Ecotourism in Ukraine (Part 1)

Recently, for some reasons, Ukrainian tourists have been rushed from their native boundaries farther and farther away. However, the trend among Europeans is completely opposite. More and more tourists from Western Europe visit Ukraine to admire the beauty of its nature. Today, there are 4 biosphere reserves, 16 nature reserves, and 12 national parks in Ukraine. Many of them are real “pearls” of wildlife. By the way, Ukraine ranks the first in Europe by the wealth of forests. Besides, there are more than 70 thousand rivers and 30 000 lakes in Ukraine as well.

What does ecological tourism (ecotourism) give us, people?  First, it provides us with an opportunity to visit and touch the wild and virgin nature that has not been damaged yet by the goods of civilization, in the worst sense of meaning of this phrase. In addition, it is advantageous not only for travelers, tourists, and vacationers who can get acquainted with the peculiarities of a particular territory in its original, unspoiled form, but also for local people who benefit from protecting their own nature. In such a way, they attract more tourists and improve their own level of well-being.

In Europe, France, Spain, and Italy are the leaders in the development of ecological tourism. On a global scale, United States, South Africa, Tanzania, Kenya, Nepal, Ecuador, Australia, and New Zealand do not lag behind the European leaders. Undoubtedly, Ukraine has also favorable conditions for the development of ecotourism. We have all necessary conditions for ecotourism in Ukraine such as unique landscape and climate, and a favorable geographical location.

Here are some of the most famous places for ecotourism in Ukraine.

Carpathian Biosphere Reserve

Carpathian Biosphere Reserve is Ukrainian’s No 1 Tourist Destination for the fans of ecotourism. At the average, about 100 thousands of organized tourists only visit the reserve per year. Here you can find all the landscape diversity of the region: from the river valleys with a mild climate to the mountain ranges where snow, sometimes, does not melt in summer. A special pride of the Ukrainian Carpathians is ancient beech forests. On the rocks, you can see the edelweiss. In May, in a small valley near the village Kireshi, narrow-leaved daffodils bloom. And the land is covered with a solid gold-and-white floral carpet. Every year, hundred thousand tourists from all over Europe come to look at this extraordinary spectacle in the Valley of Daffodils.

Valley of Daffodils