Tour Description
The developed tourist product has a distinct ecological direction. The main target audience is made up of eco-tourists and nature lovers. This tourist product is also designed for young audiences, namely the students of geography and biology departments of Ukrainian universities.
The peculiarity of this tour is in the fact that in a comparatively short time (no more than 12 days) potential tourists have the opportunity to get acquainted with the most famous and unique nature reserve territories of Ukrainian and Romanian Carpathians during one tour only.
Taking this journey, you will discover the beauty of untouched nature and learn a lot about its biological diversity.
The Carpathian Mountains have beautiful landscapes: mountains and green valleys, rocks, which rise to the heights, precipitous hillsides. Mountain villages, which are on the way of the tour, summer tents, built by the villagers for stocking hay, unknown paths of shepherds, which run through forests and meadows ‒ all these things create a unique atmosphere.
On the territory of Rakhiv Region in Zakarpattia Oblast you will be able to see Hutsul Alps and Maramures Massifs, as well as unique relics, preserved on the territory of the Carpathian Biosphere Reserve.
After that, you will have a unique opportunity to visit Romania – Maramures County. You will try local food and enjoy subalpine grasslands of Tatar Tableland and highland swamps. You will visit open-air museums, and take a unique train trip. In the spring time there is a wonderful opportunity to visit the narcissus valley both in Ukraine and in Romania.
The tour is designed for the tourists that do not want to follow only arranged routes and are ready to visit places of wild nature of the Carpathians. The tour is for those people who desire to see rare representatives of flora and fauna of the Carpathian mountain country, and see places which not every traveler has the opportunity to visit.
Tourists have to have personal tourist equipment and possess basic skills of hiking in the mountains. The presence of professional photo and video equipment is recommended. The number of tourists in the group varies from 6 to 8 persons.
The following nature reservation territories are included in the programme of the tour:
- Halych National Nature Park (Halych Region of Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast);
- “Kniazhdvir” Botanic Reserve of state significance (Kolomyia Region of Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast);
- National Nature Park “Hutsulshchyna” (Kosiv Region of Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast);
- Verkhovyna National Nature Park (Verkhovyna Region of Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast);
- Carpathian National Nature Park (Verkhovyna Region and the territory of Yaremche Town Council of Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast);
- Carpathian Biosphere Reserve (Vynohradiv, Khust, Tiachiv and Rakhiv Regions of Zakarpattia Oblast);
- “Synevyr” National Natural Park (Mizhhiria Region of Zakarpattia Oblast);
- Nature Reservation territories of Maramures County in Romania.
Information about nature reserve territories
Halych National Nature Park (http://galychpark.if.ua) was created on August 9, 2004 on the territory of Halych region in Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast. The aim of the park is to preserve, reproduce and use typical and unique forest, meadow-steppe and river marsh natural complexes and objects, which have a special nature preservation value, as well as scientific, historically-cultural, health-improving, educational and aesthetic ones.
The park occupies the territory of 14684.8 ha.
The park contains 45 species of plants and 37 species of animals, which are the representatives of the Red Book of Ukraine, 4 and 9 species respectively are on the European Red List and 6 species of plants and 158 species of animals are under the protection of Berne Convention. Tourist routes and ecological educational paths run through the most interesting places of the park.
In the town of Halych there are 143 monuments (objects) of cultural heritage, including 118 archaeological, 10 architectural, 15 historical and cultural monuments. They are of great value and are protected by the National Reserve “Ancient Halych”.
“Kniazhdvir” Botanic Reserve of state significance (www.rtic.if.ua/objects/r9/1527.html) is situated on the West from the village of Kniazhdvir, Kolomyia Region, Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast, on the right bank of the River Prut. The territory occupies an area of 208 ha, 70 ha of which are occupied by yew trees. The reserve has a great scientific value and soil-protecting importance.
National Nature Park “Hutsulshchyna” (http://nnph.if.ua) was created on May 22, 2002 and is situated on the territory of Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast. It covers an area of 32248 ha. The park stretches from North-West to South-East for about 29 km, and from North-East to South-West ‒ 20 km.
The highest peak of NNP “Hutsulshchyna” is Mt. Grehit (1472 m). Numerous rivers and streams are flowing through the territory of the park. The largest of them are Liuchka, Pistynka, Rybnytsia and Cheremosh. Another pearl of the park is Lake Lebedyn, which is situated at 650 m above sea level. The territory of the park is rich in mineral springs of drinking water, brine-springs.
Flora and fauna of the park is also rich and diverse. 67 species of the representatives of flora and fauna are in the Red Book.
Numerous tourist routes run through the territory of the park. There are also the following ecological educational paths: “To Mt. Klyfa”, “To Mt. Rokyta”, “To Mt. Mykhalkova”, “To Kamenystyi Range”, “To Brusnyi Range”, “Dubyna”, etc. There are skiing tracks and ski lifts on the outskirts of Kosiv and Sheshory.
The park also patronizes tourist-cultural centre “Saint Nicholas Estate”.
Carpathian National Nature Park is the first and one of the biggest of national nature parks of Ukraine, created for the preservation of unique forest ecosystems of Central Europe. The park is situated on the territory of Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast (www.cnnp.yaremcha.com.ua.).
Today the park covers an area of 50495 ha, its territory stretches from North to South for 55 km and from West to East ‒ for 20 km. The park is situated in the highest sector of Chornohora and Horhany mountain ranges.
The highest point in Ukraine, the peak of Mt. Hoverla (2061 m above sea level) is situated on the territory of the park.
The territory of the CNNP is divided into 3 geomorphological zones: Chornohora Range, Vorokhta Lowlands and Horhany. Chornohora is the highest range of Ukrainian Carpathians with the highest peak ‒ Mt. Hoverla (2061 m).
The largest rivers are Prut and Chornyi Cheremosh. There is also a number of waterfalls (Huk, Maiden’s Tears, Probij) and mountain lakes (Nesamovyte ‒ 1750 m above sea level, and Maricheika ‒ 1510 m above sea level).
The Carpathian Mountains are distinguished by its floral richness. There are 1105 species of plants, which makes up 54.9 % of the whole flora of Ukrainian Carpathians.
Carpathian NNP is an original nature recreation complex. It provides favourable conditions for the development of recreation, the best form of which is the widening of the network of educational paths. Today there are 40 walking routes (ecological scientific educational paths), 3 ski tracks, 3 water routes with the total length of 400 km.
Verkhovyna National Nature Park was created on January 22, 2010 on the territory of Verkhovyna region in Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast. The aim of the park was to provide preservation of nature and biodiversity of natural complexes of Chyvchyn and Hryniavski Mountains.
The territory of the park is situated in an interesting sector of Chyvchyn and Hryniavski Mountains with rich fauna and flora. A special gift of nature is a number of mineral springs.
The park occupies the territory of 12022.9 ha.
Chyvchyn Mountains (other name ‒ Chyvchyny) is a mountain massif in the South-West part of Ukrainian Mountains on the territory of Verkhovyna region, Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast.
They are situated in the North-East part of the Marmaros Massif. The highest peak is a basaltic Mt. Chyvchyn (1769 m). The Chyvchyn Mountains are made up of crystalline schist, gneiss, marble and sandstone. The forests of the mountains are almost untouched; the zone of crooked forest is well preserved in this area. Ukraine-Romania border passes through the peaks of the main range of the massif.
Hryniavski Mountains (other names ‒ Hryniavy, Hryniavskyi Range) is a mountain massif in the Ukrainian Carpathians, in the South of Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast, between the rivers of Chornyi and Bilyi Cheremosh.
The highest peak of Hryniavy Mountains is Mt. Baba Liudova (1590 m). The following mountain ranges are belong to Hryniavy Mountains: Pneve, Pryluchnyi, Ozyrnynskyi, Vatonarka. The mountains are covered with coniferous forests (spruce, fir) at 1350-1400 m above sea level; higher than that, there are mountain valleys.
Carpathian Biosphere Reserve (http://cbr.nature.org.ua) is one of the biggest nature conservation, scientific research and ecological educational centres in Ukraine. It belongs to the UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves. In 2007 it was added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The reserve is situated on the territory of Vynohradiv, Khust, Tiachivsk and Rakhiv regions of Zakarpattia Oblast. The administration is situated in the town of Rakhiv.
Mt. Hoverla and other summits of the Carpathian Mountains (Petros, Brebeneskul, Rebra, Hutyn-Tomnatyk, Pop Ivan Marmaroskyi, Blyznutsi, etc.) are situated on the territory of the reserve.
“Synevyr” National Natural Park. The creation of NNP “Synevyr” is connected with the unique mountain lake with the consonant name Synevyr. The uniqueness of nature of this place consists in the aesthetic value of a number of objects, namely lakes Synevyr and Ozirtse, wetlands Hlukhania and Zamshatka, Mt. Strymba and Mt. Nehrovetswww.synevir.karpat.org.
3 ecological paths are successfully operating on the territory of the park (“Timber Rafting Museum ‒ Ozirtse (Wild Lake)”, “Kolochava”, “Synevyr Lake”), 2 scientific-educational paths (“Kychera”, “Berezovets”), 6 tourist routes (“Synevyr Pass ‒ Mt. Kamianka ‒ Synevyr Lake”, “Ostriky ‒ Plotyna”, “Linia Arpada”, “Kolochava ‒ Mt. Strymba”, “Ostriky ‒ Mt. Hrebin”, “Sphagnum bog Hukhania ‒ Mt. Kosyi Verkh”).
Tourists’ attention is also directed to ancient wooden churches ‒ monuments of architecture of local Boyky ethnic group. Visitors can get a more detailed description of natural and cultural heritage of the region in the visit center of the national park “Synevyr”, which is situated in urochyshche Ostriky, near the administration building of the park.
Natural Park “Maramures Mountains” (www.muntiimaramuresului.ro) is situated in the Northern part of Maramuresh County, not far from Borsa, Moisei, Vizeu-de-Sus, Vizeu de Zhos, Leordina, Ruskova, Repedea, Poenilie-de-Submunte, Petrova and Bystra, including the mountains of Maramures Massif to Romania-Ukraine border. The total area of the park is 1500 km2. 7 tourist routes have been developed for the visitors of the park. The routes last between 1-11 hours.
On the territory of each of these objects of nature reserve fund, only those tourist objects and routes, which are characteristic of the park or reserve, are chosen for the programme.
The programme of the tour “National Natural Parks and Reserves of the Carpathians”
The route of the tour:
Lviv ‒ Rohatyn ‒ Burshtyn ‒ Halych ‒ Kolomyia ‒ Kniazhdvir ‒ Sheshory ‒ Kosiv ‒ Kryvorivnia ‒ Verkhovyna ‒ Vorokhta ‒ Tatariv ‒ Yablunytsia ‒ Lazeshchyna ‒ Yasinia ‒ Rakhiv ‒ Dilove ‒ Solotvyno ‒ the border ‒ Sihety Marmatsiei ‒ Okna Shuhatah ‒ Viseu de Sus ‒ Okna Shuhatah ‒ Solotvyno ‒ Khust ‒ Synevir ‒ Dolyna ‒ Lviv (Stryi).
The route of the tour:
Lviv ‒ Rohatyn ‒ Burshtyn ‒ Halych ‒ Kolomyia ‒ Kniazhdvir ‒ Sheshory ‒ Kosiv ‒ Kryvorivnia ‒ Verkhovyna ‒ Vorokhta ‒ Tatariv ‒ Yablunytsia ‒ Lazeshchyna ‒ Yasinia ‒ Rakhiv ‒ Dilove ‒ Solotvyno ‒ the border ‒ Sihety Marmatsiei ‒ Okna Shuhatah ‒ Viseu de Sus ‒ Okna Shuhatah ‒ Solotvyno ‒ Khust ‒ Synevir ‒ Dolyna ‒ Ivano-Frankivsk.
|
The Programme of the Tour |
|
Day 1. Lviv – Halych – Kolomyia – Kniazhdvir |
|
In the morning – meeting at the airport or at the railway station in Lviv. An excursion – Lviv – Halych “From the town of prince – son of Lion to the town of prince – father Danylo”. Arrival in Halych NNP. Variant №1. To Zamkova Hora The length of the route – 7.5 km. The approximate duration of the excursion: on foot – 3-4 hours. Short description of the route: the journey starts in Halych NNP. Here one can visit the museum of “The Nature of the Land of Halych”, which represents natural treasures of the park. The route passes through “Pitretska Road” and urochyshche “Porokhivnia”. In this forest neighbourhood, beech, hornbeam and oak trees are predominant. There are also numerous representatives of fauna: roes, hares, martens, weasels, squirrels, foxes, hedgehogs, buzzards, woodpeckers, jaybirds, nuthatches. The route runs through the farmstead Murashyna and Starytsia of the Dnister River “Korolivka”, the water of which is covered with yellow and white water-lilies. Here one may also see hydrophilic representatives of fauna: egrettas, grey herons, black-crowned night herons, wild ducks, harriers, water rails, common moorhens, common kingfishers, European penduline tits, great reed warblers. Through the Freedom Square one can get to “Castle Hill”. Here tourists can visit Starostynskyi Castle and admire the landscape of Halych and Dnister River. Dinner in the town of Halych. |
|
Day 2. “Kniazhdvir” Botanical Reserve of state significance, the village of Kniazhdvir. |
|
Breakfast. An excursion to “Kniazhdvir” Botanical Reserve ‒ the second biggest areal of yew in Europe. Today there are about 10 000 yew trees in the reserve. An excursion to local history museum of flora and fauna of the Carpathians, which is situated at the territory of the reserve. Dinner at the farmstead “Kniazhyj Hrad”. An excursion to the salty spring along ecological educational path. Evaporation of salt from the Carpathian brine. Supper at the farmstead “Kniazhyj Hrad”. Free time. |
|
Day 3. NNP “Hutsulshchyna”. Kniazhdvir ‒ Sheshory ‒ Kosiv |
|
Breakfast. Moving to Kniazhdvir ‒ Sheshory. A walking tour through ecologically-educational path of Sheshory PNDV to “Brusnyj mountain range”. The length of the tour is 15 km; the tour lasts 7 hours. The path begins at the central road of the village of Sheshory. The route passes along a beautiful mountain stream Nyzhnij Brusnyi. The water in the stream is crystal clear and fit for consumption. In the place where two streams fall into one riverbed, the path smoothly goes up through a picturesque glade to beech-fir forest. At the outskirts of the forest is a resting place, from where one can admire beautiful landscapes of NNP “Hutsulshchyna”. The path passes through the forest road to Brusnyj range. At the very peak of Brusnyj range there is a natural spring, which does not freeze in winter. It is called a “hothouse”, and its water in summer is cold and tasty. Dinner in a summerhouse to have a short rest. Moving to Sheshory – Kosiv. Arrival in Kosiv. Checking into a cottage “At Lulka’s”. Supper in the cottage. Free time. |
|
Day 4. NNP “Hutsulshchyna”, Kosiv ‒ Kuty ‒ Kosiv ‒ Verkhovyna |
|
Breakfast. Moving to Kosiv ‒ Kuty. Ecological educational path “Dubyna”, which runs through the territory of Starokuttia nature conservation and science researching institution, NNP “Hutsulshchyna”, allows tourists to admire picturesque Pokuttia Carpathians, fascinating oak and birch groves. The length of the tour – 3 km; the tour lasts 1.5 hours. The height above sea level: starting point – 380 m above sea level; endpoint – 400m above sea level. The path begins at the nursery garden of Starokuttia nature conservation and science researching institution, NNP “Hutsulshchyna”. The route passes through a birch grove and then – urochyshche “Try Kruli”, which is situated near urochyshche “Tsukhaniv”. Urochyshche “Tsukhaniv” is a botanical natural monument, which is situated between the villages of Kobaky, Slobidka, Stari Kuty and Cherhanivka. Then the route runs through the ponds – a unique combination of herbs, bushes, trees, animals and different species of fish. On the bank of one of the ponds there is a rest area. The route ends at the outskirts of the forest, near the road Kosiv – Kuty. Following ecologic educational path “Dubyna”, one can see such wild animals, as squirrels, hares, foxes, roes, wild boars. One can also come across a woodpecker, a jaybird, a crossbill, a hazel hen, a thrush, a magpie. Moving to Kuty – Kosiv – Verkhovyna. Dinner in the village of Verkhovyna. Observation excursion. Checking into a hotel. Free time. |
|
Day 5. Verkhovyna. Carpathian National Nature Park. Verkhovyna National Nature Park |
|
The youngest, the fourth at the territory of Ivano-Frankivsk region national nature park –“Verkhovynskyi”. It is situated at the territory of Verkhovynskyi and Hryniavskyi state forestry and covers an area of 12.000ha. The park is situated in an interesting sector of Chyvchyno-Hryniavski Mountains, where endemic and relict kinds of Carpathian flora preserved, rich fauna, as well as layers of volcanic ash. One-day trip to Mt. Synytsa (1186 m) – to Dovbush Rocks, where, according to Hutsul legends, there is a path to the other world. The tourists climb a picturesque Mt. Synytsia (1186 m). There are many interesting things situated at the territory of the mountain: a natural refrigerator, where the temperature does not go above 6-8˚C, a huge swaying stone – Stone Cradle. |
|
Day 6. Verkhovyna. Verkhovyna National Nature Park. Carpathian National Nature Park. Relic cedar forests of Kedrovatyi Urochushche |
|
Breakfast. One-day walking tour to Kizi Ulohy mountain valley and Kedrovatyi urochushche from the village of Bystrets. The route gives tourists a possibility to see these unique forests. Walking through the route one can see deep mountain streams, sweet water springs, rocky mountain Brebeneskul (2036). One may see wild animals there: foxes, rabbits, mountain eagles. There are also rare animals for the Western Europe, mammals such as a lynx and a lutra. |
|
Day 7. Moving to Verkhovyna ‒ Vorokhta ‒ Rakhiv. Carpathian Biosphere Reserve. |
|
An excursion to Carpathian Biosphere Reserve and Museum of Mountain Ecology. CBR belongs to the biggest and the most interesting objects of Ukraine Nature Reserve Fund. Dinner at a café on the territory of the reserve. A walking tour through the woodland park to the mineral spring (0.5 km, 200 m up) allows getting acquainted with the leading scientific institution of the region ‒ Carpathian Biosphere Reserve, visiting Museum of Mountain Ecology. Checking into a hospitable cottage “Smerekova Khata”. |
|
Day 8. Rakhiv Destrict. Carpathian Biosphere Reserve |
|
Breakfast Moving from Rakhiv to the starting point of the route. Climbing Mt. Blyznetsi Velyka (1883 m) and Mala Blyznytsi (1878 m) – the highest peaks of the Svydovetski Mountains. Moving to Rakhiv – Solotvyno (the border) – Okna Shuhatah (Romania). Visiting thermal baths. Supper at PopasuldinDeal. |
|
Day 9. Moving to Okna Shuhatah – Viseu de Sus. Mt. Farcau – Lake Vindirel – Mt. Mihailescu |
|
This natural-reserve territory is situated near Poienile de SubMunte and covers an area of 150 ha. The reserve was created in 1994 as a geological landscape fauna reserve, controlled by Maramures Mountain Nature Park, as it was designed as a special zone of the reserve. The reserve covers a mountain ridge with two famous mountains (Mt. Farcau and Mt. Mihailescu), has glacial relief on the northern side (Mt. Farcau) and the eastern side (Groapa Julii, Groapa Bologhii, Groapa Lupilor). Lake Vinderel is the biggest glacial lake in the Eastern Carpathians, situated at 1684 m above sea level. |
|
Day 10. Variant № 1. Tomnatec-Sehleanu Narcissus Meadow at the foot of Mt. Tomnatec Variant № 2. Steam train in Wasser Valley |
|
Variant № 1 Tomnatec-Sehleanu Narcissus Meadow at the foot of Mt. Tomnatec The journey begins at the village of Repedea and continues in Repedea and Tomnatec Valleys. Tourists have a possibility to admire mineral springs, Tomnatec gorges and beautiful mountain landscape, and finally, get to the Narcissus Meadow. Narcissus Meadow Reserve is situated at the territory of the village Repedea and it covers an area of 100 ha. Flora of the given territory is typical of alpine desert. |
|
Day 11. Moving to Okna Shuhatah – (the border) – Solotvyno –Khust – Synevyr – Dolyna - Lviv |
|
Breakfast. Moving to Okna Shuhatah – (the border) – Solotvyno – Khust In the season – excursion to Narcissus Valley near Khust. Moving to Khust – NNP “Synevir”. Dinner during the trip. Ecological path “Synevyr Lake”, which is situated in the northern side of the foot of Mt.Ozirna in the north of the NPP “Synevyr”. The path is located at 850-1000 m above the sea level. The path runs around Synevyr in a smooth line and attracts tourist attention at every season of the year. There are also picturesque landscapes, gurgling brooks, roaring waterfalls, evergreen woods – everything, that like a magnetic power, attracts the travellers not only from Ukraine, but also from the whole world. An excursion to ecological centre, which presents this nature-reserve institution: aim, the history of creation and activity of NNP “Synevyr”. Examining the model of the park, one can take a trip through the ecological, scientifically-educational paths, tourist routes, climbing the highest mountains of the national park, such as Strymba, Nehrovets, Kamianka. In the visitor center you can discover a lot of things about the territory of the park, its native population, places of interest, operating museums and monuments of architecture. With the help of the photo gallery, exhibitions, stands you can become acquainted with fauna and flora of our region, including “Red Book” species. You will also be able to watch a science fiction film about the National Nature Park “Synevyr” and different aspects of its activity. Moving to NNP “Synevyr” – Dolyna – Lviv (Stryj, Ivano-Frankivsk) and to the finish of the tour. |
Constituent elements of tourism services pack
(information about service providers in Romania)
|
The name of service provider |
Contact information |
Kinds of services |
|
boarding house “Tiplea” |
Okna Shuhatah, Avraam Iyanku Str.,14 +40 (262) 374 077 +40 (726) 752526 |
Residence |
|
PopasuldinDeal |
Okna Shuhatah, Uniriia Street 1D +40 (262) 374133
+40 (751) 944353 +40 (723) 472647popasul@clicknet.rowww.popasul.ro |
Residence Nutrition |
|
SC ALEXIS PROD SRL |
Desesti 276 +40 (726) 254276 +40 (726) 372686 |
Nutrition |
|
Wooden cottage in Tiplea |
Hiulesti, tableland Tataru |
Residence Nutrition |
|
Shepherd community CIOLBAN |
Okna Shuhatah, tableland Tataru |
Cheese tasting |
|
Health Resort “Izvoare” |
|
Nutrition |
|
SC LENA-ALEX TRANS SRL |
Breb, №. 346; +40 (262) 374 593 +40 (744) 145 349 |
Transportation |
|
Edith Pop |
+40 (745) 332022 |
Translation Excursions |
|
Emil Pop |
+40 (741) 773683 |
Translation Excursions |
|
MaraInternationalTour |
Baia Mare +40 262 226741 maraint@sintec.ro |
Tour operator |
|
Tourist agency «EtnicTour»
|
Sihetu Marmatiei +40 (724) 287490 www.etnictours.ro |
Tour operator |
|
Tourist agency “OVR” |
Vadu Izei +40 (728) 316425 +40 (262) 330228 |
Tour operator |
|
boarding house «NAGY» |
Prislopului Street, №82, code 435700, Viseu de Sus Town (Viseudesus), Maramures +40 (743) 278690 |
Residence Nutrition |
|
Forestry Kosnia (Cosnea), Poenile de SubMunte (PoieniledesubMunte) |
Poenile de SubMunte (PoieniledesubMunte) |
Residence Nutrition |
|
boarding house «Dora»
|
Libertati Street (Libertatii), №8, Visau de Sus (ViseudeSus), +40 (745) 626 776 |
Residence Nutrition |
|
Center of Ecology and Tourism |
+40 (746) 037103 |
Excursions |
