Compare Ukraine River Cruise by SmarTours vs East European Discovery Northbound - Romania, Moldova, Ukraine and Belarus by Penguin Travel

Day 1: Depart USA

Your fascinating voyage to Ukraine begins as you depart New York this evening on your overnight flight to the Ukraine.

Day 2: Arrive Kiev (Ukraine)

Meals: Dinner

Arrive in beautiful Kiev, the 1000-year old capital of the Ukraine. You’ll be met and escorted to your riverboat. Enjoy a welcome orientation followed by dinner. MS Dnieper Princess.

Day 3: Kiev

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Today, Experience the unique history, architecture and rich culture of the city while docking here for the next two days. A guided tour introduces you to Kiev’s grand monuments as you travel along broad boulevards lined with chestnut trees. Visit the impressive Cathedral of St. Sophia with its golden domes echoing the past glory of Byzantium and view the 18th century baroque St. Andrew’s Church. You’ll also visit the charming Old Quarter where many historic buildings remain. Later, enjoy free time to stroll around, explore the fascinating Jewish Quarter or visit one of Kiev’s many museums.

Day 4: Kiev/Set Sail

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Enjoy an included excursion to renowned Pechor Lavra, the “Monastery of the Caves” founded in 1051. Here, tour the catacombs that served as religious tombs for centuries. Free time to explore independently. Later today set sail. Over the next several days, sail south along the Dnieper River and onto the Black Sea, then back north to Odessa as you get a close-up look at ancient villages and picturesque countryside.

Day 5: Kanev/Cherkassy

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Today dock in one of the Ukraine’s oldest cities, Kanev, founded in the 11th Century and successively ruled by Tatars, Lithuanians, Poles, Turks and Russians. Here, visit the museum dedicated to the life and works of Taras Shevchenko, the greatly admired Ukrainian poet and painter. Return to the boat and continue sailing. In the afternoon dock in the historic town of Cherkassy and enjoy a walking tour.

Day 6: Kremenchug

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

This morning dock in Kremenchug, founded in the 15th century as a wooden fortress and embark on a brief guided walking tour. Here, enjoy an excursion to a “Kolhoz “, a typical Ukrainian Village. Set sail this afternoon and savor the passing vista.

Day 7: Zaporozhye

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Follow the footsteps of the legendary Ukrainian Cossacks, the mighty warriors that defended the empire’s borders, as you visit the town of Zaporozhye, an important stop along the river and part of the ancient trade route that ran from Constantinople to the Baltic Sea. Here, visit the Cossack Museum and learn about the rich history of the city and the fabled Cossacks. You’ll also tour other highlights of the town. You may join an optional horsemanship show of the Zaporo Cossacks. This afternoon set sail and admire the passing scenery. On board activities are centered on “Discover the Ukraine” theme and include lectures, games and local food sampling.

Day 8: Kherson

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Disembark today in the town of Kherson and board a small motorboat that travels along the narrow canals of the picturesque Dnieper Delta and explore the bountiful fauna and wildlife. Return to your riverboat and set sail on your Black Sea Tour.

Day 9: Sevastopol

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Dock in the city of Sevastopol, an important seaport founded in 1778 and best known as the site of a fateful siege during the Crimean War. Since the early 19th century, it served as a base for the Russian Black Sea Fleet. Enjoy a guided tour to view the highlights of gracious Sevastopol, including a visit to the Panorama Museum that features a multi-dimensional artwork representing a twenty-four hour period in the defense of the city during the Crimean War. This evening, an optional concert of the “Black Sea Fleet” Choir is available.

Day 10: Yalta & Livadia Palace Excursion.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

On an included full day shore excursion visit Livadia Palace, a former royal residence of the Czar, built in 1913 in lavish Italian Renaissance style and also known as the White Palace. It was also the site of the Yalta Conference, held in 1945, between Roosevelt, Churchill and Stalin. Stop along the route for a photo opportunity of the famous Swallow’s Nest, a striking Gothic-style building resembling a castle that was built on the huge overhanging cliff. Arrive in Yalta, a popular seaside resort that is blessed with temperate year-round climate. It was the retreat of the Czars and Russian nobility and later became the playground of the Soviet leaders. A walking tour of the promenade and seafront also takes in Yalta’s tree-lined streets rising steeply from the coast. Return to the ship in time for dinner and set sail towards Odessa.

Day 11: Odessa

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Today dock in Odessa, the “Pearl of the Black Sea” and gateway to many of the famous Black Sea resorts. Spectacular Odessa is built on terraced hills rising above the gently curving bay and has drawn the rich and famous for centuries. On a guided afternoon tour explore the bustling harbor, the tree-lined promenade and see some of the graceful historic buildings painted in pastel hues and the beautiful Opera House.

Day 12: Odessa

Full day at leisure to explore lovely Odessa independently and to take in the beauty of the city. Optional activities are available. Tonight savor the Captain’s Gala Dinner.

Day 13: Odessa/USA

Meals: Breakfast

Disembark and transfer to the airport. Your memorable journey ends as you arrive New York later today.

1 Bucharest-Sinaia-Brasov

Meeting our guide in the lobby of our hotel in Bucharest at 09.00 am and drive to Sinaia. We cross the Carpathians toward Sinaia where we visit the fabulous Peles Castle, an exquisite piece of architecture and one of the most spectacular castles in Europe, with its arm and armoury collection, unique for its richness and diversity. The Castle served as the summer residence of the Romanian Royal family. Continue to Brasov. Arrival at Brasov, formerly Kronstadt, founded by the Saxon colonists, as the South gate of Transylvania. Walking tour through the old town centre, including the Black Church – the biggest church between Istanbul and Vienna; the Council Square, the Hirscher House/16century, - the baroque style buildings from the Austro-Hungarian time and Ekaterina Gate of the Old Citadel. It is also worth mentioning one of the oldest Orthodox Churches in Transylvania, where you can admire the beautiful frescoes of the chapel. Hotel in Brasov.

2 Brasov-Bran-Lacu Rosu

Lunch in a local restaurant in Bran and visit to the famous medieval castle (the "Dracula's" Castle) built as a fortress for the citizens of Brasov in 1377, as a defence to the city. Prince Vlad used the Castle as a general headquarters during his incursions in Transylvania. In 1922, Queen Mary of Romania changed the castle into Royal residence, the best known castle in Romania. Stop at Prejmer for visit to the fortified church, also included in the UNESCO World Heritage.

3 Lacu Rosu-Voronet

We visit the jewels of Bucovina: Voronet also called “the Sistine Chapel of the East” Drive through the Moldavian villages, visiting Tarpesti – the home of the delightful “Neculai Popa” Museum, unique in the world, where colourful masks and folk costumes are displayed.

4 Voronet-Suceava-Iasi

Drive to Bucovina –the “upper land” with the unique painted monasteries, belonging to the UNESCO World Heritage. We include a visit to Sucevita monastery, the largest of the monasteries in the Bucovina region, with massive towers and stone walls protecting the inner buildings, which are decorated with portraits of historical legends and biblical scenes. Arrive Iasi, walking tour to Roznoveanu Palace, Vasile Alecsandri National Theatre, Saint Nicholas Church (built by Stephen the Great), Metropolitan Cathedral and Church of the Three Hierarchs.

5 Crossing Moldova border to Chisinau (Moldova)

Drive to the border with Moldova, and continue to Chisinau. If time permits you can enjoy a walking tour of the city's main sights including the Orthodox Cathedral of Christ's Nativity, Presidential Palace, Parliament building and the Holy Gates, which are known as Moldova's 'Arc de Triomphe'. Excursion and wine tasting at Milesti Mici - the largest wine "underground city" in Europe (length - 200 km), which is listed in Guinness World Records. It has more than 200 km of limestone tunnels, 55 km of which are used for storing wine. Overnight hotel in Chisinau.

6 Chisinau-Tiraspol (Transnistria)

Drive to Transnistrian “capital” – Tiraspol. Stop at Bender Fortress on the way. Continue to Tiraspol where you will have the opportunity to travel back in time to USSR. Transnistria is a thin strip of land wedged between Moldova and Ukraine. It is home to more than 500,000 people and has a parliamentary government, a standing army, and its own currency. It has all the trappings of an independent nation—but isn't. you won't find it on many maps, and not a single member of the United Nations recognizes its existence. You will start by visiting the Lenin monument and tanks left from the Second World War. The city seems to be a ghost of the Soviet past.

7 Tiraspol - Odessa (Ukraine)

Today we head Northeast to Odessa which is just 105 km away from Tiraspol. Odessa is a port city in Ukraine, which is the fifth largest in the country. It is situated on the Black Sea coast. Its population is 1 012 500 people. Officially the city was founded in 1794 as a Russian naval fortress. The name Odessa is borrowed from the Greco-Roman colony of Odessos in Thrace, at the request of Empress Catherine the Great. In the modern city you can see examples of Mediterranean architecture under the influence of French and Italian masters. The palace, owned by Lev Tolstoy's family, is one of the typical representatives of this school. Most buildings are built of white limestone, a deposit from which is close to the city. Charming examples of architecture are the Opera and Ballet Theater, the National Marine University, the Palace of Chess and the Archaeological Museum. If you come to Odessa, you should not miss the Seaside Boulevard, Suvorov Street, Tschichin Bridge, the French Boulevard and the Museum of Maritime History.

8 Odessa

Free time to explore the city. Optionall tour to Odessa Catacombs. Abandoned mines have been expanded by local smugglers and used by them as hiding places and warehouses. Today's so-called "catacombs" are a very popular tourist attraction.

9 Odessa - Kiev

Early departure from Odessa as we have a long day driving in front of us - 470 km to Kiev. Stop near the city of Pervomaysk, where we will visit the Strategic Missile Force Museum, which in the past was an actual nuclear weapon launch site. We will see the most powerful Cold War Soviet missile - the R-36M2 'governor' bomb, which was nicknamed 'Satan' by the Americans. Arrive Kiev in the evening.

10 Kiev

Free day or optional tour to Chernobyl. The large restricted area where the tragic event of the Chernobil nuclear disaster took place in 1986 is enigmatic and indeed one of a kind place to explorer. This excursion will give you a glipse towards abandoned city of Pripyat, where nature has already started conquering back what once used to be streets, hotels, schools etc. With your Geiger counter in hand, you'll have the chance see the new dome of the exploded nuclear reactor from only a few meters distance.

11 Kiev - Lviv

Sightseeing tour of Kiev in the morning before we continue to Lviv. Some of the most famous Kiev attractions include: the Kiev-Pecherska Lavra Monastery, the Monastery of St. Michael with his gold domes, the churches of St. Sofia and St. Andrew and many others. In addition, the National Opera, the Kiev Youth Theater, the Golden Gate, the Independence Square. In the early afternoon we take off to Lviv. The journey will take about 5 hours in comfortable train and we will arrive in Lviv in the evening for an overnight.

12 Lviv

We will start the day with a walking tour in the city of Lviv (Lemberg - German, Lwów - Polish) Lviv - the city known as the most beautiful in Ukraine. it's architectural layout is a collection of numerous styles and epochs. East of the modern part of the city is the Old Town. The points of interest are: Renox Square; the Ivan Franco National Theater - one of the masterpieces of world architecture; the Roman Catholic Cathedral - one of the most remarkable Gothic buildings dating back to the end of the 14th century; the Baroque Cathedral. Currently Lviv is a city buzzling with life and culture. Literally every cafe or restaurant is like a small interactive museum full of curiosities to discover.

13 Lviv - Minsk (Belarus)

Free time in Lviv in the morning, before we continue our journey to Minsk. Flight to Minsk.

14 Minsk. Nesvizh and Mir Castles

Short sightseeing tour of Minsk in the morning before we continue to Nesvizh and Mir Castles. First we visit the impressive UNESCO World Heritage Site of Nesvizh Castle, which has been home to the Radswill Family for over 400 years. The fortresses construction began in 1584, but it's been extended and changed over the years and now features a mix of Renaissance, Baroque, Rococo, Classicism and Neo-Gothic architecture. The estate also contains the largest landscape gardens in Europe and a number of ornamental lakes. After some free time to have lunch and explore Nesvizh we drive on to the beautiful Mir Castle, which is also UNESCO-Listed. Creation of the fort began at the end of the 15th century and again a number of different architectural styles can be seen. The castle is one of the most splendid in Europe and was reopened to the public in 2010 after being extensively restored to its former glories. Back to Misk for overnight.

15 Departure