Day 1.

Arrival to Kiev. Meeting with representatives of the hosting company. Transfer to 3* hotel. Leisure time (additional excursions – at the request, depending upon the time of arrival).

Day 2.

Breakfast in hotel. Sightseeing tour across Kiev (4 hours)

During this excursion you will see all the main monuments and places of interest of Kiev. St. Sophia Cathedral, Mikhailovskiy Cathedral, “Golden Gates”, Opera and Ballet House, the House with Chimers, Maidan Nezalezhnosti, Motherland Monument, Andriivsky usviz etc.

After the lunch – visit to Pechersk Lavra.

Day 3.

Trip to Lvov from Kiev by car. On the way – visiting Pochaeva Lavra, Olesko and Pidgirtsy castles. Arrival to Lvov in the evening. Accommodation in 4* hotel.

Pochaevska LAVRA

It is the eastern orthodox monastery (lavra) in Pochaev (Ternopol region). It is the most sacred eastern orthodox holy place in Volyn and the second-important one after Kiev-Pechersk Lavra in Ukraine.

According to the legend, the monastery was founded by monks of Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, who fled from Tatar invasion in 1240. The first records in chronicles about it are dated back to 1527. In 1597, Pochaeva Lavra obtained a wonder-working icon of the Blessed Virgin, which was brought to Ukraine in 1559 by Bulgarian metropolitan – Neophyte. In 1675, Pochaeva Lavra was besieged by Turkish, but then they suddenly left the town. The prosperity of the monastery falls at the second half of XVII century due to the activities of hegumen Iov Zheleza (1602-1651). From 1730 Pochaev printing house was operating, which printed 187 books. This Lavra is rich in murals, sculptures and ornaments.

OLESKO CASTLE

PIDGIRTSY CASTLE

It is a well-preserved palace in the Renaissance style, surrounded by defensive defenses. In the place of the today’s castle there were more ancient fortifications that are dated approximately 1530. To the order of the hetman Stanislav Konetspolskiy, who bought the castle in 1633 from Pidgoretskis, the famous fortification architect -- Guillaume le Vasseur de Beauplan designed the fortifications and Andrea del Aqua — designed the two-storied palace with three-storied pavilions at both sides and a tower in baroque and late renaissance style. The construction was held during 1635—1640. The auxiliary premises formed a square yard with a terrace adapted for possible defense. From three sides the palace was surrounded with a deep graff; from the northern side, looking at the valley, it had a beautiful terrace with balustrade and sculptures. The entrance to the castle was organized through the large arch – portal with two columns. In 1646, the castle was visited by the king Vladislav IV, in whose honor the fireworks were organized.

The unparallel aspect of the architecture ensemble in Pidgirtsy is created by a park, which plants cover the castle, yard and a whole number of other constructions. In ancient times, it was the park that impressed the travelers more than the castle itself.

Pidgirtsy park belongs to the masterpieces of gardening and park art protected now by state. Created according the best designs of the so-called “Italian” parks, it is the best and may be the only one park of such a type in Ukraine.

Day 4.

Breakfast in hotel. Sightseeing tour across Lvov – half day.

Lvov

Lvov is an ancient city (1256) with a long history developed on a crossroad of various cultures. It indeed have many lions (“lvov” – in Russian) thought made from stone. For the past centuries, various cultures left their trails in the history of Lvov: ancient Russian, Polish, Austrian, and Soviet. In addition, it also was influenced by Jewish and Armenian cultures, and, of course – Ukrainian. As you progress to the center of the city you become more and more convinced that you did not come in vain to Lvov. To the city, where the medieval catholic churches neighbor with the ancient Russian temples, and between them are Jewish synagogues and Armenian churches. All this variety makes Lvov a singular place.

The central part of Lvov is proclaimed as a historical and architectural reserve and in 1998 it was included into the list of the world’s cultural heritage of the UNESCO. The national monuments include about 2 thousand historical, architectural and cultural objects. The old city is located in a valley surrounded with 7 hills as well as with numerous parks.

After the lunch – leisure time.

Day 5.

Breakfast in hotel. Transfer to Truskavets – balneological resort. Accommodation in «Rixos» 5* hotel in the Carpathian mountains.

TRUSKAVETS

Since XIX century Truskavets is famous with its curative springs and numerous rehabilitation centers. This is comfortable and ecologically clean zone in the pre-Carpathian area. The town surprises by the variety of the ground and underground mineral waters from 14 springs: Naftusia, Uzia, Maria, Sophiam Bronislava, etc; deposits of “mountain wax” - ozocerite, which unique world’s deposit is located 4 km from the resort in Borislav town. The competitor to the famous Karlovy Vary salts is Barbara, a Truskavets salt, which is extracted from the highly mineralized salt solution.

Indication: problems with kidneys and digestive system, metabolism disorders (excessive weight, diabetics).

Day 6.

Breakfast in hotel. Departure to Kiev. On the way – visiting Zolochiv castle.

ZOLOCHIV

Zolochiv castle is represented by Chinese palace, which is an unusual one because it was built according to the designs of Chinese pagodas, while its builders had never been to China. As a result they had a golden mean between the architecture of those times and Chinese architecture. In addition, the castle has a huge wish-stone covered by crown of thorns and leaves. There is a belief that everybody who makes a wish, inserts a finger into the stone hole and turns it thrice –and his whish will be materialized.

Arrival in the evening and accommodation in the hotel.

Day 7.

Breakfast in hotel. Leisure time in Kiev.

In the evening -- dinner in the national restaurant.

Day 8.

Breakfast in hotel.

Check-out from hotel. Transfer to the airport.