TOUR HIGHLIGHTS:

• Participate in a Galician Culinary workshop

• Make your own Lviv chocolate in a Chocolate

workshop

• Taste local Ukrainian wines in a secret wine bar

• Celebrate Independence Day at the open-air museum

“Shevchenkivskyi Hai”

• Visit a local goat farm, and explore the secrets of

cheese making

• Feel like a part of a big family during a visit to a

Hutsul family.

• Admire the works of the best craftsmen at the

Yaremche Craft market.

• See a performance of Folk Group – “Gerdan”

• Try Kyiv Cake and Chicken Kyiv in Kyiv!

• Participate in workshops to make Banosh, varenyky,

chenahy and deruny, and become a true specialist in

Ukrainian cuisine!

If you are a true connoisseur of food, we would like to

introduce you the best traditional Ukrainian cuisine!

Try the food, feel the taste, become part of it!

We will plunge into everything that is connected with

Ukrainian food, and the culture and traditions of this

fascinating country. Learn how to cook your own

varenyky (dumplings), and other delicious dishes.

Veselka Ukrainian Restaurant Tour 2019 Dates: September 21 – October 3 2019| Duration: 13 Days/ 12 Nights | Start Lviv – End Kyiv

Individually Handcrafted Tours –Inspired by Traditions!

The Journey Lviv

Day 1 Upon arrival, we’ll transfer you to the hotel in the very city centre. Take some time to freshen up and unwind as next we’ll treat you to welcome dinner in "The most expensive Galician restaurant". The concept of the venue is a mysterious Masonic society that occupies an apartment in the old building. Day 2 After breakfast, enjoy a brief City tour on a retro train. Then taste the amazing Lviv coffee, prepared in a special way in the Lviv coffee mine!

Take a walking city tour, to get acquainted with the rich culture and culinary history of the city. Next – the culinary workshop – one of the leading chefs in the city will teach you how to cook some Galician meals. The workshop and the lunch will take place in traditional Jewish restaurant called ‘At the Golden Rose’.

Afterwards we suggest shopping at the local souvenir market, when you will be able to stock up embroidered shirts, handcrafted souvenirs and accessories and much more! Furthermore, your guide will point you to the bookstores, where you’ll find the treasure for yourself – culinary books with Galician recipes! Then this evening, you will participate in wine tasting at your hotel’s secret wine bar! Soak up the unforgettable atmosphere, and enjoy the aromas of this divine drink in full.

Day 3

Lviv has some of the best chocolate in Europe alongside the chocolate ‘capitals’ of Belgium and Switzerland.

Have you ever tried making candy yourself? You will have a chance to see if you are any good, at the Lviv

Handmade Chocolate Factory!

Then visit Shevchenkivsky Hai Open-Air Museum. This place recreates traditional atmosphere and

household of villages from different regions around Western Ukraine.

In the evening, we’ll have a special party, called Zabava, which will be in a cozy two-story restaurant – "Trout,

Bread and Wine". The place that is known for the baked Carpathian trout along with a fragrant fresh

baguette and wine. Furthermore, inside, everyone can play a ‘surma’ – a kind of Carpathian trumpet.

HOTEL:

Hotel Vintage Boutique or similar

https://vintagehotel.com.ua/en/

3 nights

Welcome to Lviv, a centre of Galicia region and a city with a charming medieval atmosphere, delicious

coffee, chocolate, beer and food! Galicia has long been known as the multinational region – Ukrainians,

Poles, Jews, and Armenians. Moreover, as all these people were somehow co-exist with each other, it led

to the exchange of knowledge, including the culinary. So because of this we have now specific Galician

cuisine, which you will have a chance to explore on your gastronomic tour!

The Journey Carpathian Mountains

Day 4 Trip to "Fromages d'Elise" – a cheese farm for a cheese and wine tasting session. After lunch, we’ll transfer to the picturesque Hutsul village of Tyudiv in the Carpathian Mountains.

Day 5 Еake a trip to the village of Yavoriv, famous for its unique lizhnyky –wool blankets. You’ll see how they’re made by craftsmen and will be able to buy some in order to warm yourself during cold winters! Next stop is a village of Bukovets, located higher up in the mountains, which inhabitants keep preserving their ancestors’ traditions till nowadays! On the way, your guide will tell you exciting stories and legends about this area to make you fall in love with the Carpathians! You will be cordially invited for lunch with a local Hutsul family! Learn traditional songs; try rich and natural home-made Hutsul food! Then meet with a local priest, who will open you the ancient wooden church and tell you more about its history. Experience the famous Hutsul hospitality at its best!

Day 6 Visit Kosiv craft market in the morning – where local craftsmen skillfully produce Easter eggs, jewelry boxes, spoons, pottery, embroidery, leather goods, and dried and canned mushrooms, berries, and many other goods. Next, a short trip to see a beautiful ancient wooden church in the village of Pistyn and enjoy delicious local cuisine in a restaurant overlooking a mountain river in the village of Sheshory. Spend some time near waterfall and swim in the mountain river.

Upon return to Kosiv, get prepared for the banosh (corn meal) workshop! The chef of the restaurant where you’ll be staying will reveal the secrets of a true Hutsul banosh.

Day 7

Take a trip to a local traditional pottery factory, where you can learn the Hutsul technique behind these

handmade pieces of art, and learn about the unique designs local to this region!

Next stop – Tulova village to take lessons of cooking varenyky (dumplings) and how to make the best

homebrew moonshine from locals!

After delicious lunch, we will travel to Chernivtsi - enjoy amazing landscapes from the bus windows!

Upon arrival, we’ll check-in and then have a rest at the hotel. After, we’ll take a city orientation of this

incredible city.

HOTEL:

‘Mayetok Sokilske’ Hotel or similar http://sokilske.com.ua/

3 Nights

Here, in Carpathians you will realize that for Hutsuls a meal is not just a way to tame hunger but also to

communicate. Sharing a meal is considered an important social gathering!

The variety of the dishes in the mountains is endless… However, fresh mushrooms find their way in any hot

dish as well as traditional salo, most often served as pork lard.

The Journey Chernivtsi

Day 8

We will take you on a guided city tour – you’ll have a chance to learn about Chernivtsi fascinating

multicultural history, visit the most beautiful and notable sights the city has to offer.

One more must-visit place is the local Hogwarts-like University – the architectural ensemble of the

main campus of the university, the Residence of Bukovynian and Dalmatian Metropolitans are

included on the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

After the city tour we will treat you to delicious lunch in ‘Panska Guralnya’ restaurant, located on the

main street of Chernivtsi – Kobylyanska Street. Be sure, you will be positively surprised with our

order!

After the city tour, your guide will also show some worth visiting stores, where you will be able to

stock up.

Day 9

Optional church visit in the morning.

In the morning, we would also offer you visiting Immigration Museum to find out more about your

ancestors from around Chernivtsi.

Later on – a workshop – you will be taught how to cook traditional Buko soup called ‘chenahy’.

Usually served in the ceramic pots it contains layers of potato, vegetables, and pork ribs.

After the master class, get prepared for the Show of the incredibly talented and famous

Folk Ensemble Gerdan.

Their arrangements of well–known and ancient Ukrainian songs will amaze you. Then dinner in

‘Hopachok’ restaurant.

HOTEL:

Hotel Bukovyna or similar http://bukovyna-hotel.com/?l=2 3 Nights

As well as Galicia, Bukovyna region has become a multicultural cradle, where different

nationalities as Ukrainians, Moldavians, Romanians, Jews and many others have mixed and

brought up new recipes into the culinary diverse of Ukraine.

The Journey Kyiv

Day 10 We’ll set off for Kyiv on a comfortable vehicle specially arranged for your group! On our way, we will stop for lunch in the city of Khmelnytskyi after which we’ll hit the road again. Upon arrival in Kyiv – check-in, city orientation and free evening to freshen up after the bus trip.

Day 11 Your first impression of Kyiv is bound to be a surprise. To introduce you to the city, we’ll take you on a city tour – you’ll visit Independence Square, better now known as Maidan, a history changing place, where the Revolution of Dignity happened!

We’ll also walk down the Khreshchatyk Street – the most famous and well-trodden street, which runs along the chestnut alley. Next up, you will be also taken through iconic sights like St. Michael's Golden-Domed Monastery and St. Sophia’s Cathedral, where you’ll see the icon of Saint Mary called Oranta, the mother and protector of Ukraine! Travellers throughout Ukraine and abroad come to this Pilgrimage destination to see 1000 y.o. frescoes and mosaics.

In the afternoon, we have a special treat – we will try famous Chicken Kyiv and Kyiv Cake, which are the calling cards of the beautiful city!Then treat yourself to a shopping at Andriivsky Uzviz – a street that’s home to the city’s artisans, craftsmen and vendors – explore items starting from souvenir trinkets, to authentic costumes and war times memorabilia.

Day 12 In the morning, take the workshop how to make the potato pancakes, which would literally melt in your mouth. That is why do not forget your recipe books!

In the afternoon, go together with your guide to the Postal Square, near the River Port, where whose, who feel adventurous may take a Dnieper River cruise on a comfortable boat and discover the major waterfront sights of Kyiv in a relaxing atmosphere.

Afterwards, get ready for the last Zabava with amazing folk ensemble Rozhanytsya and of course all the quintessence of Ukrainian cuisine!

Day 13

After a free morning to stock up on souvenirs we will transfer you to the airport where, sadly, we will have to say our goodbyes! Thank you for travelling with Cobblestone Freeway!

HOTEL:

Hotel Dnipro or similar www.dniprohotel.ua

3 Nights

Welcome to Polissya region and its centre – Kyiv!

The famous dishes of Ukrainian cuisine, borshch and potato pancakes are the iconic dishes of Polissya. Here it is

not only a meal but also a symbol of prosperity. Due to its geographical peculiarities, the region is quite diverse

in both culture and cuisine. To talk about traditional beverages, the Polissya is famous for kvass - usually a non-

alcoholic drink made from bread rye.

Tour Details

WHAT’S INCLUDED:

▪ Escorted tour from beginning to the end

▪ All Events included in the Itinerary

▪ 2 big meals a day + snacks

▪ All land transportation in an air conditioned

quality bus with professional driver

▪ 12 nights in comfortable character rich 4 &

5 star hotels and quality villas, 1 overnight

train rides

▪ Internet in hotels when possible

▪ Full time tour leader

▪ Special events exclusively for Cobblestone

travellers

▪ Cobblestone Freeway t-shirt

NOT INCLUDED:

▪ Extra days before/after the tour

▪ Events and Services not included in the

itinerary or marked as Optional

▪ Some meals and beverages

▪ Airport Transfers if you’re NOT

travelling with a group

▪ Travel Insurance

▪ Laundry & Telephone Services

OPTIONAL ADD-ONS:

▪ Extend your trip

▪ Upgrade your room / Get a single room

▪ Do a side trip – visit Family, have your Family History researched

MORE QUESTIONS

If you have any question or requests regarding your trip – big, small or

downright quirky – please call or e-mail us. We are happy to help!

*You will be charged for additional services at the end of the trip *Unforeseen events and new discoveries may result in changes to this itinerary, but only for the better! None of the activities listed are guaranteed at this point. You will receive a more detailed itinerary closer to departure dates.