Kiev. Travel back in time & see how the Ukrainian people lived, worked and had fun centuries ago! Disregarding how much you know about Ukrainian culture, this is a must go-to place. And then after a short 30 min drive we get to a village of Novyie Petrovtsy and on electric golf cart we explore the Mezhyhirya Grounds and Honka House – the former residence of President V.Yanukovych  (Car, English-speaking guide, admission tickets incl).

Car transfer to Kyiv Train Station or Airport
Express Train Kyiv – Lviv (5:34 pm – 10:40 pm)
Two 1^st class train tickets (wide intercity bus-type seats)
Optional: Evening 1h Flight Kyiv-Lviv for $70/person extra.
Meeting at Lviv Train Station (or Airport) and Car Transfer to your place of accommodation.

Day 4-7

Lviv accommodation
Private downtown Lviv apartment OR

3+ downtown Hotel or 4-star Hotel Panorama or similar

Day 5

5h Lviv Tour  takes you to Lviv Old Town – a complex of stone unique buildings from the 14th-16th century – and includes the Market Square with City Hall, Black Stone Building, Opera Square with the famous Odessa Opera House, Kornyakt Palace, Medieval Pharmacy-Museum, Armenian Cathedral, Dominical and Bernardine cathedrals and the beautiful Boim Chapel.  Also we enjoy the panoramic view of the town from High Castle hill and pay tribute to the fallen heroes at  Lychakiv cemetery with visiting Dominic Cathedral. (car & ESG)
In the evening guests are welcomed for an opera or a ballet performance at the Lviv Opera House (tickets extra).

Day 6

5h Lviv region castle & monastery tour to Zhovkva & Krekhiv  City-citadel Zhovkva is a real pearl of national architecture heritage. And a small village of Krehiv will amaze you by its wooden church with an interesting iconostasis and a wooden bell tower. And at the end of this Lviv region tour we visit the Vasylian Monastery that was first founded in 1618. (car, guide, museum admission tickets incl.)

Day 7

Lviv’s rich history is preserved in its numerous museums that are located throughout the city. With our professional English-speaking guide you’ll visit the most interesting museums and art galleries (3h Walking Tour with admission tickets included) before we take you to the Train Station for your overnight ride
Train Lviv – Odessa (10:12 pm – 8:43 am)
Enjoy your comfortable ride at the 1st class sleeper

Day 8

8:45 am Meeting at Odessa Train Station. Short Car ride to one of Odessa downtown cafes/restaurants for a healthy breakfast (not included) before you take 3h Introductory Tour of Odessa to get familiar with Ukraine’s most diverse and atmospheric cities. Car Transfer to the your place of accommodation and 1 pm check-in.

Day 8-10

Odessa downtown accommodation

Private Odessa apartment (click and see examples)
OR (depending on the package you choose)
3-star Hotel Lermontovskiy or 4-star Hotel Mozart or similar hotel from the list

Day 9

5h City Tour and Odessa catacombs (car & ESG)
For 2.5 hours we visit the most interesting spots of Odessa including Vorontsov Palace, Palace of Baron Masa, Shah’s Palace, mansion of Gagarin, Naryshkin-Potocki Palace (later you can come back and visit the Art Museum exhibition that is located inside).
Then a short drive to explore the famous Odessa catacombs – the longest man-made labyrinth in Europe in different times used by smugglers, robbers, revolutionaries and guerrillas.
As an alternative for visitors interested in Jewish Heritage of Odessa we offer a very special 5h Jewish Odessa Tour – you’ll see the places in Odessa relevant to Jewish culture, find out about the history of the Odessa Jewish community and get acquainted with their culture.

Optional Tickets ($15-$25/ticket) to Opera or ballet performance in Odessa National Academic Theater of Opera and Ballet in the evening.

Day 10

It’s time to say good-bye to Odessa and Ukraine.
Car Transfer to Odessa airport for a flight home.