Itinerary
- Day 1
Ivano-Frankivsk
Begin in the Carpathians by heading to the 17th-century Maniavsky Monastery, where you can walk through the architectural grounds and grab lunch at the monastery's refectory. After that, there's a short trek to one of the region's highest waterfalls nearby. By evening, you'll check into a traditional Hutsul wooden guest house, have dinner, meet the other travelers, and you can optionally use the sauna if you want to relax.
- Start point
- Івано-Франківськ, Івано-Франківська, Ukraine (Railway Station)
- Meals
- Breakfast (Traditional Ukrainian restaurant)
Included Activities
- Visit Maniavsky Monastery (17th century architectural monument)
- Walk to nearby waterfall
- Breakfast in traditional Ukrainian restaurant
Optional Activities
- Lunch in the monastery's refectory
- Sauna at the guest house
Landmarks Maniavsky Monastery - Day 2
Kolomya
Travel to Kolomya to see what the region's folk art traditions are all about. The National Museum of Hutsul and Pokuttia Folk Art has wood carvings, embroidery, folk costumes, musical instruments, weapons, pottery, weaving, icons, and sculptures on display. Then there's the Museum of Pysanka, which is the only one of its kind in the world and focuses on Easter egg decorations and their patterns. In the evening, you'll walk around the historic town center to get a feel for the area.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Traditional Ukrainian restaurant)
Included Activities
- Visit National Museum of Hutsul and Pokuttia Folk Art
- Visit Museum of Pysanka
- Breakfast in traditional Ukrainian restaurant
Optional Activities
- Evening exploration of historical town center
Landmarks National Museum of Hutsul and Pokuttia Folk Art Museum of Pysanka - Day 3
Kosiv
Kosiv is basically the hub for Hutsul crafts, so you'll spend time browsing the local market to see handmade items from across the region. You'll meet local craftspeople who show how they work with ceramics and you can try using the potter's wheel yourself if you're interested. The day winds down with a local dinner where you'll learn more about Hutsul traditions and customs from the people around you.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Traditional Ukrainian restaurant), Dinner (Local dinner with stories about Hutsul traditions)
Included Activities
- Visit Kosiv market
- Meet and learn from local craftspeople
- Ceramics demonstration and hands-on pottery experience
- Breakfast in traditional Ukrainian restaurant
Landmarks Kosiv Market - Day 4
Verkhovyna
Head to Kryvorivnya, which locals call the 'Hutsul Athens' because of its cultural importance and how it's inspired Ukrainian writers and poets over the years. The village has traditional wooden houses set in mountain landscapes that really show what this region is about. You'll check out one of the museums there, like the Hutsul Grazhda which was originally someone's home. Later, you travel to Verkhovyna to meet a musician who has hundreds of folk instruments he can actually play.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Traditional Ukrainian restaurant)
Included Activities
- Visit Hutsul Grazhda museum in Kryvorivnya
- Meet musician in Verkhovyna
- Breakfast in traditional Ukrainian restaurant
Optional Activities
- Explore additional museums in Kryvorivnya
Landmarks Hutsul Grazhda - Day 5
Ivano-Frankivsk to Chernivtsi
You'll leave Hutsulshina and head toward Bukovina, arriving in Chernivtsi where the architecture from the Austro-Hungarian period is really well-preserved and popular with photographers. The city has historic temples and one of Europe's oldest Jewish cemeteries that you can explore. The main landmark here is the Residence of Bukovinian and Dalmatian Metropolitans, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and definitely worth seeing.
- End point
- Чернівці, Чернівецька, Ukraine (Railway station)
- Meals
- Breakfast (Traditional Ukrainian restaurant)
Included Activities
- Visit Residence of Bukovinian and Dalmatian Metropolitans (UNESCO World Heritage Site)
- Breakfast in traditional Ukrainian restaurant
Optional Activities
- Explore historic temples
- Visit old Jewish cemetery
Landmarks Residence of Bukovinian and Dalmatian Metropolitans
