Svydovets ridge is tall, wide and mostly treeless. It means that there will be a lot of sky, space, landscapes and a wide viewing angle. The ridge stretches with a wavy line of mountains with dome-shaped tops in yellow-green colours. From here, it is good to observe the neighbouring mountain ranges – the high Chornohora and rocky Gorgany range.

We will climb to the mounts of Blyznytsia (1,881 m), Stig (1,704 m), Velykyi Kotel (1,771 m), Troyaska (1,702 m), Tataruka (1,707 m), Bratkivska (1,788 m). There are no big differences between saddles and tops, so the path is not exhaustive. And between the tops there are valleys covered with thick grass are ideal pastures, so cows, sheep and horses often come across. 

During the hike, we’ll see several high mountain lakes of Transcarpathia, which names are a mixture of Romanian, Hungarian and Hutsul dialects: Ivor, Vorozheska, Herasashka, Apshynets.

Our nights:

We spend the first night at the Brailka open field at an altitude of 1,300 meters. The next two camping sites are near the lakes. On the fourth day, we stop near the beginning of the Black Tysa River. And finally, from the place of the last camp, we will be able to see the beautiful sunrise in the mountains.

What we don’t like about this route:

Svydovets is loved by jeep drivers due to small height differences and poor environmental legislation in Ukraine. Therefore, there is a high probability of seeing a car in the mountains.

 

Watch the video from the first half of this hike on YouTube.

1 DAY

 5 km  + 750 m

---

Meeting in Ivano-Frankivsk – 2,5 hours driving to Kvasy village –  5 km hiking – camping at the field Brailka, 1300 m.

From Ivano-Frankivsk, we go to the mountainous village of Kvasy on the banks of the Black Tisza river in Transcarpathian region. The village is known for springs of mineral water. The very name of the village comes from «kvass» (sour) water, which is the local dialectic word for mineral water. Before start, we’ll fill the bottles with a natural «soda».

On this day, we plan to hike 5 km and gain almost 750 m of height, which is not easy to do on the first day in the mountains. But after one hour the body becomes accustomed to the load and climbing will be easier. Usually, at 6 p.m. we already arrive at the place of the first camp.

We spend the first night on the Brailka meadow at an altitude of 1,300 m. The path will lead us through the fragrant Carpathian beech-fir forest.

Every evening, we firstly do a camp routine together (set up tents, gather firewood, cook dinner) and relax by the fire, just walk and enjoy nature. An evening in the mountains is a time for fun guitar singing and games or quiet conversations and meditation to the sounds of Hutsul drymba.

2 DAY

 12 km  + 890 m

---

Climbing to Blyznytsia Mount, 1881 m – Ivor Lake  – Gendarmes – foot of the Mount Stig, 1704 m – camp at Vorozheska Lake

Every morning starts at 7 o’clock. Two hours for physical exercises, breakfast, packing and cleaning up a camping spot.

Today we go upper to the Svydovetsky Ridge and climb to the first summit, which is also the highest at all Svydovets – Blyznytsia Mount (1,881 m). The peak is especially dangerous in the winter and in the season of snow melting. However, even in the summer, the weather can seriously complicate the climb; sometimes you have to deal with storm winds.

To the right of Blyznytsia at an altitude of 1,600 m we will see the lake Ivor (or Dragobratske lake): rather small (55 m in length and 21 m in width, 0,1 ha), hidden behind the mountain ridge. It is best to observe it from above, so we will not go down to it. According to the legend, it’s the tears of Hutsul girl for two men. She wanted to get a lovely flower from the slopes of Blyznytsia, thus deciding which of them to give preference. Then we will pass the summit of the Gendarme with three highest points – they say, they are those gendarmes who came to investigate the tragedy and fossil from what they saw. Since then, they are unbroken on the approach to Blyznytsia and protect the calm of the lovers. And indeed, from afar the shape of these rocky steps looks like human figures.

The lake consists of an upper (0.7 ha) and a lower one, several times smaller (0.2 ha), located in a deep circus where once was a glacier. The sun is practically not getting here, so snow is typical here in the summer. The snow, which feeds the lake, completely melts only in very hot years.

We cook dinner on gas burners this evening because the trees remained below the sub-alpine zone, and local mountain pines are forbidden to cut. Mountain pine is considered to be the most high-altitude tree of Ukraine, but its distribution is very suffering from the indifference of tourists and shepherds.

3 DAY

 7 km  + 400 m

---

Hiking along the Svydovetsky ridge – lake Herasashka – camping at the lake Apshynets

The third day is our most «lake» day!

This day, the equator of our trek, is easier than the others: in general, the distance is only 7 km. Our plans are just admiring the lakes and the alpine relief with its moraines, valleys, rocky walls and sharp ledges.

We go up again to the main Svydovetsky ridge and head to the largest lake of the mountain range – Herashaska (or Dohyaska), where we have a lunch break. The lake occupies 1,2 hectares and is a hydrological monument of nature of local importance, located at an altitude of 1,577 m at the northeastern slope of the Dohyaska Mount. It is filled mostly with water from melting snow and gives beginning to the Kosivska River.

After Herashaska we pass another 4 km, which separates us from the lake Apshynets (or Troyaska) (1,487 m). Its depth is more than 3 m, the water is blue and clear, it reflects superbly the surrounding peaks and clouds. The nearby forest massif contains rare species of plants and plays an important water-regulating role, therefore it is protected within the limits of the hydrological reserve of national significance (Apshynetsky reserve).

At this camping site, we do not use wood again; we cook food on a gas burner.

4 DAY

 9 km  + 370 m

---

We should wake up early, so as not to miss the morning fog over the lake.

In the first half of the day, we head to the northern branch of the main ridge, passing the Troyaska (1,702 m) and Tataruka (1,707 m) Mounts, from which the stone massif of Gorgane is clearly visible, as well as the path already done by us.

From the summits, we go down to the Ripta Apshynetska field, where you can get acquainted with the way of life and buy fresh dairy products from the shepherds. 

Then the path leads us to the forest, where the Svydovets Range ends. After a break for lunch, we pass the Okole pass (1,193 m), where there was a road, built by the Austrians and the Germans, which connected the villages Chorna Tysa and Ust Chorna.

After 1 kilometre we arrive at the place where the Black Tysa River begins, which together with the White Tysa forms a full-flowing river Tysa, that is the largest left tributary of the Danube. At the begins of the river, there is a memorial sign, with the symbols of all the countries through which it flows – Ukraine, Hungary, Romania, Slovakia and Serbia.

At the forest glade, we will stay for the night, still having the opportunity to see Svydovets.

5 DAY

 17 km  + 730 m

---

This day will be especially remembered: firstly, because of a rather difficult climb to Bratkivska peak with an altitude gain of 500 m in 2 km; and secondly, it is the longest day. However, on the 5th day of the trek, when everyone has been adapted, a few food stocks left, and all the extra clothes have been burnt in the fire while trying to dry, this distance will not seem so difficult!

6 DAY

 6 km  + 52 m

---

START / FINISH

We meet at the railway station in Ivano-Frankivsk city in the morning. Then we go by private bus to Kvasy village, which is the starting point of a hike. The distance between Ivano-Frankivsk and mountain village is 125 km and 2,5 hours of road.

We return to the railway station in Ivano-Frankivsk near 6 p.m.

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 COST

• place in a tent: 210 UAH / 6 days;
• sleeping bag: 300 UAH /6 days;
• backpack: 300 UAH / 6 days;
• sleeping mat: 60 UAH / 6 days;
• trekking poles: 180 UAH / 6 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.