Transcarpathian biking tour

The biking tour “7 Legends of the Transcarpathians” lasts for 7 days and covers about 230 km. You will watch waterfalls, mountains and valleys, gorges, streams, museums, ancient churches and castles, etc. Every day will be an exciting experience, as you are introduced to the local culture and distinctive flavor of the Transcarpathian region, including the wooden and stone architecture, as you commune with nature, enjoy the diverse Ukrainian and Hungarian cuisine, and taste home-made wines and Swiss cheese.

General distance: 230 km
Tour duration: 6 days
Transport needed: mini-bus
Start/finish: Volovets – Beregovo
Staying overnights: private mini-hotels, hotels
Best season to make a trip: May – September
Please inquire about other dates and price discount for group booking.
The tour starts at 8 am from Lviv.
The tour ends at evening at Lviv.
It’s better to arrive in Lviv 1 day before tour starts and depart next day after the tour ends.
For your request, we can offer 0-day program: accommodation in Lviv, excursion, meeting with group and instructors and other activity for your request (tickets to Opera House etc). Please, visit our web-site about the stay in Lviv – http://www.inlviv.info/

Day 1
Distance: 28km
Accommodation: private mini-hotel
Main points: Shypit waterfall, Pylypets village
Day description: we arrive in Volovets and assemble our bikes, before going straight to Pylypets, where the hosts are waiting for us.

Having enjoyed lunch, consisting of traditional Carpathian dishes, we set off for a walking tour to the Shipot Waterfall. The waterfall flows down numerous picturesque cascades in a narrow, precipitous gorge and is surrounded by steep ledges made of andesitic rock. It is considered, in its own right, as one of the most beautiful in the Carpathians. The high meadow (polonyna – in ukr.) Borzhava, rising over the waterfall, is a traditional grazing land where shepherds spend the summer, cooking in their huts (kolyba) delicious cheeses (brynza and vurda)

Day 2
Distance: 65km
Accommodation: Hotel
Main points: Mezhygirya Pass, Kolochava, Svyatoduhivska church, museums.
Day description: today we traverse the Mezhyhirya Pass – this will be something like a farewell to the Carpathian mountains and a descent to the plains of the Transcarpathia. The Kolochava village awaits ahead.

Once a border area of three countries, Poland, Romania and Slovakia, it has preserved its authentic and unique characteristics. A true beauty stands up on a hill in the center of the village – the wooden Church of the Holy Spirit. In fact, wooden architecture is one of the Transcarpathian snaps. Three of Kolchava’s museums – “The Narrow-Gauge Railroad”, an open air museum “The Old Village”, and “The Old School” complex – are recognized as one of the best museums in Ukraine. The original museum exhibits accurately reflect the villagers’ lifestyle.

Day 3
Distance: 30km
Accommodation: Private mini-hotel
Main points: Olshany dam reservoir, rural cheese factory with tasting, masterclass of hutsulsky dance
Day description: дeaving the unique Kolochava village, we will pass by the Olshany water reservoir, where the historic village of Olshany is buried. A huge 40 meter high dam and the wild nature around create an unparalleled peaceful atmosphere. Up ahead another marvel awaits – Nyzhne Selyshche. This well-kept, cozy village hosts a village music and ethnic festival in July of every year.
Day 4
This festival is organized in a way that can surprise even the most demanding of festival experts. Here we will visit a cheese factory, where everything is prepared according to Swiss recipes and technology. Even if you are not impressed by these words, you are sure to be by the taste and smell of these cheese. And in the evening, if you wish, a masterclass in Guzul dances will be conducted by instructors to the music played by the local ethnic group called Hudaky.

Distance: 68km
Accommodation: Hotel
Main points: Isa – a village of traditional crafts; deer farm; Hust; Vynogradovo, the Franciscan church, castle ruins. Day description: first, we will visit Iza – a traditional crafts village (willow weaving). We visit a deer farm, which will give you a wonderful opportunity to interact with these cute animals and feed them.

Next, if our trip is in May, we will take a massive amount of photos in the Narcissus Valley – a national park where infinite numbers of wild narcissus flowers grow. Such flora exists only in a few other places and on a smaller scale – for example, in the Alps, Romania, and some Balkan countries. Passing by Khust, we will admire the local gem – a 14th century Reformed Roman Catholic Church. We will finish the day in Vynogradovo. Here we will go up to the mysterious castle ruins located on the Black Mountain overlooking the town. Then we will look around the well-preserved Pereni Palace and a Franciscan temple.

Day 5
Distance: 83km
Accommodation: Hotel
Main points: river Tysa, wooden temples, thermal pool, house of wines and tasting during the dinner.
Day description: today our route will run along the green banks of the Tysa river and the Hungarian border.

The Hungarian influence can be felt in everything here. The village and street names, unfamiliar to the ear, are written in both Ukrainian and Hungarian, and you can often hear Hungarian language. We will make a stop virtually in every village to look around the wooden temples, all of which are unique in their own way. Beregovo will meet us as the most welcome guests.  An excursion, swimming in a thermal pool, and a celebratory dinner featuring a tasting of home-made wines., are planned for today’s program. The Transcarpathia has been famous for its wine-making for a long time.
Day 6
Distance: 35km
Main points: Mukachevo, Castle Palanok, souvenir shops.
Day description: the last point of our route is Mukachevo. It is a European-style town with cozy cafes and bakeries, temples and a monastery, a town hall and, of course, the famous Palanok Palace. The magnificent, well-preserved castle was able even to withstand the raids of the Mongol -Tatar yoke.

It rises up to the top of a mountain which stands alone, and you can enjoy wonderful panoramic views in every direction from its terraces. One of the peculiarities of the castle is a temple where a wedding ceremony can be conducted for followers of any religion so that it attracts a lot of couples. There is a row of souvenir shops inside the castle, and if you wish, you can take some gifts home with you.

Included in price:
- accommodation (5 nights), mini-hotels
- food (3 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 2 dinners)
- transfer Lviv-Volovets (first day)
- transfer Beregovo-Lviv (last day)
- instructor and translator support during the route
- excursions according to the route schedule
- baggage transportation
- medical insurance

Not included:
- food, not mentioned above (4 dinners and 4 suppers)
- equipment rental(if needed):
- bicycle equipment (trunk, bicycle backpack)
- bicycle and helmet rental

To reserve the tour please send an e-mail to contact@adventurecarpathians.com, specifying:

- your name and surname, country;
- how many people you are;
- your biking level;
- contact phone number and e-mail;
- the name of the tour;
- starting date.

After the confirmation, we’ll ask you to pay a deposit. The rest you can pay upon arrival.

The tour starts from Lviv, but alternative pick up places could be arranged.
We could offer you to stay a few days after the tour in Lviv. And here you can find information about the hotelsapartments and hostels.