An In-depth Study of Three Unsung Countries and Transdniester
Traverse a little-known region that has changed hands from its earliest history. Belarus, Ukraine and Moldova are three of the least frequented and least familiar countries in Europe. Time slowed drastically here after the devastation of WWII, but these beautiful countries are emerging from the shadows. Visit an artist in Kiev, share a meal with a Chisinau family, and take a day trip to the Transdniester region, a narrow strip of Moldovan land where separatists have declared a disputed independence.
Special 2019 Departure Our May 5-18, 2019 departure of this tour will feature special host Patricia Schultz, author of the New York Times #1 bestseller, “1,000 Places To See Before You Die.”
14 Day Trip
- Small Group
Limited to 16 passengers - Travels to:
Belarus, Central and East Europe, Moldova, Ukraine - Premier Series:
Minsk to Chisinau
MIR Signature Why end mights on this Tour
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Relish a home-cooked Moldovan mealRead More
Savor a home-cooked Moldovan meal in a private home.... -
Dine with a rural family in a private homeRead More
Dine with a rural family in the Belarusian countryside... -
Enjoy a private demonstration of egg paintingRead More
Learn about the Ukrainian national art of egg painting during a private demonstration by a master artisan.... -
Visit the chilling Chernobyl MuseumRead More
Visit the Chernobyl Museum, explaining the combination of human error and design flaws responsible for the 1986 explosion and fire at Reactor #4, only 62 miles from Kiev....
Why Travel with MIR on this Tour
- More than 30 years of Belarus, Ukraine and Moldova travel experience
- MIR’s small group tour Belarus, Ukraine & Moldova was honored as a “Tour of a Lifetime,” by National Geographic Traveler
- Travel programs such as Stanford and Northwestern universities have chosen MIR to guide them to this region
- Twice named one of National Geographic Adventure’s “Best Adventure Travel Companies on Earth”
- On-the-ground support and quality you can trust
- Personalized travel planning from start to finish
- Guides and tour managers that clients rave about
Itinerary & Highlights at a Glance
Days 1-3: Minsk, Brest
Begin in Minsk, capital of Belarus, for a fascinating glimpse into the socialist past. At the Great Patriotic War Memorial, remember the half of Minsk’s population that perished during WWII. Visit the Gallery of Russian and Modern Belarusian Art, and stop at the manor house of Polish and American hero (and friend of Thomas Jefferson) Tadeusz Kosciuszko. In Brest, admire the massive UNESCO-listed stone Brest Fortress, built by Czar Nicholas I in the mid-1111s.
Highlights
- Minsk’s main street, the animated promenade, Nezavisimosty Avenue
- Visit to a rural farmhouse for lunch with a local family
Days 4-6: Lviv
Crossing the Ukrainian border, arrive in Lviv, founded in the 13th century. Conquered by the Poles in 1349, Lviv feels very Central European. Wander its lovely UNESCO-listed Old Town Square, surrounded by 16th-18th century merchant dwellings, then travel by train to the capital, Kiev.
Highlights
- Lviv’s lovely Old Town, with Prospekt Svobody, Ploshy Rynok (Market Square), and the Town Hall
- Pharmacy Museum, its walls lined with old shelves stacked with little boxes, antique bottles, vessels and scales
Days 7-9: Kiev
In Kiev, visit some of Ukraine’s most important sites, including St. Sophia Cathedral, the Caves Monastery and the Chernobyl Museum. Stroll and shop on the cobbled descent down Andreevsky Street, filled with galleries, shops, cafés and artists’ studios. Fly to Odessa, renowned seaport on the coveted Black Sea coast.
Highlights
- Golden Kiev, capital of Ukraine and mother city of Eastern Slavic peoples
- Pecherskaya Lavra, or Caves Monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage Site founded in 1051
Day 10: Odessa
Explore Odessa, climbing its much-filmed Potemkin Steps and touring its Partisan Caves, where resistance fighters hid during WWII.
Highlights
- The Potemkin Steps, immortalized in Sergei Eisenstein’s film Battleship Potemkin
- The stately Odessa Opera House, a baroque symbol of the city
Days 11-14: Chisinau, Transdniester
Next is Moldova’s capital, Chisinau, a tree-lined city of more than 700,000. Survey some of Moldova’s ancient monasteries and sample the deep red wines the country is gaining a reputation for. Embark on a day trip to the Transdniester region, a narrow strip of land bordering Ukraine where separatists have declared a disputed independence.
Highlights
- Stefan cel Mare Park, a luxuriant and open green area in the center of the capital
- Visit to Milesti Mici Winery’s “Golden Collection,” noted by the Guinness Book of World Records
See Dates & Prices for more details or to see suggested extensions.
Tour Dates & Prices
Land Tour Price, Per Person
based on double occupancy
- 5-16 Travelers $7,395
- Plus Internal Air $220
- Single Supplement $1,395
2019 Dates
- May 5-18 - Hosted by Patricia Schultz, author of 1000 Places to See Before You Die. Sold out, waitlist is available!
- May 19-June 1
- August 11-24 - Sold out! Waitlist available!
- $7,395
- Max 16 Travelers
Special 2019 Departure Our May 5-18, 2019 departure of this tour will feature special host Patricia Schultz, author of the New York Times #1 bestseller, “1,000 Places To See Before You Die.”
Group Size
Small Groups – Never more than 16 travelers. Guaranteed!
What’s Included
On Your Tour
- Shared accommodations in well-located first class hotels in the major cities and best available hotels elsewhere.
- 13 breakfasts, 11 lunches and 10 dinners, per the itinerary. Some lunches and dinners are not included so you may enjoy a chance to dine on your own.
- Restaurant tips for included meals.
- Services of an experienced, English-speaking MIR Tour Manager with local guides at specific sites.
- Arrival/departure transfers. MIR will arrange for all travelers to be met on arrival and seen off on departure whether we make your airfare arrangements or not, provided you arrive and depart on the tour start/end dates in the tour start/end cities.
- Ground transportation throughout itinerary by private coach or van (size of vehicle depends on group size).
- Guided sightseeing tours and entrance fees as outlined in itinerary.
- Special events, excursions and cultural performances per the itinerary.
- Baggage handling where available.
- Gratuities to local guides, drivers, porters and other service personnel.
Before Your Tour
- Personalized pre-departure support from one of our knowledgeable Tour Specialists.
- Complete pre-departure information including detailed packing list and reading list.
- Touring with MIR handbook with country-specific information, maps, and travel tips.
- Customized visa application and instruction kit (please note, visa fees are not included in the tour price).
- Final document packet including luggage tags, final updates, and more.
- Assistance booking your custom flight arrangements (on request; please note that international and internal airfares are not included in the land tour cost).
Prepare for Your Trip
International Airfare
MIR's in-house, full-service air department will gladly assist with your air travel needs.
More Info
Reading List
MIR recommends reading up before you leave home. So settle back in your armchair with some of our favorite books about our favorite places.
More Info
Visas
Most MIR programs require one or more visas, and each visa requires a completely blank page in your passport. Visa information for this particular tour is listed in the Detailed Descriptive Itinerary.
More InfoTravel Insurance
Stay a Little Longer…
MIR can arrange for an extended program in Minsk before the tour begins, or after it ends in Chisinau. We can also arrange for an extended program in Moscow, St. Petersburg, the Baltics, or Central or East Europe at either end of your tour.
It is also possible to combine this tour with a small group tour or choose from one of these suggested itineraries:
Is this Trip Right for You?
The accommodations vary from basic hotels in Belarus to very comfortable four and five star hotels elsewhere in the itinerary. It is important to keep in mind that the countries of Central Europe are, in general, not up to the standards North American travelers expect.
A full list of details about the rigors of this tour is given in the Detailed Descriptive Itinerary.
Read our Travel Journals
MIR's Travel Journals offer first hand accounts of MIR's fascinating destinations.
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Belarus, Ukraine & Moldova with MIR Traveler James Burch
An In-Depth Journey of Three Unsung Countries
In the spring of 2017, MIR traveler James Burch set off on MIR’s Belarus, Ukraine & Moldova small group tour. It’s an in-depth tour of three countries that used to be republics in the Soviet Union: Belarus (Byelorussian SSR) between Poland and Russia, Ukraine, and Moldova (Moldovian SSR) between Ukraine and Romania. Following is the day-by-day account of his adventures in these unfamiliar countries.... Read More
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St. Petersburg Seminar: Living – and Loving – Russian Culture
From November 13-20, 2011, three MIR colleagues - Jenelle Birnbaum, Liz Tollefson and Meaghan Samuels - traveled to St. Petersburg in order to try out a new Custom Group trip, a week-long seminar with an in-depth look at St. Petersburg's illustrious literary and arts traditions, momentous history and inspired culture.... Read More
MIR in the News
Space Tour Spotlight in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Lonely Planet Blog & More
November 7, 2018
MIR’s one-of-a-kind exploration of the Russian space program has gotten a starring role in several media outlets recently, including the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, leading Spanish-language travel magazine Conocedores, the Mat... Read More
Trending Now: Travel to Kyrgyzstan & Tajikistan
October 23, 2018
Luxury Travel Advisor, a leading publication covering “the latest news and trends in luxury travel,” advises adding MIR’s new small group journey From the Heavenly Tien Shan to the High Pamirs to your 2019 bucket list. ... Read More
From the Blog
Amazing Why end mights You Can Only Have in Georgia
February 14, 2019
The bounteous country of Georgia in the South Caucasus is a heaven-on-earth kind of place. Georgia has everything a traveler could want. Now is the best time to travel to the Republic of Georgia. It’s gaining steam as a ... Read More
Award-Winning Writer (and MIR Tour Host) Authors New Pocket Guide on Delicious Georgian Breads
February 14, 2019
Travel and food writer Carla Capalbo has published the first of a planned series of lightweight, small, pocket-style guides on Georgian food and wine. Perfect for carrying in a pocket or daypack, these little guides are avail... Read More
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