Carpathian Mountains

The Carpathian Mountains or Carpathians are a range of mountains forming an arc roughly 1,500 km (932 mi) long across Central and Eastern Europe, making them the second-longest mountain range in Europe (after the Scandinavian Mountains, 1,700 km (1,056 mi)). They provide the habitat for the largest European populations of brown bears, wolves, chamois and lynxes, with the highest concentration in Romania,as well as over one third of all European plant species. The Carpathians and their piedmont also concentrate many thermal and mineral waters, with Romania home to over one-third of the European total. Romania is likewise home to the largest surface of virgin forests in Europe (except Russia), totaling 250,000 hectares (65%), most of them in the Carpathians, with the Southern Carpathians constituting Europe’s largest unfragmented forested area

Carpathian Mountains are considered to be the Green Pearl of Ukraine. It is one of the most popular resorts and tourist centers of the country. A beautiful mix of natural areas, forests, meadows, shepherds and humans living in harmony with nature is what makes the mountains so sttractive to tourists! An original nature of territory, beauty of its Alpine meadows and woods, rough rivers and mountain lakes, soft climate, curative mineral sources, the historical and architectural monuments can attract everyone to themselves. Thousands of tourists and people who like travels and adventures come here. The Ukrainian Carpathians are relatively gentle peaks that rise as high as 2061 m (Mt. Hoverla). The largest resorts are located in Slavsko, Bukovel, Tysovets, and Dragobrat. Some of the smaller resorts are in Krasiya, Dolyna, Beskid, Polyana, Synevir, Yaremche, Verkhovnya, Kosiv, and Yavoriv. Detailed information on the above mentioned resorts

Getting to the Carpathians is not difficult at all if one has a car and a map. "Marshrutka" (taxi vans) are also available for very inexpensive prices. Ukrainian railway runs a number of routs/trains that can get tourists to the Carpathians from pretty much any large city in the country. There are overnight trains from Kyiv to Uzhhorod that can get you to the northern part of Ukraine's Carpathians, including Slavsko (one of Ukraine's prominent ski resorts). This is the only regular-speed railway route through the Carpathians. You can also catch a Kyiv-Lviv speed train which leaves Kyiv every night at around 9pm. Once you are in Lviv, you can get to the mountains in 2-3 hours by a "marshrutka" for $3-$10.

Cycling and Riding

The Carpathians are great for cycling. There is an abundance of automobile roads – both paved and unpaved – which are suitable for cycling, and it is possible to get to any region of the mountains on your bike some way or another.

Moreover, the nature of the Ukrainian Carpathians and riverbanks is suitable for riding. Traveling by developed routes tourists become acquainted with different districts, way of life and culture of local people that didn’t change much over the last three hundred years.

Whenever you decide to travel by the underground labyrinths created by nature itself, you would discover the possession of mysterious and unknowable. There are dozens of caves in the region, but only some of them are famous and available for tourists without special outfit. Others are only open for experienced speleologists.