HUTSUL FESTIVAL TOUR August 22 - September 03, 2008
		13 Day All Inclusive First Class Tour via LOT Polish Airlines from New York - JFK

FLIGHTS: Listed flights are with LOT Polish Airlines in non-smoking, non-stop flight from New York/JFK  to Warsaw connecting to Kyiv. Return from L’viv via Warsaw to  Newark). Land only rates do not include international flights from/to USA. All other transportation by bus, plane and train is included in tour price.

INTER CITY TRANSPORTATION: Kyiv/L’viv by plane, L’viv/Kosiv/L’viv by deluxe motor coach. Airport transfers are included for persons using group trans-Atlantic flights.

HOTELS: Kyiv: Rus Hotel***, L’viv: Grand Hotel****, Kosiv: Bayka Hotel***

SIGHTSEEING: As per itinerary including all entrance fees. No extra charges.

ESCORT: Fully escorted from Kyiv by a professional, English-Ukrainian speaking tour manager for groups of 15 or more. Local bi-lingual guides will be provided at each destination for groups of less than 15.

MEALS: As indicated on itinerary. 11 Breakfasts, 7 Lunches and 7 Dinners. Total: 25 meals

SIDE TRIPS: If you wish to visit surrounding areas of Kyiv or L’viv for one-two day excursions, this may be arranged at additional cost. Advance confirmation is recommended. Chauffeured cars are available for about $$120-150 per day, and guide-interpreters charge about $10 an hour. No refund will be forthcoming for unused group services.

TOUR DOCUMENTS: USA and Canadian citizens DO NOT require visas for Ukraine or Poland. Persons holding other documents, please check with Scope Travel consultant.

B-Breakfast, L-Lunch, D-Dinner
Aug 22 Fri	New York/Warsaw	LOT 007  6:00PM/09:20AM + 1
Please be at PARISH PARKING LOT in PERTH AMBOY not later than 1:00PM for your private coach transfer to Kennedy Airport. You should be at KENNEDY AIRPORT – LOT POLISH AIRLINES TERMINAL not later than 3PM. Scope representative will assist you with check-in. Your baggage must be checked to your final destination KYIV (code KBP). If you have more than one piece of checked- baggage, a $50 porterage surcharge will be collected at airport.
Aug 23 Sat	Warsaw/Kyiv	LOT 751 11:00AM/l:35PM	D
Upon arrival at Kyiv’s Boryspil Airport, we pass through passport/customs control, proceed by private motor coach to our city center hotel. Expected arrival 4PM. This evening you will have a short Dnipro River Cruise and a Welcome Cocktail + a short evening tour of Kyiv before dinner at hotel.
Aug 24 Sun	INDEPENDENCE DAY		B/L/D
Details of Independence Day Festivities and the program for this entire day will be  advised at later date: parades, concerts and fireworks.
Aug 25 Mon	Kyiv		B/L/D
Morning panoramic city tour of Kyiv includes: Khreshchatyk Boulevard, Volodymyr’s Hill, Kyiv National University, the Opera House, St. Volodymyr’s Cathedral and the 11th century Golden Gate. The highlight of this tour is the St. Sophia Cathedral constructed in the 11th c. by Prince Yaroslav the Wise. Its construction reflects a strong Byzantine influence and its interior is a unique harmonious union of mosaics and fresco paintings. Directly opposite St. Sofia (about 500 m.) you will visit the newly (1999) reconstructed St. Michael’s Sobor. Lunch in the artisan section of Uzviz. Afterwards we leave you there for an afternoon of shopping in an open air bazaar of more than 100 kiosks. Dinner at hotel.
Aug 26 Tue	Kyiv/L’viv	Air Ukraine # 34 6:26PM/7:35PM	B/L/D
After breakfast we check out of our hotel and proceed on a tour of Pecherska Lavra (Monastery of the Caves), an active monastery founded in the 11th c. and center of Christianity for Kyivan-Rus. Its complex of churches reflects a unique Ukrainian baroque style which is only surpassed by the beauty of the newly reconstructed Uspenskyj Cathedral (1998), destroyed by Soviet mines in 1941. The labyrinths of the "near" and "far" caves hold over 115 burial niches containing remains of St. Antoniy, Nestor the Chronicler, and many religious and political leaders. World-renowned Scythian Gold treasures are exhibited within its walls. Lunch in town. A direct transfer will bring us to Boryspil Airport at about 4PM for a evening flight to L’viv - transfer to hotel and dinner.
Aug 27 Wed	L’viv		B/L
Situated in the western part of Ukraine, L’viv, the "City of Lions", is its heart and soul. Founded in the 13th c. by King Danylo Halytckyj, it was named in honor of his son Lev (Leo). Through centuries of Polish, Austrian, and Soviet occupation, L’viv was the gateway to "the East", but with independence in 1991, L’viv is finally free to develop its own Ukrainian identity. Highlights of the first city tour are Rynok, the 15-16th c. city square, the Dominican Church, Armenian Church Complex, the Chapel of the Bojim Family, the Armenian Quarters, the Opera House and L’viv University. St. George’s Cathedral, the stronghold of Western Ukraine’s Catholic Church, is our final stop before lunch in a local café. Remainder of the day and dinner under own arrangements.
Aug 28 Thu	L’viv		B/L
This morning’s tour is to Shevchenko Haj, an open air museum with an active Bojko Church and replicas of Western Ukraine’s Lemko and Bojko villages dating back to the 18th c. This "village" is a popular Sunday outing for L’viv residents. We continue to Lychakiv Cemetery to view graves of Ivan Franko, Solomija Krushelnytcka, Volodymyr Ivasiuk, Oleksander Tysovsky and many others. Lunch at a local restaurant. Afternoon and dinner under own arrangements.
Aug 29 Fri	L’viv/Kosiv		B/L/D
Today we join our touring coach and head to the heart of the Carpathian Mountains, to Kosiv. From L’viv, we travel through Rohatyn’s newly reconstructed city center to view the lovely new statue of Roxolana, then continue to Ivano Frankivsk, the capital of the Ivano Frankivsk oblast, for lunch. Take time to walk through this lovely Subcarpathia city. Arrival in Kosiv for late check-in and dinner.
Aug 30 Sat	Kosiv – VYZNYTCIA  HUTSUL FESTIVAL		B/D
PROGRAM TO BE ADVISED
Aug 31 Sun	Kosiv – VYZNYTCIA  HUTSUL FESTIVAL		B/D
PROGRAM TO BE ADVISED The Carpathian mountain region of Western Ukraine is both a natural and cultural gem of Eastern Europe. Bordered by Romania to the south, Hungary to the west, Poland to the north and cut off from the rest of Ukraine to the east by the Hutsul Alps, the Ukrainian inhabitants of these majestic highlands have developed their own unique culture and traditions. Consisting of both steep rocky mountain peeks and gently rolling mountain meadows, it is the home of the archetypal Ukrainian shepherd. The Hutsul people are deeply tied to nature and vested in its preservation and appreciation. This is most evident in their annual celebrations and festivals, which reflect their love of folklore and their wonder about the surrounding mountains, the crystal clear rivers and the rolling green hills. This year, the competition at the Hutsul Festival is in Vyznytcia and will bring together some of the finest dancers, entertainers and craft makers from the region. You’ll be dazzled by the bright and lively colors of the native costumes and the intricacy of handicrafts and woodwork. You’ll witness the Dribushka, a unique style of dancing based on quick and energetic steps. You’ll hear musicians play Trojiska Muzika, using both the Sopilka, a traditional wooden flute, and the Duda, a bagpipe made from goat. It’s no wonder that Hutsul folk melodies, rhythms and dance moves have influenced world-renowned Ukrainian artists like pop star Ruslana Lyzhichko and filmmaker Myroslaw Skoryk.
01 Sep Mon	Kosiv/L’viv		B/D
After an early breakfast we join our touring coach to go to Kolomyja, famous for its master-ceramists and woodcarvers. Here we visit the Hutsul Pysanka and Woodcarving Museums. Lunch in local restaurant. Return to L’viv for overnight.
Sep 02 Tue	L’viv		B/D
Free day. Evening gala farewell dinner.
Sep 03 Wed	L’viv/Warsaw Warsaw/NEWARK	LO 766 2:40PM/3:00PM LO 015 5:35PM/9:00PM
HUTSUL FESTIVAL TOUR KRAKOW EXTENSION Sep 03-06, 2008 adtl $550 tw/ $650 sgl rm
Sep 03 Wed	L’viv/Krakow		B/D
Today, we say good-bye to relatives and friends and leave for our final destination, Krakow. Transportation will be by train or bus, depending on total number of tour participants. In either case, the expected arrival time in Krakow is about 2/3PM. Your afternoon is free and dinner at hotel. The uniqueness of Krakow is that it is embodied within the city walls. In the year 1000, a Roman Catholic bishopric was founded here, and the royal castle was constructed on Wawel Hill. This became the site of coronations and burials of kings, since Krakow was the capital of Poland from 11-17th c. Today city life focuses around the Market Square, the second largest in Europe after St. Mark's in Venice. It is impossible to describe or even list all the tourist attractions in Krakow.
Sep 4 Thu	Krakow		B/D
Morning city tour will include Royal Chambers, Wawel Cathedral, The Royal Tombs, The Sigismund’s Bell and St. Mary’s Church. Renaissance, Romanesque, Gothic and Baroque edifices stand side by side in a city considered the artistic capital of Poland. Lunch under own arrangements and afternoon free. Dinner at hotel. Optional excursion to Auschwitz.
Sep 5 Fri	Krakow		B/D
In Krakow’s vicinity lies the town of Wieliczka. Famous for having the oldest operational salt mine in Europe, it has been in existence for over 700 years. We leave Krakow early today for a half day excursion to this wonderful site. Spread over nine levels, it has 300 km of galleries with works of art, altars, chapels, statues and chandeliers sculpted in salt, making a fascinating pilgrimage into the past. Return to Krakow. Afternoon is free for final souvenir purchases. Farewell dinner in a specialty restaurant.
Sep 6 Sat	Krakow/USA	Today you board your NON STOP flight from KRAKOW to NEWARK. KRAKOW/NEWARK LOT 021  1:15PM/4:50