The hike takes place in the western part of the Pokutsko-Bukovynian Carpathians. These mountains are not very high, on average up to 1,400 m. But hiking aesthetics is not just about climbing high mountains 

There will be mountain pastures, sunrise on the top of Mount Rotylo, several peaks, forests, beautiful views of the surrounding mountains.

For whom:

Generally, a hike in Ukrainian Carpathians doesn’t require special physical training. This hike is especially suitable for beginners, children, photographers and those who like a moderate pace. Still, it requires some physical efforts. The longest will be the second day – we will walk 17 km and climb to the highest in this hike, Rotylo Mount (1,483 m).

In this hike we take an amateur telescope with us: being far from the city light allows us to see craters on the Moon, the colours of stars, the rings of Saturn, the satellites of Jupiter, the Orion Nebula and the tired tourists on the next ridge. 

 

1 DAY

 5 km  + 700 m

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After the meeting, we go to the village of Volova, Verkhovyna region. From here we climb a steep path to the Rotul pasture. In total, we will walk 5 km and gain 700 m vertically, so a little fatigue in the legs and body is waiting for us at the end of the day.

2 DAY

17 km  + 700 m

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In the morning we go up to Rotylo without backpacks. We will try to start at dawn to see the sunrise. This mountain is the highest point of the Pokutsko-Bukovynian Carpathians. The name of the mountain comes from the Romanian word rotilã, which means wheel and indicates the shape of the mountain. The mountain itself is covered with stone placers resembling Gorgans. Rotylo offers views of the surrounding mountains, especially Chornohora ridge.

Then we go down to the camp, pack up and hit the road. First, we pass the Munchelyk mountain meadow, then we climb the Gordia Dobrotiyivska mountain (1,356 m). It will be about halfway for today, we will have lunch here.

We have to climb Chorny Pohar Mount (1,266 m) after which there will be one kilometre to our camping site.

In general, our second day is quite long, but it doesn’t have significant ascents and descents, not taking into account the morning ascent to Rotylo.

3 DAY

 9 km  + 200 m

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On the last day, after breakfast, we will climb the mountain Kunikulyva (1,261 m), Lisniv (1,251 m) and Yagidna (1,216 m).

Then there is only the descent to the road between Mykulychyn and Tatarov, where we will be taken by car to Ivano-Frankivsk.

START / FINISH

We meet at the railway station in Ivano-Frankivsk city in the morning. Then we go by bus to Volova village, which is the starting point of a hike. The distance between Ivano-Frankivsk and the mountain village is 100 km and 2 hours of road.

The end of the hiking part of the route is in the village of Mykulychyn. On the last day of the hike, we will be around 17 p.m. in Ivano-Frankivsk city.

WHAT TO EXPECT

About the difficulty. It is suitable for beginners and accessible to any physically healthy person.

If you join us, then you go on a multi-day trek in which:

• Each person carries his own gear, clothes and a part of group products in his backpack.
• We stay in tents.
• We cook food on fire or using gas burners.

Note:

the guide can change the pre-agreed tour plan if the weather conditions become worse, someone feels bad or some other adventures happen. 

WHAT TO TAKE

You are packing for the hike by yourself, but with our advice. After booking a hike, we will send you a detailed list of recommended clothing and equipment. We will also tell you what is best to take (temperature of the sleeping bag, the comfort of the backpack, the endurance of the tent, etc.). 

The gear list is classical for a multi-day trek in the warm season. Read about it here.

WHAT DO YOU PAY FOR

You pay in cash when meeting with a guide in Ivano-Frankivsk; prepayment is not required. 

What’s included

• meals from lunch on the first day till lunch on the last day;
• transport (including a drive from Ivano-Frankivsk);
• guide’s job;
• national park fees;
• use of gas and group equipment (cooking gear, first-aid kit, etc.).

What’s NOT included

• personal equipment (tent, sleeping bag, backpack are yours, but you can rent).

Rental prices:

• tent: 105 UAH / 3 days;
• sleeping bag: 150 UAH / 3 days;
• backpack: 150 UAH / 3 days;
• mat: 30 UAH / 3 days;
• trekking poles: 90 UAH / 3 days.

WITH WHOM

The size of the group is from 4 to 10 participants. Usually, we hike with small teams (up to 6 people): it’s easier to find a common language, more comfortable to go at one pace. And also it is a requirement of the ecological principle leave no trace in the wild.

WHAT ABOUT WEATHER

The weather in the Carpathians is changeable, so any forecast is unreliable. Before the particular date of the tour, we’ll try to tell you what weather to expect as accurate as possible.

On average, in the Carpathian Mountains during the warm period of the year (May-September) the temperature is + 15 … + 20 degrees in the daytime and + 3 … + 7 in the night. If the day is cloudy and rainy, then the temperature in the afternoon and at night is approximately the same: + 5 … + 15. The general principle of weather formation in the mountains is as follows: with every hundred meters of the climb the temperature decreases, and the number of precipitation increases.

The rains here fall three times more often than in the other part of Ukraine; and in May and September, frost is possible at night. The wettest month in the year is June, the driest and warmest is August.

There are a lot of rains, so you should not save on waterproof clothes and gear. Also, it’s often windy: a good jacket and a sturdy tent are obligatory.