Kiev & Odessa Tour (CB-36)

Today marks the start of your Ukrainian adventure. We’ll be waiting at the international airport to drive you to your hotel. After you’ve checked in and unpacked, the time’s yours, so why not head out for a stroll to get your bearings before tomorrow’s sightseeing gets underway.

It’s time to get to know the Ukrainian capital with this comprehensive sightseeing tour. We’ll take you to St Sophia Cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage Site famed for its domes, frescoes and mosaics. The 12th century St Archangel Michael’s Golden Domes Monastery is as impressive. Admire the Golden Gate, an imposing arch which is a fully rebuilt version of an 11th century gateway that stood on this same site. End the day with a walk long the almost mile-long Kreshatik Street. It’s where you’ll find the city’s government offices as well as TsUM, the country’s most famous department store.

There’s plenty more to explore in Kiev and today we’ve selected the quirky Kievo-Pecherska Lavra for our first tour. This 11th century cave monastery is still in use today and is another of the country’s UNESCO-listed sites. Around 100 monks are active at the monastery today but it’s those who no longer move that are the main draw - their mummified remains lay in glass-topped coffins in part of the cave complex. Leaving the Monastery of the Caves, we return to the city centre and take a walk up the steep and cobbled Andriyivsky Uzviz, one of Kiev’s most photographed streets. If you need to give your lungs or legs a rest, there is a plethora of cafés, art galleries and souvenir stalls on the way up to the gold and blue St Andrew’s Church which occupies a commanding position at the top.

It’s time to depart Kiev for our second city destination, Odessa. We’ll travel by high speed train south through the Ukrainian countryside to reach the country’s third largest settlement, known as the Pearl of the Black Sea. On arrival at the train station, you’ll be met for your transfer to the hotel.

Hop on the Odessa funicular for panoramic views across the city and its harbour. On the way down, ditch your ride and take the Potemkin Steps, which run parallel, leading from Prymorsky Boulevard to the sea. They’re an optical illusion - looking down from above, the bottom steps appear to be the same size as those at the top, even though they’re actually wider. Our Odessa city tour also takes in the Cathedral of the Assumption and the Baroque sculptures inside the sumptuous Pasazh shopping mall built in the late 19th century. If you’re so inclined, the city has a number of interesting museums, covering subjects as diverse as fine arts, literature and maritime history. Alternatively, in Arkadia district, you can do as the locals do and go to the beach.

Beneath Odessa, there’s a subterranean labyrinth of around 1000km of tunnels hewn from the soft sandstone. It’s possible to access some of these underground passageways with a local guide and explore this maze which is cool in both senses of the word. They’ll recount some of the stories and legends associated with this place. Some tunnels sheltered partisans during the Second World War - you can learn more about them if you opt to visit the Museum of Partisan Glory afterwards. It too occupies part of the catacombs. The rest of the day is free for you to explore Odessa on your own.

It’s time to bid farewell to Ukraine and leave our Odessa hotel for the airport. You’ll enjoy an included transfer to get you there in plenty of time to catch your flight home.