Belarus, Ukraine and 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."
Philip D. 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 WWII, but these beautiful countries are emerging from the shadows.
Days 1-3: Minsk, Brest
Begin in Minsk, capital of Belarus. Nearly half of its population perished during WWII, and the post-war recovery process emphasized Stalinist apartment blocks and factories. In Brest, admire the massive stone Brest Fortress, built by Czar Nicholas I in the mid-1800s and nominated to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2004. Belarus today is a fascinating glimpse into the socialist past.
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 6-7: Simferopol, Yalta
On the sunny Black Sea coast, visit Yalta, the lush Crimean resort where luminaries like Pushkin and Chekhov summered. At the seaside Livadia Palace, trace the steps of Churchill, Roosevelt and Stalin, who decided the fate of post-war Europe here.
Days 8-11: 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 12-13: Odessa
Drop in to Odessa, renowned international seaport for hundreds of years, and climb its famous and much-filmed Potemkin Steps.
Days 14-16: Chisinau
Next is Chisinau, capital of Moldova, still struggling to position itself in the post-Soviet world. Explore its ancient monasteries and small villages and sample its deep red wines. Embark on an optional visit to the Trans-Dniester region, a narrow strip of land bordering Ukraine where separatists have declared a disputed independence.
Trip Details
| Length of Trip: |
16 Days |
| Departures in 2009: |
2 |
| Dates: |
May 15-30 |
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August 14-29 |
| Departures in 2010: |
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| We are now taking bookings for 2010; please call 800-424-7289 for more information |
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| Land Tour Cost |
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| 6-16 travelers |
$7,295** |
| Single Supplement |
$1,595 |
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| No Hidden Costs! |
| **Land tour costs includes internal flight costs, which are subject to change. |
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MIR Signature Features
- Wander the streets of Minsk where
the legacy of World War II has left
countless memorials
- Climb Odessa’s Potemkin Steps, made
famous by 1920s director Sergei Eisenstein
in The Battleship Potemkin
- Enjoy a Moldovan wine-tasting, and
discover one of the best-kept secrets
of Eastern Europe
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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| Day 7: |
Yalta |
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| Day 8: |
drive to Simferopol, fly to Kiev |
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| Days 9-11: |
Kiev |
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| Day 12: |
drive 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, 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 |
| 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
MIR can arrange for an extended program in Minsk before the tour begins, or after it ends in Chisinau. We can also arrange for an extended program in Moscow or St. Petersburg, the Baltics, Central/East Europe at either end of your tour. Additionally, you have the option to add Transdniester as post-tour day trip from Chisinau at the end of your tour. Note: Transdniester is not included on this itinerary without adding a separate independent extension. It is also possible to combine this tour with the small group tour Kaliningrad and the Baltics May 3-15 or August 2-14, or the small group tour Bulgaria & Romania: Frescoes & Fortresses May 29-June 14 or August 28-September 13. Please contact us for more information.
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