Experiencing Life in the Carpathians of Ukraine

Only 10% of the Carpathian Mountains are in the territory of Ukraine. The rest of the range crosses Poland, Slovakia, Serbia, Hungary, and Romania. It is an ancient land that mostly refuses to accept change. Horse carts are a regular means of transport and agriculture is a mainstay. Old wooden churches are common in almost every village and outsiders are viewed with a dose of suspicion. Foreign travelers are few and far between, most locals just assumed I was from neighboring Poland or Slovakia. Tourism has arrived in some parts here but hasn't spoiled the way of life that has maintained for centuries. Tourists come in from Kyiv to trek up Mt Goverla, to ski down Bukovel, and to get a taste of the culture here.

This is a region where the landscape is tied to its people. Instead of getting a lift up into the mountains to hike, I choose to walk directly from the village. For three hours I passed villages waking up: men with sickles heading out to the fields, babushkas drawing water from wells, and horse-drawn carts overfilled with hay. This is the kind of place where every house has their own chicken in the yard, and it's not uncommon to see white geese wandering around. I spent my time around Vorokhta, Tatariv, and Lazeshchyna, spending my nights in Yasinya. Yasinya makes an excellent base to experience the region. You could even spend your time walking on the hills on either side of Yasinya. If you like seeing life in the countryside, you'll like Yasinya. These photos come from that vicinity and beyond.

Read more about traveling in Ukraine on GoMad Nomad.