It is possible to have a fantastic vacation in the mountains. There is something for everyone whether you enjoy nature and adventure.
The Carpathian Mountains offer everything that you could wish for if you are into an active vacation. Everything from beautiful hikes in the mountains overlooking small villages to extreme sports such as rafting along the mightly rivers at top speed.
It is actually surprising that the Carpathian Mountains are not more well-known as a tourist attraction in Western Europe. Prices are low, and the possibilities many, both for adrenaline junkies and families who just want to enjoy beautiful nature.
I went on a four-day rafting trip in the Carpathian Mountains with the tour company Tourclub Ternopil near the city of Vorokhta with mighty mountains as neighbors. Here, I spend three days rafting on three different rivers of different levels with a guide for around 180 dollars, including rafting, food, and accommodation for two people. One day, I spent walking around the mountains.
The nearby cities have small and beautiful restaurants, where it is possible to get a hot meal, and the many locals are always ready to help you on your trip.
It is possible to take the train from Kyiv or Lviv to Vorokhta from where you can get picked up by your guides. A potential trip could start by leaving Kyiv on Wednesday, arriving in Vorokhta Thursday, spending Thursday to Sunday exploring and rafting.
The Carpathian Mountains
The Carpathian Mountains are a range of mountain formations throughout Central and Eastern Europe in countries such as Ukraine, Romania, Poland, Hungary and Austria. It is around 1,500 kilometers long and the third-longest mountain range in Europe after the Urals and Scandinavian Mountains.
The highest point in Ukraine is Mount Hoverla in the Carpathian Mountains, which is 2,061 meters high and it is possible to climb. For people interested in wildlife, the Carpathian Mountains also offer an opportunity to go looking for all kinds of birds and other animals. The Carpathian Mountains also have brown bears and wolves.
“Carpathian mountains; one of the wildest and least known portions of Europe,” said the Irish author Bram Stoker, who wrote the horror novel Dracula, in 1897.
