Verteba, Mlynky 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.

duration: 2 days
price: 73 USD

Itinerary:

day 1

• meeting at the railway station in Chortkiv. 
• transfer to Mlynky Cave
• preparation for the trip
• Mlynky cave tour (approx. 3 hours)
• Mlynky cave tour (approx. 3 hours)
• transfer to Chortkiv
• overnight in a hotel

day 2

• Krystalichna (Crystal) cave tour (approx. 3 hours) along an electrified route where flashlights and crystals provoke imagination into creating bizarre creatures
• Borschiv town: visiting Local Lore Museum with exposition of region history and Trypillia religious and domestic findings in Verteba Cave
• Сave Museum Verteba is considered as one of the largest treasures of Trypillya settlements in the world. You'll see traces of archaeological excavations, Trypillya couches, pots and bones. The major part of exposition of Krakow Museum is based on the archaeological findings in Verteba Cave.
• Monastyrok village: ancient temple (with sacrificial stone of the IX century) in the rock above the canyon of the Seret River
• transfer to Chortkiv, going home.

The price includes:

• cave excursions
• head flashlight and overall rental
• catering according to the tour program
• accommodation in a hotel
• transfer according to the tour program

Additional payment:

• additional English-speaking guide
• lunch on the last day - about 100 UAH/per

Café menu:

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