Itinerary

Day 1

Arrival transfer followed by orientation city tour of Kiev, which is not only the capital of Ukraine but also the mother city for all Eastern Slavic peoples. Kievan Rus, the state from which Ukraine, Russia & Belarus are all descended, was established here between the 9th & 11th centuries. The modern centre & the remains of the old city are both on the hilly west bank of the Dnipro, third largest river in Europe. Check in & dinner at a hotel.

Day 2

Breakfast at the hotel. Your first visit this morning is to the golden-domed Kiev-Pechersk Lavra Monastery. Founded three km south of where Kiev stood in 1051, the Caves Monastery was Kievan Rus first & for a long time most famous monastery. Spread across wooded slopes above the Dnipro, it is a unique array of gold-domed churches, underground labyrinths lined with mummified monks, & elegant monastic buildings turned museums, one of which has a hoard of Scythian gold to rival that of the Hermitage in St. Petersburg.
After lunch at local restaurant tour to St. Sophia Cathedral & Monastery complex with its magnificent frescoes & murals. It is the city's oldest standing church built in 1017-1031 in honour of Prince Yaroslav's victory over a rival tribe Pechenegs. Continue to St. Andrew's church located at the northern end of the street & at the top of the charming Andriyivsky uzvis. It is an inspired 1746-61 Baroque interpretation of the traditional Ukrainian five-domed, cross-shaped church by Rastrelli. The slender curves of its blue, white, gold & green exterior stand out against the skyline, perched up above the Podil district at the crest of the historic Upper Town, at the supposed site where the Apostle Andrew erected a cross. Its richly decorated interior features a three-tiered iconostasis & several paintings from the 18th century. Return to the hotel or local restaurant for dinner with folklore performance.

Day 3

After breakfast at the hotel spend some free time in the morning for shopping or revisiting one of Kiev's many museums. Check out followed by departure transfer.