chernobyl tour 2022

CHERNOBYL TOUR

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Personal radiation dosimeters and Geiger counters are two different things. PRD are provided by authorities to measure the radiation exposed to an individual during the tour (they are mandatory and included into the cost). But the data from those dosimeters can be read on a special equipment (there is no gauge or display). While Geiger counters show actual levels of radiation on a digital display in micro sieverts (they are optional and cost $8 per day).

Modern fleet of own minibuses!

For the comfort of our clients we use our modern minibuses mercedes sprinter and vv crafter (they are almost identical) which have been a clear step ahead of its class, especially in terms of safety..

08:00 A.M. MEETING POINT ON THE INDEPENDENCE SQUARE

Itinerary for One Day Chernobyl tour with English speaking Guide .

Read this Important Information you undertake to follow in the zone.

• How to book

Any Questions? How to Book Video Guide .

Our policy regarding the tours to Chernobyl

PRICES & TOURS #howtobook

Discount for hot deal book an eyeopening tour to the control room of the exploded reactor for only us$ 180 (private or multi-day packages)., we managed to generate the lowest rates read more show our competitors price and we will beat it..

* buying two or more seats

• Regular Tour means to join an existing group. Insurance included in the cost . BOOK NOW
• contact us To book Private Maxi Chernobyl Tour (lasts 12 hours), extended - Three, Four or Five-day tour;
• contact us Tour inside the Power Plant - three-four hour tours to the control room of the reactor #2 or #3, or special adventure visit to the control room of the Reactor #4;
• contact us If you are media representatives seeking for an assistance inside the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone;
• contact us To book a tour that starts from your door step in your country (including air, transfers and accommodation);
• The booking process of our tours is easy. Watch "how to”. If you still have questions please contact our customers support. contact us

• If you need to cancel or postpone a tour you will get a 100% refund or a voucher for your next trip.
• Note! Book now and get a COVID discount.
• Order your insurance with SoloEast Travel and get an online assistance on arrival to Ukraine. Change a date of your tour easily ONLINE.

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• Our features

Things to know when visiting Chernobyl

• Is the tour to Chernobyl safe?
• Audio Guide Apps

How to Book Video Guide

• SoloEast Travel own comfortable and modern air-conditioned minibuses Mercedes Sprinters and Volkswagens depart daily from downtown of Kyiv - Independence Squre. Our guides and drivers speak English. The drivers are instructed to drive our passengers safely - for this every vehicle speed is monitored by GPS system.
• We pay lot of attention to our guides training. Young, knowledgeable and with a great sense of humor, they will answer most of your questions regarding Chernobyl
• Don't worry about cash! We Accept: Credit Cards, PayPal, SEPA wires, e-Transfers. You can also book and pay by calling +38 0994671661 or "drop in" to our OFFICE IN KIEV .

When you decide to visit Chernobyl please consider the following tips that will help you to enjoy the tour. Unfortunately we’ve witness too many disappointment so we simply must share these thoughts with you.

- Book well in advance! We don’t try to trick you when we say that. Booking on a short notice doesn’t work anymore. Give yourself at least a week or better two before the tour to better prepare yourself. - Allow yourself minimum one day of rest in Kiev if you travel from overseas. This will also help if your flight is delayed. - Take it easy on local food and drinks before the tour. Don’t let food poisoning ruined the journey you’ve probably dreamed of for a long time. Alcohol is extremely cheap in Ukraine – but please take it easy on it the day before. And consider other travelers who will be on the bus with you for almost a 12 hours ride. - Beware of pick pocketing in public transportation and on the streets! Loosing your wallet and passport will not just cancel your tour but it will turn your visit into nightmare of getting your travel document from a consulate in Ukraine. Personal radiation dosimeters and Geiger counters are two different things. PRD are provided by authorities to measure the radiation exposed to an individual during the tour (they are mandatory and included into the cost). But the data from those dosimeters can be read on a special equipment (there is no gauge or display). While Geiger counters show actual levels of radiation on a digital display in micro sieverts (they are optional and cost $8 per day). If you have any question you’re welcome to email us or to come to our office in downtown Kiev. Victoria Vilchinska. Director SoloEast Travel.

The tour is 100% safe. You have to follow very simple rules you sign upon entering the Exclusion Zone. The most important things to remember are to watch your steps and follow your guide’s instructions. Please watch this video for the detailed information.

AUDIO GUIDE

If you prefer a guide who speaks your language, you can enjoy our own GPS Chernobyl Tour application. It is available in English, French, Spanish, Chinese and Japanese.

Route "Basic"

• Central Control Room (CCR-1) – place of open switchgear control and Plant’s Shift Supervisor workplace.
• Unit Control Room (UCR),where all main technological processes were controlled during Reactor operation.
• Skala. A unique electronic computing machine which appeared in 1973 at the Leningrad NPP and was named "SCALA" - Reactor Monitoring System of Leningrad NPP. Subsequently, it was also installed at the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant. It was the central information link, which united most of the control systems of the power unit into a single automated monitoring system for technological process of NPP.
• Unit 3 Main Circulation Pumps (MCP) used for water supply to the Reactor Core.
• Valeriy Khodymchuk Commemorative plaque – in memory of an MCP operator, who died in the performance of his duties, his body was never found.

Route "Basic Plus" – US $180.00 per person , takes place every Monday through Friday (Saturdays and Sundays are days off) and shall be booked at least 14 days in advance. In any case, please double-check the availability before booking the Visit to the ChNPP.

• Central Control Room (CCR-1) is the control room for the open switchgear management and plant’s shift supervisor work place.
• Unit control room (UCR),from which all major technological processes were controlled during the reactor operation.
• Skala. A unique electronic computer appeared in 1973 at the Leningrad NPP and was called "SCALA" - Leningrad NPP Apparatus (Reactor) Control System. Later it was also installed at Chornobyl NPP. It was the central information chain unified most of the power unit control systems into a single automated NPP process control system.
• The central Hall is the power unit reactor hall, the place where technological processes took place.
• Unit 3 Main Circulating Pumps (MCP),which supplied water to the reactor core.
• Valery Khodymchuk Memorial plaque – the memorial to commemorate the MCP operator who died during performance his duties, no body was found.
• Unit 4 Control room (UCR 4) is the premise with partially dismantled Unit control panel equipment at the Unit where the accident occurred.

PICKUP ZONE MAP

Terms and cancellation policy.

• reschedule the tour to another available date;
• have a private or semi-private tour, the cost will depend on the number of people in a group (1 p. - US $300.00; 2 p. - US $162.00 p/p; 3 p. - US $116.00 p/p; 4 p. - US $106.00 p/p);
• cancellation and a full refund.
• Bookings are fully refundable if cancelled earlier than 24 hours before the tour.
• Bookings cancelled less than 24 hours before the tour are non refundable not depending on circumstances and reasons.
• There is no reimbursement for acts of mother nature.

INSTRUCTIONS LETTER

For visitors of the exclusion zone and the zone of absolute (compulsory) resettlement.

When visiting the exclusion zone all foreign and Ukrainian nationals shall be obliged to: Things to know when visiting Chernobyl

• Use clothes & shoes, which maximally protect body, head, hands and feet;
• Comply with the radiation safety rules, health and safety regulations;
• Strictly comply with all instructions of the envoy officer;
• Move around only according to the prescribed routes and by authority of the envoy officer;
• Follow the personal hygienic rules.

During the visit to the exclusion zone it is totally prohibited to:

• Carry any kind of weapons;
• Drink liquors or take drugs;
• Have meal and smoke in the open air;
• Touch any structures or vegetation;
• Sit or place photo and video equipment on the ground;
• Take any items outside the zone;
• Violate dress code (open-type shoes, shorts, skirts);
• Stay in the zone without the officer, responsible for the envoy;
• Gather, use and bring from the exclusion zone and the zone of absolute (mandatory) resettlement vegetable and cattle breeding products (vegetables, fruits, berries, mushrooms, plants, fish etc.), which were cultivated on the area of the exclusion zone and the zone of absolute (mandatory) resettlement, except specimens for scientific purposes;
• Bring in and bring out of the exclusion zone and the zone of absolute (mandatory) resettlement any animals (dogs, cats etc);
• Drink water from wells, rivers and other open water sources. It is allowed to use water only from Chernobyl water supply system, or water from stores.

All instructions of the envoy officer shall be binding for visitors. Photographing and filming on the designated route shall be subject to authorization of the envoy officer. Leaving the exclusion zone and the zone of absolute (mandatory) resettlement it is necessary to:

• Pass the compulsory radiation control of clothes, foot wear, personal items;
• Pass compulsory radiation control of transport.

If contamination exceeds the established control levels, personal clothes, foot wear, and items are subject to decontamination. Possible irradiation dose is up to 3 microSv, which does not exceed the dose limit of population. I have read the above stated rules and confirm that I do not have any medical contraindications.

New in 2022!

Private tour of chernobyl from kiev on luxurious minibus.

Find out more about our rates

SoloEast Travel is licensed and is the 1st TOUR OPERATOR to successfully organize tours to Chernobyl Exclusion Zone since 2000 . We emphasize on training our personal staff with the highest western standards; we have no need to hire transportation, since we have our own fleet of modern, comfortable and air-conditioned minibuses which will make the long journey much more enjoyable and affordable for our customers. SoloEast Travel tour guides alone with the drivers are officially employed by the company, therefore we take all  responsibilities for the service they provide you with. We try our hardest to meet all your expectations so you can feel secure and fully educated after the tour.

Choosing SoloEast Travel you get professional and easy-going team of managers, guides and drivers who will take good care of you on your journey from the beginning to the end making your once-in-a-lifetime experience unforgettable.

COVID-19 INSTRUCTIONS

In order to protect yourself and others from Covid-19 follow recommendations of World Health Organization against spread of COVID-19:

Please, be advised there are extra masks and sanitizers in a bus/car - feel free to use them

Stay SAFE with SoloEast Travel.

How to book video guide (01:41min).

• Disclosures

How to Visit Chernobyl: The Ultimate Guide (Updated 2021)

A n abandoned kindergarten room strewn with toys. The hollows of an amusement park that was never even used. An eerily vacant high school with its desks still draped in school work. These are the remnants of Chernobyl – a town blasted with 400 times the radiation of the bomb of Hiroshima, over thirty years ago. Today, it lures curious tourists in the tens of thousands. But why ?

When my husband and I were planning out our itinerary for Eastern Europe a few years back, we decided to include Kiev, Ukraine, purely so that we could visit Chernobyl. Dark tourism intrigued us, and we were keen to learn more about this abandoned place and the disaster story behind it.

For those of you who aren’t very familiar with Chernobyl, here’s the basic story:

Chernobyl was a nuclear power plant located in the USSR (now Ukraine) which had a steam explosion in April of 1986. The nuclear radiation released in the days after the accident was truly catastrophic. The nearby town of Prypyat, which was home of many of the power plant workers, was evacuated the day after the explosion and the 50,000 residents were never to return to their homes.

Nuclear Reactor no. 4 (the site of the explosion) was covered with a temporary sarcophagus to confine the radiation in the weeks after the explosion, and a new sarcophagus, which has been designed to confine the radiation for another 100 years, was built by the EU and placed on site in October 2017.

We chose to see Chernobyl on a 1-day, small group tour which departed Kiev at 8:00 AM and returned around 6:00 PM. We had an English speaking guide, and a driver who transported us via minivan. On the way, a documentary was played to give us a deeper insight into the disaster and prepare us for what we were about to see. Even though I had expected to visit a mostly abandoned and derelict place, the reality was shocking. There were a handful of stops on the tour, including a small town with empty houses being swallowed back up by the forest, an abandoned kindergarten in the Chernobyl township with books and learning materials still scattered about on the desks, and an amusement park in Prypyat that was sadly never used as the town was evacuated before it could open. These confronting scenes are something that I will never forget.

• 1 Chernobyl: An Overview
• 2 Why do tourists visit Chernobyl?
• 3 Is it safe to visit Chernobyl?
• 4 Can you visit Chernobyl without a guide?
• 5 How much does a Chernobyl tour cost?
• 6 Getting there
• 7 Where to stay
• 8 1. Choose the best Chernobyl tour type
• 9 2. Choose a tour company
• 10 3. Be prepared for your Chernobyl visit
• 11 The Thrifty Gist

Chernobyl: An Overview

Chernobyl is located about 100 km (62 mi) north of the city of Kiev, Ukraine. It takes around 2 hours to drive to Chernobyl from Kiev.

The exclusion zone is an area of 2,600 km 2 (1,000 sq mi) around the nuclear power plant. This area is considered hazardous and is off-limits to the general public. There are multiple checkpoints that you have to pass through inside the exclusion zone. The area inside the checkpoint closest to the nuclear reactor has the most dangerous levels of radiation.

When tourists talk about visiting Chernobyl, we’re generally referring to the power plant itself, but the exclusion zone actually includes a few towns and a large forested area. Tours to Chernobyl will stop by many different places of interest within the exclusion zone.

Why do tourists visit Chernobyl?

Chernobyl has many appeals for tourists. For me, it was the decay. I was intrigued to explore a place that has been completely abandoned by humans for nearly 30 years. I wanted to find out what an apocalyptic world might look like.

My husband’s appeal was the modern history aspect – he wanted to see a place that is frozen in time from the soviet era. Walking through remnants from a culture that no longer exists is a fascinating thing to experience.

Others might be interested in the disaster itself, or maybe learn more about the dangers of nuclear power and the effect it can have on the environment if something goes wrong, like it did at Chernobyl. This is perhaps the only place in the world that you can see this first-hand.

Is it safe to visit Chernobyl?

I was asked this question by many people after my visit to Chernobyl. It’s a valid concern.

Radiation sticks around for a very long time, and the exclusion zone is not expected to be safe for humans to live in for the next 20,000 years. However, radioactivity can be considered mostly harmless in small doses (like when you get an x-ray, or even take a long-haul flight), and the day tours into the exclusion zone mean that you’re only exposed to low levels of radiation for just a few hours.

There are around 400 people that actually live inside the exclusion zone, and another several thousand that work in and around the power plant, decommissioning the retired reactors and constructing the new sarcophagus. They manage the radiation exposure by limiting their time in the most hazardous areas, and are also required to take longer breaks away from the site so that their bodies have time to recover.

On the way out of the exclusion zone, everyone is required to go through an old soviet radiation control checkpoint. The device required each person to place their hands on either side while it checks your radiation levels.

Regardless of the trip you take, it's always worth getting travel insurance in case of an emergency. We use World Nomads because you can sign up or extend your trip any time (even if you've already left your home country), over 150+ adventure activities are covered (i.e. less fine print and loopholes), and most of all, there are plenty of successful claim stories online – so it actually works! For more info, and our story of when insurance saved us $2,000 at a foreign hospital, check out our travel insurance guide here .

Can you visit Chernobyl without a guide?

Tourist entry into the exclusion zone is only permitted with a licenced guide. There are many areas inside the exclusion zone that are still considered very dangerous, and a guide will have the expertise to keep you safe at all times.

How much does a Chernobyl tour cost?

Tours from Kiev cost between $100-$500 USD per person, depending on the type of tour that you choose. The day tour that I booked starts at $105 USD each, and it's worth every cent. You can browse a variety of tours along with prices, reviews, and booking with immediate confirmation on GetYourGuide and Viator .

Getting there

Flying into Boryspil International Airport (KBP) is the easiest way to get to Kiev, with direct flights from many major cities in Europe including Amsterdam, Vienna, Paris, London, Prague, Frankfurt, Zurich, and Warsaw. If you are already in Ukraine, there are intercity trains that will take you from Lviv to Kiev. Budget airlines are plentiful in Eastern Europe. The easiest way to find cheap flights is to search Skyscanner and select “Entire Month” to visualize prices across a one month period.

It's also worth signing up for the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card . You'll get a 60,000 point bonus just by spending $4,000 in the first 3 months on your everyday purchases in the first 3 months. That's worth $750  when redeemed through Chase Ultimate Rewards, saving you a significant amount on your flight. Alternatively, you can transfer the points directly to a number of other frequent flyer programs if you are already collecting points. The card also has no international transaction fees (where most cards charge 2-3%), making this card cheaper to use overseas than any ATM or currency exchange booth.

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

• 60,000 reward points (worth $750 ) after meeting the minimum spend of $4,000 in the first 3 months
• $50 annual Ultimate Rewards Hotel Credit, 5x points for purchases on Chase Ultimate Rewards, 3x points on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, and 2x points on all other travel purchases.
• Points are worth 25% more on airfare, hotels, car rentals, and cruises when booking through Chase Ultimate Rewards (e.g. 60,000 points worth $750 toward travel)
• Includes trip cancellation/interruption insurance, auto rental collision damage waiver, lost luggage insurance and more.
• Can transfer your reward points to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
• No foreign transaction fees
• Annual fee: $95

Where to stay

There are plenty of central accommodations to choose from in Kiev. Being in Eastern Europe, hotels and AirBNBs are surprisingly affordable. When you book your Chernobyl tour, check the confirmation to find your meeting point. My tour departed from Maidan Square, so I booked us a room in a hostel nearby. Many tours will depart from Kiev Central Railway Station, so a hotel closer to the station may be a better choice. Some tours (especially the private ones) offer hotel pickup.

1. Choose the best Chernobyl tour type

When booking a visit to Chernobyl, there are a few different tour types to choose from:

1-day Tours

The 1-day tours generally last from 10-12 hours, of which 4 are spent driving to and from the Chernobyl site from Kiev. The 1-day tour was packed with activities, however, I didn’t feel as though it was overly rushed or that anything was skipped over.

From Kiev: 1-Day Group Tour to Chernobyl ($100 USD)

Chernobyl Tour from Kiev ($105 USD)

Full-Day Tour of Chernobyl and Prypiat from Kiev ($114 USD)

2-day or 3-day tours.

For anyone wanting to experience the exclusion zone at a slower pace, there are 2-day, 3-day, or even longer tours available. I personally think that 2 days would be enough time to see the area.

From Kiev: 2-Day Group Tour to Chernobyl ($251 USD)

The Ultimate 2-Day Chernobyl Tour from Kiev ($321 USD)

3-Day Extended Tour to Chernobyl and Prypiat Town from Kyiv ($429 USD)

Private tours.

Many people are interested in visiting Chernobyl for the photography aspect, and in this case, I think a private tour would be the best option as you can explore the area at your own pace. This would allow you ample time to set up shots and get great photos.

From Kiev: Private Tour of Chernobyl ($78 USD)

From Kiev: Chernobyl & Pripyat Private Day Tour with Lunch ($130 USD)

Chernobyl Private Tour from Kiev ($105 USD)

2. Choose a tour company

When I was choosing a tour company, I used online reviews to make a decision. SoloEast Travel was one of the highest rated companies on TripAdvisor, and while they weren’t necessarily the cheapest, the price was reasonable. They were an excellent choice.

Things to look for when choosing a tour:

• Group size: Small group tours are definitely best for the Chernobyl experience. We had 10-12 people on our tour, which was perfect.
• Inclusions/Exclusions: Hotel pickup, meals, entrance fees, taxes, and geiger-counter rental may or may not be included in the price of some tours.
• Flexibility: 1-day tours are really great value, but if you want more time at each place or more options for photography, then consider booking a slower-paced tour for more flexibility.

3. Be prepared for your Chernobyl visit

Tours to Chernobyl can be booked year-round. We visited in late November, which was extra special as there was a thick layer of snow which gave the place an eerie vibe. It was also a quiet time to visit – we only ran into one other tour group on our day trip, but for the most part we were the only people in sight.

Many people will prefer to visit Chernobyl in the warmer months. The trees in the area are apparently beautiful in fall/autumn, so this might be a great time to go.

What to bring:

• Comfortable, closed walking shoes.
• A rain jacket in case of bad weather.
• Sunscreen and a hat.
• A camera. You can use a smartphone for photos, but if you have a mirrorless camera or DSLR, even better! The photos you get around Chernobyl will be mind-blowing.
• A geiger-counter to measure radiation levels. We rented one from our tour company, which cost an extra $10 but it was so worth it.

For winter tours:

• Quality winter jacket/parka. You’ll spend a lot of time outside in the cold.
• Scarf, beanie, and gloves to stay warm.
• Waterproof shoes suitable for walking through snow.

The Thrifty Gist

• Chernobyl is located about 2 hours drive north of Kiev, Ukraine.
• The exclusion zone has a range of radiation levels, but is safe to visit on a guided tour. It's always a good idea to have travel insurance regardless, and we use World Nomads .
• You must book a tour to visit Chernobyl. 1-day, 2-day, or longer tours are available from Kiev. We took this tour , but there are plenty more to choose from with reviews on GetYourGuide and Viator .
• You can find cheap flights by searching by “entire month” on Skyscanner . You can also get the Chase Sapphire Preferred credit card and hit the minimum spend to receive 60,000 points worth $750 , saving you a ton on your flight.

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Disclosures Many of the listings that appear on this website are from companies which we receive compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). The site does not review or include all companies or all available products. Thrifty Nomads has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. Thrifty Nomads and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any of these entities.

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Touring Chernobyl: How to Visit Pripyat – Everything You Need to Know (2021)

In 1986, the world held its breath as a nuclear reactor melted down at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, in what’s now thought to be the worst nuclear disaster in history.

Today, 35 years later, Chernobyl and the nearby town of Pripyat, attract thousands of tourists from all over the world.

But what are they touring, exactly? What is there to see and do in Pripyat?

Touring Chernobyl: How to Visit Pripyat

To visit Chernobyl, you’ll need access to the Exclusion Zone.

The Exclusion Zone is an an area of about 2,600 square kilometers (1,000 sq mi) in Ukraine that surrounds the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant.

Can you visit Chernobyl without a guide?

You can only enter the exclusion zone with a licensed guide, meaning you’ll need to take one of the Chernobyl tours available.

You can get tours that range from one day, two days or three days.

The one days tours last about 12 hours, with four hours in transit from nearby Kiev. If you’re in a rush, the one day tours are a great way to get in and out quickly and they’re also your most affordable tour option.

You can also get private Chernobyl tours, which are especially good for photography as they let you take your time to take photos.

While it is possible to visit the area, there are areas in the exclusion zone that are still highly dangerous. A guide can help keep you safe and away from dangerous areas and situations. English guides are plentiful, and while tours include transportation, it’s important to know that you’ll need to go through multiple checkpoints while visiting.

So, what is there to see on a tour of Chernobyl?

Chernobyl is located around 62 miles, or 100 km, from Kiev, Ukraine. It’s about a two hour shuttle ride.

Chernobyl itself is home to the power plant, but the exclusion zone includes a large forest and other towns.

There are plenty of places to visit in the Chernobyl township, from an eerie abandoned kindergarten to forests surrounding the power plant itself.

Pripyat tours

Pripyat (which is also known as Pryp’yat’ or Prypyat) is a ghost city near the Ukraine–Belarus border. The town of Pripyat is about two kilometers from the Chernobyl nuclear power plant (ChNPP).

When the Chernobyl disaster occurred, the town of Pripyat was home to around 49,000 people. It was evacuated after the explosion at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in April, 1986 and many of its residents have never set foot in the town since.

While you can’t get too close to the plant or stay too long, there’s a lot to see in the town of Pripyat itself.

For instance, the Pripyat amusement park was set to have its grand opening on May 1st, 1986, less than a week before the explosion. However, it was never officially opened, and to this day it remains a symbol of the disaster in nearby Chernobyl.

There are three abandoned swimming pools in Pripyat, while the Swimming Pool Azure or Lazurny is the most well-known of these.

When’s the best time to visit Chernobyl?

You can visit Chernobyl any time of year.

The clearest weather is in the summer from June to August, but it can be hot, with temperatures often hovering near 30 degrees Celsius (86 Fahrenheit). Summer’s also the busiest season with tons of visitors and more expensive accommodations.

Fall and Spring are good times to visit, but the weather can be more variable.

Chernobyl is quietest in the winter, and the snow and gloom make for eerie and atmospheric photos however it can get cool with daytime highs around 0 C° (40 F°) and nights around -7 C° (20 F°).

Can you visit the Chernobyl Elephant’s Foot?

The Elephant’s Foot is a nickname for a large column formed underneath the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant. Its made of corium and other materials, and looks like black glass and bark.

Its wrinkly surface looks a lot like an elephant’s foot, thus the name. The Elephant’s Foot is in a maintenance corridor near the remains of the Chernobyl Reactor No. 4.

Because it’s still highly radioactive, it’s unfortunately not possible to walk up and see the Elephant’s Foot up close.

How safe is a Chernobyl tour?

Licensed Chernobyl tour operators have to follow strict guidelines set out by the governing body. The level of radiation in most areas tour operators are allowed to take you are minimal (less than you get in an airplane and 300x less than a typical xray) and most tours give you a respirator (though they’re not really needed) as well as your own Geiger-Muller dosimeter (Geiger counter) to make sure you stay within safe limits.

Where to stay on a Chernobyl stay?

While there are plenty of places to stay near the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, the best hotels will be in Kiev proper. Most people who choose to stay for a one day tour will often stay in Kiev and have their tour operator pick them up directly from their hotel.

While it can make for a longer tour day, Kiev has a huge selection of great hotels to choose from.

If you’re planning a multiple day tour, oftentimes the tour operators will include accommodations or direct you to the hotels they often deal with. You’re best bet if you’re unsure is to talk to your tour operator before booking any tours to make sure your hotel will work for them and for you.

Are Chernobyl tours cancelled?

As of the time of writing this article, tours to Pripyat and Chernobyl are running, but check tour operators directly, as this can change.

In 2020, forest fires near Chernobyl damaged some of the tourist attractions however it didn’t damage the Main Reactor No. 4 so tours can still run.

Love all the areas which the author described in this post, getting more attraction on the writing things and moreover having going good contents.

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Join us in for the biggest classic car pilgrimage to Europe and be a part of the popular Circuit Historique de Laon, the largest and most popular event of its kind in Europe with over 700 cars attending this event every year.

JEC Club Tours

Call us to discuss your  next driving tour, 01732 879153, open monday to friday 9am to 5pm .

COLDITZ, WARSAW, KRAKOW & PRAGUE

We are delighted to offer you the choice of a once in a lifetime 19 day driving tour to Chernobyl, via some of Europe's most iconic cities and attractions including; Colditz Castle, Warsaw, Stalag Luft III, Kiev, Prague and Krakow. From Krakow we have included a guided tour to Auschwitz Concentration camp. If you want something shorter, we can offer a 4 Day, 3 Night Tour by Air to Kiev where you'll join up with the driving group on our escorted tour to Chernobyl.

In late April 1986, the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in the Ukrainian town of Pripyat had a catastrophic accident that caused one of the reactors to leak radiation at an alarming rate. The plant and town were evacuated and, other than a brave group of scientists and construction workers, the area has been abandoned ever since. Guided tours are the only way to see the site, and the running historical narration you’ll get will add a tremendous value to the amazing sights you’ll witness.

Warsaw,  poland's capital, will impress with its resilience, respect for history, contemporary style and sheer joie de vivre. warsaw has endured the worst history could throw at it, including near destruction at the end of world war 2., colditz castle  is the famous german world war ii prisoner-of-war camp and the site of many daring escape attempts by allied officers. the castle sits on a steep hill overlooking the mulde river, as it flows through the small saxon town of colditz, 30 miles southeast of leipzig., kraków & auschwitz, the polish city of kraków is located near the border with the czech republic and is known for its well-preserved medieval core and jewish quarter, plus its old town. auschwitz was the largest of the german nazi concentration camps and extermination centres where over 1.1 million men, women and children lost their lives..

Tour Itinerary

Drive to your chosen port of departure for the crossing to Europe followed by the drive to Venlo & the Bilderberg Hotel including a welcome dinner

Mileages from the Port to the Hotel

Calais - 215 miles / Zeebrugge - 150 miles

Rotterdam - 105 miles

Look What’s Included

• Return P&O Ferry Crossing from Dover to Calais

- see other crossing options above

• 1 Night at the Bilderberg Hotel, Venlo, Holland

• 1 Night  in Naturresort Schindelbruch, Germany

• 2 Nights at the Schloss Eckberg Hotel, Dresden

• 1 Night at the Scandic Hotel, Wroclaw, Poland

• 2 Nights at the Radisson Blu Sobieski, Warsaw

• 2 Nights at the Noble Hotel, Lutsk, Ukraine

• 1 Nights at the Mercure Congress Hotel, Kiev

• 1 Night at the Pripyat/Desiatka Hotel, Pripyat

• 2 Nights at the Novotel Centrum, Krakow

• 2 Nights at the Hotel Duo, Prague, Czech Rep

• 1 Night at the Melchior Park Hotel, Wurzburg

• 1 Night at the Van der Valk Hotel, Verviers

• Visit to Colditz Castle & Stulag Luft III

• Warsaw City Sightseeing Tour

• 2 Day Chernobyl Tour with Qualified Guide

• Visit to Auschwitz Concentration Camp

• Prague City Sightseeing Tour

• Buffet Breakfast & Meals as meal basis below

• Detailed Road Book featuring Maps, Great Drives & Local Attractions

• Commemorative Tour Rally Plate

• Commemorative Chernobyl Tour Shirt & Cap

• Car Parking at all Hotels (charges may apply at some hotels)

OUR CHERNOBYL TOUR HOTELS

See our selection of hotels, all of which have been hand-picked for their quality, facilities and location

         Our Fly-Drive Tour Includes

• Return Flights from London to Kiev (Flights from Regional Airports may be available on request)

• 2 nights at the Mercure Congress Hotel, Kiev, Ukraine

• 1 Night at the Hotel Pripyat or Desyatka Hotel, Pripyat

• 2 Day Guided Chernobyl Tour with Qualified Guide

Safety Information

All of the guides on this tour are fully trained, Geiger-Muller counters (dosimeters) and Dosimetric control is implemented at least twice a day to ensure your safety throughout your time in Chernobyl.  The radiation level in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone is on average slightly higher than the natural background radiation, however the dose of radiation received in 2 days spent in Chernobyl and Pripyat won’t exceed 8 microsieverts, which equates to 4% the daily nuclear power plant safety norms in EU, which is the equivalent to around 7 hours on an intercontinental flight.

Dates & Prices

19 day driving tour, 4 day fly-drive tour, *please note: all prices shown above are per person and based on 2 persons sharing a car and a twin/double room meal basis  -​ driving tour - breakfast each morning & 11 dinners / fly-drive tour - breakfast & 3 dinners single occupancy supplements - driving tour £1000.00 / fly-drive tour £260.00, other unique tours include.

LONDON TO MOSCOW EUROPEAN RUN

21 Days, 20 Nights - September 2023

LONDON TO GIBRALTAR

European run.

17 Days, 16 Nights - May/June 2022

THE ARCTIC HIGHWAY CHALLENGE

19 Days - June/July 2022

Chernobyl Holidays

• Destinations
• Central & Eastern Europe

Visit Chernobyl with Regent, a place ever-synonymous with the massive nuclear disaster that rocked the Soviet Union and the world in 1986.

Recently, the disaster has been brought back into the public eye by HBO's superb dramatisation of the events in IMDB's most highly-rated television programme of all time,  Chernobyl . 

To this day, the 30km exclusion zone put in place by Ukraine’s “Ministry of Emergencies” still encircles the area, and the disaster remains very real for the huge number of people who have been, and are still, affected by the accident and the radiation that escaped it. 

View abandoned homes, shops, schools and hotels; walk the empty streets; spy the wildlife that has moved back in after the humans fled; and discover a snapshot of the days in which Pripyat and the Exclusion Zone were evacuated, with abandoned toys and the metal frames of bed providing a poignant reminder of the people who once lived here and had to leave their entire lives behind to escape the catastrophe. 

*Please note, under 18s are not permitted to visit Chernobyl.*

Read more about Chernobyl

Chernobyl Tour

Our  Kyiv and Chernobyl Tour  is an individual tour, unique to Regent Holidays, and includes an overnight in the town, giving an unparalleled insight into one of the most devastating environmental disasters in human history.

This Chernobyl tour with flights from the UK is a fascinating introduction to Kyiv, the pleasant Ukrainian capital, and includes two days touring inside the “Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant Exclusion Zone”.  

Spend one night in Chernobyl itself (in a small hotel built for scientific advisors ) and gain an insight into the complete picture of the Chernobyl story, from the past to the present. This tour also includes a full free day in Kyiv for one to explore at leisure.

We also offer Chernobyl tours from Kyiv, which you can include on a Kyiv city break. The tour is fully guided and includes transfers and a tour of the abandoned city.

Chernobyl Heart

Regent Holidays will donate £25 per every person booked on this tour to this wonderful charity aimed at improving the lives of children affected by the disaster. Every penny donated goes to help the children in need. For more information visit  www.chernobylheart.org.uk

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Visiting Chernobyl: All You Need To Know

*Our Visiting Chernobyl post may contain affiliate links, if you click the link and purchase an item through this you won’t pay a penny more, but we get a small commission which helps keep this website up and running, thank you!*

All You Need To Know About Visiting Chernobyl

Tourism to the Chernobyl exclusion zone has been on the rise ever since the first images of skeletal buildings and eerie, deserted classrooms appeared on the internet. In recent years Dark Tourism sites , like Chernobyl, have become ever more popular, often coming with questions regarding safety and the ethics of visiting such locations. With this in mind, we’ve created a detailed guide, answering some of the most popular questions, explaining our experience and reviewing a top tour company.

What happened in Chernobyl?

On April 26th 1986, operators at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant were performing a routine safety test in Reactor 4. When the power reached dangerously low levels, operators violated safety precautions and removed the control rods. The test continued with emergency and safety systems turned off. At 1:23AM a power surge occurred, the emergency button was pressed but the control rods jammed. A series of explosions followed which ejected radioactive particles from the reactor core into the night sky. Lethal fumes rose up forming a radioactive cloud above the now destroyed nuclear reactor. The cloud deposited deadly radioactive particles over the surrounding area, reaching many parts of Europe.

A more detailed account of the devastating events can be found here along with an informative article from Live Science explaining the aftermath and health impacts on those nearby.

Visiting Chernobyl: FAQ's

Where is chernobyl.

• Can you visit Chernobyl?
• Is it safe to visit Chernobyl?
• Is it worth visiting Chernobyl?
• Can You Visit Chernobyl Without A Guide ?
• Which is the Best Chernobyl Tour ?
• Chernobyl 1 Day Tour Itinerary
• How much does it cost to visit Chernobyl?
• When is the best time to visit Chernobyl?
• What’s the weather like in Chernobyl?
• What to wear to Chernobyl?

Visiting Chernobyl: Zone Rules

• What’s Chernobyl like today?
•  Dogs of Chernobyl
• How accurate is Chernobyl HBO?

Facts and Figures

Chernobyl is  in Ukraine,  approximately 80 miles north of the capital Kyiv and 12 miles south of the Belarus border. Public access is limited in the 30km Exclusion Zone which extends from the Chernobyl Power Plant. The zone is controlled by the Ukrainian authorities and access gained through a series of strict checkpoints. The exclusion zone is still one of the most radioactive places on Earth.

The map below shows the location of the Chernobyl Power Plant and the extent of the exclusion zone.

Can You Visit Chernobyl?

Chernobyl opened to visitors in 2011  when it was officially declared ‘safe’. Since HBO’s Chernobyl miniseries , tourism to the disaster site has significantly increased with around 150,000 people visiting in 2019. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced in mid 2019 that Chernobyl would become an official tourist attraction .

The Independent reported plans to improve phone signal and infrastructure in the zone as well the creation of a ‘Green Corridor’ to offer official and safe entry. In fact, the authorities have recently launched 21 new tourist routes as part of the new improvement plans. They also opened the infamous Reactor 4 Control Room  which still reads at over 40,000 times normal radiation levels! As a result, visitors are limited to a 5 minute visit and must wear full protective clothing. 

Is it Safe to Visit Chernobyl?

Provided you enter the Chernobyl Exclusion zone with a qualified tour guide, it is safe to visit . If you follow the rules, you will only be exposed to levels similar to that of a long haul flight . However, there are still some highly radioactive hotspots making it crucial to listen to your guide.   

Whilst in the exclusion zone you will pass through several radiation check points which will put your mind at ease.  Although we have read some theories that these checkpoints don’t actually work! 

Live Science have a helpful and informative article explaining more about the levels you’re exposed to whilst in the zone.

Fact: The Ukrainian Army use the exclusion zone once a year to ‘practice’. As a result some buildings are full of bullet holes and have been heavily damaged. 

Is it Worth Visiting Chernobyl?

Visiting Chernobyl is  important . It’s a surreal experience which provides you with a unique perspective of the scale and impact of the disaster. By visiting you are playing your part in preserving the memories and passing on knowledge of the horrific event. It was an event which changed history and is a stark reminder of the dangers mankind poses to the natural environment and to itself.

Can You Visit Chernobyl Without A Guide?

Visiting Chernobyl without a guide is illegal and is also extremely dangerous, however some do ‘sneak’ into the zone. There are even companies who run covert multi-day tours which see tourists sleeping in derelict apartment blocks. For thrill seekers, this may sound exciting, however with so many unstable structures and unseen risks, it’s extremely dangerous. Those who enter the zone illegally are known as ‘stalkers’ (originating from the 1972 Russian science fiction novel ‘Roadside Picnic’).

The Calvert journal has an interesting article on Chernobyl’s secretive ‘stalker’ subculture , detailing risks including food and water consumption in the zone.

Fact: Window frames and valuables were stolen and buildings stripped of cabling by looters in the early 1990s. It’s estimated that  6 million tonnes of radioactive metal was looted and recycled into everyday items.

Which is the Best Chernobyl Tour?

After some careful consideration and visiting many tour websites claiming to be ‘the best’ we settled on ChernobylWel.come . If like us, it’s important that you use a responsible tour company and that groups are small, ChernobylWel.come is ideal. They support several worthwhile initiatives ; each tripadvisor review plants a tree in the zone to aid with nature’s recovery. They also support the Chernobyl Babushkas, providing them with medicine and groceries, and regularly support the children’s cancer charity, Dobry Anjel. These important initiatives combined with great reviews and an alluring trip itinerary convinced us to book their 1 Day Tour from Kyiv.

Visiting Chernobyl: Tour Trailer

Our guide, Helga, was extremely knowledgeable about the zone and the accident. She had previously interviewed former Chernobyl residents and so was able to share the information she learned from them. As a photographer, she also identified some interesting locations to ensure we went away with memorable images from our tour.

Top Tip: Use code: GLOBETROTTERS at checkout to get some free gifts on any tour you book with them!

If we were to visit Chernobyl again...

We would book the 2 day tour option if we were visiting Chernobyl again, there is just so much to see! We did visit a lot of places but remain intrigued to see more of the less frequented locations. ChernobylWel.come also run private tours if you want to visit specific sights or would just rather not be in a group.

Overall, we thoroughly enjoyed our experience with ChernobylWel.come . It was factual, interesting and responsible. We learnt a lot about the disaster and now understand much more about exactly what happened on 26th April 1986.

Visiting Chernobyl: 1 Day Tour Itinerary

Different companies have different itineraries so if you’re interested in a specific sight, ensure the tour you choose stops there! Alternatively, you can book a private tour. Our 1 Day Tour from Kyiv with ChernobylWel.come in January 2020 followed the below itinerary.

Top Tip: The meeting point is outside Kyiv’s main train station which is massive and confusing to navigate (unless you speak Ukrainian). Therefore it’s worth doing a recce beforehand to ensure you get there on time. We went the night before and got lost A LOT! Puzata Hata (the meeting point near the station) is also a great self service restaurant where you can have dinner the night before or after the tour.

Finding the Meeting Point

The tour began with an early 7:30AM start in Kyiv, we met the bus outside the Puzata Hata Restaurant, near the train station. We’d heard that the meeting point could be difficult to find so had done a recce the night before. If you’re really late, they’ll leave without you,  which nearly happened to some members of our tour. They hadn’t planned ahead, left it to maps at the last minute and got lost. It was very frustrating for everyone else who had been on time, so don’t be late.

Top Tip: There’s a McDonald’s around the corner from the meeting point. If you fancy a treat and you’re an early riser, what better way to start the day than by demolishing a greasy Bacon & Egg McMuffin!  Puzata Hata also serve breakfast but we ate there the night before so treated ourselves to McDonald’s…

Journey from Kyiv to Chernobyl

The bus journey from Kyiv to the exclusion zone takes 2 hours. This sounds like a long journey but it passed quickly. ChernobylWel.come show a documentary on the bus and gave everyone a ‘newspaper’ to read with articles from the time of the accident. 

Top Tip: There is a brief toilet and refreshment stop before entering the zone. If you forgot to bring snacks it’s worth picking up a few there. Once in the zone there’s nowhere to buy food and lunch is usually between 1PM-3PM.

First Checkpoint

When you arrive at the first checkpoint passports and documents are checked by the Ukrainian authorities. There’s a small gift shop but the tour also stops here on the return journey so no need to rush to buy souvenirs yet! Once through this checkpoint, you’ve officially entered the exclusion zone. Fascination and intrigue begins to build as you spot mysterious derelict buildings and discarded belongings appearing in the forest as you drive to the next checkpoint. 

Top Tip: Use the bathroom whenever there’s one available! The only toilets are at lunch time or at the checkpoints when you enter/exit the zone. A large portion of the day before lunch is spent walking around Pripyat where there are no facilities. There’s definitely no nature wees allowed!

After passing through all the checkpoints it’s time for the first stop! Below we’ve listed the stops we made in chronological order.

1. Chernobyl's Red Forest

Chernobyl’s Red Forest is one of the most radioactive areas on earth. It’s located only 500 meters from the power plant and absorbed high levels of radiation from the initial explosion. Many trees died and turned orange (hence the name) and much of the forest is still out of bounds. For that reason, we drove straight through the forest, glued to our geiger counters as they beeped like crazy!

2. Pripyat Town Sign

Before entering the ghost town, every tour stops at the iconic Pripyat Town Sign. Unfortunately this historic monument is often vandalised and is regularly repainted. On the opposite side of the road to the sign is a radioactive hotspot, “don’t put anything on the ground there ” shouts our tour guide *Eve drops mitten* … From this stop we were also able to view the Red Forest at a safe distance.

3. Pripyat Fairground

All Chernobyl visitors are keen to see the ferris wheel, made famous by games like Call of Duty and Stalker.  The Pripyat Fairground was due to open just a week after the nuclear disaster. However, it’s speculated that it did momentarily open the day after the disaster to distract local residents from what was unfurling only a short distance away. After Pripyat was evacuated, the fairground was used to land helicopters during the immediate aftermath.

Pripyat was built to house workers at the nearby Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in 1970. At the time of the accident, it had a population of around 50,000 people. Comprising 160 apartment blocks, 20 schools, a hospital, 27 cafes, shopping centres, 3 swimming pools, 2 stadiums and 35 playgrounds, it’s no wonder tours spend several hours in the town. Pripyat is the most visited town in the exclusion zone with hundreds of tourists passing through the abandoned remains each day.

By visiting Pripyat towards the start of our tour, we avoided other groups which would’ve disturbed the eerily quiet atmosphere. We stopped at sights like; Central Square, the Grocery Store , Rainbow Shopping Centre , Energetic Palace of Culture , Pripyat City Council , a local Art Gallery and Prometheus Cinema.

Fact: The average age of Pripyat’s residents before the accident was 26 meaning there were many young couples starting families.

5. Pripyat Hospital 126

The Pripyat Hospital basement is one of the scariest and most dangerous places in the zone . On the night of the accident, first responders were rushed here for treatment. Unbeknown to them and the medical staff, they were highly contaminated. As soon as Doctors discovered this, the firefighter’s clothing was taken to the basement, where it has remained ever since. Sadly illegal stalkers in the zone have brought remnants of the clothing up from the basement. These tiny scraps of cloth litter the hallways and as a result it’s no longer safe to enter the building.  Our guide identified a tiny piece of cloth on a window sill, it looked like a leaf and could’ve easily been missed. Edging our geiger counter slowly and carefully towards the fabric, frantic beeping began which resulted in the highest reading we’d see all day!

6. Pripyat Riverport and Cafe

Families gathered along the riverbank to enjoy picnics and pleasure cruises in the summer and ice skating in the winter. Not far from the jetty is the wreck of a boat, half sunken into the radioactive lake. The cafe was known as ‘The Dish’ by local residents and was a popular teenage hangout. It once had huge colourful stained glass windows contrasting the uniform soviet architecture. Around the back of the cafe are several old soviet soda machines. These often had one glass attached by a chain, which would be rinsed and filled, much better than plastic cups!

7. Chernobyl Power Plant and Memorial

Everyone visiting Chernobyl will stop by the famous sarcophagus shielding the remains of reactor 4 from the outside world. Unsurprisingly, the radiation levels within the dome are the highest with the zone. A BBC article documents the new dome as bigger than Wembley stadium and taller than the statue of liberty, it took two decades to build. The final stop before lunch is the Chernobyl Power Plant Memorial which honours those who died in the initial aftermath of the accident, many of whom were first responders. 

Top Tip: If actually going inside the power plant interests you, Chernobylwel.come do a 2 day Chernobyl Power Plant and Pripyat tour, as well as a Chernobyl Reactor 4 Control Room Tour.

8. Chernobyl Plant Canteen

After passing through a radiation checkpoint it’s time to enjoy a traditional Ukrainian lunch. Thankfully all the food served in the canteen is grown outside of the exclusion zone! We couldn’t tell you what exactly was on the menu (you got what you were given) but it was delicious and very filling!

Top Tip:  Remember to inform your guide of any dietary requirements ahead of the tour so they can accommodate you. 

9. Duga Radar System

Hidden amongst the dense woodland in the Chernobyl exclusion zone is one of the Soviet’s best kept secrets. A bus stop labelled ‘Kids Camp’ marks the secret access road to Duga Radar station. Towering 150 metres into the sky, it was part of the Soviet Union’s early missile detection system. Although some conspiracy theorists believe it was linked to mind control or weather experiments.

Fun Fact: Duga was nicknamed the ‘Russian Woodpecker’ due to the repetitive tapping noises its broadcasts made.

10. Bridge of Death

On April 26th 1986, Pripyat residents gathered on the nearby railway bridge to observe the bright flames light up the night sky in the aftermath of reactor 4’s explosion. HBO’s Chernobyl depicts radioactive dust landing on children playing and residents on the bridge, later stating that all those on the bridge that night died. However, there’s varied reports on this and it’s hard to decipher the facts from the fiction regarding the ‘ Bridge of Death ‘. It has been reported that some locals did visit the bridge but no one knows if they survived or if they developed any long term health issues that night. In fact, many Pripyat residents slept through the explosion and plant workers didn’t find out about the incident until they arrived at the plant later that morning.

11. Chernobyl Town

The town of Chernobyl is located 15 km south of the Nuclear Power Plant. It was much smaller than Pripyat, with only 14,000 residents. Remarkably, Chernobyl is still inhabited by around 1000 zone workers today. There are two stores, a post office and a hotel. Those living in the town can stay a maximum of 15 days before they are required to leave for 15 days. The tour stops by the Monument of the Third Angel and a path lined with village signs , each representing a lost village, abandoned in the exclusion zone after the disaster.

12. Chernobyl Welcome Sign

The last stop on our 1 Day tour was the Chernobyl welcome sign. It’s a poignant stop to make and a sad reminder of the tragic events that took so many lives.

How Much Does it Cost to Visit Chernobyl?

Visiting Chernobyl on the 1 Day Tour from Kyiv costs £109 pp (prices as per 2020) with Chernobylwel.come

This includes:

• Return transport between Kyiv and Chernobyl
• Free Wifi on an air conditioned bus throughout the tour (upload pictures to social media instantly!)
• Small groups (small mini bus, no larger than 18 people)
• A free ‘newspaper ‘ to read on the journey
• A TV documentary about the disaster on the way
• Several geiger counters shared within the group (we had 4 or 5 between 15)
• Free individual dosimeter to be worn throughout your time in the exclusion zone
• Photos before the accident shown during the tour.
• All legal documentation to enter the zone
• Traditional Ukrainian lunch at the Chernobyl power plant workers cafe
• Free gifts at the end of the tour
• Free ticket to the Chernobyl Museum in Kyiv

Costs £269 pp , (prices as per 2020) which includes all of the above PLUS :

• Overnight hotel accommodation in the zone
• Traditional Ukrainian Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
• Opportunity to meet the Chernobyl Babushkas
• Opportunity to see 3 times more sights in the zone than the 1 Day tour

When is the Best Time to Visit Chernobyl?

There isn’t necessarily a ‘best’ time to visit Chernobyl, but maybe a best time to suit you.

If safety is a concern then winter is deemed the safest time to visit. It’s thought that the snow and freezing temperatures provide a blanket over the radioactive particles in the ground. As a result, levels of radiation in winter are generally much lower. Mist, snow and a barren forest make for eerily creepy photos of abandoned buildings standing out in the white forest. We visited in January 2020, it was extremely cold reaching lows of -10°C  whilst we were in the zone, we even saw a few snowflakes! The icy ground and chill in the air were a constant reminder of the tragedy and made for a really memorable experience. Visiting on a bright summer’s day would be a very different experience.

There is no snow at this point nor have the trees grown any leaves which means buildings are still visible through dense forest and overgrowth. However, spring doesn’t last long in the zone and is hard to pinpoint exactly as it can change annually. So if spring is when you want to visit Chernobyl, be sure to research so you don’t miss it!

The benefit of visiting in summer is the longer hours of daylight. This is particularly beneficial for those staying overnight in the zone, meaning you may be able to make more stops before or after dinner. It’s also much warmer, averaging around 25°C mid season. The dense greenery disguises many buildings, particularly in Pripyat, but might be ideal for those wanting to ‘discover’ buildings hiding amongst the overgrowth.

Autumn is the most colourful and some say most beautiful time to visit Chernobyl. With leaves beginning to fall from trees, the ground is scattered with red and oranges hues, also allowing visitors to see buildings hidden in the forest, no longer tucked behind a wall of greenery.

Weather in Chernobyl

Weather in the exclusion zone can range from below -10°C in winter to over 30°C in summer. The question above ‘What’s the best time to visit Chernobyl?’ describes each season in more detail. Accuweather give you the historical average from any specific date as well as previous temperatures. Below is a current weather forecast.

Current Weather Forecast

What to Wear to Chernobyl?

Your wardrobe choice will largely depend on the time of year you’re visiting Chernobyl. The most important things to wear at any time of year are sturdy shoes ( you will be walking A LOT! ), long sleeved tops and long trousers (these are to keep you protected from any radioactive particles in the zone). Tours often walk through overgrown and wooden areas which may mean you brush against trees and other organic material.

Temperatures range from -10°C to 30°C throughout the year, check the weather forecast before your visit to ensure you pack the best clothing and maybe even an umbrella!

In winter we recommend LOTS of layers, if you bring too many you can always strip and leave them on the bus. Thermal or thick socks, a hat, gloves and warm jacket are a must.

Visiting Chernobyl involves a lot of walking and exploring outside so it’s important to stay safe in the sun. We recommend taking sunglasses and a sunhat as well as applying suncream regularly. Unfortunately shorts are not permitted. 

When entering the Chernobyl exclusion zone it’s important to be responsible , you’re effectively roaming an outdoor museum. It’s a piece of history and it’s important to preserve the site as much as possible. Listen carefully, stay close to your guide and follow any rules they put in place.

Chernobyl Exclusion Zone Rules:

• It is prohibited to put anything on the ground , that includes tripods, kneeling to take that epic instashot or just popping your bag on the ground whilst you get something out.
• You must not touch any vegetation or structures.
• To use a drone, appropriate paperwork must be filled out BEFORE you enter the zone.
• You must be 18 years old to enter the exclusion zone.
• Wear long trousers and closed shoes at all times (skirts, shorts and open shoes are prohibited).
• You must comply with all requirements at radiation checkpoints.
• Keep your passport on you to show at checkpoints if required.
• It is prohibited to drink alcohol / take drugs.
• It is illegal to take anything from inside the zone.
• You may not smoke or eat in open air, smoking is only permitted in designated areas.
• It is prohibited to carry any type of weapon.

Chernobyl Today

It is estimated that Chernobyl’s Exclusion Zone won’t be safe for humans to inhabit for another 20,000 years. However, the zone isn’t completely abandoned. Along with those working at the power plant and in the zone administratively, it’s estimated that another 100-200 people live there illegally. Many are former residents who returned to their homes in the years following the accident. They are called “Samosely” which translates to “Self Settlers” and most are women in their 70’s and 80’s. The Babushkas of Chernobyl. To help the Samosely survive, the government distribute basic supplies to 11 of the villages on a weekly basis. 

Most vacant homes in the zone are being sold by former residents for only a few hundred pounds. Houses in good condition, which are hard to find, can be sold for up to £3000. For this reason, some Ukrainians are moving nearer or even into the zone , where it’s affordable and free from conflict. The BBC wrote an interesting article interviewing a mother who moved to the exclusion zone with her daughters a few years ago for this reason.

With nature overtaking the derelict and rusted ruins, animals are thriving and biodiversity in the zone is on the increase. Throughout the tours, guides will often show photos of the location you’re at before the accident, giving you a glimpse into it’s past life. Although, it can be hard to imagine the decaying concrete structures as they were before when greenery is all that holds them together now.

Dogs Of Chernobyl

Many of the dogs in the exclusion zone are descendants of the abandoned pets of former residents. After the accident, troops were sent to kill the pets but some survived and today there are around 300 stray dogs roaming the exclusion zone. Although sadly, as a result of harsh winter conditions and predators in the zone many don’t live past the age of 6. They often follow tour groups around the zone and can be mainly found near checkpoints where the guards play and look after them. The Guardian has a great article  on where you can meet dogs like ‘Tarzan’ who live in the zone.

How Accurate is Chernobyl HBO?

Following the release of HBO’s Chernobyl in May 2019, over 8 million people tuned in within the first two months. It’s the highest rated programme in history on IMDB (currently 9.4/10) beating Game of Thrones! The incredibly detailed historic drama won 10 Emmy awards including Outstanding Limited Series. Many details in the series are true, although some have been dramatised for TV and others created to support the story telling. Below are some of those that are true to life and others that have been created or dramatised.

Fiction: The series shows a helicopter falling from the sky after flying over the open reactor in the immediate aftermath of the accident. This isn’t entirely correct . A helicopter DID crash but it was two weeks after the initial explosion and was the result of a collision with a crane.

Fact: They did use remote controlled robots to attempt to clear the highly radioactive rubble in order to spare human lives. There were around 60 robots, one of which resembled the moon buggy.

Fiction: The ‘Bridge of Death’ story depicted in the series isn’t entirely true . It has been reported that some locals DID visit the bridge but there’s no evidence to suggest that they all died. Most Pripyat residents actually slept through the explosion.

Fact:  Doctors did try and use milk to treat the radiation burns. In the series we see Doctors pouring milk over a patient’s burns in hope of treating them like fire burns (although milk is not actually a remedy for fire burns.)

The BBC have a great article that compares survivors stories to the HBO series. Below is a video that shows a side by side comparison of the series and real footage shot at the time of the accident.

The BBC reported that those living in the nearby town of Pripyat were exposed to 37,000 times the dose of a chest x-ray . People 50 miles away were exposed to 180 mSv/hr, exceeding the safe annual exposure in less than a minute .

With there being so many important facts and figures associated with the disaster, we put the key points into a helpful infographic. 

Hopefully our guide answered all your questions about visiting Chernobyl. If you found this post useful please share and like it below! If you have any more questions, please don’t hesitate to  get in touch or leave a comment below. And for more inspiration why not check out some of our other destinations.  

Thanks for reading,

Eve and Nick

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THE 10 BEST Chernobyl Tours & Excursions

Tours in chernobyl.

• Historical & Heritage Tours
• Multi-day Tours
• Cultural Tours
• Sightseeing Tours
• Private Tours
• Ghost & Vampire Tours
• Ports of Call Tours
• Film & TV Tours
• Walking Tours
• Up to 1 hour
• 1 to 4 hours
• 4 hours to 1 day
• 5.0 of 5 bubbles
• 4.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• 3.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• 2.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• The ranking of tours, activities, and experiences available on Tripadvisor is determined by several factors including the revenue generated by Tripadvisor from these bookings, the frequency of user clicks, and the volume and quality of customer reviews. Occasionally, newly listed offerings may be prioritized and appear higher in the list. The specific placement of these new listings may vary.

1. One-day Tour to Chernobyl Zone from Kyiv

2. Chernobyl and Pripyat ALL INCLUSIVE 2 Day Tour

3. Chernobyl Tour with Gift

4. Full-Day Private Tour to Chernobyl and Pripyat Town from Kyiv

5. Private Tour inside Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant

6. Individual tour to the Chernobyl Zone from Kyiv

7. 1 Day Chernobyl Tour including Body Contamination Scan

8. Two-day group Tour to the Chernobyl Zone from Kyiv

9. Private 2-Day Abandoned Places Tour in the Chernobyl Zone

10. Full-Day Private Chernobyl and Pripyat Tour from Kiev

11. Group Tour to Chernobyl and Pripyat

12. Full-Day Guided Tour of Chernobyl from Kiev

13. Chernobyl HBO full-day tour − filming locations and real experience

14. Private Tour: 2-Day Tour to Chernobyl and Pripyat from Kiev

15. Private one day tour to Chernobyl Zone of Exclusion with Lunch

16. Chernobyl Exclusion Zone 2-day tour

17. Two-day exclusive tour to Chernobyl and Pripyat

18. Private Full-Day Chernobyl Zone Urbexing with Hotel Pick Up

19. Private tour to Chernobyl Exclusion Zone

20. Bachelor Trip to Chernobyl Exclusion Zone | Full-Day Private Guided Tour |

21. Chernobyl LIVE-stream

22. Chernobyl Exclusion Zone 1-day tour

23. 2-days Group Tour To The Chernobyl Exclusion Zone

24. Private Tour of Chernobyl from Kiev on Luxirious Minibus

25. Private Day Tour To Infamous Exclusion Zone "Chernobyl"

26. Shared Group Tour To Chernobyl From Kyiv

27. Private Tour to Chernobyl from Kiev with Lunch

Chernobyl 2 Day Tour

• 2 Full Days with 1 night in Chernobyl
• 3-15 People On Tour
• 7 Radiation Safety Controls
• 100% Money Back Guarantee, No Rebooking Fees and Cancelation anytime
• 3 Times More Sites Than on a One Day Chernobyl Tour
• Choose from 7 Languages

BEYOND THE TOURIST SPOTS

Cooling towers, Pioneer camp, Rooftops, Underground bunkers, Police and Firestation, Trainstation, Bus station, Tanks…and more

MEET THE BABUSHKAS

Meet the living heroes of Chernobyl – Chernobyl babushkas at their home

TIME TRAVEL

Old videos, photographs, costumes, artifacts and cars from the Soviet Union

Free respirators, 3 dosimetric controls a day, free loan of Geiger-Muller counter (dosimeter)

WHAT IS INCLUDED IN YOUR CHERNOBYL TOUR

Flagship chernobyl tour.

• INCLUDING HOTEL, THE PRICE IS FINAL, NO HIDDEN FEES
• SMALL GROUPS (5-15), NO BIG BUSSES, NO SHOPPING TOUR
• PERMITS TO ALL 3 SAFETY ZONES
• SKIP THE LINE AND BE THE FIRST ON THE LOCATIONS
• FREE DOSIMETER, PROVEN ROUTES
• TOURS IN 7 LANGUAGES

35 Years in Two Days

Most wanted chernobyl tour.

Not feeling like a part of the touristic madness? Explorers, photographers, UrbEx lovers, simply the ones who want to see behind the scenes of Chernobyl and dive deeper. Now you found the holy grail of Chernobyl Tours by dedicating 2 days of your life not just to see, feel, but also to experience Chernobyl, Pripyat, the Duga Radar with an overnight stay you will never forget. Since 2008, ChernobylX has provided the most overnight tours to Chernobyl worldwide.

ChernobylX Tours start in Kyiv , where you will be welcomed with a smile and an airline level of disinfection according to your Corona-free tour manual, you will be given recycled newspapers from 1986, and in just a 2-hour drive, while watching Chernobyl documentary, you will arrive at the spot of the largest nuclear energy accident in the history of mankind, now a place that will become your adventure basecamp.

Having 2 full days to explore the Chernobyl Zone, or what is left from the planned largest nuclear power plant project in the world, does not mean we will take it slow. We jump straight to radiation training, to make sure you are safe and sound the whole time during the Chernobyl tour. Falling in love with Chernobyl is the credo of the day. 

These places will tell you their stories thanks to the first-hand memories of one of our Chernobyl heroes on the tour – a liquidator and former inhabitant, who will accompany us on the tour. Prepare your questions or simply stay speechless when you hear that this was the best place to live back in the USSR. If you dare, and if the conditions are right, you can have an exploration on your own in the city of ghosts as well. Just stick to the rules and your dosimeter.

Meet and greet in Kyiv

“Welcome on the tour to Chernobyl! Let's make it the trip of your lifetime. It is 7.30 and we are departing, make sure you have your passports all the time with you. Here are newspapers from 1986 and in a while we will watch a documentary about Chernobyl.”

Checkpoint Dytiatky - Entering Chernobyl Exclusion Zone

“We are among the first here, we will skip the line anyway. Let's check in, grab our dosimeters, do radiation safety training and maybe have a cup of coffee or visit the restrooms.”

Duga radar system in Chernobyl "The russian woodpecker"

We saw this monstrous radar from our home in Pripyat, we were told it is some kind of antenna. Soviet over-the-horizon Duga Radar in Chernobyl was the third of its kind in the USSR but it was basically commissioned due to numerous flaws.”

Chernobyl - 2 Town

“Secret military town. On the old maps it was marked as Pioneer Camp for children. I could not even go close to it. Only after the military abandoned it just few days after the accident.”

Firestation of Chernobyl - 2 and Duga

“It’s no coincidence that the firefighters placed their station between the town and the military base. Easy to get to any part of Chernobyl-2 in just a few minutes in case there’s a fire.”

Bridge of death

“The bridge crossing over the train tracks leading to Pripyat never had this name. Only after 2 thieves on a motorbike who were just leaving Pripyat city somewhere in early 90s faced a police patrol going in their direction, the driver turned to the side and they both died off the side of it.”

The tree of friendship of nations Pripyat

“This very first statue in Pripyat is decorated with the coat of arms of all 13 Soviet republics. It bears the same name as the street which was built first in our city and it was the first thing I have seen when I arrived in the city by bus in the night, as the bus station is just few steps away. “

Caffè Pripyat e Riverport

“Café “Pripyat” was one of the most popular places in our city. The interior still impresses people even nowadays as it is decorated with stained glass. A true masterpiece. But to be honest, we mostly came here because of the best lemonade in town, far ahead of the capitalist Coke!”

Pripyat Hospital no. 126

“I came down to the hospital the next morning after the explosion of reactor no. 4 for a check of my burned cheek, but I felt fine so I was released and called back on duty. If I new it was the last time I saw the hospital working, I would definitely say farewell to the doctor.”

Townhall of Pripyat

“In this very building on the second floor I had my office, however the most memorable moment dod not happen there. It happened on the 3rd floor in the Assembly hall at 11 PM on 26th of April when we decided to evacuate the city on the next day.”

Palace of culture Energetik

“Energetik was the heart of our town. During the day we went to drama performances, music classes or the library. In the saturday night rather for disco. The whole front was lit in blue and red. It was something like our little strip of Las Vegas.”

Music school of Pripyat

“While we were working hard to build socialism, my children were taking music classes at the Art school. They played two musical instruments, sang in a choir. I felt so proud at the end of each semester when they made a concert for us, parents, leaving us in tears.”

Swimming Pool Lazurny

“The biggest swimming pool Lazurniy (Azure) was a pride of our city! We use to come here right opened shortly before the accident in 1986, so I had the pride to go swimming there after its reopening for Chernobyl zone workers in 1988. Together with the sauna it was the best relax after whole day patrolling.”

The White House

“The White house, how we – regular people - used to call it was the apartment building where the Administration of the city and Power plant lived including former director Victor Bruchanov. I remember sitting at the central square and re-reading two giant soviet slogans “Glory to party” and “Glory to Lenin” over and over.”

Post Office

“Back in the 80s, only a few of us had phones at home, even in privileged Pripyat. To call somebody you had to use phone booths on the street or the ones here at the post office. When I went to make a call or send a package, my daughter could not stop staring at the Yurij Gagarin painting inside”

Elementary school no. 3

“The largest elementary school in Pripyat with over 1400 pupils. Specialised in foreign languages - German, and also the imperialistic English.”

Pripyat Football Stadium

“Our city football club Stroitelj Pripyat was created mostly by players from the nearby village Chistogalovka. We were proud fans, as it became the regional champion of the Kyiv region — not once, but 3 times in a row: 1981 to 1983.”

Supermarket

“Our city opened one of the first supermarkets in Soviet Union at the central square, my wife loved to shop there, while I was looking at the nice furniture on the second floor. She always bought us some ice cream that we cherished on our way back home.”

Polissya hotel Pripyat

“Small restaurant, outdoor terrace and panoramic views on the top floor, it was the place where we could gather to celebrate important events or have a corporate party for just 5 rubles, which was no more than 5 dollars! I remember one night we got drunk with a Czechoslovak delegation that was staying at the hotel”

Unfinished reactors number 5 and 6 of Chernobyl Power Plant

“At the time of the accident, units five and six were 80% completed. After the accident our government thought that they would finish them, however at that time there was no future for the Chernobyl power plant due to the symbol it had created around the world.”

Cooling towers of reactors 5 and 6 of Chernobyl Power Plant

“Two huge cooling towers for reactor 4 and 5 of the Chernobyl Power Plant were under construction when the accident happened. When I came down to the site for the first time, I loved the incredible echo inside”

Cooling pond of Chernobyl Power Plant

“I would say the first evacuated villages of Chernobyl are under the water off the calling plant. The inhabitants were moved to other villages around and their former houses or gardens were flooded by this giant water reservoir that cooled down the first four reactors.”

Fish Laboratory

“Scientists came here to study the fish from the contaminated waters of the nearby cooling pond somewhere around 1987 and they stayed here until 1991. Besides mutations they were checking what would happen if contaminated fish were eaten by ferrets.”

Kopachi village kindergarten + hotspot

“Kopachi was the closest village to Chernobyl Power Plant and it was heavily contaminated by the radioactive fallout. The wooden houses were all buried under the ground within the next two weeks after the accident, so people could never return.”

Chernobyl Memorial Park

“The Chernobyl memorial park has162 tablets with the names of permanently evacuated towns and villages. And a postbox for all of the forgotten addresses.”

Lenin Monument

“Statues of Lenin were everywhere across the Soviet Union and our beloved city Chernobyl wasn’t an exception. Each kid was calling him “Grandpa Lenin”, even my daughter. Today, this is the last statue of Lenin in Ukraine.”

Chernobyl church of St. Elias

“The cleanest place in the whole of Chernobyl after the accident happened. My mom along with their neighbours, told the builders of the power plant back in 1970 that it was being built on the bones of fallen soldiers from the Great Patriotic War, and it will not have a good fate….they did not listen ....”

Chernobyl river port

”The river port in Chernobyl was always an important transport point - access to the Black Sea. The docks repaired ships even from Kyiv back in the days. For me Pripyat river was always a place to relax, I went fishing there almost every day. And my husband loved the fresh fish.”

Fire Station Chernobyl - Memorial to those who Saved the World

“Boys from Pripyat Fire department went to extinguish the fire at the Chernobyl Power Plant among the first with their 4 firetrucks. I remember, I went to get their captain to the site as he was celebrating his birthday.”

Pripyat city sign

“The entrance to the city dating its foundation back to 1970 which is the same year the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant started to be built. Tourists nowadays take pictures here, just like we did on our wedding day.”

Pripyat Fairground

“My daughter was looking forward to the opening of this grand amusement park on 1st of May, 1986 mostly because of the ferris wheel that usually was only privileged to larger cities around the USSR. This did not happen, however we were able to take a test ride in March 1986 and had a great view of the city"

Pripyat ferris wheel

“My daughters were begging me to get tickets for the ferris wheel opening during the May Day celebrations. They even told me that some of their dear friends had already taken a test ride. Because of the accident nobody ever rode on the ferris wheel.”

Abandoned Gym hall in Palace of Culture

“A large gym, swimming pool, sauna, and even a karate room were all keeping our teenagers busy. I was also coming here to play football after work sometimes.”

Abandoned police station

“The place where I used to work in the past. Our police station opened just 18 months before the Chernobyl accident. After the explosion at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant we were still doing our job. We were basically the only people left after the evacuation, protecting the city as before. My comrades and I left this Police station only in 2002.”

Jupiter Factory

“This factory since 1980 producing electronic devices, mainly for tape recorders, was a mystery to me. It had an electric fence around, the jobs were secret and well paid. Just after the accident we find out they also had a secret military program.”

Pripyat Greenhouses

“The Greenhouses in Pripyat were something mystical that soon became the pride of the city as they delivered fresh vegetables like tomatoes or cucumber in the winter to all of us living in Pripyat. The power plant supplied the greenhouse complex with heat and it was managed using just one computer.”

Aerial panorama view of Pripyat City

“This is the place which we usually picked for fishing - it has a great view of the Chernobyl Power Plant and in the cooling channel there were a lot of fish. From right to left you see all 4 units as they were built, from number 1 to the fateful one - number 4.”

Sunk houseboat

“Before embarking on any of the ships- either to Gomel or Kiev, you could have bought tickets here, have a drink or simply wait for your ship to come. Now, it is half sunk on the other side of Pripyat Bay”

16 story building Fujiyama

“This Japanese sounding name stuck after the evacuation when there were the only personnel of the zone and this was the building and rooftop where some of them gathered after work for a beer and to play a guitar, and somehow it got nicknamed, Mount Fuji in Japan. Probably because it is the tallest of all the buildings.”

Yubileinij Department Store

“Wanna get a haircut? Just 40 kopeikas and your hair is lit! The most expensive haircut was 1 ruble and 60 kopeikas. In this largest department store in Pripyat everything looked like a great deal.”

Elementary school no. 1 (collapsed)

“I lived next to this elementary school and in the morning I always stumbled on children going there, now it is a ruin, one of the first as the first roof collapsed in 2005.”

Pripyat truck garages

“A big parking lot and service garages were where we, the residents of Pripyat, could have the oil changed in our Ladas. Now we can find a scrapyard and trucks and tanks used during the liquidation works after the Chernobyl accident.”

Yanov train station

“The train station was our gateway to the whole Soviet Union, there were even trains directly to Moscow.”

Abandoned trains of Chernobyl

“All the trains here were used during the evacuation and it is where the contaminated are left behind. After some time, railroad engineers came here and said that the most precious thing – the gear with wheels – was clean and they could use it as spare parts for their trains. This is why most of them are now tipped over.”

Highly Radioactive Red Forest

“Nice pine forest, Great for a picnic and camping, with only one building – the county traffic police registration office where all the plates for your Lada were issued. All the trees turned red just a few days after the explosion.”

Abandoned kindergarten no. 5 "Medvezhonok"

“In Soviet kindergartens, everything was made to make this place a favorite one for children, with the nicest toys and the best playgrounds! My daughter loved this kindergarten, except the midday nap between 1 and 2 PM.”

Radioactive grab

“This is a part of the crane that cleaned up a large amount of graphite debris, which was thrown out from the core of the 4th unit during the liquidation work of the Chernobyl power plant site. This is still one of the most radioactive parts you can find on your tour…”

Piano shop after Chernobyl disaster

“This electronic appliance shop is where we bought our first TV set. Black-and-white, but we loved it.”

Chernobyl New Safe Confinement

“After exactly 30 years, we ensured the safety of Europe by putting this New Safe Confinement over the old sarcophagus. To build the old one in Soviet times took 7 months. The new one was done in 9 years. But it should last another 100.”

Chernobyl Power Plant excursion - visitors center (ADDITIONAL)

“The best view of the new safe confinement, the new sarcophagus, at the same time the only detailed model of the old sarcophagus with everything that is left inside. Get your questions ready!

Visit a Chernobyl Babushka - The Living Chernobyl Hero

“Visits from tourists from all over the world are the most exciting part of my day. I live alone with my dog, but after people visit me I feel a bit younger and happier.”

Dosimetric Control

“The last dosimetric control of today, checking if our clothes did not get contaminated and we are safe to get back to Kyiv. No hurry, take pictures if you want.”

Arriving back to Kyiv

“One last farewell or let's have a dinner together? It was unforgettable to have you on the tour! Hope to see you again soon.”

You are all covered on the Trip of your lifetime

Price includes.

• Full programme in Chernobyl incl. all permits
• Professional English Guide (for other languages please check options in CALENDAR)
• Geiger Muller Counter (dosimeter) rental
• Radiation safety training and dosimetric controls
• Meet up with a Chernobyl hero and babushka
• Comfortable transportation with A/C, Wi-Fi
• Health insurance
• Chernobyl Newspaper
• Online live- streaming Chernobyl Tour
• Ticket to Chernobyl museum in Kyiv
• Chernobyl Postcards
• Accommodation (1 night) based on your preference
• VIP tour spots for other X destinations: Namibia, Iceland, Georgia,...

Frequently Asked Questions

During 2 days in Chernobyl, you can see 3 times more than on a 1 day Chernobyl tour, also you have a chance to be alone in Pripyat and sneak into the non-touristy parts, as well as enjoy the most famous places (like the Ferris wheel, Swimming pool or Central square) completely empty. On top of that – spending a night in Chernobyl (or New Pripyat – Slavutych) is magical and unforgettable. If there is a slight chance you can expand your 1 day tour to 2 days, it will be the best invested day of the whole year.

You don’t need to worry, we have got your back. Everything is arranged for you (permits, transportation, Geiger Muller counter, dining, hotel, maximum safety, radiation safety controls, top pro-English speaking guides, etc). Grab your passport, your camera, some comfy shoes, a good mood, and let’s make some great memories!

The citizens of the following countries do not need a visa for a stay of up to 90 days (some for up to 30 days): Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Belarus, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Chile, Denmark, Dominica, Estonia, Ecuador, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Hong Kong, Israel, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Korea (South), Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Moldova, North Macedonia, Netherlands, Norway, Paraguay, Panama, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Russia, San Marino, Serbia, South Korea, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Vatican City, the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates, the United States, Uruguay & Uzbekistan.

If you are a citizen from a country not listed in this list, you will not have a problem obtaining a tourist visa. Ukraine has issued electronic visas since 2018, the cost is 20-30 USD and they are eligible for treatment, activities in the field of culture, science, education, sports, in order to perform official duties of a foreign correspondent or representative of a foreign media. If you are asked for an invitation for your visa application, which is usually automatically issued by any of the Kyiv hotels upon booking, do not hesitate to contact us, we will be happy to help you with your visa invitation in order to get you to Chernobyl.

By travelling to Ukraine, you need to provide:

• a negative result of a PCR test or a rapid antigen test (no more than 72 hours before crossing the border);
• or a COVID-19 certificate proving that the person has been vaccinated against COVID-19 (validity period 270 days) with vaccines approved by WHO or that the person has recovered from COVID-19 (validity period 180 days).

Please, always check the updated information before travelling here : https://ireland.mfa.gov.ua/en/news/covid-19-updated-information-requirements-entering-ukraine

Useful downloads

• Itinerary 2 day tour
• Rules+checklist

This tour was easily the highlight of my holiday, well organised pick up and drop off from my hotel in Kiev. Hotel accomodation was so clean and comfortable with good Ukrainian food and very friendly staff. My tour guide Yuliia was extremely knowledgeable and passionate with the facts of the Chernobyl incident.

Amazing trip to an epic ghost town. It was organised great. Every time you might think you can not experience anything more amazing you just did. Unforgettable two days with so much to see.

I would highly recommend the 2 day tour if you have time. We saw so much, and never felt rushed or hurried. If you can brave the cold then winter is a great time to visit, we barely saw another person other than our tour team for 48 hours!

Everything was amazing from start to finish. Accommodation was spotless and clean. Food was great. It was a mind blowing experience and if you have any interest in Chernobyl at all you have to go on this two day tour. One day is not enough.

Private tour with CHERNOBYLwel.come and 6 friends was the best decision we made. Our own guide, who kept us away from crowdy places. A private bus and we could choose the sites we wanted to see. And it is not much more expensive than a tour with larger groups.

Everything was organised perfectly and I felt safe every minute of the trip. Our group consisted of 9 people which is not too big and was great for exploring Pripyat. I can fully recommend the 2-day trip and our guide Yulia. It was a wonderful and intense trip.

Visiting Chernobyl and Pripyat has been a bucket list item for me, and NOTHING about it disappointed me or fell short of my hefty expectations. Our guide, Natasha, was absolutely fantastic. Very appreciative for ChernobylX and Natasha for everything they did to make my journey out there memorable.

The Chernobyl Power Plant Tour

Wanna more.

After years of taking only scientists and photographers inside the heart of Chernobyl Power Plant, you can now enjoy this MUST SEE upgrade as well. Dress up like Leonid Toptunov, take a deep breath and enter the Control room of reactor number 2….

• × Breakfast Only - No dinner and lunch
• × Print your insurance covering Chernobyl trip (most travel insurance do not)
• × Hostel room, shared bathroom
• × No souvenirs
• × No Chernobyl museum ticket
• × No Chernobyl app with a map
• {% base_price %}
• You can upgrade to HERO at least 5 days before your tour
• Full Board Dining
• Obligatory insurance covering Chernobyl trip
• Hotel** room
• Cool ChernoWear t-shirt (automatically included in the cart)
• Chernobyl museum ticket
• Chernobyl app with a map
• {% hero_price %}
• You can downgrade to Backpacker anytime

Hello there

Meet your guides, your xtour upgrade, aditional tours, private underground kyiv tour, private missile base tour from kyiv, private kalashnikov shooting tour, if you waited for a sign, this is it....

Julia is the one who loves people and getting to know them. She loves exploring the zone and is also addicted to share it all with you. She loves to tell the stories about the zone and make you feel like you’re wandering with an old friend, as she’s very caring and friendly guide with who you’ll feel like you know each other for years.

At first sight, Olya looks like a smiling little girl with that kiddo expressions in her face. But don’t be fooled, she’s one of our most experienced guides with a lot of knowledge about the Zone. She’s super-fascinated by the radiation and sometimes declares herslef as a radiation hunter. Maybe that’s why she has time for guiding tours in English, Czech and German. She’s our little superhero!

This girl is obsessed with sharing her knowledge and emotions with people. She knows exactly how to make you feel the spirit of the Soviet Union and the horror of the Chernobyl disaster. First-time Yulia saw wildlife of the exclusion zone, it made an unforgettable impression on her vision of life. So be sure, with her help you’ll be stunned by the superiority of nature over man.

This girl got inspired by the abandoned places of Pripyat and the nature in the Exclusion Zone. Having visited these places for the first time with CHERNOBYLX, she was looking for the opportunity to spend more time in the Chernobyl Zone to reveal all its secrets. The best way to do it was to become a Chernobyl tour guide.

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clock This article was published more than  1 year ago

A Chernobyl tour group secretly helped track Russia’s invasion

CHERNOBYL, Ukraine — At home in Kyiv, Yaroslav Yemelianenko was glued to a secret live stream of the gate to Chernobyl, the site of the world’s worst nuclear disaster. In disbelief, he watched as Russian tanks rolled by the yellow tourist information center for his company, Chernobyl Tour, and drove south toward the Ukrainian capital.

It was hours into the first day of the war, Feb. 24. Publicly, Ukraine’s leaders said Russian troops had not yet crossed there.

Elsewhere in Kyiv, Chernobyl Tour guide coordinator Kateryna Aslamova watched the same scene unfold in shock.

“It was confusing, and it was scary,” she said. “It was different from what the authorities were saying.”

Road to war: U.S. struggled to convince allies, and Zelensky, of risk of invasion

Chernobyl Tour had a small, battery-operated camera perched by the checkpoint into the zone that Yemelianenko and Aslamova could remotely access. It was there to monitor their booth. But the day of the invasion, they said, it provided early information about Russia’s movement of troops through Belarus and past Chernobyl as Moscow began its attempt to take Kyiv.

“The first thing that the Russians did when they passed the checkpoint of Chernobyl was taking off the Ukrainian flag and shutting off all the cameras,” Aslamova said.

But they missed the little camera at the booth, which kept rolling. So the tour operators started to count the number and type of military vehicles. One hundred. Five hundred. It kept going. Yemelianenko said he passed that information to contacts at Ukraine’s military and intelligence agency. The Kyiv-based tour guides also contacted the company’s network of employees in villages around Chernobyl who were coming under Russian occupation.

Within a day, Chernobyl Tour had transformed into a sort of Ukrainian network of informants tracking Russian troop movements. Its employees were part of something that became key to Ukraine’s resilience: the will of everyday people to take the defense of their nation into their own hands.

“We had a responsibility,” Yemelianenko said.

In Chernobyl’s delicate nuclear labs, Russians looted safety systems

It’s impossible to know how much impact singular actions have had on the war’s wider trajectory. After nearly six months of fighting, however, the power of individual civilians and businesses has clearly become central to Ukraine’s strategy and wartime mind-set.

By the end of the war’s first day, Russian forces had captured Chernobyl . For five weeks they held this strategic area, about a two hours’ drive from Kyiv in normal times, in its failed campaign to take Ukraine’s capital.

For those same five weeks, Ukrainians also secretly resisted.

Chernobyl Tour provided The Washington Post with its surveillance footage and accounts of Russian troops crossing from Belarus. The group said it chose to share its story only when it could ensure the safety of all employees.

Ukraine’s Security Service and Armed Forces did not respond to a request for comment on any assistance it received from the tour group.

The Russian occupation of the defunct Chernobyl nuclear reactor site — where Soviet authorities initially tried to hide the 1986 explosion to disastrous effect — did not lead to the mass radiation leakage many had feared .

But after nearly six months under Russian control, risks are rising in Ukraine’s southeast at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power facility, Europe’s largest. There the security situation is quickly deteriorating amid rising concerns of potential nuclear disaster. As in Chernobyl, Zaporizhzhia plant workers are taking grave risks to sneak out critical information.

Inside Ukraine’s captured nuclear plant, explosions and constant fear

Before the war, Chernobyl Tour took visitors to the “exclusion zone,” a 1,000-square-mile area where radioactive contamination is highest. Visitors would see the reactor site, the city the Soviets built to house workers, and the natural habitats that have since flourished in the isolated area.

During the 25 days of Russian occupation of the Chernobyl plant , nine workers were killed and five were kidnapped. The Russians also stole hundreds of computers, radiation dosimeters, firefighting equipment and irreplaceable software.

Chernobyl Tours said it could not provide certain details of the group’s work because of its sensitive nature. Also, they said, they deleted nearly all communication in the war’s first weeks to protect sources, especially in case Russian forces captured Kyiv. The videos and Telegram exchanges the group did preserve, which they shared with The Post, appear to corroborate their account.

Feb. 24 started out quiet near the tour company’s camera at the Chernobyl booth, Aslamova said.

On the video feed, she could see Ukrainian soldiers hanging around. One fed a dog. Suddenly they retreated away from the border. It was quiet again. Then a column of military vehicles marked with the letter V — one of the letters identifying Russian troops — started to pour in, Aslamova said.

After two days, the flow of military vehicles slowed. A few days later, the camera stopped. Yemelianenko could not exactly say when but said it either ran out of batteries or was knocked out by the Russians.

By then, the Russians had shut off internet service and phone lines. It was almost impossible to get information in and out. But Chernobyl Tour employees tried anyway.

Until the invasion, the company’s local employees based in surrounding villages had provided logistical support for tourists; afterward, they stayed and gathered information about their attackers.

The group’s local staff declined to speak with The Post, citing privacy and safety concerns. But a few saved Telegram screenshots shared by Chernobyl Tour that capture what happened next.

Ukraine worries about disaster as Russia targets nuclear power plants

For several harrowing weeks, about 10 employees, along with trusted family members and neighbors, secretly recorded the number, location and direction of Russian military vehicles and supplies, Yemelianenko said.

“Eight light jeeps,” reads a partial list from one Telegram message. “Four petrol trucks.”

At grave risk, the villagers headed into fields and forests in search of cellphone service to send their notes back to Kyiv.

In the capital, Yemelianenko said, he and his team shared the information with intelligence contacts. They also tried to send information about the war back to the villages to counter Russian propaganda, and they lobbied for a humanitarian corridor to evacuate Chernobyl civilians.

Chernobyl Tours, however, was running its own misinformation campaign.

Yemelianenko, who also joined Ukraine’s Territorial Defense Forces, launched what he called a “special information operation.” He tried to scare Russians into leaving Chernobyl by telling media that soldiers sleeping in trenches or pillaging items from villages in the area were being exposed to dangerous radiation levels.

“To be honest, that was a huge exaggeration,” Yemelianenko said. “The goal was to make Russians concerned … that they were all going to die.”

Yemelianenko had grown up amid fears of Chernobyl. His family evacuated Kyiv soon after the 1986 meltdown.

Years later, he became interested in learning more about Chernobyl and, after extensive studies, co-founded his tour company. Part of the group’s message is that Ukraine’s successful cleanup of the area is something to celebrate. To that, he said, he will now add Chernobyl’s work against an invading army.

“Chernobyl is not only a place of tragedy,” Yemelianenko said. “It is also a place of our victory.”

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A Chernobyl tour group secretly helped track Russia’s invasion

The Chernobyl nuclear power plant, which was under Russian occupation shortly after the start of the invasion of Ukraine, on May 20, 2022. (Kasia Strek, Panos Pictures/For the Washington Post)

CHERNOBYL, Ukraine — At home in Kyiv, Yaroslav Yemelianenko was glued to a secret live stream of the gate to Chernobyl, the site of the world’s worst nuclear disaster. In disbelief, he watched as Russian tanks rolled by the yellow information booth advertising his company, Chernobyl Tour, and drove south toward the capital.

It was hours into the first day of the war, Feb. 24. Publicly, Ukraine’s leaders said Russian troops had not yet crossed there.

Elsewhere in Kyiv, Chernobyl Tour guide coordinator Kateryna Aslamova watched the same scene unfold in shock.

“It was confusing, and it was scary,” she said. “It was different from what the authorities were saying.”

Chernobyl Tour had a small, battery-operated camera perched by the checkpoint into the zone that Yemelianenko and Aslamova could remotely access. It was there to monitor their booth. But the day of the invasion, they said, it provided early information about Russia’s movement of troops through Belarus and past Chernobyl as Moscow began its attempt to take Kyiv.

“The first thing that the Russians did when they passed the checkpoint of Chernobyl was taking off the Ukraine flag and shutting off all the cameras,” Aslamova said.

But they missed the little camera at the booth, which kept rolling. So the tour operators started to count the number and type of military vehicles. One hundred. Five hundred. It kept going. Yemelianenko said he passed that information to contacts at Ukraine’s military and intelligence agency. The Kyiv-based tour guides also contacted the company’s network of employees in villages around Chernobyl who were coming under Russian occupation.

Within a day, Chernobyl Tour had transformed into a sort of Ukrainian network of informants tracking Russian troop movements. Its employees were part of something that became key to Ukraine’s resilience: the will of everyday people to take the defense of their nation into their own hands.

“We had a responsibility,” Yemelianenko said.

It’s impossible to know how much impact singular actions have had on the war’s wider trajectory. After nearly six months of fighting, however, the power of individual civilians and businesses has clearly become central to Ukraine’s strategy and wartime mindset.

By the end of the war’s first day, Russian forces had captured Chernobyl. For five weeks they held this strategic area, about two hours’ drive from Kyiv in normal times, in its failed campaign to take Ukraine’s capital.

For those same five weeks, Ukrainians also secretly resisted.

An administrative building in Chernobyl, which was used by Russian forces as their headquarters during the occupation, on May 20, 2022. (Kasia Strek, Panos Pictures/For the Washington Post)

Chernobyl Tour provided The Washington Post with its surveillance footage and accounts of Russian troops crossing from Belarus. The group said it chose to share its story only when it could ensure the safety of all employees.

Ukraine’s Security Service and Armed Forces did not respond to a request for comment on any assistance it received from the tour group.

The Russian occupation of the defunct Chernobyl nuclear reactor site — where Soviet authorities initially tried to hide the 1986 explosion to disastrous effect — did not lead to the mass radiation leakage many had feared.

But after nearly six months under Russian control, risks are rising in Ukraine’s southeast at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power facility, Europe’s largest. There the security situation is quickly deteriorating amid rising worries of potential nuclear disaster. As in Chernobyl, Zaporizhzhia plant workers are taking grave risks to sneak out critical information.

Before the war, Chernobyl Tour took visitors to the “exclusion zone,” a 1,000-square-mile area where radioactive contamination is highest. Visitors would see the reactor site, the city the Soviets built to house workers, and the natural habitats that have since flourished in the isolated area.

During the 25 days of Russian occupation of the Chernobyl plant, nine workers were killed and five were kidnapped. The Russians also stole hundreds of computers, radiation dosimeters, firefighting equipment and irreplaceable software.

Chernobyl Tours said it could not provide certain details of the group’s work because of its sensitive nature. Also, they said, they deleted nearly all communication in the war’s first weeks to protect sources, especially in case Russian forces captured Kyiv. The videos and Telegram exchanges the group did preserve, which they shared with The Post, appear to corroborate their account.

Feb. 24 started out quiet near the tour company’s camera at the Chernobyl booth, Aslamova said.

On the video feed, she could see Ukrainian soldiers hanging around. One fed a dog. Suddenly they retreated away from the border. It was quiet again. Then a column of military vehicles marked with the letter V — one of the letters identifying Russian troops — started to pour in, Aslamova said.

After two days, the flow of military vehicles slowed. A few days later, the camera stopped. Yemelianenko could not exactly say when but said it either ran out of batteries or was knocked out by the Russians.

By then, the Russians had shut off internet service and phone lines. It was almost impossible to get information in and out. But Chernobyl Tour employees tried anyway.

Until the invasion, the company’s local employees based in surrounding villages had provided logistical support for tourists; afterward, they stayed and gathered information about their attackers.

The group’s local staff declined to speak with The Post, citing privacy and safety concerns. But a few saved Telegram screenshots shared by Chernobyl Tour that capture what happened next.

For several harrowing weeks, about 10 employees, along with trusted family members and neighbors, secretly recorded the number, location and direction of Russian military vehicles and supplies, Yemelianenko said.

“Eight light jeeps,” reads a partial list from one Telegram message. “Four petrol trucks.”

At grave risk, the villagers headed into fields and forests in search of cellphone service to send their notes back to Kyiv.

In the capital, Yemelianenko said, he and his team shared the information with intelligence contacts. They also tried to send information about the war back to the villages to counter Russian propaganda, and they lobbied for a humanitarian corridor to evacuate Chernobyl civilians.

Chernobyl Tours, however, was running its own misinformation campaign.

Yemelianenko, who also joined Ukraine’s Territorial Defense Forces, launched what he called a “special information operation.” He tried to scare Russians into leaving Chernobyl by telling media that soldiers sleeping in trenches or pillaging items from villages in the area were being exposed to dangerous radiation levels.

“To be honest, that was a huge exaggeration,” Yemelianenko said. “The goal was to make Russians concerned ... that they were all going to die.”

Yemelianenko had grown up amid fears of Chernobyl. His family evacuated Kyiv soon after the 1986 meltdown.

Years later, he became interested in learning more about Chernobyl and, after extensive studies, co-founded his tour company. Part of the group’s message is that Ukraine’s successful cleanup of the area is something to celebrate. To that, he said, he will now add Chernobyl’s work against an invading army.

previous coverage

• Putin's war in Ukraine at a standstill, Western officials say

related stories

• US announces $775M in additional military aid for Ukraine ahead of country’s independence day

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