A hike across the Chufrova mountain pasture and Lake Maricheyka to Mount Pip Ivan Chornohirskyi (2,028 m), home to the famous highest-altitude structure in Ukraine.
The route follows paths beneath the Chornohora Range and partly along it. On the first day, the group approaches the 2,000-metre peaks, which offer spectacular views from the Chufrova mountain pasture. We walk along forest paths and set up camp with a view of the mountain we will be climbing the following day.
On the second day, the group reaches the summit of Pip Ivan Chornohirskyi and turns off onto less popular paths that are not marked with paint. We’ll pass Lake Maricheyka and the Sheshurska Polonyna.
On the third day, we’ll climb to the summit of Mykuleska, one of the least visited peaks in the region. On the way down, we’ll stop to take some photos by the waterfalls and pay a traditional visit to a cheese dairy to buy some budz as a souvenir.
The trip promises to be an interesting one. Join the KULUAR tourist club.
We'll trek to an iconic peak in the Carpathians and some lesser-known locations: the Chufrova mountain pasture and Mount Mykuleska. It’s a mix of a popular route and new trails, all packed into a single, action-packed three-day programme.
Our team leaders are people for whom the mountains are both a hobby and a profession. With their wealth of experience, they will be delighted to introduce you to the world of the mountains, ensuring your safety and making sure you fall irrevocably in love with hiking.
You don’t need to buy equipment straight away for your first hike. You can hire it from our hub. And whilst you’re waiting for the group to gather, help yourself to some delicious coffee :)
The consultants will draw on their own experience to prepare you and offer advice before the programme, as they have all been to the Carpathians on numerous occasions.
The tour leader will meet you in Ivano-Frankivsk, and you will travel with him to the starting point, closer to the mountains, in a comfortable vehicle arranged for the trip.
We accept no more than 12 participants per team leader, and if there are a large number of applicants, we split them into several independent groups. This is done to ensure the participants’ comfort.
Once you realise that the mountains are your passion and it’s time to buy your own kit, take advantage of discounts of up to 20% for Kuluarovtsi.
We’re sure you’ll enjoy it. And if you have any questions, you can write directly to the head of the Carpathians division or the club’s CEO. We’ll look into your case on an individual basis.
Over 25,000 participants have already taken part in Kuluar hikes and trekkings, and 97.8% were satisfied. We’re sure you’ll love it!
The group met at the KULUAR hub in Ivano-Frankivsk, where they met the team leader for the first time and were allocated their products.
Next, we’ll head to the village of Dzembronya. After the journey, we’ll have a hearty lunch, pack our rucksacks and set off on the route.
Gradually gaining altitude, we’ll follow the path to the panoramic mountain pasture. In 3–4 hours, we’ll reach our overnight spot and set up camp.
Ahead lie views of Pip Ivan, tents amongst the grass, dinner and conversations under the starry sky by the campfire.
We’ll cover about 6.8 km,
Elevation gain: 650 m
We wake up at 7.00, as we have a busy day ahead of us.
We enjoy a tasty and hearty breakfast, pack up our tents and get our rucksacks ready. We then head up the Chornohora Range and make our way to Mount Pip Ivan Chornohorivskyi, 2,028 m.
At the summit, we’ll take in the views of Ukraine’s highest mountains and the neighbouring ridges. Afterwards, we’ll descend to Lake Maricheyka and continue on to the next mountain pasture, where we’ll set up camp.
This evening, we’ll be enjoying a campfire dinner, a cosy get-together and some funny stories.
We’ll walk about 12 km, climb 650 m and descend 700 m.
All that remained was for us to follow the path to Mount Mykuleska, leave our rucksacks behind and climb to the summit, which offers an unusual view of Pip Ivan, where we had been the day before.
A few hundred metres further on, we visit the waterfalls and head to the dairy hut. This is the last stop before returning to civilisation, and a chance to buy some Carpathian cheeses from local producers as a souvenir of our hike.
After lunch in the village, a minibus will be waiting for us to take the group to the club hub in Ivano-Frankivsk. After that, if everyone agrees, we can pop into a restaurant in the town centre.
The route is 9 km long; we’ll climb 480 m and descend 1,020 m
Depending on the weather conditions, the group’s condition and general preferences, the team leader is entitled to make changes to the route.
All in all, the Carpathians are quite a rainy region, so you need to be prepared for anything – make sure you pack a raincoat! Better to be safe than sorry!
To take part in the hike, you must not have any medical conditions that are incompatible with active tourism: see the list here.
As always, we recommend buying tickets in advance, although there are often still seats available on trains even a week before the start of the hike. You should buy your outward ticket so that you arrive at Ivano-Frankivsk railway station by 10 am on the day the trek begins. For the return journey, buy a ticket for the evening, preferably for 8–10 pm, so that you’ll still have time to explore Ivano-Frankivsk. You should only buy tickets once we have confirmed your place on the trek.
The group’s meeting point is the Ivano-Frankivsk hub. The time is set to suit the last participant to arrive; this is usually 10 am. Around 5–7 days before the trip, we’ll email you the exact meeting time and the team leader’s contact details. Don’t forget to check your email!
The weather in the Carpathians is very changeable, so you need to be prepared for its surprises in advance. The first thing to bear in mind is that rain is not uncommon here, so you must make sure to bring a raincoat and a rain cover for your rucksack. Secondly, it can get chilly in the evenings, especially at high-altitude campsites. Take a hat, gloves and a jacket with you, even in summer.
I’m sure you’re wondering what we’ll be eating on the hike.
Let’s get this out of the way straight away: there’s no need to worry. Many participants say after the trip that they ate even better in the mountains than they do at home.
The menu is simple and filling! Don’t expect any gourmet delicacies at this restaurant, although the staff can sometimes spring a pleasant surprise :)
If you do not eat certain foods or have dietary restrictions, please let the manager know. The team leader will be able to take this into account and adapt the menu slightly.
We also recommend taking a small supply of your favourite treats with you: nuts, chocolate, energy bars or dried fruit. You usually have a much better appetite on a hike than you do at home.
Each team leader has their own tried-and-tested dishes which they like to treat the group to.
Dietary guidelines for vegetarians – if you don’t eat meat, be sure to read this. We explain what we’ll be serving and are offering a 5% discount on our products.
To take part in the hike, you must not have any medical conditions that are incompatible with active tourism: see the list here.
Men must have their military registration documents. Advisers are collecting data from everyone for submission to, and approval by, the border guards.
One of the attractions of a hike in the Carpathians is the abundance of berries and mushrooms. But you need to be careful here! Before eating any berries, you must always ask the trip leader whether they are edible. The tastiest and most popular berries are undoubtedly blueberries and raspberries; apart from these, you can also eat lingonberries, cloudberries and blackberries.
There are plenty of mushrooms in the Carpathians, and they can often add variety to your diet. We recommend picking only white mushrooms and cooking them properly. Please ask your team leader about the possibility of incorporating mushrooms into your diet.
In Ivano-Frankivsk, pop into Desiatka. The food is delicious, the portions are huge, and the prices are reasonable. If Desyatka is full, you can eat at another pub. Sitting down together over a tasty meal and a glass of beer is a brilliant way to round off a wonderful trip. With this in mind, it’s best to book your return tickets for the evening – around 8–10 pm.
The programme includes mandatory additional costs for transfers. You can check the exact amount with a travel adviser, as it depends on fuel prices and is subject to change.
There are also optional expenses. Participants buy dried porcini mushrooms, souvenirs and sometimes have dinner at a restaurant. We recommend bringing at least 1,500 UAH with you. As for the maximum amount, that’s up to you.
We limit the number of participants in each group. To secure your place, you must pay a deposit of 1,500 hryvnias. The remaining amount is to be paid to the group leader when you meet up. Deposit refund policy and payment methods =>>
