Couldn't find suitable dates? Contact a consultant and request a custom itinerary.
Throughout the year, we gradually buy things for our hikes. This year, we bought hiking poles and a couple of fleece jackets for the kids.
We chose the “GORGAN MOUNTAINS WITHOUT A BACKPACK: SYVULI AND LAKE ROSOKHAN FROM THE CAMPGROUND” route because we’re interested in day hikes.
That way, we don’t have to carry too much gear. We packed our sleeping pads and some other items into a large suitcase on wheels, and carried a couple of backpacks, a tent, and sleeping bags by hand.
Two adults, two children, and a dog went on the hike
We arrived from Kyiv at 7:23 a.m. The train from Dnipro carrying the other participants was delayed by 1.5 hours. We left our belongings at the Kuluar Hub and went to have breakfast at Urbanspase.
The Kuluar Hub offered croissants, tea, and coffee—it was really nice to have that option. But we had plenty of time before the event started, so we went to a café for breakfast.
Two groups, each with a team leader, gathered at the Kuluar Hub. It’s a very convenient location. We drove in two cars for 2.5 hours to our campsite.
There, we set up our tents, took a walk to the river, and waited for lunch. After the rain, the grass was wet, so all our shoes got wet right away—even before the hike.
We had some sandwiches and drove to Lake Rosokhan. We rode to the starting point in the back of a truck, sitting on benches. It was an interesting ride, but not very comfortable. It was cramped in the back, and it was pouring rain in the front.
We took a nice walk to the lake and ate some strawberries. At the lake, we drank tea with some treats and headed back.
In our town, you could take a shower or go for a swim in the river before dinner. But it’s a bit chilly to swim. The water in the shower is cold, too.
If you take a shower, you have to walk around with wet feet afterward, because the grass is wet from the rain and your shoes and feet get soaked right away.
We decided to shower after dinner so we could head straight back to the tent and go to sleep. We didn’t sit by the campfire because we were tired, and the weather wasn’t very warm.
For dinner, we had delicious borscht, buckwheat, meatballs, and a vegetable salad. Everything was very tasty and plentiful. Everyone ate their fill. Usually on hikes I don’t get enough vegetables, but this time there were plenty of them!)
To wash up with my daughter, we took a couple of cups of hot water with us into the shower.
July was cold. It was chilly at night. The girls in the group slept fully clothed; some were even given sleeping bags. Someone’s tent was leaking because it hadn’t been used in a long time.
In the morning, we had delicious banosh, buckwheat left over from dinner, and they made some delicious little cheese pancakes especially for the kids! We took the truck transfer again and headed up Mount Kin-Grofetsky.
There were practically no other tourists on this trail. The trail was beautiful, as always. At the summit, we had a snack of sandwiches and rested. The views all around were stunning. We began our descent; there were rocks, marshes, and a river.
The road kept us entertained with its obstacles. We could wade across the river, climb over a tree, or—as the driver suggested—drive right through the river. The kids climbed the tree, and everyone else waded across. We arrived at the tents, and a downpour started right away.
The first group went to the sauna. Our group consists of two groups—26 people. Not everyone will be able to steam or wash there because the water heater is only 100 liters. So we stayed in the tent with the kids to rest while it was raining and wait for Dad.
He and the other two tourists walked from the river; he didn’t drive there.
The rain stopped before dinner, and we even got to enjoy the warmth of the evening sun.
For dinner, we had soup with meatballs and pilaf. Everything was delicious, as always.
On the third day, we had pancakes and cheese cakes for breakfast and headed to the starting point on Mount Velyka Syvulia. The views were breathtaking! It was very difficult for people with knee injuries.
I didn’t have any injuries, but I enjoyed walking very slowly and taking the time to admire the scenery. After Velyka Syvulia, those who wanted to ran on to Malenka Syvulia.
We met up with the others at the ruins of the mountain hut. From there, some went on to Urvyshche Peklo, while others headed back to the car. Since it was a large group, it was convenient to have two team leaders who could accommodate both the fast and strong as well as the slow and weak)))
For dinner, we had delicious potato pancakes and bograch.
After dinner, we went straight to bed. There was a thunderstorm with thunder and lightning all night long. The kids slept, but my husband and I were worried about the tent. But our tent held up, and we were all dry in the morning.
The morning was sunny. The river had swollen and become wider. We had a delicious breakfast of pancakes and didn’t go anywhere. Someone suggested visiting the monastery, but everyone declined and went to take down the tents before the rain started again.
We always go on the 10th—we never miss this event. There were so many of us that we didn’t really get to know each other very well. But everyone was friendly and pleasant.
We came away with great memories and were eager to plan new trips with Kuluar!
We enjoyed the trip. Life in tents isn’t very comfortable. My son likes it, but my daughter doesn’t so much. Using the outdoor restroom isn’t pleasant either, but it’s something you can get through.
The same goes for the cold shower. These are all part of camping—we expected it. Plus, in our mountains, we’re always prepared for rain. I brought a shoe dryer and used it to dry the kids’ sneakers.
But as soon as the kids stepped out of the tent onto the grass, everything got wet.
But we went for the experience and the beautiful scenery—that’s what the trip was all about. We’re satisfied and plan to go on the “ASCENT OF PIP IVAN CHORNOHIRSKYI AND SMOTRYCH” next year.
I recommend that everyone check their tents if they haven’t used them in a while. Also, be prepared for rain, even if the forecast says there won’t be any.
Bring pain relievers, ointments, and elastic bandages if you have knee problems or anything like that.