The nature of the Carpathians enchants both seasoned travelers and novice tourists.
I found a quite acceptable and inexpensive option for myself – the Carpathians. Why not? As it turned out, there is plenty to see and do in our country as well. All you need is camping gear, warm clothes, a good mood, and anticipation of a pleasant vacation. If you have all of the above – great. We're off!
The trip is designed for 10 days and for 'enthusiasts' in a group of 18-20 people. The only downside is the road. Sitting 14-16 hours in a small 'busik' (a minibus type) is not easy. But since there is more than one location and we have to move 3-4 times during the trip, the choice is very appropriate. Few would want to carry a tent, belongings, and even catamarans on their backs.
So, after enduring (sleeping through, surviving…) the road, trying to feel your backside after such a long sit and cursing yourself for spilling coffee on your jeans, you crawl out of the bus and… Forget about the jeans and that aforementioned backside. Here it is, beauty! At first, your head even spins from the richness of fresh air, which can't be found in the smoggy city. The urban landscape of high-rises, concrete boxes, traffic noise, and endless bustle is replaced by a magnificent view of still-snowy mountain peaks, green meadows, and birdsong. It seems that the transfer alone is worth this view, but it's only the beginning.
Cheremosh
We arrived, set up the tents – time for lunch. Cooking over a fire seems like a special ritual, because no matter what or how you cook, it always turns out delicious. After lunch, I realized that life is still a wonderful thing: the sun is shining, birds are singing, water is rushing, stomach is full – what more does a person need for happiness? Oh, of course, that's exactly why I came – the first rafting trip! Let's assemble the catamarans – and off we go!
Ah, the water is cold, but to hell with it – at least it's refreshing! The rafting on the Cheremosh is quite long. You even have time to take in the local beauty along the way: cute houses on the hills, vast areas fenced with wooden fences (to keep the livestock from wandering off). The main thing is not to forget to paddle – the current is strong, the water is cold, and I didn't sign up to be a 'walrus' (cold water swimmer), plus it's dangerous to accidentally end up in the water.
Hooray, I rafted! Arms and legs intact, didn't lose the paddle (thank God, because it's not cheap), got a little wet – but how else would it be? But positive impressions – a sea of them. Now I can change clothes and go on a photo reconnaissance of the area, luckily the days turned out sunny.
The locals live interestingly, with their own unique culture. People are very friendly, happy to chat with visitors. True, an inexperienced tourist may find it difficult at first to get used to the local dialect – there are so many unfamiliar words that only Hutsuls use. You think, how well they must live, I suppose. Mountains, mountain rivers, fresh air – everything at hand. But there are downsides: the land is hardly suitable for growing crops. So vegetables are scarce in local stores – they only grow for themselves and in small quantities. For the same reason, you rarely see a pig in any yard; they mostly raise sheep – the animal is not picky.
What does a tourist need to keep their energy up? Right – meat. A sane person won't carry it for who knows how many kilometers, of course. So we go to the locals – for a young lamb or ewe. The hike, however, may take longer than expected, because the local 'a little bit uphill' often turns out to be a walk of five to ten kilometers.
Oh, sorry for 'Dolly', but we have to eat too. After rafting, walking, dinner, and singing to guitar, – time to sleep.
And the nights are cold here – it's the mountains after all. To avoid scraping frost off yourself in the morning, it's advisable to buy Tambov wool socks and bring a warmer sleeping bag. I miscalculated a bit on that one, but next time I'll think twice before taking a summer sleeping bag.
During breakfast before heading to the next location, I mourned the unfortunate fate of 'Dolly' once again – ate tasty pilaf, packed up the tent – that's it! Ready for more adventures!
Tisa
Halfway, we took the catamarans off the 'bus' so that those who wanted could cover the rest of the road on them. I joined the willing. And why not? About an hour later, I was already asking myself: what the devil possessed me? After the flood, the water level dropped and navigating the route turned out to be quite difficult. But extra kilograms disappeared very quickly.
A pleasant surprise awaited at the camp – an establishment called 'Kraynia Khata' (which is no coincidence, as it is the farthest house in the village), where you can comfortably and cheaply take a break from tourist activities and charge your already depleted devices. I can't help but note another feature of this location – local snails, or rather 'huge snails'. When properly prepared, they are very tasty, no worse than Thai delicacies, and in many ways more pleasant to look at.
While eating shashlik, I mourned 'Dolly' again. After rafting, walking, and eating local delicacies… What else to do? Well, of course – mountains! We decided to hike to Petros. It is only 40 meters lower than Hoverla, and the ascent is steeper. The hike takes the whole day, as it is long and not easy, especially for a beginner. But the view from there is worth it. Returning to camp, I found an unpleasant surprise. The rising wind and rain had blown my tent away. To the warm sleeping bags and socks, I added a note: 'don't take summer tents to the mountains'.
Yaremche
On the way to Yaremche there is a souvenir market. One could say a 'shopper's paradise'. Souvenirs for every taste, size, color, type, etc. And most importantly – low prices and the opportunity to bargain. So for lovers of such beautiful but mostly useless household items, I advise bringing more money.
The location itself is very beautiful. Hoverla is visible as if in the palm of your hand (since the camp is located near the checkpoint to it). Besides the traditional rafting, there are two more options for pastime: climbing Hoverla or going to the Yaremche waterfall. Since we had already climbed Petros, it was decided to go to the waterfall.
Yaremche waterfall
Beauty, in a word. I really wanted to go rafting, but I wasn't allowed. After all, difficulty category 4 – I wasn't ready. Now I have something to strive for.
And again: snack bars, souvenirs (though prices are higher), a crowd of onlookers, a sea of emotions.
The way home
Tired but very pleased, I looked through hundreds of photos and talked with both old acquaintances and new people who had already become friends.
General impressions
Ten days fly by very quickly, regardless of what kind of vacation you prefer – active or passive. You will definitely find an interesting activity for yourself. And for general educational purposes, it is a very useful trip. So, if the question is how to have a great and inexpensive vacation, whether to go or not – the verdict is clear. Of course, go! If you don't like life in tents or want to be on the safe side, I can suggest a good selection of homesteads.