Winter tour in the Carpathians

If you have had enough of that hot weather, come to us and experience the cold.

We arrange everything you need: transportation, guide/interpreter, warm accommodation and cool activities.

You should come to escape and experience something very new and very raw. To be taken back in time when the tradition was at its peak. There’s not a lot of tourists here. You will meet a lot of locals and they will tell you stories of what they have been through and what it is like to live in this part of the world. The local people are quite simple but they know how to have fun. No silicon (fake/plastic) mountains. Just real mountains.

Winter escape in the Carpathians

So, what I was talking about? – Right, the winter tour in the Carpathians. Its program is fully customized and suitable for single travelers, couples, families and friends. We are flexible.

Our destination is Shybene – the remote Carpathian village (end of the world), 140 km from Ivano-Frankivsk. This place is known for the beauty of nature and friendly people. Here you will stay in a cozy house of a local family. You will be treated like a brother. It will be warm and comfortable (shower, hot water, Internet). The best homemade food (and drinks) ever is waiting for you.

We recommend staying for three-four nights. As it’s so nice the time would pass by quickly.

Activities and some of the highlights

– horse riding. It’s magical. You feel like you were lost in the Carpathian Mountains. On the horse, with all this nature, no noise, no people. You feel a sense of calm while riding a horse. Our horseman is always nearby. Perfect experience to escape the daily grind of city life.

– snowmobiles. One of few locations in Ukraine where we have lots of snow and amazing places to visit.

– shooting range – you can try to shoot a real rifle. We’ll go to the forest and have a number of shots. So you can feel yourself as a hunter. We guarantee no animals would die.

– insane quad bike in winter time. You can experience a quad bike ride holding a rope with skis on. Having a quad traveling at a high speed. While watching the Carpathian Mountains fly by. There are no ski trails in the area, but you will ski anyway.

– you will have extraordinary food like a wild rabbit or river trout. And boar. And deer. And a few kinds of moonshine. All that can be cooked in an average way or on a fire. Everything is homemade (bread), honey (very pure), moonshine (only for 18+).

– Hutsul stove. Yes, a real Hutsul stove where you can sleep.

– it will take you a few hours to travel to Ivano-Frankivsk. Clients better have cash (as it’s a remote location) or pay by credit card. The trip to the family takes about 4 hours. You will get to a point where you will see mountains. However, this is just a taste of what is truly to be experienced as we get to the destination.

– family. The family works hard to ensure you are well fed. They are extremely hospitable. They will go out of their way to ensure your experience is enjoyable. But this is not an effort for them as they’re normally welcoming and hospitable on a daily basis. You will feel like you are a part of the traditional when you are wearing amazing Hutsul clothing which in itself has been well made.

P.s. People from Australia come and really enjoy it. You should be next.

Price and how to order

The cost of our winter tour in the Carpathians depends on how many travelers there will be, duration and activities. Please contact us and request a quote. Usually we respond within a few hours only. So you place and order, we calculate, you confirm and we do it. You can pay in cash or by credit card.

Testimonial from this winter Carpathian tour

There are few places that offer such a unique and captivating experience in a raw environment in freezing conditions. My guide Andriy from Green Ukraine was incredibly easy to deal with to have this trip arranged. I had visited a few different countries in eastern Europe before arriving in Ukraine in the dead of winter and then deciding – on a whim- to get lost in a village somewhere and experience something extraordinary. I stumbled upon this gem, and it did not disappoint!

Winter activities like horse riding, skiing, and quad biking in thick snow spearheaded by Ukrainian adrenaline junkie – who was hell bent on recreating a scene out of The Revenant – are all great. However, the simple things are what really interests me; the enchanting walk through dense forests surrounded by snow covered trees, the mesmerizing white view of the Carpathian mountains from a distance and the engrossing stories that were told over proper Ukrainian moonshine that will warm you up…amongst other things. The hearty homemade food is the icing on the cake – pardon the pun. Everything from basic homemade bread and delicious soup and dumplings to the extreme boar, river trout and if you’re game enough…. wild rabbit and deer liver.To say the family I stayed with are accommodating is an understatement, they really go out of their way to make sure you’re comfortable and enjoy being in their presence – and they enjoy being in yours. Yes, at times it was bitterly cold at this time of year and in this part of the world, but I could not have felt more warmer surrounded by this family – the large Hutsul stove in their house helped a bit as well.

My experience was further enhanced meeting different people in the village who straight away felt welcoming. Andriy himself is incredibly friendly and always willing to guide you along the way. It’s no secret that he is very knowledgeable and has strong ties to the Shybene community. He is the perfect guide – honest and he will let you know what’s worth experiencing or not. He is more than willing to translate for you and inform you of the interesting traditions of the Hutsuls.

If people are ever unsure whether to have this experience in winter, I’d say just layer up, get out there and do it! The wild and wonderful is waiting for you!It’s a gorgeous part of the world to experience in this lifetime. Thanks to Andriy and to the host family for this…escape.

Glenn, Australia