Verteba and Krystalichna Caves Tour

Western Ukraine is famous by large amount of gypsum caves. Here, within Ternopil, Chernivtsi, Khmelnytsly districts, can be found enormous gypsum layer spaces of karst origin which hide over 15 caves. Among these caves are horizontal and of labyrinth type, several hundred meters in length and two hundred kilometers, 30-50 meters in depth.

The caves are interesting by its structure: some of them form high galleries and narrow passages, and far in depth they can astonish you with gigantic halls over 10 meters in height. Cave walls are formed of compressed gypsum, and often, as in Crystal cave, they transformed into chimerical decorations (recall beautiful feathers and petals), and in Verteba cave – large circle ornaments.

It’s impossible to pass by unique cave crystals from several mm to 10s of cm, color shift from snow-white and yellow-cream to rust-colored and black.

Crystal cave accumulates a lot of crystals, name of which origins from great amount of them. Some caves served as shelters for ancient people. For instant, Verteba cave is interesting by its archeological findings of Trypillya ceramics (jars for wine and cereals, plates, vases, amphorae, religious symbols and attributes). On the basis of those findings was proved the fact that during several centuries few generations of Trypilians lived in that cave.

Itinerary:

duration	start	finish
		8.00	meeting in Lviv
5.00	8.00	13.00	Transporting to Verteba cave (Borschiv rayon, Ternopil oblast), 250 km Our guide will accompany the group during the transfer (sightseeing on the way to the cave  is not available)
1.00	13.00	14.00	Excursion in the underground museum Verteba, a place where was discovered one of the largest in the world Trypilya sites. Here you can face traces of Stone Age people, Trypilya sleeping places, jars and bones. The main part of exposition in Krakow is based on Verteba findings. The route is electrified.
0.30	14.00	14.30	transporting to Borschiv (20 km)
1.00	14.30	15.30	dinner in café
0.30	15.30	16.00	preparation for leaving
1.00	16.00	17.00	Crystal cave tour The name of this cave is more than eloquent and approves fantastically beautiful crystals in it. Crystals gathered in marvelous clusters remind petals and feathers. At the beginning of the cave the passages are quite narrow, but moving further in depth you will see spacious halls where stone blocks in the light of projectors look like some chimerical visions (buffalo’s head, lizard, etc.).
5.00	17.30	21.00	transfer to Lviv

Price:

Means of transportation	Number of participants	Price, hrn/person
Neoplan – 31 seats	25-30 persons	470
Neoplan – 51 seats	35-40 persons	470

The price includes:

• transfer Lviv – caves – Lviv
• English-speaking guide (1 person)
• guide service in caves
• insurance (insurance cover: accidents – 2000 UAH, medical expenses – 2000 UAH; take into account specifics of outdoor activities)

Additional payment:

• dinner in café  – 60 UAH/person

Café menu:

• red borsch + bread
• potatoes and cutlets (or varenyky/potato pancakes)
• fresh vegetables salad
• cookie
• tea