Uman’ is a small old town (dating back to 1609) on the Umanka river. The town is famous for its LANDSCAPEPARK"SOFYIVKA".

The park was laid out in 1791 by Count Stanislaw Pototski, the landlord of numerous estates in Ukraine and named in honour of his wife Sofiya. It was constructed under the design of talented Belgian military engineer Metzel, by thousands of local serfs, who managed to create one of the most unique parks in Europe. The wonderful landscapes, numerous sprinkling fountains, artificial grottoes, exquisite antique sculptures and pavilions fascinate the visitors. The constructors created a sophisticated hydro technical system supplying water to the Upper and Lower park ponds, all its sites and areas. People in all times admired the park, which equalled in many respects the ancient parks of Florence, Potsdam, and Versaille.

There are numerous stands and kiosks with refreshments to keep you going and several attractions to entertain you. You can take a ride in a horse carriage, skip the carriage and just go horse riding, rent a catamaran, go on a boat or gondola on a small lake or take a boat through a tunnel connecting the lake with other water channels in the park.

Departure: Tuesday, May 15, 2007 08:00 – 19:00

Distance from Kyiv: 210 km

Price: 30 EUR per person
The price includes: bus transport, English-speaking guide, entrance fee to museums, bag breakfast, lunch, medical insurance, small presents and souvenirs

PYROHOVO

Museumof FolkArchitecture and Rural Life

Pyrohovo, a preserve of folk culture, lies on the southern outskirts of Kyiv, not more than 30 minutes drive from the city centre. Located on picturesque terrain, there are 300 ancient peasant huts collected from all oblasts of Ukraine. The majority of them were moved to the museum, and then reconstructed. Houses, wooden churches, barns, water and wind mills, as well as household articles, clothing and dishes dating back to the turn of the 17th, beginning of the 20th century give one the impression of a journey back in time.

There are several restaurants and cafes so, you can rest and try all kinds of traditional Ukrainian food. The craftsmen have a little market with things to look at and buy away - handmade table cloths, embroidery, shoes, wooden kitchenware, accessories, sculptures, pictures, hats and more is on sale. You can also take a ride in a horse carriage. When the weather is nice Pyrohovo is probably the best place to relax, take a walk and enjoy the peace so close to the big city.

Departure: Friday, May 18, 2007 10:00 – 16:00

Distance from Kyiv: 10 km

Price: 30 EUR per person
The price includes: bus transport, English-speaking guide, entrance fee to museums and lunch in the restaurant with Ukrainian national food, medical insurance, small presents and souvenirs.

Kaniv is a historic town first mentioned in a chronicle of 1149, although some believe that it had been founded as early as the tenth century. Initially part of Kievan Rus, located on the Road from Varangians to Greeks, in the Middle Ages it came under rule of Grand Duchy of Lithuania, Poland, Ottoman Turks, and it was also one of the centers of Cossack culture and military life in the seventeenth century.

Nowadays Kaniv is mostly known in many parts of the world because the great Ukrainian poet and artist Taras Shevchenko was buried on a high hill of the right bank of the Dnipro River according to his will. Thousands of people come to Kaniv to pay honour to the Great Kobzar, visit Taras Shevchenko Museum, enjoy the splendour of the Natural Reserve Park and gorgeous view of the Dnipro River from the Taras Mountain.

You can also visit Uspenskyi Cathedral built in the twelfth century and Museum of Folk Decorative Art, located in the former Basylian School of the seventeenth century. It takes 2 hours by coach to get to Kaniv from Kyiv (about 120 km).

Departure: Wednesday, May 16, 2007 08:00 – 19:00

Distance from Kyiv: 160 km

Price: 35 EUR per person
The price includes: bus or ship transport, English-speaking guide, entrance fee to museums, bag breakfast, lunch, medical insurance, small presents and souvenirs

Chernihiv is one of the most ancient cities in Ukraine, located on the right bank of the Desna River, 150 km far from Kyiv. Its history dates back to the 7^th century. In fact, the first signs ofpeople living in the Chernihiv area are traced back to more than 150,000 years ago. The archaeologists found numerous artefacts of the Stone Age: musical instruments made of sea shells and mammoth bones, jugs with patterns that later appeared in ancient Greek and Roman art.

Among the great number of invaluable cultural wealth of Ukraine the ancient monuments of Chernihiv take an outstanding place. The city’s beautiful monasteries, cathedrals and churches are only the part of that magnificence which is worth seeing.

Detinets and Kotsubinsky park
Located on the Desna River bank are: Spaso-Preobrazhensky Cathedral of the 11^th century, Borysohlibsky Cathedral built in the 12^th century, Chernihiv Collegiums, Tarnovsky museum, the monument to Taras Shevchenko.

St.Catherine church
Located on the hill opposite to Detinets. The church is built in Ukrainian Baroque style and the museum of Ukrainian decorative art is located nearby.

Troitsko-Ilyinsky Monastery - the largest underground church in Ukraine in caves stretching over 316 meters.

Yeletsky Uspensky Monastery - caves, Uspensky Cathedral, 36 meter high bell tower.

Departure: Thursday, May 17, 2007 08:00 – 19:00

Distance from Kyiv: 150 km

Price: 35 EUR per person
The price includes: bus transport, English-speaking guide, entrance fee to museums, bag breakfast, lunch, medical insurance, small presents and souvenirs

The town of Pereyaslav-Khmelnytsky is situated 90 km away from Kyiv and happens to be the third oldest town in Ukraine after Kyiv and Chernihiv. The town was founded in 907. Today Pereyaslav is known as a museum-town. There are museums of all possible kinds, ranging from collections of ancient sculptures and jewellery to embroidered towels, historical weapons and even bread. It might be with God's blessing that so many museums and architectural monuments have been preserved in Pereyaslav-Khmelnytsky - a town that gives visitors an integral image of Ukraine.

Voznesenskyi Monastery (1695-1700), built by Hetman Ivan Mazepa, and its bell tower (1770-1776) - one of the finest examples of Ukrainian architecture; Borysohlibska Church (1839), St. Michael's Church (1646-1666) and the bell tower (1745)

ArchaeologyMuseum - exhibits of dice, rings, bracelets, crosses and an 11th-century candlestick -surround the remnants of an 11th century church.

Skovoroda Museum – in the former building of Pereyaslav's Collegium (1753-7), where Hryhoriy Skovoroda, world-known Ukrainian philosopher and poet, taught his students and wrote his works - displays his classroom and sleeping quarters, as well as musical instruments, books and furniture from the 16th through the 18th centuries.

HistoricalMuseum: nearly 5,000 items, such as traditional Ukrainian outfits and art from the 17th through the 19th centuries, are on display. In addition, you can see Ukrainian, Polish, Tatar and Russian weapons, books, coins and pictures.

Museumof Ukrainian Architectureand Life: This village of small museums - also known as the Open Air Museum – is perhaps Pereyaslav's most interesting sight. Visit traditional thatched-roof houses, churches, gardens, a post office and windmills. The transport museum has an interesting collection of sleighs and wagons. A separate building depicts Jewish life in the 19th century.

Departure: Saturday, May 19, 2007 08:00 – 19:00

Distance from Kyiv: 90 km

Price: 50 EUR per person
The price includes: bus transport, English-speaking guide, entrance fee to museums, bag breakfast, lunch, dinner, medical insurance, small presents and souvenirs

KAMYANETS-PODILSKYI

Kamyanets-Podilskyi is a delightful old town in west Ukraine with an imposing castle surrounded by shear cliffs and a picturesque old town rising above a horseshoe-shaped meander in the river Smotrych. The scenery is fantastic — a combination of cliffs and woods and endearing, unrestored old buildings.

The town is first mentioned in the chronicle of 1060-62. Archaeological findings provide evidence that people have settled in this area from unmemorable times. In the first century A.D. the territory of the future Kamyanets-Podilskyi and its environs was inhabited by the tribes of Chernyakhivska culture, whose main occupation was agriculture. Roman coins of the 2nd - 3rd centuries A.D. found in this area point to commercial and cultural ties the local population maintain with the inhabitants of the Northern Black Sea Maritime Region and Roman provinces. Kamyanets-Podilskyi has preserved elements of various cultures and different historical epochs. A feudal era fortress (11-16th c.) with mighty towers and walls, a Turkish Castle Bridge, other medieval fortification structures and churches are the prominent places to visit.

Standing high on the bank of the Smotrich River you can take in the breathtaking details of the inimitable panorama - high fortress walls, towers and domes of ancient structures amid the lush greenery. The Old Fortress, Russian and Polish estates and gates, the Cathedral and Dominican Catholic churches, the town hall, the Armenian well and bastion - these very names breathe of history. A thousand year old town has numerous churches and unrestored historic buildings that line uneven cobblestone streets. It's a perfect place for a full day or two days trip with lots of walking and dining at low price local cafes and restaurants. Due to the unique sights and spectacular setting, Kamyanets-Podilskyy is becoming a major tourist attraction in Ukraine. The old town and fortress are quiet, whereas you can enjoy almost all kinds of entertainment around – from horse-riding, river rafting, climbing, bungee jumping to ballooning.

two-day trip: Sunday, May 20 – Monday 21, 2007

Departure (from Kyiv): Sunday, May 19, 2007 05:00

Departure (from Kamyanets-Podilskyi): Monday 21, 2007 18:00

Distance from Kyiv: 460 km

Price: 80 EUR per person
The price includes: bus transport, English-speaking guide, entrance fee to museums, accommodation (one night in the hotel), 2 lunches, 1 breakfast and two dinners, small presents and souvenirs.