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!
Easy walks, overnight stay in an authentic authentic Hutsul lodge with a fireplace at 1150 meters above sea level, a fabulous winter forest and unparalleled views of almost all two-thousanders of the Montenegrin mountain range, led by the highest mountain in Ukraine - Hoverla.
The Kukul Ridge is considered to be the place with the best views of the Carpathian giants Hoverla and Petros. At the same time the low height of the ridge allows you to climb it without excessive effort. The more so because we will start from the Hutsul house on the meadow, which is located almost next to the top of Kukul.
In the house, where we will live, there is no hot shower and the level of comfort is minimal, but it is more than compensated by the incredible emotions that you get after three days of travel!
We do not cancel or reschedule groups. If the manager has given permission to buy a ticket, you can buy it with confidence. There will be no cancellation through our fault.
Teamleaders are people for whom mountains are both a hobby and a profession. With their vast experience, they are happy to open up the mountain world to you, to do it safely and in a way that makes you fall irrevocably in love with hiking.
Overnight stay in an authentic cabin in the mountains in the middle of the snow:)
The teamleader will meet you at the train station of Ivano-Frankovsk, and with him you will travel to the mountains in a previously ordered comfortable transport.
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, Montenegrin ridge are waiting for you.
The manager, who will advise you before the trip, herself was on this route and will tell all the details from personal experience!
More than 12,000 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 and is available to anyone. Much of the beauty of the views depends on the weather, we hope it will smile on us. Most of the time it smiles :)
During the day we'll walk 5 km with backpacks, an altitude of 360 meters.
We'll meet in the morning in Ivano-Frankovsk. The minibus will take us to the heart of the Carpathians - the village Vorokhta. From here we'll start our simple ascent on the road to the tourist shelter. After 5 kilometers with some elevation gain we will come out to the Borsuchina clearing, where our Hutsul lodge is located. There we will spend the next two nights in the middle of the Carpathian mountains. Today we relax, take pictures in the winter forest, take a walk not far from the lodge, have a delicious dinner and prepare for tomorrow's outing to the Kukul Ridge.
We will hike 10 km without backpacks (radial), 500 m elevation gain, 500 m drop in elevation.
Daylight time in winter is short, so early in the morning, after having breakfast we leave the shelter and go to the mountain Kukul. We only take thermoses, snacks and warm clothes, so our backpacks are light. Only three kilometers separate us from the beautiful scenery with views of Hoverla and Petros, but still don't count on an easy walk. In winter it is more difficult to walk because of the large amount of snow. But the views that we are about to get are worth every calorie we spend!
We will ascend to the highest point of the ridge - Kukul Mountain (1539m), and also on the hollow we will have a warm meal at the tavern, where shepherds live in summer. In winter the tavern is used by tourists. After lunch, take enough selfies :) and pictures of the winter Carpathians, we go back to our cottage, where we drink tea by the fireplace and share our experiences.
All in all we will hike 5 km in a day, the altitude drop is 360 m.
Today there is no need to wake up early, we can rest and enjoy the mountains. After breakfast we slowly get ready and go to Vorokhta, where the bus will be waiting for us. It will take us to Ivano-Frankivsk. We'll walk through the city center, have dinner in one of the most popular establishments of Ivano-Frankivsk - the cafe "Desyatka". And only after that we'll go to the train station, waiting for our trains home.
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.
To participate in the hike you must be free of diseases that are not compatible with active tourism: the list here.
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.
The meeting place of the group is the waiting room of the Ivano-Frankovsk railway station. The time is determined by the last arriving participant, usually it's 10 am. About 5-7 days before the hike we will send you an email with the exact time of the meeting and contacts of the instructor. Don't forget to check your email! If it is more convenient for you, you can go directly to Lazeshchina, just tell us about it!
We do not sleep in tents, as it happens during the summer hikes in the Carpathians, and in a small house where you can heat the stove and live in relative comfort. The house is located in the mountains on the meadow, places in it are booked in advance. You don't need a sleeping bag - a bed is provided.
Inside the lodge:
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.
The program has mandatory additional costs for transfers. Their amount you can check with the manager, 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 =>>
