• Escorted all-inclusive tour.
• New York - Kyiv - Lviv - Yaremcha - Chernivtsi - Ternopil - Lviv - New York (plus Hrushiv, Hoshiv, Univ, Pochaiv, Pidkamin, Ivano-Frankivsk, Kolomiya, Kamyanets-Podilskiy, Hoverla National Park, and more); highlight of the tour - participation in the national pilgrimage to Zarvanytsya¹.
• First class rail (Kyiv - Lviv) and private motorcoach.
• First class hotels.
• All guided tours by private motorcoach with bilingual English/Ukrainian guides. Guided sightseeing even on travel days (no "dumb rides").
• Three meals daily (including special national cuisine and farewell dinners) starting with lunch day of arrival ending with breakfast day of departure (total 36 meals).

Day 1 (Jul-12 Wed.)
New York (JFK)².
Departure for Kyiv (KBP) via Warsaw (WAW) on LO-007/LO-751 at 18:35 EDT.

Day 2 (Jul-13 Thu.)
Kyiv

Fly into Golden-domed Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine and the cradle of Eastern Slavic civilization. Founded in the 5th century, it became the capital of Kyiv Rus. It was in Kyiv that Christianity first found a foothold among Eastern Slavs when Prince Volodymyr the Great had his people collectively baptized in the Dnipro [Dnieper] River in A.D.988. Kyiv suffered severely during World War II; many irreplaceable architectural and art treasures were destroyed. After considerable restoration, Kyiv is now the most popular tourist city in Ukraine.

Lunch at the hotel⁴.

After lunch - a tour of Kyiv.

Of the most interesting sites the standard city tour includes: the magnificent St.Sophia's Cathedral, consecrated in 1037 by Prince Yaroslav the Wise (he was buried there in 1054); the Golden Gate of Kyiv built in 1307; St.Andrew's Church (18th century), designed by Rastrelli, the famous architect who built the world famous Winter Palace in St.Petersburg; St.Volodymyr's Cathedral (19th century); St.Volodymyr's Hill and the Monument to St.Volodymyr; Khreshchatyk Street, the city's elegant main boulevard; Maydan Nezalezhnosti (Independence Square); Kyiv University; Opera House; etc

Day 3 (Jul-14 Fri.)
Kyiv
In the morning - visit to Kiyevo-Pecherska Lavra.

Kiyevo-Pecherska Lavra, cave monastery founded in 1051 by monks Anthony and Theodosius, in the catacombs where one can see the "holy relics" of the most spiritually advanced monks. It comprises a whole series of churches, cathedrals and monuments. Among them are: the Trinity Church, built over the entrance gate, which dates from 1108; the walls of the Upper Monastery, built between 1698 and 1701; All Saints' Church (17th century), built over another gateway; the unimaginably high monastery belfry, built in 1731-45. Outside the complex of buildings stands the ancient church, built early in the 12th century by Prince Volodymyr Monomakh as a burial place for the princes of Kyiv.

After lunch - a brief visit to the Podol area where many souvenir stores, galleries, etc. are located.

Early dinner. Transfer to the rail station.

Departure for Lviv by first class (two-berth compartments) overnight train #92 at 19:51.

Day 4 (Jul-15 Sat.)
Lviv

The administrative center of Lviv Province and the "unofficial capital" of Halychyna, Lviv is the most European city in Ukraine. Most of the old architecture (16th to 19th centuries) remains intact. It is a treasure of many architectural styles: Gothic, Italian Renaissance, Byzantine, German Baroque, rococo, classicist and many more.

After breakfast - tour of Lviv.

The standard city tour includes the following major sites: the High Castle or Prince Hill, where the fortress used to be, with the panorama lot; the Church of St.Nicholas (13th century); the Church of Assumption and the Kornyakt Belfry (16th century); the Church of St.Parasceve (17th century) and its unique 70-icon iconostasis; the Cathedral of Dominicans (18th century); the Old Pharmacy; Market Square (over 40 14th-18th-century buildings enough for a separate 2 to 3-hour tour); St.George's Cathedral (18th century); St.John's Cathedral (14th century); the "Vienna-like" Prospekt Svobody (Liberty Avenue); the magnificent Opera House (exterior), etc.

From the Museum we will proceed to St. Michael Studites Monastery. Visit to the monastery's icon workshop to see the collection of 13th-20th c.c. icons (many of them were found, saved and restored by the monks), including the unique 13th c. icon of St. George. A brief lecture on how the icons are created; meaning and traditions of Ukrainian iconography, saving of icons during the years of persecution and their restoration.
Dinner at the Monastery.

Day 5 (Jul-16 Sun.)
Lviv
In the morning - visits to the local History Museum (including the Hall of Jan III Sobieski with its unique collection of treasures).

Lunch downtown.

In the afternoon - visit to the Historical Park "Shevchenkivskiy Hai"

The city-located open-air Museum of Traditional Rural Architecture and Every-Day Life "Shevchenkivskiy Hai", shows how country people lived in various ethnographic zones of the western Ukraine, the biggest sections being those pertinent to the Carpathian region. Boyko wooden churches are stunningly beautiful (some of them operating, some are just exhibits).

Day 6 (Jul-17 Mon.)
Lviv- Univ (Mehzyhirya) - Hlynyany - Lviv
After breakfast - day trip to the Univ Holy Assumption Monastery.
Lunch at the Monastery.

The Univ Holy Assumption Monastery is the headquarters of the Studites (founded by Clementy Sheptytskiy). Under the Soviets the building was used by a psychiatric hospital and gradually turned into ruins. Recently, due to the efforts of the Studites, the Monastery has regained its original splendor. Today it is a major place of pilgrimage and a unique sample of medieval (14th c.) fortress-like monastery architecture. Tourists also visit the 14th c. Assumption Church, house of Clementy Sheptytskiy (restored fall 1999), rich collection of sacral objects at the Monastery's museum. They may visit the graveyard in the woods, where monks were secretly buried during the Soviet rule. Visitors will also see how the monks live now in their daily prayers running a small cattle farm, bee hives, helping orphans and disabled.

Day 7 (Jul-18 Tue.)
Lviv - Pidkamin - Pochaiv - Lviv
After breakfast - day-trip to Pochaivska Lavra and Pidkamin.
Lunch en route.

The Pochaiv Monastery (16th-20th centuries), also known as Pochaiv Lavra, is a major East European Christian sanctuary always full of pilgrims from all over Ukraine and neighboring countries. The tour usually includes visits to the Assumption and Trinity churches, and the cave chapel of St. Iov of Pochaiv.

Day-trip to Pochaiv usually includes a visit to the village of Pidkamin located about 45 min drive from Pochaiv. This is a place that undoubtedly deserves to be on the front page of The National Geographic Magazine. It derived its name from a huge hanging rock. In the 17-th c. a wonderful Baroque church was built there by the Dominicans, which made the view even more impressive. The Dominican Monastery in Pidkamin was turned into asylum by the Soviets, and just recently returned back to the church (though a part of it still belongs to the psychiatric hospital). Right by the monastery stands a pillar with the gilded statue of the Virgin Mary of Gdansk

Day 8 (Jul-19 Wed.)
Lviv - Hrushiv - Hoshiv - Ivano-Frankivsk - Yaremcha
En route to Yaremcha we will visit The Holy Trinity Church in Hrushiv and the Hoshiv Monastery.

The Holy Trinity Church (early 18th c.) in Hrushiv is not only a beautiful example of Galiciam traditional architecture, but also a place of pilgrimage from all-over the world. The church gained renown during the 1970-ies and 1980-ies after parishioners reported seeing a vision of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Hoshiv is another popular place of Christian pilgrimage.In the 16th century a monastery was founded there.

Ivano-Frankivsk is the administrative center of Ivano-Frankivsk Province. Built on the site of the village of Zabolottya, in 1662 (during the period of Polish reign) it was named Stanislawow. In 1962 the city was named after the famous Ukrainian writer, Slav scholar and philosopher - Ivan Franko. The standard city tour usually includes: Roman-Catholic Cathedral (1672-1703); Armenian Church (1742) and Resurrection Cathedral (1753) - samples of baroque style; the City Hall (1695).

Yaremcha is the most popular climatic resort in the Carpathian Mountains. Picturesque location, fresh air, peculiar cuisine. Should we say more?

Day 9 (Jul-20 Thu.)
Yaremcha - Hoverla National Park - Yaremcha
Visit to the Hoverla National Park.

The section of the Hoverla National Park open for public is about 50 km south of Yaremche (a nice scenic ride) and about 10 km east of the highest peak of the nation - Hoverla (2060 m above the sea level). Climbing the peak is not included in a standard visit, but from the parking lot tourists may have a pleasant walk through the beautiful forest untouched by civilization (this is one of the few places in the world where you can still find such rare plants as arnica and edelweiss - pick at your own risk, for it is illegal). The views of the mountains are absolutely stunning (even tourists from Switzerland admit that).

Day 10 (Jul-21 Fri.)
Yaremcha - Kolomiya - Chernivtsi
After breakfast departure for Chernivtsi.

En route - visit to the Museum of Traditional Carpathian Crafts in Kolomiya (wood-carvings, "lizhnyks" - ornamented sheep wool blankets, carpets, leather goods, embroidery, etc.).

Upon arrival - a brief tour of Chernivtsi.

Chernivtsi is the administrative center of Chernivtsi Province (ethnographers refer to it as Bukovyna or, rather, northern Bukovyna). The first mention of the city of Chernivtsi dates back to the 12th century. It was founded on the river Prut as a fortress to protect the Slavic territories from steppe nomads raids. Lasting periods of foreign domination and the multi-national ethnic structure of the population determined the peculiar architectural image of the city, folk art and cuisine.

Standard city tour of Chernivtsi includes: the former residence of the Bukovynian archbishops, now the University of Chernivtsi (erected in 1864-82, designed by famous Czech architect Josef Glavka); Chernivtsi Opera House (1869-75) - a masterpiece of the Austrian architects Fehlner and Helmer (the ones who designed Opera House buildings in Vienna and Odesa); Armenian Church (1869-75) designed by Joseph Glavka (due to its excellent acoustics, chamber music concerts often take place there); and the famous Kobylyanska Street - most characteristic example of Austro-Ukrainian secession style.

Day 11 (Jul-22 Sat.)
Chernivtsi - Khotyn - Kamyanets-Podilskiy - Ternopil
After breakfast - departure for Ternopil via Khotyn and Kamyanets-Podilskiy (it is worth every extra mile).

Kamyanets-Podilskiy is an ancient (at least 940 years old) town located 90 km north-east of Chernivtsi. World War II intensive fighting and air raids destroyed almost three quarters of the priceless architectural monuments of the pre-war Kamyanets-Podilski, but even the remainder - with over 100 architectural monuments and other sites of 11th-18th c.c., including the huge fortress, numerous churches and cathedrals, public buildings -  is very impressive. Since 1977 the whole town is the National Historical and Architectural Preserve.

Kamyanets-Podilskiy is usually visited together with the town of Khotyn to see the most outstanding sample of Ukrainian medieval fortification. Khotyn fortress (12th-16th centuries) was the biggest fortress in Europe. The area near the fortress was the site of many battles in the course of the lasting wars with Turkey. The biggest took place in September 1621, the total number of men on both sides was nearly 300,000.

Day 12 (Jul-23 Sun.)
Ternopil - Zarvanytsya - Lviv
After breakfast - departure for Zarvanytsya to take part in the national pilgrimage¹.

Zarvanytsya has been a major pilgrimage place for centuries. The shrine of a miraculous icon of Mary, Mother of God, was destroyed during the war and the Soviet communist occupation. As of fall 1999, construction of a new Basilica Of Blessed Virgin Mary In Zarvanytsya was under way. It should be completed in 2000. By the decision of the Synod of Bishops of the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church national pilgrimage to Zarvanytsya will take place July 22-23, 2000.

Day 13 (Jan-24 Mon.)
Lviv
All day free for individual activities (like last-minute shopping for souvenirs).

Farewell dinner.

Day 14 (Jul-25 Tue.)
Lviv - New York
After breakfast - transfer to Lviv Airport (LWO) for flight LO-766/LO-006 to New York (JFK)² via Warsaw (WAW) at 11:15 local time³.

Arrival in New York (JFK) at 16:45 EDT.

¹ "In Ukraine, the following is planned: all the bishops along with clergy will celebrate the Divine Liturgy in the Archcathedral Sobor of St. George in Lviv (December 25, 1999), and a national pilgrimage to Zarvanytsya (July 22-23, 2000)." (from the Communique of the Secretariat of the Synod of Bishops of the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church, September 1-8, 1999)

² If for some reason you prefer to depart/return not from/to JFK, you may buy the land-only version. In this case, please, ask your travel agent to connect your outbound flight to flight LO-751 Warsaw (WAW) - Kyiv (KBP) on July 13, 2000 and your home-bound flight to flight LO-766 Lviv (LWO) - Warsaw (WAW) on July 25, 2000. If the above connections for some reason are impossible, you can make reservations for any flights, just make sure that you arrive in Kyiv (KBP) on July 13, 2000 and depart from Lviv (LWO) July 25, 2000. Please, do not forget to let us know the flight numbers, so that we can arrange airport - hotel - airport transfers for you (not included in the package).

³ Kyiv time is 7 hours ahead of US Eastern (2 hours ahead of GMT).

⁴ Unless specified otherwise, all meals (three daily) are at the hotels.