Frigates and shipbuilders. Kherson - Nikolaev - Askania Nova

Departure from Kharkov to Kherson by train number 375 in 19-39

1 day Arrival in Kherson in 13-32, meeting the group at the railway station. Hotel accommodation.

Sightseeing bus tour of Kherson. Kherson is famous for its historical and architectural complex "Kherson Fortress", the Catherine's Cathedral, the grave and the monument to G.A. Potemkin - Taurian, the embankment of the Dnieper. Kherson Fortress is the place where the city was founded. Until now, from the architectural ensemble of the Kherson fortress, only the Ochakiv and Moscow gates with adjacent bastions, the fortress, the Arsenal building, the powder cellar, the Catherine's Cathedral with the bell tower have been preserved. Other sights of the city: the Greek suburb, Pokrovskaya square, Uspensky cathedral, Privoz, State chambers, Necropolis, the old city.

The green necklace of Kherson is the Dnieper floods, which the Greeks called Gilei, the Goths - the forest of Murkvid, the Slavs - Olesia, the Zaporozhye Cossacks - the Great Meadow.

Dinner. Free time. A walk along the Dnipro embankment ...

2 day Breakfast. Free day.

Optional:

- excursion to the reserve Askania-Nova *. Biosphere reserve "Askania-Nova" is one of the 7 natural wonders of Ukraine, the oldest steppe biosphere reserve of the planet and the largest among European steppe reserves. It was created more than 100 years ago by Friedrich Eduardovich Faltz-Fein - a descendant of the German colonists and the owner of these lands. In 1985, the Askania-Nova reserve was included in the list of reference territories of the planet by the UNESCO decision and is a biosphere reserve.

Its current area, including the protected steppe, is 33,3 thousand hectares. Biological diversity includes more than 500 species of higher plants and more than 3000 species of animals. Many species that have disappeared over the last centuries on the vast expanses of the former steppes of Eurasia continue to exist here.

A tour of the zoo and arboretum, an unprecedented diversity of the world of animals and birds. For additional fee is possible to travel to the reserve steppe, safaris in the historical places of the reserve.

- departure to the village of Veseloe in the winery of Prince P.Trubetskoy *. The true story of the country's only historic chateau and the special atmosphere of the winery makes it. perhaps, the most attractive object of wine tourism in Ukraine.

The first vineyards were laid here, in the estate of Cossack, in 1896 year. The choice of lands for plantings and varieties of vines was carried out by the chief winemaker of the Russian Empire, Prince Lev Golitsyn. Already in 1900 at the World Exhibition in Paris, Riesling wine-making was awarded the Grand Prix.

You can make a journey into history by going down to the wine cellars and strolling along intricate galleries. Here you literally sip a sip of history, because 8 wine cellars store more than 10 000 bottles, among which 7000 are rare specimens.

- saline crafts and pink lakes *:

- Kinburskie lakes. A few kilometers from the village of Geroyskoe are located the famous Kinburn salt-making industries. They stand out bright pink and sometimes orange. Here, salt is mined in an open way, like many centuries ago. Pink Lakes is a favorite tourist destination. Photos on the background of the lakes are impressive and fascinating.

- Lemurian Lake. Not far from Chaplinka and Grigorievka, next to the lake Sivash is the Lemurian (it’s also Dead, Pink) lake. According to legend, on the site of the present lake there used to be the Lemurian Sea. The salt concentration here is greater than on the famous Israeli Dead Sea. The lake has optimal conditions for treatment and swimming.

- “Green farms of Tavria” * - This is an unusual complex consisting of 45 island-farms with a total area of ​​100 ha, surrounded by water channels. This complex is located in the Northern Black Sea region of Kherson region - the historical Northern Tavria, directly in the region adjacent to the lower reaches of the Dnieper. The healing geyser, the former manor of Falz-Fein - the founder of the Askania-Nova reserve, Zelenye Khutor: a museum of national life, a pottery workshop, a weaving house, a fishing museum, a honey house.

- Migian thresholds *. Here the Southern Bug River has made its way, creating a narrow valley-canyon. The steep cliffs surrounding it sometimes reach 40. You will see Migian rapids, waterfalls, islands and steep cliffs. Thresholds "Mill", Integral, Protik tract, rafting on the Southern Bug is possible.

- "Tavria" - the house of Ukrainian vintage brandy *. You will learn the history of winemaking in the Tauride region, and then their secrets will slightly open the basements, in which for decades they have been able to withstand the highest quality cognac spirits. The 6,5 gallery with thousands of oak bottles and barrels is amazing. After the excursion, those who wish can taste ordinary, vintage and collection cognacs, as well as wine.

- National Park "Buzky Guard" *. First, we explore the Small Acting Canyon "Devil's Valley", aka Arbuzinsky Canyon. This is one of the oldest canyons in Ukraine. It is considered the pride and one of the main attractions of the Nikolaev region. There are quite high cliffs, and a fast-moving river makes its way through boulders. Walk to the Blue Career Lake.

Next we will have to go to the Aktovsky canyon. This is a unique complex of forest and aquatic ecosystems with an ensemble of rocks and granite boulders, the only one in Europe that in its geological and landscape indicators in miniature with a huge accuracy in time of formation resembles the famous canyons of North America. The Deadtwater River divides the Nikolaev canyon in half, the rocks on its banks sometimes reach 30-50 meters in height.

Return to Kherson. Dinner.

3 day Breakfast. Check-out from the hotel. One of the excursion routes to choose from:

- Oleshkovsky sands - Ukrainian Sahara. Excursion on the largest sandy massif of Europe. Sand dunes, which in summer can heat up to 70-75 degrees, reach 8-12 m, and in the depths there are true oases and small lakes. Place historical Oleshkovskaya Sich Zaporizhzhya Cossacks.

- Excursion to Nikolaev "The City of Shipbuilders". The city of Nikolaev, named after St. Nicholas, is located at the confluence of the Southern Bug to the Black Sea. The city by Ukrainian standards is young, it is slightly more than 200 years. Historical and architectural sights, the old necropolis, the Admiralty, the embankment - the Fleet boulevard, monuments to the founders of the city - M. Faleeva and G. Potemkin, the monument to St. Nicholas, the monument to the native of Nikolayev - Admiral S. Makarov, the Cathedral of the Kasperovskaya Mother of God, the Cathedral of the Nativity of the Virgin. It is possible to visit the best in Ukraine zoo, a children's town of fairy tales, a museum of shipbuilding and fleet, an excursion to the oldest shipyard in the country.

Lunch.

Departure by train number 375 from Kherson to 16-04 or from Nikolaev to 16-57.

Return to Kharkov in 10-12

2 day tour (without a second free day):

3 day tour:

railway pass (reserved seat), ticket booking, group supervision by tour operator representative, excursion service, transport service according to the program, hotel accommodation, meals according to the program, insurance.