Humanitarian Trip to Ukraine

Monday, May 20: Depart from Canada

Tuesday, May 21: Arrive in Krakow (-/-/D) Kraków has been a place to live for many Ukrainians for years. Since 24 February, 150,000 people escaping from the war have arrived in Kraków. Since the beginning of the war municipal institutions, residents and volunteers have been involved in the aid to the people of Ukraine. Also, international aid comes to Kraków, and it is either delivered to refugees living in our city or sent via Kraków to cities and institutions in Ukraine. “Witamy w Polsce!” Welcome to Poland! Upon arrival in Krakow, get to the city center, to your centrally located hotel. Check-in. Please note: Arrival and departure transfers are not included. Please let us know in advance if you require transfer services from/to the airport. In the evening, meet your Tour Leader in Poland and the other participants of the tour in the hotel lobby. Your Tour Leader will provide a brief city orientation, pointing you the closest exchange places, ATMs, and best souvenir and convenience stores. On your way to the dinner, admire the medieval main square - Rynek Główny (Market Square) - home to the vast, 700-year-old Cloth Hall. It contains some of Krakow's most famous sights, including the Cloth Hall, the Basilica of St Mary, the Town Hall Tower, and the tiny 11th-century church of St Adalbert. Meet and greet over a delicious Welcome Dinner, to enjoy traditional Polish food! Return to the hotel. Overnight.

Wednesday, May 22: Krakow (B/L/-) Home to cobblestone streets, a fascinating history, and enchanting street-side cafes, Krakow is the first European city to be included on the UNESCO World Heritage list. Today you’ll get a taste of this mythical city. In the morning, meet your Tour Leader and driver in the hotel lobby and together you’ll embark on a sightseeing tour of Krakow. Explore the royal splendor of Krakow. We will visit the impressive Wawel Royal Castle, which sits on a hill overlooking the city, and marvel at its grand, arcaded courtyard. See the grand apartment rooms within the castle with their ancient tapestries, and marvel at Sigismund’s Chapel - the unquestioned pearl of the Renaissance at Wawel Cathedral. We’ll make a stop here for lunch in one of the restaurants in the center, and set off to explore the Jewish Quarter of Kazimierz, and area which thrived in the 16th century, filled with merchants and traders, a period that also witnessed the foundation of Poland's oldest Judaic shrine. Kazimierz, is a bustling, bohemian neighborhood, well-known for its associations with Schindler and Spielberg. On a tour we’ll explore Jewish Quarter, Ghetto and Schindler's Factory Area. The rest of the day is yours to explore! Head back to Rynek Glowny for some souvenir shopping, or just grab a beer on one of the many terraces and watch the world go by!

Thursday, May 23: Krakow - Lviv (B/-/D) We continue our journey and today it is finally time to move on to Ukraine! Breakfast and check out. Private bus transfer to Lviv. Total driving distance: 328km / 204mi Upon arrival to Lviv, your Tour Leader will get you checked in to your hotel and provide a brief city orientation, showing you around the local neighborhood and familiarizing you with the area. In the evening, we’ll enjoy a delicious dinner in one of our favorite restaurants with traditional Ukrainian food! Lviv has hundreds of restaurants serving food from around the world - including Ukrainian delicacies. You’ll get to taste a wide variety of foods in different restaurants during your stay here – we’ll make sure of it!

Friday, May 24: Lviv (B/L/-) Since February 2022, Lviv has been a safe haven for Ukrainians fleeing the war. The Lviv region has been the funnel through which millions of Ukrainians, mostly women, children, and older people, have escaped the country. Throughout fifteen months of war, Lviv, an architectural gem with a prewar population of about 750,000, has served as a crucial humanitarian hub for those forced to abandon homes elsewhere. As fighting drags on, municipal and provincial governments in the Lviv region have been working hard to accommodate hundreds of thousands of people seeking shelter, opening permanent housing to supplement makeshift quarters hastily pressed into use at the war’s start, such as schools and sports stadiums, etc. This morning, after breakfast in your hotel, discover the beautiful and historic city of Lviv with a guided walking city tour. Spend your time exploring this picturesque city, seeing some of Lviv’s most famous attractions, and Since February 2022, Lviv has been a safe haven for Ukrainians fleeing the war. The Lviv region has been the funnel through which millions of Ukrainians, mostly women, children, and older people, have escaped the country. Throughout fifteen months of war, Lviv, an architectural gem with a prewar population of about 750,000, has served as a crucial humanitarian hub for those forced to abandon homes elsewhere. As fighting drags on, municipal and provincial governments in the Lviv region have been working hard to accommodate hundreds of thousands of people seeking shelter, opening permanent housing to supplement makeshift quarters hastily pressed into use at the war’s start, such as schools and sports stadiums, etc. revealing the historical, romantic, and religious sides of this city! The city tour will show you around tourist-worthy sights and make you completely fall in love with Lviv’s enigmatic atmosphere. Lunch after the tour. Once the lunch is over, we invite you to take part in a volunteer project and help create camouflage nets, ghillie suits, and helmet covers to protect Ukrainian defenders and their equipment. Camouflage nets are an incredibly crucial form of defense for our soldiers, helping them conceal their equipment and positions from potential threats. The covers, crafted with care and dedication, will not only offer practical benefits but also serve as a symbol of international solidarity. Next, we’ll pay a visit to a school that organizes art therapy classes for displaced children. Art therapy classes continue to be one of the Cobblestone Freeway Foundation’s major projects with kids affected by trauma from the war. Return to the hotel. Remainder of the evening is at leisure. Please note: The order of the events on this day is subject to change.

Saturday, May 25: Lviv (B/-/D) Today we’ll take you to a big shopping centre to purchase the most essential supplies - food, water, hygiene kits, critical household items, etc. Once the supplies are bought, you will assist in organizing and packing them in our warehouse. Later, the packages with supplies will be delivered directly to where they are needed most – to the small towns and villages along the frontline. We’ll deliver this much-needed humanitarian assistance to the military and the civilians, affected by war in Ukraine. In the evening, we invite you for dinner in one of the most famous and most visited restaurants in the city – Kryivka, buried in the subterranean vaults of the Ploshcha Rynok and designed to look like a hiding place of Ukrainian Insurgent Army left from the times of the World War II. Its motto is “The Fight Continues”, and it still does… Please note: The order of the events on this day is subject to change.

Sunday, May 26: Lviv – Kyiv (B/L/-) After breakfast and check out, we invite you for a private guided tour of Lychakiv Cemetery (transfer included), a place where many famous Ukrainian writers, artists, and other public figures have been buried, and their gravestones are a sight to behold! These stones are truly works of art, from intricate carvings to impressive mausoleums, this cemetery is an open-air museum - one of the most grandiose and significant European necropolises. Shortly after the Russian invasion in February 2022, authorities began burying soldiers killed in the fighting at the Lychakiv cemetery. But the area initially designated for military burials quickly filled up, and the authorities then began laying Ukrainian servicemen to rest at a new site bordering Lychakiv. Funerals are held nearly every day in the new burial ground called the Field of Mars, it now contains about 350 graves… Once the tour of the cemetery is over, we’ll have lunch and drive to the train station. Board the fast Intercity train to Kyiv - Intercity 744K Lviv – Kyiv, 04:36 PM – 10:26 PM (1-cl. tickets). Upon arrival in Kyiv, you will be chauffeured to your centrally located hotel. Check-in. Overnight.

Monday, May 27: Kyiv (B/L/-) Life in the capital of a war-torn country seems normal on the surface. In the mornings, people rush to their work holding cups of coffee. Streets are filled with cars, and in the evenings restaurants are packed. But the details tell another story. Numerous buildings across Kyiv bear the scars of russian bombardment. Sandbags are stacked around monuments, museums and office buildings to protect from possible attack. At nights, streets are empty after the midnight curfew comes into force. We’ll start our day with a combined city tour (bus + walking). In the morning, we’ll visit one of the largest Christian holy places in the country - the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra. It’s a world-famous historical and architectural landmark, and one of Ukraine’s most important Christian sites, a true Mecca for all Christians. Enjoy the guided tour, taking you down into the candlelit, underground labyrinths filled with relics and ancient mummified monks – intriguing to say the least! Next, we invite you to learn more about Ukraine’s complicated past at the WW2 Memorial and Museum. The giant Motherland Monument is now known as Mother Ukraine statue in Kyiv, and in 2023, it lost its hammer-and-sickle symbol as officials replaced the Soviet-era emblem with the country’s trident coat of arms. This monument is one of Kyiv’s most distinctive features (and taller than the Statue of Liberty!). This site contains "The Flame of Glory", an outdoor museum with WWII military equipment, and the "Alley of the Hero Cities". Once the tour of the place is over, we’ll return to the city centre. Lunch. We’ll continue our tour with visiting the ‘heart’ of Kyiv – Independence Square, better now known as Maidan. This is a place which has changed history, where the Orange Revolution and Revolution of Dignity happened. Later on, you will see some of Kyiv’s most iconic sites, such as St. Sophia Square with St. Sophia Cathedral, which dates back to the 10th century! Travelers throughout Ukraine and abroad come to this Pilgrimage destination to see 1000-year-old frescoes and mosaics. Proceed to St. Michael’s Cathedral, located opposite St. Sophia’s Cathedral. It will surely impress you with its sky-blue exterior and glittering golden domes which add a stunning layer to a cityscape. Once the city tour is over, you can enjoy a free evening at leisure. Your Tour Leader will recommend restaurants for dinner.

Tuesday, May 28: Irpin, Bucha, Borodyanka (B/L/-) Today we’ll take you to see the liberated cities of Kyiv region – Irpin, Bucha, and Borodyanka. The massacres and terror that happened in those cities can only be described as genocide. The whole world was horrified by the scenes of the destroyed houses and the russians’ crimes and atrocities. It was impossible to imagine that such crimes could be committed to peaceful people, in the middle of Europe, in the 21st century… You will see the streets, key battlegrounds, the remains of the historical attractions, and get a sense of the horrors that occurred during the war. Lunch included. Life in the capital of a war-torn country seems normal on the surface. In the mornings, people rush to their work holding cups of coffee. Streets are filled with cars, and in the evenings restaurants are packed. But the details tell another story. Numerous buildings across Kyiv bear the scars of russian bombardment. Sandbags are stacked around monuments, museums and office buildings to protect from possible attack. At nights, streets are empty after the midnight curfew comes into force. Return to Kyiv. Free evening at leisure.

Wednesday, May 29: Kyiv (B/-/-) Enjoy a free day in Kyiv. In the evening, your Tour Leader will accompany you on an excursion to the local supermarket to buy some snacks for your train adventure. Transfer to the train station in the evening. Overnight train 007K Kyiv – Ivano Frankivsk, 08:21 PM – 05:40 AM (De Luxe, 1st class sleeper) You’ll have a sleeping berth with a bed, fresh linens, window and door for privacy. Travel the way locals do and fall asleep to the gentle swaying of your train carriage.

Thursday, May 30: Ivano-Frankivsk - Carpathian Mountains (B/L/-) Upon arrival in Ivano-Frankivsk in the morning, we will have breakfast and then continue travelling deeper into the Carpathian Mountains, passing through the local towns and villages, observing local rural life, taking pictures of the stork nests on utility poles on our way to our hotel. On the way, we will make stops at the gas stations where you’ll be able to buy some food, snacks and drinks. Total driving distance: 106km, Total driving time: 2h Our first stop will be the Kosiv Volunteer Centre providing humanitarian aid and relief to the soldiers on the frontline. In March 2022, the community of Kosiv banded together, as did many communities throughout Ukraine and around the world, to provide any help they could. The donations from the Cobblestone Freeway Foundation helped purchase a vacuum sealer that allowed the Kosiv volunteers to preserve healthy food for when it’s needed and provide it to Ukrainian soldiers and civilians. Next, you'll have the opportunity to meet and engage with talented local artisans who have honed their craft in this picturesque region for generations. From traditional woodcarving to intricate handwoven textiles, discover the authentic stories behind each creation, forging lasting connections with the vibrant cultural heritage of the Carpathians. Afterwards, we’ll carry on to your mountain hideaway hotel, and take some time to unwind – wander around, swim in the pool, or relax at the sauna or just soak up the Carpathian Mountains and enjoy the Hutsul hospitality. Dinner at the hotel’s restaurant (not incl.) Please note: The order of the events on this day is subject to change.

Friday, May 31: Bukovets (B/L/-) Today we’ll be travelling to the village of Bukovets, located high up in the mountains, where the residents maintain and preserve their ancestors’ ancient traditions to pass them on to future generations. You’ll be welcomed by Slavko, the director of the local K-12 School, and his family - local Hutsuls. The family is also closely connected to the school – they are the director & teacher at the school, which their children attend. They teach the students, not only the necessary curriculum for a good education but also the traditional "Hutsul" way of life, which you will get a taste of while you are here! Cobblestone Freeway Foundation has been supporting this school since the beginning. We raised money to properly equip the teachers with the necessary teaching equipment, delivered devices for kids’ home learning, and organized a Bukovets Work Trip to help restore and renovate the school. After the visit to the school, the family will treat you to a traditional Welcome Hutsul Lunch to make you feel right at home! Return to your hotel in the evening.

Saturday, June 1: Carpathian Mountains – Lviv (B/L/-) Breakfast and check out. Today we say goodbye to the beautiful region of the Carpathian Mountains and return to Lviv. But first, we can’t miss visiting the local Kosiv Mini bazaar, where local artisans skillfully produce embroidery, antiques, hand-made jewelry, wood carvings and pottery. Spend some time shopping for souvenirs, we hope there’s lots of room in your suitcases! Transfer to Lviv. Lunch on the way. Total driving distance: 234km, Total driving time: 4,5h Check-in to the hotel upon arrival. Free evening at leisure.

Sunday, June 2: Lviv (B/-/D) Free day at your leisure. In the evening, we will wrap up your tour with the Farewell Dinner in one of our favorite restaurants in the city centre.

Monday, June 3: Lviv - Krakow (B/-/-) Breakfast and check out. Travel back to Krakow. Check-in to your hotel. Free evening at leisure.

Tuesday, June 4: Krakow departure (B/-/-) Breakfast and check out. Krakow departure. Safe travels! Hope to see you again soon!