Top 5 locations in Ukrainian Carpathians for May getaways

Top 5 popular locations in Ukrainian Carpathians

The Carpathians offer a huge number of places for various types of recreation: active sports, spa and wellness, hiking in the mountains, and climbing mountain peaks.

Here are some interesting locations that you can visit during your excursions.

Dovbush Rocks, Ivano-Frankivsk region

Dovbush Rocks is an interesting excursion location in the Carpathians that can be reached from Ivano-Frankivsk. You can get here either by car or by ordering a one-day tour from Ivano-Frankivsk with simultaneous visits to other locations. In case of an independent trip, you can also spend the night in a tent surrounded by nature. The location is also well known to those who are engaged in rock climbing.

This is a rock and cave complex at an altitude of 668 meters above sea level. The rocks were formed here more than 70 million years ago at the bottom of the Paleogene Sea. According to legend, in the 17th and 18th centuries, opryshky (participants of the Ukrainian peasant insurgency - ed.) hid in these rocks and used the caves as their hideout. It's easy to guess that the rock complex itself is named after the legendary Carpathian opryshok Oleksa Dovbush.

Photo: Dovbush Rocks (RBC-Ukraine/Oleh Bozhko)

Tustan Fortress, Lviv region

Tustan is the remains of an ancient Rus defense complex that was located right in the rocks. In the 9th to 16th centuries, this place was home to a medieval rock fortress and customs office. The builders of that time skillfully combined stone and wood. In other words, they built up wooden structures on the rocks, embedding them in special recesses.

To this day, the wooden structure has not survived, but the hollowed-out grooves on the rocks are still visible. Following these traces, modern researchers were able to recreate the original appearance of the fortress, which can be seen virtually today.

Centuries ago, this area was the site of a trade route that transported salt to Western Europe. Therefore, during the archaeological excavations, they found many interesting finds.

Photo: Tustan (wikipedia.org)

Photo: Tustan (wikipedia.org)

Yaremche, Ivano-Frankivsk region

One of the most popular cities in the Carpathians among tourists. It is not far from Bukovel and other interesting places in the region. There is a large fair in the city center where you can buy souvenirs for different tastes and budgets. Travelers going on vacation to Bukovel often stop by Yaremche to buy gifts for their loved ones. Near the fair in Yaremche, there is a waterfall that has become one of the city's attractions.

The panorama of the Probii waterfall opens from a small bridge. You can also see the waterfall by walking down to it, seeing its beauty nearby.

Photo: Yaremche (RBC-Ukraine/Kateryna Honcharova)

Mount Khomiak, Ivano-Frankivsk region

Mount Khomiak is one of the most popular peaks of the Gorgany mountain range. The height of the mountain is relatively low - 1542 meters. But it offers incredible views of the Carpathians and the highest peak in Ukraine, Hoverla.

Among the advantages for hikers is the convenient location. There are several routes to the top, and the most popular one starts near the road from Yaremche to Bukovel. So, wherever you stay within 30 kilometers (for example, in Vorokhta, Tatariv, or Yablunytsia), the route will run nearby.

Not far from the entrance to the trail, there are several guest houses where you can stay before the climb. You can also go to the top of the mountain directly from Bukovel - from the upper station of the ski lift №3 and the lower station of the ski lift №22. The trail to Khomiak is also popular because there is a small increase in altitude during the ascent, which makes the climb as pleasant as possible.

Photo: View of Mount Khomiak from the village of Yablunytsia (wikipedia.org)

Volovets, Zakarpattia

Volovets is a famous village in the historical region of Boykivshchyna in Zakarpattia. It is a good choice if you are looking for a relaxing vacation surrounded by mountains and picturesque nature. Here you can rent a room in a family-run hotel and admire the mountain scenery right from the windows. In Volovets, you can swim in swimming pools and vats at affordable prices.

The village can also be visited as part of excursions from neighboring towns in the region.

Volovets has a well-developed infrastructure: there are grocery stores from well-known Ukrainian chains, ATMs, pharmacies, delivery services, cafes, and coffee shops. The local market offers almost everything: from fruits and vegetables, and clothes to European goods and souvenirs.

Photo: Volovets (RBC-Ukraine/Olha Orekhova)