A tour to the exclusion zone is like a time machine, transporting you to the past
Chernobyl all-inclusive
Every week, hundreds of tourists come to Pripyat. The easiest way is a one-day excursion departing from Kyiv. Guides will take you to interesting places, show locations familiar from photos, games, and the series, and take you to lunch at cafeteria No. 19, where station employees and disaster cleanup workers used to eat.
Much more interesting is a multi-day excursion with an overnight stay in Pripyat. The city has places to spend the night: two hotels and a hostel are open. For those wishing to see, a Chernobyl tour starts with villages affected by radiation. Then a visit to Pripyat, abandoned in haste, where time seems frozen. There is plenty of time to explore the area thoroughly.
The most expensive but interesting option is a private tour. The program, its duration, and all conditions are discussed personally. Tourists are even ready to be taken through the famous "golden corridor" at the nuclear power plant and shown some rooms.
For active recreation enthusiasts, rafting trips on the Pripyat River are organized. An excellent opportunity to enjoy nature, which is quickly recovering without human intervention.
Chernobyl by the rules
The Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant is a restricted facility; to enter its territory, you must pass through three checkpoints. Before setting off, the tour operator submits tourist data. If someone in the group raises suspicions with the security service, that person may be denied entry.
The radiation level in Pripyat is low; the radiation dose is no more than during an airplane flight. Group members are given dosimeters and taught how to use them. A kind of instruction—as in case of a nuclear disaster. The excursions themselves follow a familiar pattern: guide's stories, souvenir photos, and even souvenirs.
Tourists must wear closed clothing and shoes, and it is forbidden to take any found objects out of the territory. This is equated to moving radioactive waste and is prosecuted by law. After exiting, clothing is checked with a dosimeter, and shoes are washed.
During the excursion, it is important to follow the guide's instructions. It's not only about radiation but also about wild animals, which have multiplied in the vicinity of the plant. Some of them have become local attractions, like the fox Semyon.
The Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant is the most unusual vacation spot according to Western media. Excursions there are a thrilling adventure that makes you think about the damage humans can inflict on nature. If you follow simple rules, the trip will be unforgettable, and your friends will listen to your enthusiastic stories for a long time.