A weekend hiking trip. Weekend trekking trips around Ukraine

A weekend hike is a hike taken over the weekend, during which you cover a short distance (up to 25–30 kilometres) over the course of one to three days. The area chosen for this type of holiday is not too remote, and getting there is relatively straightforward. The main aim of such trips is to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city and relax for a short period of time.

The main benefits of weekend hiking trips

So why should you go on a weekend camping trip? This type of holiday has a whole host of benefits:

• A quick recharge. Just a couple of days after a busy working week. After a weekend spent away from the hustle and bustle of the city, you’ll feel re-energised.
• The chance to get away for the weekend. You don’t need to take extra leave for a weekend break. And come Monday, you’ll be back at work, full of energy and inspiration.
• A budget-friendly holiday option. You don’t need to spend money on special kit or buy expensive flights. For a weekend hike, ordinary sportswear and the sort of kit that anyone who spends even a little time outdoors will have at home will often do just fine.
• Meeting new people. It’s a great opportunity to make friends. After all, hikes attract interesting people who are a pleasure to chat with and spend time with around the campfire with a guitar.
• Convenient transport arrangements. So you won’t have to spend a whole day on all the necessary transfers. In just a few hours, you’ll be at the starting point!
• Your first step into the world of hiking. Weekend hikes are a great opportunity to try spending the night in a tent, hiking with a rucksack during the day, and cooking over a campfire before setting off into the real mountains. And to see how well this type of holiday suits you.

So we invite you to join us!

Discover a lesser-known yet stunningly beautiful and fascinating region of the Ukrainian Carpathians. With their relatively low-lying yet picturesque mountain ranges, beech and fir forests, and fantastical rock formations, the Skole Beskids have it all. Alternatively, we suggest climbing Hoverla and hiking to the Prutsky Waterfall – two action-packed days in the Carpathians, full of adventure. The programme is ideal for novice hikers, as there’s no need to carry heavy rucksacks – they’ll stay at the campsite under the watchful eye of the second team leader.

And to see the crocuses in bloom with your own eyes, we invite you to join us on a day hike to one of these peaks: Mount Kukul, Mount Kostra, Mount Kostricha or Mount Rotilo. In spring, the Carpathians come to life, and the first rays of the sun cover the mountain slopes with a purple carpet of flowers. This is one of the most beautiful times of year in the mountains, lasting several weeks.

Weekend hikes in Kuluar – a brief overview of the routes

We have a selection of weekend hiking trips that we have put together with great care, expertise and inspiration. For many members of our team, these places have become a second home, and we’d love to share them with you.

A two-day hike – the Podil Tovtry and Bakota

This region is known as the Ukrainian Switzerland. It is located an hour and a half’s drive from Kamianets-Podilskyi. Its main attraction is the impressive expanse of the Dniester River, which unfolds before your eyes from the slopes we will be walking along. We’ll also be swimming in the river and relaxing on the banks. The climate here is amazing, somewhat similar to that of Crimea! Mild and warm.

On the second day, we’ll take a walk to the legendary rock-cut monastery, which is steeped in history. We’ll also admire the incredible natural scenery. The great thing about this trip is that, as well as the active walking part, we’ll have time to explore Kamianets-Podilskyi – a city with an incredible history and architectural landmarks!

A video by a participant from the first trip to Bakota in June 2020

It is hard to overstate the scale and beauty of this region.

An active weekend in Korostyshev – rock climbing for beginners

• The rugged granite quarries, with water the colour of mountain lakes, the cosy coniferous forests and the winding banks of the Teterev River are sure to delight your eyes.
• An evening spent sitting round the campfire with good company will warm not only your body but your soul as well.
• Some light rock climbing will get your adrenaline pumping and give you the chance to try something new.

So, friends! We’ll be climbing, swimming, walking, chatting around the campfire, climbing some more and swimming again – all in just a two-day weekend trip not far from Kyiv. With easy transport links and the unique scenery of the Zhytomyr region, this trip is sure to be one of the best weekend getaways for active Kyiv residents.

Bugsky Gard – a two-day hike along the Southern Bug

The unique landscapes of the Bugsky Gard National Park have long been well known among tourists in Ukraine. These places attract visitors, first and foremost, with their varied terrain and unique natural beauty. After all, within a relatively small area, you can see high, sheer cliffs offering views for many kilometres around, take a dip in the cool waters of the Southern Bug, and stroll through deep canyons amidst beautiful deciduous forests.

The Granite-Steppe Pobuzhye region is popular with water sports enthusiasts who go rafting down the rapids of the Southern Bug, as well as with rock climbers and mountaineers who have taken a fancy to the local cliffs; the region is also ideal for hiking and cycling.

Our two-day hike along the Southern Bug will give you the chance to explore the valley’s most beautiful and fascinating spots over the weekend, from Migeya to Romanova Balka. We’ll take a dip in Lake Radon, watch kayakers and rafters tackle the famous Integral rapids, and watch the sun rise over the Bug. We’ll breathe in the scents of the flowering steppe and hear legends and historical facts about these glorious places, which even the ancient Greeks found to their liking!

Aktovsky Canyon and Trikratsky Forest – a weekend hike

Places shrouded in legend and described as far back as Herodotus in his *Melpomene*. The Mertvovod River, flowing beneath the high cliffs of the Aktovsky Canyon, is, according to the ancient Greek historian’s account, none other than the Scythian Exampes, which springs from a bitter spring and carries its waters to the Hypanis. It turns out that this is precisely where the centre of Great Scythia was located. In the language of the Hellenes, this name means ‘Sacred Paths’. What is true and what is not – we shall try to find out on our expedition.

The only thing that is known for certain is that this 50–70-metre-deep canyon lies in an area that has not been submerged by the sea for 60 million years! This explains the abundance of unique wildlife—including relic species and endemics.

On our two-day hike, we’ll explore three canyons in one go – the Arbuzinsky, Aktovsky and Petropavlovsky – and spend the night in tents at the bottom of one of them. It’s a true geological wonder in the heart of the Ukrainian steppe; the sheer cliffs and enormous, bizarre boulders are simply breathtaking!

The site is hugely popular with photographers and rock climbers, and is renowned far beyond Ukraine’s borders. Would you like to see this millennia-old natural wonder with your own eyes? Then join us! This isn’t a two-hour tour for the sake of ten photos, but a proper hike through three canyons, and you’re sure to appreciate all the benefits of this kind of experience!

Alexandria Park and the River Ros

Bila Tserkva is an ancient town located 80 kilometres from Kyiv. It is home to one of Ukraine’s most beautiful landscape parks – Alexandria. We will visit it as part of our tour of Bila Tserkva. Afterwards, we’ll set off to explore the picturesque banks of the Ros River, set up camp, and cook a proper campfire meal! On the second day, we’ll take a walk to the nearby village of Hlybochka, visit a granite quarry, have a swim in the river, and then head home.

A video from a rainy but memorable hike:

A walking tour with mini-workshops: living joyfully, whatever your age

This programme was created personally by the founder of the Kuluar Touring Club, Taras Pozdniy, for your parents. It is designed to help them stay active, discover new horizons and enjoy life. The trip is broadly divided into two parts. The first is the hiking part. Parents will enjoy the natural beauty of the Bila Tserkva region, the picturesque River Ros, and the splendours of Alexandria Park. The second part is a training session. Taras’s mother, Olga Ivanivna (a psychologist with 30 years’ experience), will talk about positive thinking and how to stay active at any age. Incidentally, she climbed Kilimanjaro with Taras at the age of 58, and a year before that she went trekking to Everest Base Camp.

A video from one of these trips:

Three-day hikes in the Carpathians

If you’re able to take an extra day off work, or if you’ve realised after a weekend hike that you want to go further, higher and do more, we recommend heading to the Carpathians for a proper hiking trip. We have several options for three-day hikes in the Carpathians.

A comfortable climb up Hoverla

The main advantage of this trip is that it doesn’t involve carrying heavy rucksacks. Participants stay in comfortable cabins, from where they begin their ascent to Ukraine’s highest peak and the main destination of the trip – Hoverla (2,061 m). We have also put together an interesting sightseeing programme, during which you will discover the iconic landmarks of the Carpathian region, soak up the local atmosphere, see waterfalls, and fall in love with the Carpathians forever!

A trip to Khomyak and Sinyak

The Gorgany are one of the most beautiful and picturesque mountain ranges in the Carpathians. Along the way, you’ll encounter a diverse natural landscape: dense spruce forests, wide green mountain meadows, and many colourful rocks covered in green moss. It is thanks to these that the range got its name – the Gorgany!

This hike isn’t too difficult, but it will give you a real taste of the joys of camping life and the beauty of the Carpathian region!

Climbing Hoverla and Petros

During this trek, you will climb Ukraine’s two most iconic mountains – Hoverla and Petros.

Many of our participants say that the climb up Petros is even more scenic and interesting. See for yourself by joining the hike!