We’ll begin the day with a historical walking tour of the capital, visiting several spectacular Socialist Modernist sites scattered throughout the city. The Soviets left their architectural stamp, and these monuments, recreational facilities, and buildings have remained objects of admiration to this day. We’ll explore several sites, from the iconic National Library to the massive Moscva Cinema complex—and even the former KGB headquarters. There’s no better way to navigate the idiosyncrasies of the city than via the Soviet-era metro system, and we'll glimpse stations that are stunning, historical, and incredibly efficient. We’ll pause to grab lunch in the backstreets of central Minsk before visiting the private studio space of sculptor and artist Zair Azgur. Once an official national artist of the USSR, Mr. Azgur was the recipient of several Stalin Awards, and his workshop houses some of the most incredible sculptures of the Soviet era. Tonight, you’ll have the evening to explore Minsk’s many eateries and wander the capital city at your own pace.

We’ll start this morning early to stake out good spots for parade-watching. Throughout the day, feel free to wander around on your own, weaving through the crowds of festival-goers and taking in downtown Minsk at its finest. The area surrounding the main parade location will likely be full of locals cheffing up delicious traditional food, browsing through handicrafts on sale, and toting a bottle of something pretty strong—and we’ll have the chance to join in the festivities. After a long day of revelry, we’ll regroup for dinner and begin packing for tomorrow’s adventure to Ukraine.

Before we head to Ukraine, we’ll visit one final Belarusian monument en route—the Mound of Glory, a structure as epic as its name suggests. After a quick flight, we’ll arrive in Kyiv and head to one of the city’s modernist gems as well as our home for the next few nights: the iconic Hotel Salute. Take some time to settle in and unpack before meeting up for a walking tour of the city, where we’ll wander the same streets that were involved in the 2014 Ukrainian revolution known as the “Revolution of Dignity.” Walking through Maidan Square, the incomparably grand Khreshchatyk street, and the surrounding area, we’ll take in an on-site account of the events that took place during the revolution. Tonight, we’ll gather for dinner at a beloved restaurant serving up Georgian fare, often claimed to be the finest cuisine of the Soviet Union.

We’ll begin the day with a visit to Mezhyhyria, the private residence of exiled former president Viktor Yanukovych. As we tour Yanukovych’s enormous estate—a display of unfathomable wealth—we’ll glimpse his lavishly decorated private home and check out his garage full of retro classic cars. Then, it’s back to the city for lunch. We’ll head to the district of Podil, a quickly gentrifying area still home to relics of old, working-class Kyiv, where we’ll enjoy a meal of the same character—a delicious fusion of old and new. In the afternoon, you can slip underground for a guided tour of the storm drains and tunnels that snake beneath Ukraine’s capital. Alternatively, you can choose to stay topside for a tour of Kyiv’s most iconic sites. We’ll regroup for dinner, which will offer a mouthwatering introduction to Kyiv’s contemporary food scene.

We’ll start the morning with a historical walking tour, venturing to a series of sites that span several important chapters in Ukraine’s history. Beginning at the Holodomor Memorial, where we’ll learn about the famine-genocide that took place in the 20th century, we’ll head to one of the most important Orthodox monasteries in the world, glimpse catacombs home to the bodies of deceased religious figures, and see the smallest sculptures on the planet. We’ll then make our way to the Great Patriotic War Museum, which sits beneath the gargantuan “Mother Ukraine” statue. After our tour, we’ll head back to Podil for a visit to the Chernobyl Museum, where we’ll begin to contextualize our upcoming trip to the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone. We’ll wrap up on the earlier side tonight to ensure we get plenty of rest before our visit to Chernobyl tomorrow—but not before digging into a hearty meal at a nostalgic Soviet-style restaurant just a few minutes’ walk from our hotel. 

This morning, we’ll venture inside the Chernobyl Power Plant. Every day, thousands of workers arrive at the plant and continue to work toward safely decommissioning the nuclear power facility. We’ll have ample time to explore the Exclusion Zone’s landmarks as well as some of its lesser-known sites. In the evening, we’ll return to our village homestay where we’ll enjoy another home-cooked meal and rest up for our final day in Chernobyl.

At the time of the Chernobyl accident, the workers’ city of Pripyat had a population of 49,000 people. It was evacuated soon after the event, and now survives as one of the world’s most famous ghost towns. Today, we’ll get to know this largely empty city intimately, walking its desolate streets and visiting its abandoned schools, hospitals, theaters, restaurants, and stores. We’ll visit all of Pripyat’s landmarks, including the fairground and swimming pools, as well as a few Soviet-era mosaics. For lunch, we’ll head to Canteen 19, the Chernobyl workers’ dining hall, where we’ll dine among scientists and engineers currently stationed at the plant. In the afternoon, we’ll visit one of the Exclusion Zone’s best-kept secrets: the DUGA radar installation, or the “Russian Woodpecker”—an enormous structure at the heart of an abandoned Soviet military base. Late in the day, we’ll return to the capital for one last night at our Kyiv hotel, stopping en route for a traditional country-style feast.

After nine days of spectacular architecture, raucous parades, and sobering walks through history, it’s time to say farewell to our fellow travelers and head to the airport for homeward flights. (If your flight leaves in the early morning, we’ll say our goodbyes at dinner.) If you choose to extend your time in Ukraine, your guides would be more than happy to offer additional tips and recommendations. Until the next adventure!