Avoyage through Ukraine is a journey through time. Explore the renownedcities of Odessa, Yalta and Kiev, as well as scenery and towns rich intradition along the Dnieper River. On this 12-day journey, see howsocieties from the Vikings to the Tatars and Cossacks have influencedthe architecture, cuisine and culture of today's Ukraine. Visitlandmarks like the Livadia Palace, site of the 1945 Yalta Conference,Odessa's Potemkin Steps and Kiev's extraordinary Monastery of Caves, andimmerse yourself in Cossack traditions in Zaporozhye. Discover Ukraine!

Day 1 Kiev

Arrivein Kiev, capital of Ukraine. We meet you at the airport and transferyou to your ship.* After boarding, take free time to relax beforedinner-or join our "welcome walk" to stretch your legs and start gettingoriented. (D)

Day 2 Kiev

TourKiev, one of Europe's oldest cities, with a heritage of Viking, Cossackand Ukrainian peoples. Explore its historic buildings and monuments,and take a guided tour of the lovely domed St. Sophia Cathedral, aUNESCO World Heritage Site. After lunch aboard, tour the Monastery ofCaves, an extensive complex of churches and museums founded by monks in1051. Dinner aboard is followed by evening sailing along the peacefulDnieper River. (B, L, D)

Day 3 Dnieper River Scenic Cruising

Enjoya full day of scenic cruising, taking in the Dnieper's landscape ofrolling hills, ancient forest groves, historic villages and wide lakes. Aseries of onboard activities are available to help you familiarizeyourself with the history and culture of Ukraine. (B, L, D)

Day 4 Zaporozhye

Afterbreakfast, tour Zaporozhye, ancestral home of the Cossacks. Drive alongLenin Street; see the Lenin Monument, dam and the city's massivehydroelectric plant. Then visit the Cossack Museum of Khortitsa. Enjoy aspecial Cossack horsemanship show including folkloric music and dance.Depart during lunch; this afternoon, enjoy scenic cruising and onboardactivities, including a Ukrainian tea party. Cruise through the night.(B, L, D)

Day 5 Kherson

Aftera morning of scenic cruising and a Ukraine language lesson, arrive inKherson midafternoon. Disembark for a tour of this small city, foundedin 1778 by order of Catherine the Great and named after the nearbyancient Greek colony of Chersonesos Taurica. Walk along the riverembankment, see the monument to Prince Potjomkin and visit St.Catherine's Cathedral, decidedly Mediterranean in design. Dinner isserved as we depart. (B, L, D)

Day 6 Sevastopol

Afterlunch, arrive in Sevastopol, base of the Russian Black Sea Fleet. Tourthe city center and see St. Vladimir Cathedral and Admiral NakhimovSquare. The rest of the afternoon is free, or join an optionalarcheological tour of the ancient Greek city of Chersonese, founded inthe 6th century B.C. near today's Quarantine Bay and designated one ofthe Seven Wonders of Ukraine. Dine aboard and remain docked overnight;this evening you can attend an optional Black Sea Choir concert. (B, L,D)

Day 7 Sevastopol

Thismorning's tour goes to the Tatar city of Bakhchisarai. Tour the KhanPalace, built in 1519, and see the many different architectural styleswithin the complex. Visit the courthouse, harem and mosques, then strollthe beautifully landscaped grounds. After lunch, enjoy free time tofurther explore Sevastopol, site of the famed "Charge of the LightBrigade" during the Crimean War, or take an optional tour to Balaklavato visit the Panorama Museum and the submarine tunnels. (B, L, D)

Day 8 Yalta

Enjoya morning tour of Yalta. Travel along Lenin Embankment to AlexanderNevsky Cathedral and Livadia. Visit the White Palace, site of the 1945Yalta Conference between Roosevelt, Stalin and Churchill, and take aguided tour through official halls and private apartments of the czar'sfamily.

Lunch aboard; this afternoon, explore at your leisure or choose anoptional tour either to the Nikita Botanical Garden featuring 20,000plant species, or to one of Anton Chekhov's homes in Yalta, now a museumabout the famous playwright. Dine aboard; dock overnight. (B, L, D)

Day 9 Yalta

Spendthe morning further exploring Yalta, or join one of the optional toursincluding the beautiful mid-19th-century Aloupka Palace and gardens or awine-tasting excursion to Massandra. Depart this afternoon. (B, L, D)

Day 10 Odessa

Afterbreakfast, enjoy a half-day city tour of Odessa, an elegant city ofterraced hills and landscaped parks. Travel along Primorski Boulevard tothe Opera House and Potemkin Steps. Lunch and dinner are served aboard;take the afternoon and evening at leisure to explore thisfascinating city. (B, L, D)

Day 11 Odessa

Todayis yours to explore enchanting Odessa on your own. The city's stately19th-century architecture is a blend of its Russian heritage and moreMediterranean sensibilities, and there are miles of sandy beaches tostroll along. Or, you may opt for an art museum and/or Jewish Odessatour. This evening we will attend a musical or ballet performance. (B,L, D)

Day 12 Odessa

Afterbreakfast, disembark and we take you to the airport for your returnflight.* Or, extend your journey to include 3 nights in fabulous,historic Istanbul. (B)

The following meals are included:
B = Breakfast; L = Lunch; D = Dinner

*Airport meet & greet transfers included when air is purchased from Viking River Cruises.