Ukraine 25. May - 15. June - how to start?

I will stay 3 days in Kiev in the beginning and then start the circle
Krim - Odessa / (Danube Delta?) - Moldava - Carparten - Kiev
or vice versa.
In what direction should I start in the means of weather, accomodation (low budget hostels), transport?
I try to get around the EM hype.
Is it better to go in the beginning to Krim because there are not so many tourists and its not too hot and in the end to Carparten,
or is there a rainy season in the Carparten and I better start in the Carparten and go in the end to Krim?
Going to Lviv is no must (I know Krakau) - in the end it´s impossible because there are football matches.
Or should I start in the direction where I get the next trainticket (to Lviv or Krim)?

Oh god, it makes me headaches - I cannot cancel my ticket to Ukraine and when I booked I had no idea about EM.

I advice you to change your trip to reverse direction to Kyiv - Carpathian - Moldava - Odessa - Krym - Kyiv
because all trains from Odessa to the Carpathian and the Trans-Carpathian pass through Lviv, for example Odessa - Ivano-Frankivsk or Odessa - Uzhgorod trains and that will be a problem to buy ticket in June because lots of football funs are going to Lviv at this time. and i don't know anything how you can get to the Carpathian from Moldova, may be through Chernivtsi or Kamenets-Podilskiy. There is Chernivtsi-Uzhgorod train number 604 which pass through Ivano-Frankivsk instead of Lviv, but keep in mind this train on even days only and Uzhgorod-Chernivtsi train number 108 on odd days only.

Some non-refundable tickets allow date changes for a fee. Is this a possibility?

Pizwat, not possible to change the ticket, I tried already. LH has some special flights and you go or leave it.

Shimon, thank you. I now think I maybe start with the first week in Carpathian, the 2. week in Krim and the last week I go to Moldova - this ist the week during the EM and return to Kiev from Chisinau. Good?

2Pizwat
That is impossible in our country. You have to return your ticket and buy new ticket.

2dorehmasia
Yes, that is possible route, there are 4 trains Chisinau - Moscow, which pass through Kiev, but I think you'll lose time and money, because in this case you'll pass the same path two times. My opinion route Carpathian - Chernivtsi - Chisinau - Danube Delta - Odessa - Krym - Kiev will be better. But that is my opinion only, you have to make decision by yourself :-)
but keep in mind there isn't any train from Chernivtsi to Chisinau, you can get Chisinau by bus only (i think that is not a problem). and you can omit Chernivtsi and get Chisinau from Carpathian by train number 42 Truskavets - Chisinau, which pass through Lviv too. Yeees, I understand, your journey is quite difficult :-)))

I agree with Shimon that Moldova is most logical between Karpaty and Odessa (or in the other direction).
There are multiple options. There are buses to Chisinau from both Chernivtsi (an excellent town worth visiting, one of my favourite in Ukraine) and Kamenets-Podolski and vice versa. You can also easily and cheaply get to Chisinau from Chernovtsy via Suceava in Romania (I have recently done this, let me know if interested and I will provide details) and see the fascinating painted monasteries of Bukovina on the way. Krym will be crowded no matter which direction you take your route. Just a general advice -if you buy all your train tickets as soon as you get to Kiev, you will have more chances to stick to your plans, as they can easily be sold out for your preferred dates, but buses are usually OK for spontaneous travel.

{quote:title=sharanam605 wrote:}{quote}
Just a general advice -if you buy all your train tickets as soon as you get to Kiev,
you will have more chances to stick to your plans, as they can easily be sold out for your preferred dates

I think that is the best advice!

Here is official web-site of Ukrainian railways

... its a pain. And there is no guide book for Moldawa.
Sharanam:
"...to Chisinau from Chernovtsy via Suceava in Romania (I have recently done this, let me know if interested and I will provide details) and see the fascinating painted monasteries of Bukovina on the way..."

Sounds good. Should I get the LP Romania? I see, I'm going to change my plans completely.
Crowded Krim would prevent me from going there. Can you give me some infos how to get from Suceava to Chisinau? How many days, where to stay (hostel)?
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so, I just bought the central europe LP and will rearrange my trip. starting and ending in Kiev and do the loop to the west, 3 weeks, incl. Romania and Moldawa.....

Edited by: dorehmasia

Crowded Crimea in June? Nonsense. Hot Season in Crimea lasts from 20 July to 20 August.

There is a daily bus from the central Suceava bus station to central Chisinau bus station, leaving 6:30am and taking about 6 hours, the cost couple weeks ago was 50 Romanian Lei. I stayed in Bukovina hotel which in my opinion is the best option in Suceava, even though it's not mentioned in LP - it's right next to the central park and the tourist office and it's very reasonable - paid 56 Lei per night - which is similar to a dorm price in Irene's hostel but you will have own room, it even comes with a bathtub. There are day tours covering multiple monasteries, also you can get to several of the monasteries on your own using public transport/hiking/taxis. 2 days would be good, I think. The Chernivtsy to Suceava bus leaves Chernivtsi bus station at 7 am, the cost is 70 Hrivna, duration depends on how busy the border is, my trip took 4 hours most of which were spent waiting at the border.

thanks,
only 2 days in the Bukkovina - I have to spend 3 weeks and wonder if this is too long.
Can I also cross a border near Rakhiv?

I am not familiar with Rakhiv crossing, perhaps someone else can chime in. As far as the number of days, since the buses are daily you can always leave earlier or later if needed. Chernivtsi and Suceava both used to be part of the same country and it's very interesting to compare the current northern Bukovina with the Southern, all 20th century history nonwithstanding.

Note! Rakhiv is one of the places which is considered the geographical centre of Europe

Yes, Shimon. I will bow when I am in Rakhiv :)
So now I made my plans -
stay the first week, its the last week in May, in Ukraine, Kiev and Carpaten.
From Rakhiv I cross to Sighetu, Maramures -> Bukovina and the colorful manasteries -> Moldawia/Transnist. and then back to Kiev.

In Romania I can stretch the time - so 3 weeks all in all would not be too long.
Now I do have a better feeling than spending all the time in Ukraine. I just hope it will not rain (too much).
Sharanam and Shimon, I thank you for your help.

You are welcome! Good luck!

Best of luck with your trip!

Back home again.
From Kiev I went to KP by night train - to Yaremche -> Rakhiv.

Near Rakhiv I crossed the border to Sighetu - went to Guro Humorului - Iasi
crossed the border to Moldava, Chisinau, <-> Transnistria

by nighttrain I returned to Kiev, ca 17 hours Kupe
at night I went to the airport till check in early next morning.

Most I liked Ukraine and Moldavia,
in the upper part of Romania is a lack of public transport, I stuck in places, it rained and I met no travellers at all.

I was very happy to do the effort to learn to read the cyrillic alphabet an learned some phrases - even just to amuse people, but I got always the necessary help and people were friendly.

I thank for your help.

ok, if you liked ukraine may be next time you will go to crimea, here is an image for your troubled slumber :-)