Private Journey Itinerary

DAY 1 (Tuesday)

Arrive in Odessa by rail or air, our driver will meet you for your private transfer to your Odessa hotel to check in for 3 nights.
Rest of the day at leisure.

Overnight in Odessa Hotel

DAY 2 (Wednesday)

After breakfast at the hotel, meet your guide for your private walking tour, to see the main highlights of Odessa. The city centre 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 and the sweep of the impressive Potemkin Steps. The 193 steps, built between 1837 and 1841, descend from a statue of the Duc de Richelieu. At the eastern end a statue of Pushkin and a British Tiger Gun, captured in 1854 during the Crimean campaign, 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.

We conclude the tour close to the renowned Odessa Opera and Ballet Theatre, if there is a performance tonight, you could buy tickets at the box office.  The theatre was designed in the 1880s by Viennese architects Felner & Gelmer in the Habsburg Baroque style of the day and is considered to be one of the most beautiful in Europe.

Afternoon and evening at leisure.

Overnight in Odessa Hotel

DAY 3 (Thursday)

Breakfast at the hotel.  The rest of today is at leisure.

You may pre-book one of our OPTIONAL PRIVATE TOURS (not included in the price):

Optional Catacombs (Museum of Partisan Glory) (3.5 hours):
The sandstone on which Odessa stands, contains about 1000 km of tunnels, quarried out for building in the 19th century. Since them they have been used by smugglers, revolutionaries and WWII partisans.
Our morning tour includes a visit to one of the network of tunnels in Nerubayske village, on the north-west edge of Odessa, which sheltered a group of partisans during WWII and now has been turned into the Museum of Partisan Glory which is also known as the Catacombs.

Shabo Winery and Akkerman fortress (10 hours):

Our tour starts with a morning drive to Belgorod-Dnestrovsky (formerly Akkerman), to see the largest fortress of Ukraine, an impressive monument of defensive architecture of the 13th-15th centuries.
Today it is one of the best preserved medieval fortifications in Southern Ukraine.  We continue to the Shabo Wine Culture Centre, situated in a resort area and considered to be one of Europe’s oldest regions where winemaking traditions date back to ancient times. The Centre is the only tourist complex in Ukraine located right on the premises of an active winemaking enterprise – combining a state-of-the art, high-tech production process with unique historical and cultural landmarks. After lunch we tour the winery and have an introduction to regional varieties of wine, with of course, an opportunity to sample 6 of them.

Overnight in Odessa Hotel

DAY 4 (Friday)

Early departure with packed breakfast from the hotel, for departure transfer to the rail station for your train to Kiev departing at 05.40 hrs.
Arrive Kiev 12.46 hrs.   Our guide will meet you from the train to transfer to your 4 star Kiev hotel, where you will be staying for 3 nights.

Overnight in Kiev Hotel

Day 5 (Saturday)

Enjoy our walking tour, to take in the main highlights of Kiev, which is not only the capital of Ukraine, but also the mother city for all Eastern Slavic peoples. A beautiful city with its centuries-old history and rich culture, you will see both the modern city centre and the remains of the old city, both on the hilly west bank of the Dnipro river, the third largest in Europe. During the tour we will see University, Opera and Ballet Theatre, Golden Gate the historic main gateway into the ancient city, the newly renovated Michael’s Cathedral and we visit St. Sophia Cathedral, the UNESCO heritage site and the city’s oldest standing church, built in 1017-31.   We continue to the charming Andriyivsky slope the oldest and steepest street in Kiev with picturesque Andrew’s church, an inspired Baroque interpretation by Rastrelli. Art galleries, shops and studios are in abundance, making the slope a popular spot for Ukrainian crafts and art works.(3 hours tour).

You may pre-book our afternoon OPTIONAL TOUR (not included in the price):

Kiev Pechersk Lavra Caves Monastery
We visit the UNESCO heritage site; Kiev-Caves Lavra Monastery. Founded 3 km south of where Kiev stood in 1051, the Caves Monastery was Kievan Rus first and for a long time most famous monastery. Situated across wooded slopes above the Dnipro River, it is a unique array of gold-domed churches, with narrow underground labyrinths containing mummified monks. The Lavra caves are a system of underground passages, divided into two parts — Far and Near Caves – first mentioned in 1051. At first the caves were occupied by the monks who lived there, later they were used for the remains of settlers of the monastery. In particular there are remains of Chronicle Nestor the author of the Story of Bygone Years and the preserved remains of imperishable Lavra saints. In the grounds, some of the elegant monastic buildings are now museums.

Overnight in Kiev Hotel

Day 6 (Sunday)

Breakfast at the hotel.  The rest of today is at leisure.

You may pre-book our OPTIONAL TOURS (not included in the price):

OPTIONAL Chernobyl (11 hours includes 2 hours each way journey time)
Our small group tour to inside the 30 km exclusion zone is a fascinating and worthwhile experience. It offers a window into a world that no longer exists – like a modern-day Pompeii. It is a unique opportunity not only to see the site of the tragic nuclear disaster of 26 April 1986, but also an invitation to travel back in time. You will see the Nuclear Power Station and visit the nearby “ghost town” of Pripyat with abandoned schools and houses, stop near the “Red Forest” where your personal Geiger counter will register the increase levels of radio activity.  Meet local re-settlers who moved back to their native village of Chernobyl, after evacuation.

Don’t be alarmed, the amount of radiation exposure during the trip is similar to the level on a trans-Atlantic flight and less than an x-ray!

OPTIONAL Visit to the museum of folk architecture in Pirogovo (3 hours) .
On a private tour, you will visit Pirogovo. It is situated over scenic rolling hills dotted with groves of trees, where there are numerous quaint 17th to 20th century wooden cottages, churches, farmsteads and windmills, many of them with manicured flower and vegetable gardens, and interiors furnished with fascinating old textiles and traditional furniture. The museum is divided into seven small villages representing the regional areas of Podolia, Carpathians, Polesia, Poltava, Southern Ukraine, Sloboda Ukraine and the Central Dnipro River Valley.

Overnight in Kiev Hotel

Day 7 (Monday)

After breakfast at the hotel check out followed by departure transfer – either to airport for departure or to railway station for onward travel.
Join our connecting tour to Lviv !
Please ask us about our connecting tours to Lviv.

Accommodation

4 star Radisson Blu Hotel (Kiev) ★★★★

Stay in a prime central location in the secure embassy area at Radisson Blu Hotel, Kyiv and get an easy access to the city’s historic and cultural sights. Take advantage from the proximity of the Golden Gate, the St. Michael’s Golden-Domed Monastery and the St. Sophia Cathedral – a UNESCO World Heritage site. Attend a melodic performance at the National Opera House, take a walk on Kyiv central street Khreschatyk or follow a quest-route discovering philosophic and colorful murals – street art paintings on house walls created by world famous and local artists. Guests that find themselves in Kyiv on business will appreciate the hotel’s vicinity to the business and administrative center. The hotel is 450 meters from the Golden Gate Metro Station and close to bus, trolleybus stations and the railway station.

Radisson Blu Hotel, Kyiv offers accommodation in newly refurbished upscale rooms and suites in modern design. Minimalism, functionality of the rooms and modern conveniences, including free Wi-Fi aim at your supreme comfort. Savor the traditional flavors of Italy at Mille Miglia Ristorante & Enoteca or unwind at the end of a long day with a refreshing cocktail at K-Largo Lounge Bar. Guests can maintain their workout routines at Pace, our fully equipped gym and fitness club. Relax after a full day with a Finnish sauna, a steam bath or massage and beauty services.

4 star Hotel “Alexandrovskiy” (Odessa) ★★★★

Hotel Alexandrovskiy is a 4 star business hotel situated in the centre of the historical part of Odessa on Aleksandrovskiy avenue.
The hotel is located within walking distance of the main attractions – Deribasovskaya Str., City Garden, Cathedral Square, Primorski Boulevard, Opera and Ballet Theatre, museums and monuments.
Distance from the Odessa International Airport – 9 km, from the railway station – 3 km.

The Hotel offers 85 guestrooms, restaurant of European and National cuisine, 24 hour lobby bar, 24 hour room service.

Odessa & Kiev Private Journey – Prices & Dates 2019 & 2020

Prices in Euros per person (in twin/double):

From 01 Sept –  30 Sept 2019 (tour starts on Tuesday)
€590 per person
Single Supplement:  (minimum two persons)
Solo price: Please ask for price of you are travelling solo.

From 01 Oct 19 – 31 March 20 (tour starts on Tuesday)
€545 per person
Single Supplement:  (minimum two persons)
Solo price: Please ask for price of you are travelling solo.

Optional Excursions must be booked at time of making reservation:

ODESSA:

• Winery and Fortress (10 hours)    €175 per person (minimum 2 persons) Small group tour
• Catacombs (3.5 hours)                    €75 per person (minimum 2 persons) Private tour

KIEV:

• Chernobyl (11 hours)    €115 per person (minimum 2 persons) Small group tour
• Pirogovo (3 hours)        €75 per person (minimum 2 persons) Private tour

Price valid until 31 March 2020 (subject to availability).

Private Optional Excursions require minimum 2 persons.
Price on request for solo travellers.

Price Includes

• 1 x Arrival and Departure transfer from Airport (or rail station)
• Transfers to/from rail station as per itinerary
• 6 nights’ accommodation with all taxes included
• Breakfast daily
• Private Walking tour of Odessa
• Private Walking tour of Kiev
• Visit to St Sophia Cathedral
• 24 hour emergency contact
• Local Office Support

Not Included in Price

• International Flights
• Optional Tours:

• Any meals, beverages, sightseeing entrance fees not specified in the inclusions
• Photo and video charges at museums and places of interest
• Extra personal costs incurred at the hotel

Odessa & Kiev – Notes

Hotel – check in after 14.00 hours only. Check out by 11.00 hours

Accommodation may be substituted with similar grade hotel

Remember to check passport and visa requirements for entry

Local currency is Ukrainian Hryvnia. You may also use credit cards.

Please ask for details of us if you wish to extend your stay in Ukraine.  Please ask for details.