Today, in one of our last #ExperienceOfTheWeek series in 2020, we move to Eastern Europe. Did you know that Ukraine has been recently claimed as one of the most popular destinations in Europe? This and much more in our December interview with Serhii, the founder of Adventure Tours in Ukraine.
Q1: Hi Serhii, how are you doing?
Hey, Ivana! Excellent as always! How about you?
Q2: Tell us more about the story of Adventure Tours in Ukraine. Where did the idea come from?
Well, we started thinking about such a project back in 2015. The reason for that was my own experience. I noticed the interest of tourists from all over the world in Ukraine as a post-soviet country. They see our country as an heir to the communist heritage. And I don’t think it’s bad, I believe we can use it.
Another side of that was the lack of good service in military tourism in Ukraine. I realized that my mission was to create something extremely savage and at the same time very special and caring. That’s how Adventure tours in Ukraine has come to life. We are really proud of it! As you might have noticed, only projects like this one, where the main goal is to satisfy clients, survived the pandemic and crises.
Q3: Ukraine is not a “top-of-your-mind” travel destination in Europe but I bet there are dozens of things to show to fellow travelers. How big is your team? Are you all locals?
Oh, I bet Ukraine is a “top-of-your-mind” destination. I’m serious! Recently, our country has become one of the most popular destinations in Europe.
We have seas, mountains, big modern and ancient cities. Isn’t it odd to see an old medieval castle right by the Soviet constructivism style buildings? Well, you can find something like that in Ukraine. And lots of more: a real desert in the heart of Europe, green islands in the capital’s city center, the rivers wide as oceans, ghost-towns. As far as the team goes, people who make this big dream a real thing every day, we are all from Ukraine.
Q4: Your selection of experiences is literally endless – you offer everything from day tours to shooting practice to tank driving. Which ones are the most popular among travelers who book with you?
All of the activities are worth experiencing. Well, the most popular activities are, of course, the Chernobyl tours, tank driving, and shooting. Apparently, these babies are just unique!
Q5: Today many people travel and plan their itineraries on their own. Why would you recommend booking one of your experiences? Can travelers even experience any of those things you offer if they travel on their own?
Where else can you fly over the ghost-town by heli? Or see the mystical Carpathians along with Soviet military facilities? Where else can you crash a car by the old Soviet tank? I think we all know the answer.
Tourists traveling on their own can and should book our tours, especially, when it’s so affordable. We use all major travel platforms, such as Tripduck, to let our guests find us easily. Also, we’ve got our own website where you can find all the info about our activities. English, Arabic, Chinese, Polish, German, and Ukrainian versions are there to let you feel more comfortable.
Q6: Coming to a foreign country as a traveler often calls for good stories. Can you think of any unforgettable moments or funny experiences you’ve had recently with your clients?
Hmm… Let me think… Oh, I know! The best part of this job is that working in Adventure Tours, you have no chance to get bored.
So, once we received a booking for the Chernobyl tour from a guy, who had been dreaming about visiting the Exclusion zone for 35 years. He and his wife wanted to see this incomparable place on the 25-th anniversary. Well, we arranged everything, our guide was waiting for them and guess what? He sees him with a broken leg, which means that he simply can’t explore the zone. You would never guess what we did to make this big dream come true 🙂 We arranged a PRIVATE HELICOPTER CHERNOBYL ZONE EXPLORATION! I thought he would cry. He was so happy, as well as our whole team.
Q7: With 2021 approaching, and hopefully the travel industry rebounding, do you have any expansion plans? New locations, new tours, new ideas?
I would love to make the whole world one adventure tour. That’s what I can say for now…
Q8: Last but not least, what is your favorite or must-see location in Ukraine that you’d take your friends to see or experience? Tips from a true local are always worth it 🙂
Oh, that’s my favorite topic to talk about! Guys, if you’re sick and tired of these hackneyed locations, that you must see before you die, and blah-blah-blah – Ukraine is definitely what you’re looking for. Everything here is so authentic. I can hardly name only a few of them! Well, let’s do the TOP 10 must-see locations in Ukraine.
I’ll start with cities – Kyiv, Odesa, Lviv for the lovers of different urban moods. You’ll find something special in each one. The Carpathians, the Tunnel of Love in Klevan, and a pink Lemuriyske Lake in the south will impress those who are looking for nature here.
For the museum fans, I would love to present something really special. I’m actually talking about the Museum of Missile Strategic Forces and the Museum of Aviation in Kyiv. And finally… I bet you were waiting for it! Chernobyl, shooting and tank driving tours, of course! I don’t think any comments are required here.
Book some of the most popular experiences by Adventure Tours in Ukraine here:
Private Tour to Chernobyl from Kyiv with Lunch
BRDM-2 Driving and Gun Shooting Experience
Museum of Strategic Missile Forces
Kyiv Urban Exploration Tour
Kyiv Yak-52 Aerobatic Stunt Flight