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If going to the Carpathians for a week is boring for you, and you have already scouted all the standard routes, we suggest you go to the mountains with us for 12 days. This is a very good preparation for foreign hiking and climbing. You will be able to walk through three ranges of the Carpathians and see many landscapes, magical views, sunsets and sunrises in the mountains. This is a real meditation for lovers of hiking in the Carpathians.
We do not cancel or reschedule groups. If the manager has given you the go-ahead to buy a ticket, you can buy it. The program will not be canceled through our fault.
Experienced team leaders on the sidelines will accompany the group along the entire route, making your trip as safe and unforgettable as possible! They have already walked this route many times and know it in detail.
The manager who will advise you before the trip has been to the Carpathians many times herself and will tell you about the details from her personal experience!
More than 12000 participants have already gone with the Backstage and 97.8% were satisfied. We are sure you will enjoy it!
The team leader will meet you at the Volovets train station and help you to select the items that you will send by mail further along the route.
This unique program includes two of our classic 6-day itineraries and a little more to whet your appetite!
The route is for the strong-minded and those who want to test themselves for real. Immediately after meeting at the Volovets railway station, we storm the first peak on the route (Mt. Temnatyk - 1343 m) and reach the ridge called Borzhava meadow. It is special because all its slopes are covered with tall grass, blueberry and lingonberry bushes, which look spectacular in the fall. After taking a breath and enjoying the panoramas of Mizhhirya district, we move further to the southeast to the Mt. Velykyi Verkh (1598 m high), where our camp will be located. After setting up the tents, anyone who wants to can radially go to the highest peak of Borzhava, Mt. Stiy 1681 (6 km). During the Cold War, a secret military unit of Soviet radar, the so-called "all-seeing eye of the state" (ruins), was located on the top. Afterwards, have dinner and a good night's sleep.
We have breakfast, gain strength and set off. We head south, and our next peak is Magura-Zhyda, or as it is also called, Zhyd Magura (1517 m). The route along the ridge of the Borzhava valley mostly runs through alpine meadows, and its slopes are crossed by many trails and mountain roads. On both sides of the ridge, like a fan, there are streams of different sizes, forming the Borzhava River in the southwestern direction, and the rebellious Rika River in the northwestern direction.
Today we will walk 15 kilometers.
The first ridge on our route is almost passed, but today we have to climb to the most mystical peak of the ridge - Mt. Cook (1361 m). Local old-timers of the village of Bronka, which is at the foot of the mountain, say that a very greedy and evil prince lived in their village in his castle, he had a lot of land and gold, but he was not at all friendly to the local population, forced them to work hard and paid little, kidnapped beautiful girls, and no one could cope with him, as he had superhuman strength. They even said that he had hooves instead of feet. One night, the people got together and made a noise around the castle, and they lit thousands of torches to scare the prince. Hearing the strange noises at night and seeing the fire, the owner of the castle jumped out of the window so hard that he reached Mount Cook, where he fell to his death. But the trace of the hoof is still visible in the stone, and the one who finds it gets superhuman strength.
Today we will walk 11 kilometers.
And no climbing! Today we are going down from the Borzhava mountain range to the Rika river, where we will spend the night and replenish our food supplies. We will have a chance to refresh ourselves in the mountain river, rest and relax a bit.
Today we will walk 14 km.
After breakfast, cheerful and full of energy, we set off. We are going to climb the Tapesh mountain, from which we will see the panorama of the Borzhava ridge we have passed, the adjacent Peshkonya ridge, the future ridge of the Krasna meadow and the mirror of the highest mountain reservoir in Ukraine. Then we will have a steep descent to the Tereblya River, where we will spend the night. Nearby is a mineral spring that will help us to restore our strength and refresh ourselves. We will also be able to visit the remains of the Arpad Line defense system.
Today we will walk 10 km.
Our hike is approaching the equator. From the very morning, we will have a rapid increase in altitude. We climb the Kvasnyi Verkhov ridge and move towards Mount Topas. At first glance, it seems that the surface of the top of Mount Topas is leveled with heavy machinery, probably in order to install a 65-meter metal tower, which from a distance resembles the Eiffel Tower. We spend the whole day moving along the Krasna ridge. We will set up camp at an altitude of 1500 meters, where we will spend the sunset behind the Romanian Carpathians.
Today we will walk 11 km.
After the morning photo shoot, we have breakfast, then pack up our tents and head further along the ridge in the direction of Ust-Chorna. The massif of the Krasna meadow up to an altitude of 1300–1500 meters is covered with forests, mostly beech, sometimes with dense undergrowth. The roads are characterized by steep ascents and descents. We will stop at almost every peak to admire the views and capture the most impressive moments of this bright day.
Today we will cover 15 km.
Day rest
Today will be a gift for our legs and backs, as today we will have a day's parking without crossing with backpacks. We will be able to have a good rest and walk around the village of Ust-Chorna, have a snack with something tasty that we miss so much during the hike - aromatic coffee or drink local beer.
Our journey continues through the village of Ust-Chorna (Tyachiv district). Founded back in the 17th century by German colonists, the village is located in the western part of the Svydovets ridge, on the eastern slopes of the Krasna ridge. Here you will be able to relax and unwind a bit. Having replenished our supplies, we say goodbye to the Krasna ridge and rapidly climb the Svydovets massif.
We will walk 11 km.
And here we are, on the Svydovets Ridge. Svydovets is a mountain range in the Ukrainian Carpathians, located in Zakarpattia, and is the watershed of the Black Tisza and Teresva rivers. The ridge is notable for being completely covered with tall grass and blueberry bushes. On one side of the ridge there are gentle slopes, and on the other - steep valleys, often with karst (glacial) lakes in them. From Svydovets, you can enjoy magnificent views of the Gorgany massif, the highest Chornohora ridge in Ukraine, and many other peaks. The steep slopes of the ridge are one of the places where edelweiss grows.
We will walk 11 km.
Then we move towards Mount Stig, which is one of the key mountains on the ridge. Stig is a mountain in the northeastern part of the Svydovets massif with a height of 1704 meters. It is here that extreme sports enthusiasts are brought on snowmobiles for freeride descent to Dragobrat. One of the unique places of this massif is Lake Dogyaska (Gereshaska). It is an integral part of the assembly of karst lakes in the Carpathians.
Today we will set up our camp on the shore of Lake Gereshaska 1577
Walk 10 km.
The finish line of our mountain expedition, we are not afraid of this word. Having climbed from the lake to the traverse road, we head towards the peaks of Kotel 1770 and Stig 1704, bypassing them with a traverse through Gendarme, we reach the top of Mount Blyznytsia (1881 m), from where we can see the neighboring ridges: Chornohora, Gorgany, Polonyna Krasna, Borzhava. This is our last peak. After meditating and taking some unusual photos, looking back at the path we have traveled, we begin a steep descent to the village of Kvasy. There is a mineral spring here, from which sparkling water is already flowing. The taste is unsurpassed! A great bonus at the end of a long hike.
We will walk 16 km.
Depending on the weather conditions, condition and general wishes of the group, the team leader has the right to make changes to the route.
The Carpathians are a very rainy region, and this route is no exception. With this in mind, you need to be prepared for anything - a raincoat is a must! Also, there are often strong winds on the ridge. Depending on the weather, it can be both hot and cool during the day. Most of the parking lots are high-altitude, and even in summer evenings and nights it will be cold - don't forget to take a hat and gloves!
To participate in the hike, you must have no illnesses incompatible with active tourism:list is here.
The difficulty is high because the maximum duration is 12 days with backpacks and overnight stays in tents. There is a possibility to buy food in the villages; medium or long distance of transitions and elevation changes.
Special features: many landscapes, lakes on the route, passing three open ridges.
As always, we recommend buying tickets in advance, although there are often still seats available on trains a week before the start of the hike. You need to buy a ticket so that you can be at the Volovets railway station by 11 am on the day of the hike start. A slight delay is acceptable. For the return trip, buy a ticket for the evening, preferably for 20–22 hours, so you will have time to walk around Frankivsk. You should buy tickets only after we confirm your participation in the hike, you can do it at the ticket office at the railway station or online on the Ukrzaliznytsia website.
The group meets at the Volovets train station. The time is set according to the last participant to arrive, usually 10 am. Approximately 5–7 days before the hike, we will email you with the exact time of the meeting and the team leader's contacts. Don't forget to check your mail!
Take raincoats and warm clothes. The weather in the Carpathians is very changeable, so you need to prepare for its surprises in advance. The first thing to remember is that rains are not uncommon here, so be sure to bring a raincoat and a rain cover for your backpack. The second thing is that it is very cool in the evenings, especially in high-rise parking lots. Take a hat, gloves and a jacket with you.
You're probably wondering what we're going to eat on the trip. We can tell you right away that you don't need to worry. Many participants say that they eat better on a hike than at home. The menu is based on simple food from cereals and soups. Do not count on gourmet delicacies (although they may be available).
If you don't eat any foods, be sure to let the manager know so that the guide can adjust the menu a little for you. Also, we recommend bringing some pocket treats - nuts or sweets. The appetite on a hike is much better than at home.
Please note that the presented menu is indicative. Guides usually have their own specialties that they like to pamper the participants with.
Features of nutrition for vegetarians– If you don't eat meat, be sure to read it. We tell you how we will feed you and give you a 5% discount on our products.
To participate in the hike, you must not have any diseases incompatible with active tourism: the list is here.
There will be mobile communication and 3G Internet on most of the route, but in some places it will be lost.
This route is special because we will send part of the provisions and personal belongings to Kolochava and Ust-Chorna, which will allow you to carry less.
The weight of food and general equipment per participant will reach +- 3-4 kg.
The weight of backpacks in this trip is usually +-11-12 kg. But this is taking into account the fact that you will not take a separate tent for yourself and will carefully approach the issue of choosing clothes for the trip.
The program provides for mandatory additional costs for transfers. You can check their amount with the manager, as it depends on the cost of fuel and is constantly changing.
There are also optional expenses. Participants buy dried mushrooms, souvenirs, and sometimes have dinner at a restaurant (for example, the legendary Ten). We recommend bringing at least 300 UAH with you. The maximum is up to you.
We limit the number of participants in the group. In order for a place to be reserved for you, you need to make an advance payment of 3000 UAH. The rest of the amount is paid to the team leader at the meeting. Conditions for turning over the advance payment and methods of payment =>>
