Belarus, Ukraine & Moldova
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"A very impressive tour. Moldova was my favorite part - walking through little villages with our outstanding local guide. The meals were better than expected and our MIR tour manager was very good."
P. Arben
East Lansing, MI
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Traverse a little-known region that has changed hands from its earliest history. Belarus, Ukraine and Moldova are three of the least-frequented and least familiar countries in Europe. Time slowed drastically here after the devastation of World War II, but these beautiful countries are emerging from the shadows.
Days 1-3: Minsk, Brest
Begin in Minsk, capital of Belarus, for a fascinating glimpse into the socialist past. At the Great Patriotic War Museum, remember the half of Minsk’s population that perished during World War II. Visit an artist’s studio for
conversation and dessert and stop at the manor house of Polish and American hero (and friend of Thomas Jefferson) Tadeusz Kosciuszko. In Brest, admire the massive UNESCO-listed stone Brest Fortress, built by Czar Nicholas I in the mid-1800s.
Days 4-5: Lviv
Crossing the Ukrainian border, arrive in Lviv, founded in the 13th century. Wander its UNESCO-listed Old Town Square, surrounded by 16th-18th century merchant dwellings.
Days 6-8: Kiev
Fly over the rich farmland once known as the “breadbasket of the Soviet Union” to the capital, Kiev. Visit some of Ukraine’s most important sites, including St. Sophia Cathedral and the Caves Monastery. Stroll and shop on
the cobbled descent down Andreevsky Street, filled with galleries, shops, cafes and artists’ studios.
Days 9-11: Simferopol, Bakhchysaray, Sevastopol, Yalta
Fly to Simferopol and drive to beautiful Yalta on the sunny Black Sea coast, where luminaries like Pushkin and Chekhov summered. En route, explore the remnants of the Crimean Khanate in Bakhchysaray. At seaside Livadia Palace, trace the steps of Churchill, Roosevelt and Stalin, who decided the fate of post-war Europe.
Days 12-13: Odessa
Drop in to Odessa, climbing its much-filmed Potemkin Steps and exploring its Partisan Caves, where resistance fighters hid during WWII.
Days 14-16: Chisinau
Next is Moldova’s capital, Chisinau, a tree-lined city of only 600,000. Survey some of Moldova’s ancient monasteries and sample some of the deep red wines the country is gaining a reputation for.
Trip Details
| Length of Trip: |
16 Days |
| Departures: |
2 |
| Dates: |
May 13-28, 2012 |
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August 19-September 3, 2012 |
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| Land Tour Cost |
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| 5-16 travelers |
$7,095 |
Plus internal air
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$600
(economy class, subject to change) |
| Single Supplement |
$1,495 |
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| No Hidden Costs! |
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MIR Signature Experiences
- Enjoy lunch with a family at a rural farmhouse in Belarus
- Enter Chekhov’s circle of friends at his house museum in Yalta
- Explore the secret underground Partisan Caves in Odessa
Map - Click to Enlarge
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| Days 1-2: |
Minsk |
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| Day 3: |
Drive to Brest |
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| Day 4: |
Drive to Lviv |
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| Day 5: |
Lviv |
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| Day 6: |
Fly to Simferopol, drive to Yalta |
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| Days 7-8: |
Yalta with day trip to Sevastopol |
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| Day 9: |
Drive to Simferopol, fly to Kiev |
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| Days 10-11: |
Kiev |
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| Day 12: |
Fly to Odessa |
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| Day 13: |
Odessa |
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| Day 14: |
Drive to Chisinau |
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| Day 15-16: |
Chisinau |
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| Minsk |
Square of Independence, Old Town, Victory Square, Square of Yakuba Kolosa, Central Road, Troitskoye Predmestie, Park Janki Kupaly, Polish Catholic Church of St. Simon, Nezavisimosty (Independence) Avenue, Ploshcha Nezalezhnastsi (Independence Square), Great Patriotic War Museum, tea in a private home, local market
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| Khatyn |
Memorial for a 1943 Nazi village massacre, Graveyard Villages, Trees of Life, Memorial Wall
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| Mir |
Mir Castle Complex (UNESCO World Heritage Site) |
| Brest |
Brest Fortress |
| Lviv |
Old Town (UNESCO World Heritage Site), Prospekt Svobody, Ploshy Rynok or the Market Square, Town Hall, Ukraine History Museum, Pharmacy Museum, High Castle Hill, Lychakiv cemetery |
| Bakhchisaray |
Khan's Palace complex with Fountain of Tears, Ambassador's Gate, Historical Museum and Mosque |
| Sevastopol |
Chersonesus open-air museum, Greek Theater (Ukrainian National Preserve Site), Panorama Museum, Graphskaya Pier |
| Yalta |
Livadia Palace and Gardens, Alupka Palace, Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Swallow's Nest, Anton Chekhov's House Museum |
| Kiev |
Pecherskaya Lavra with St. Sophia and related monastic buildings (UNESCO World Heritage Site), Dormition Cathedral, Sofiysky Sobor, St. Andrew's Church, Andreevsky Street, Museum of Western and Oriental Art, cultural performance, Kiev-Mohyla Academy, artist’s workshop, Podil District, St. Elias Church, Babi Yar, Chernobyl Museum, visit to an artist’s studio |
| Odessa |
Potemkin Steps, Odessa Opera and Ballet Theater , Vorontsov Palace, Cathedral of the Assumption, Museum of Partisan Glory, Partisan Catacombs
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| Chisinau |
Arch of Triumph, Cathedral Park, Government House and Parliament Building, Opera & Ballet Theater, Stefan cel Mare Park, Victory Memorial, Suruceni Monastery, Milesti Mici, Orhei Vechi
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Suggested Extensions
Combine this tour with Kaliningrad & the Baltics. Contact us for details.
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