Are you excited about the pictures of winter Carpathians, but still do not dare to go to the mountains? Then this tour is for you!
Not difficult crossings, overnight stay in a warm house (kolyba) with a fireplace at an altitude of 1150 meters above sea level, fabulous winter forest and unsurpassed views of almost all the two-thousanders of the Chernogorsky Range, led by the highest mountain in Ukraine - Hoverla. Kukul Ridge is considered to be the place where the best view of the Carpathian giants - Hoverla and Petros - opens up.
At the same time, the relatively low height of the ridge allows you to climb it without excessive efforts.
Overnight in a hut, a few kilometers from the villages - you and the Carpathians, without unnecessary fuss.
The program of the hike several times refined, we tried to make it as safe and comfortable as possible. Snow drifts, the best landscapes with views of Hoverla, Petros, Chirnogirskyy ridge are waiting for you.
We do not cancel or reschedule groups. If the consultant has given permission to buy a ticket, you can buy it with confidence. There will be no cancellation through our fault.
Experienced Kuluar team leaders will accompany the group on the whole route, make your climb as memorable and safe as possible! They have been in the Carpathians many times and know them in detail.
The group will meet at 35 Mykhailo Mulyk Street, near the Gorgany store. This is near the train station, and we will send all the detailed instructions in a pre-hike email and a group chat closer to the date of the hike.
The consultant, who will advise you before the trip, herself was on this route and will tell all the details from personal experience!
More than 25000 participants have already gone through the Kuluar and 97.8% were satisfied. We're sure you will, too!
Physically and technically the hike to Kukul is not difficult. Much of the beauty of the views depends on the weather, we hope it will smile on us. Most of the time it smiles :)
We meet in Ivano-Frankivsk, from where a minibus will take us to the heart of the Carpathians - the village of Vorokhta. From here we will start our easy ascent with our backpacks on the way to the tourist shelter. After only 5 kilometers with a slight increase in altitude, we reach the Borsuchyn meadow, where the Hutsul house is located. We will spend the next two nights in the middle of the Carpathian Mountains. Today we are resting, taking pictures in the winter forest, walking near the shelter, getting to know each other, having a delicious dinner and preparing for tomorrow's hike to the Kukul ridge.
We will walk in the mountains: ≈ 5 km, elevation difference: +360 / - 20 m, time on the trail: ≈ 3 hours.
Daylight hours are short in winter, so after breakfast, we leave the shelter early and head to Mount Kukul. We take only thermoses, snacks and warm clothes with us, so our backpacks will be light. Only three kilometers separate us from the extraordinary views of Hoverla and Petros, but don't expect an easy walk. In winter, it is more difficult to move around because of the large amount of snow. However, the views from the ridge are worth every calorie spent.
We will climb to the highest point of the ridge, Mount Kukul (1539 m), and in the meadow we will go to a Hutsul kolyba to warm up and have lunch. In summer, shepherds live in this kolyba, and in winter it is used by tourists. After lunch, having taken enough selfies :) and photos of the winter Carpathians, we will walk back to our lodge. There we will warm up by the fireplace, drink tea and share our impressions of what we saw.
Walking in the mountains : ≈ 7 km, altitude difference: +480 / - 480 m, time on the trail: ≈ up to 6 hours
Today we don't have to wake up early, so we can relax and enjoy our stay in the mountains. After breakfast, we slowly get ready and head to Vorokhta. A bus will be waiting there to take us to Frankivsk. We will walk around the city center and have dinner in one of the most popular restaurants in Ivano-Frankivsk. And only after that we will go to the train station to wait for our trains home.
We will walk in the mountains: ≈ 5 km, elevation difference: +20 / - 360 m, time on the trail: ≈ 3 hours
Depending on the weather conditions, condition and general wishes of the group, the teamleader has the right to make changes to the route.
Good weather conditions are one of the most important factors for a successful hike. During fog or snowfall, we will not see all the beauty of the Carpathian Mountains, but we will reach the summit. But if the wind blows, we may have to turn around. Remember! The mountains have stood and will stand, the most important thing is the health and safety of the group.
We don't spend the night in tents, as it happens during summer hikes in the Carpathians, but in a house where we can heat the stove.
The lodge is located in the mountains on a meadow, and places in it are bought in advance. We spend the night in sleeping bags.
The house where we will stay has no hot showers and a minimal level of comfort, but these inconveniences are fully compensated for by the incredible emotions you will receive during the three days of travel.
We rated the difficulty of this hike as low. You will have to hike short distances (up to 8 km) with slight elevation changes (up to 350m), the 2nd day - radially, sometimes deep snow is possible.
Special features: from the lodge, there is a stove, sometimes sleeping bags are needed, a tour of the Hutsul farm is possible, an authentic place to spend the night, a good option for the first winter hike.
The ticket "there" should be bought so as to be at the railway station of Ivano-Frankovsk by 10 a.m. on the day of the start of the hike. A slight delay is acceptable. Back you buy a ticket for the evening, best of all for 20-22 hours, then you will have time to walk around Frankovsk and have a drink in one of its pubs. Tickets go on sale 30-45 days before departure. Take care to book tickets in advance, as the number of tickets and trains is limited, and getting the bus is not comfortable. The question is especially relevant on New Year's Eve. If you change your plans you can always cancel your ticket online or offline. But you will not lose the opportunity to relax in the mountains.
If you go to the company of 10 or more people - we can submit a group application, which gives a better chance to get a good seat on the train.
Also, there are trains that go to Jasinja station. You can come to that town and we will pick you up on the way.
You should buy tickets only after our confirmation of your participation in the hike, you can do this at the box office at the train station or online at the website of Ukrzaliznytsia.
Surely you are wondering what we will eat on a hike? Let's just say that you don't have to worry. Many participants say they eat better on the hike than they do at home. The basis of the menu is a simple meal of cereals and soups. You should not count on gourmet delicacies (although they can be).
If you do not eat any products, be sure to inform the manager so that the guide can slightly adjust the menu for you. We also recommend taking some yummies with you - nuts or sweets. Appetite on a hike is much better than at home.
Please note that the menu shown is indicative only. Guides usually have their signature dishes that they love to pamper participants with. And if you have dishes that you would like to receive on a hike, be sure to tell the manager about it, as the guide may have completely different preferences.
Features of nutrition for vegetarians - if you do not eat meat, be sure to read. We tell here how we will feed you and at the same time we give you a 5% discount to the hiking.
For most of the route there will be a mobile connection, 3G internet, but in some places will be lost. It will not be possible to charge cell phones and cameras, take powerbank.
To participate in the hike you must be free of diseases that are not compatible with active tourism: the list here.
The program has mandatory additional costs for transfers. Their amount you can check with the consultant, as it depends on the cost of fuel and is constantly changing.
There are also optional expenses. Participants buy dried porcini mushrooms, souvenirs, and like to have dinner in a restaurant (for example, in the legendary "Ten"). Minimum recommend to take from 300 hryvnias. And the maximum is up to you.
We limit the number of participants in a group. To reserve a seat for you, we need to make an advance payment of 1200 UAH. The rest amount we surrender to the team leader at the meeting. Refund policy and payment methods =>>
