FDK2. Week in Ukraine

During 7-day travel to Ukraine you will visit its capital Kiev, the pearl of Southern Ukraine&nbsp- Odessa and the Crimean Peninsula where excellent climate and nature unfold before the traveler the scenes of striking and unique beauty.

The capital of Ukraine Kiev is located on the Dnieper River, one of the largest in Europe. The city was mentioned for the first time in the chronicles of the 6th century. That's why Kiev used to be called the Mother of Russian cities. Today Kiev is a city of wonderful architectural ensembles, new avenues and ancient cathedrals. It is especially attractive for the majestic Dnieper, picturesque high banks, numerous gardens and parks covering more than half of its area.

Odessa was founded in 1794 by Russian Field-Marshal Alexander Suvorov on the site of the Turkish fortress Hadzhibey. Many holiday makers admire its beautiful streets and architecture sites. The most famous of them are The Opera Theatre, Primorsky Boulevard and Potemkin Steps.

Among the most captivating attractions of the Crimea are Yalta where Anton Chekhov spended last years of his life, Livadia, the summer residence of the last Russian emperor Nicholas II, with its Grand Palace where the Crimean conference of Joseph Stalin, Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Winston Churchill was held on 04-11/02/1945, Massandra - residence of emperor Alexander III, palace of counts Vorontsov in Alupka, formercapital of Crimean Khans - Bakhchisarai with palace of the 16th century, the famous castle the Swallow's Nest (Lastochkino Gnezdo).

Also you will visit Sevastopol - one of the oldest Navy bases of Russian Black See fleet. During the Eastern War (1853-1856) Sevastopol was besieged by allied powers (Great Britain, France, Sardinia). Siege continues 349 days 25/09/1854-08/09/1855. After capture of Sevastopol by alliers Russia had to put an end to the war. Now you can see grandiose Panorama created by the 50th anniversary of defence by Russian painter Franz Roubaud. Panoramatells about one of the 349 days of defence - on 18/06/1855 when defenders of Sevastopol repelled the assault of the fortifiacations of the Korabelnaya Quarter and Malakhov Mound. The great Russian writer Leo Tolstoy took part in the defence of Sevastopol as artillery officer. His 'Sevastopol Stories' reflects these events.

Type: Discovery
Tour duration: 7 days
Months of Operation: October - February
Recommended Group Size: 2-9 pax
Mode of Travel: car (2 pax), minibus (3-9 pax)

 Itinerary:

Day 1. Arrival in Kiev. Transfer to the hotel Rus *** or President ****. Accommodation. Free time.  

Day 2.Breakfast. Individual Kiev 3-hour City Tour including the most beautiful view of the city from its highest point, St.Vladimir Hill, St.Sophia Cathedral with its unique collection of frescoes and mosaics (entrance), St.Andrew Church created by  great Bartolommeo Rastrelli. Transfer to the hotel Rus *** or President ****. Accommodation. Free time.

Day 3. Breakfast. Free time.

 Optionaly recommended:      

 3-hour tour to Kiev-Pechersk Monastery (Monastery in Caves) of the 11-12th centuries, the first Christian monastery of Kievan Rus.

Transfer to airport. Flight VV-007 Kiev-Odessa (20:55-22:05). Arrival in Odessa. Transfer to the hotel Chernoye More *** or Londonskaya ****. Accommodation.

Day 4. Breakfast. Odessa 3-hour city tour: The city center was designed to a classical plan with wide tree-lined streets, stretching south from Prymorsky boulevard. Its beauty lies in the early 19th century buildings, the shady promenade, the park tumbling towards the sea & the sweep of the Potemkin Steps. The 193 steps, built between 1837 & 1841, descend from a statue of the Duc de Richelieu in a Roman Toga (this French aristocrat emigrated from France to Russia during The Great French Revolution, entered to Russian service and directed construction of Odessa city). At the Eastern end a Pushkin statue & a British Tiger Gun, captured in 1854 during the Crimean campaign (1854-1855), stand before the pink-and-white colonnaded Odessa City Hall. At the western end of the boulevard is the Palace of Vorontsov – the residence of a former governor of the city built in 1826 in a classical style with surprising Arabic detailing on the interior. Another highlight of the city is Opera Theater designed in the 1880s by Viennese architects Felner & Gelmer in the Habsburg Baroque of the day, with a number of Italian Renaissance features. Free time.

Optionaly we recommend you to visit some of very interesting city museums:

-Archaeological Museum (in off-season period this museum is opened on Friday, Saturday, Sunday only) established in 1875 was the first museum of its kind in the former Russian Empire. The highlight is the Gold Room, which has jewellery & coins from early Black Sea civilizations, including the 1st Slavic coins of St.Vladimir (10th century AD)

-Fine Arts Museum -collection of Russian and Ukrainian art from icons of the 15th century till the pictures of Dimitry Levitsky, Ivan Ayvazovsky, Ilya Repin.

Transfer to railway station. Departure for Simferopol by train #650 at 19:31.

Day 5. Arrival in Simferopol at 07:25. Breakfast. Transfer to Bakhchisarai. Visiting palace of Crimean Khans. Transfer to Sevastopol. En route visiting ruins of ancient Greek town Khersonesus.Sevastopol city tour: Monument to Sunken Ships, Grafskaya Quay, Sapun Hill with panorama exhibition Storming of Sapun Hill on 07/05/1944, Sevastopol Defence 1854-1855 Panorama Museum. Transfer to Yalta. Accommodation at the Yalta *** or Oreanda **** hotels.

Day 6. Breakfast. Free time.

Optional exursions recommended:

-Yalta city tour including Anton Chekhov Museum +Livadia Palace (5 hours).

-Yalta city tour including Anton Chekhov Museum +Livadia Palace+Swallow's Nest + Vorontsov Palace in Alupka +Massandra park (9-10 hours)

Day 7. Breakfast. Transfer to Simferopol airport for flight Z6-257 to Moscow (12:30-15:40).

Costs for individual tourists - 2010:

Included:

• accommodation at twin rooms
• 2 breakfasts
• excursions (entrance fee is included)
• transport service during all the programme
• English, German, Spanish, Italian-speaking guide (other languages on request)
• air tickets Kiev-Odessa
• 2nd class/4-berth compartment train tickets Odessa-Simferopol

Not included:

• air and train tickets
• visa
• insurance
• early check-in and late check-out at the hotel
• optional excursions
• lunch, dinner
• air tickets Simferopol-Moscow

Supplements, EUR per person:

• lunch in Kiev city restaurant + 24 per lunch
• lunch in Odessa and Crimea +24 per lunch
• SGL accommodation *** +99
• SGL accommodation **** +254
• ticket to Opera and Ballet Theatre -on request
• TWIN accommodation on train Odessa-Simferopol +30

Optional excursions:

        

All the costs are valid at the date of publication and are subject to reconfirmation at the time of booking