As the title says really, have a birthday coming up and as usual the questions are being asked "what do you want" ??
Then I get this idea, especially after watching the series, grateful for any tips or pointers if anybody has been and done it.
Looking to make it a long weekend flying out of Manchester most likely.
Yes, was brilliant...I recommend a day tour.
Think I used these guys...
https://www.chernobyl-tour.com/engli...pyat-town.html
Would suggest a long weekend in Kiev...one of the most amazing cities I've been to.
A lot to see.
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Thats the tour outfit i was looking at, seems fairly straight forward if a little far away from Kiev.
They depart from Kiev and will drop you back there.
Long day though so bring some snacks!
Tour guide was great too.
Cheers.
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And there's me thinking, watching the show, that the radiation is gonna be around for a long time ?
Did I miss something ?
A friend of mine did it a few months back, said it was a hell of a experience, very moving and fascinating at the same time. I can get details if you like?
Cheers..
Jase
They say it's safe: https://www.chernobyl-tour.com/about_radiation_en.html
I personally wouldn't go there, but i'm just a sceptical guy :)
I'd want to be as far away from Chernobyl as possible. At least for the next thousand years.
Originally Posted by kozza6
I've been 3 times now. A 2-day tour, a standard 1-day tour and then a 1-day tour with some special access to climb Duga-3 and the roof of reactor 5.
It's not romanticized at all, you'll see a video during the drive about the disaster unfolding and then be taken to a few places in the zone and hear stories about the sudden evacuation. I'd highly recommend a trip there.
Went yesterday and will post a review and pictures when back in UK
Was hoping to get out there in Marh but can't make it now.
Re-planning for Sept / October.
Flights to Kyiv Friday - Monday from Manc can be had for about £100. Hotels in Kyiv are plentiful and cheap and a two day tour with over night in Chernobyl looks like great fun.
Really looking forward to it.
Just an update as did the tour on Wednesday with Solo East(other companies are available)
Arriving at the check point it is clear that there may still be a problem with radiation as the exclusion zone is 30k.
The site of the accident which is now encased in a new structure which has only recently been finished.
The town of Pripyat which was completely evacuated and will remain forever a ghost town.
The most iconic image of the ferris wheel...the amusement park which never opened before the evacuation.
The so called Bridge of Death where it was rumoured some towns folk came to watch the reactor on fire...only a few hundred yards from the site.
And finally after a very long day you need a pint and a pizza in a friendly pub.
Hope that for anyone interested in going this will give you a taste...well worth it.
Last edited by mjc1216; 22nd February 2020 at 17:41. Reason: Additional Photo
Definitely do it.
We visited a fair few years back (pre new covering) and when we were there we were the only visitors that day. I am sure that has changed though as it seems to attracting more people given the tv series, horror movie etc
It’s quite an experience from a number of perspective 1) how man can really mess up on such a huge scale, 2) sacrifice some people made to stop it getting worse 3) how nature can fix a lot given time.
It’s a full day trip out of Kiev. We had lunch there as well (just do not eat any wild berries etc), which in itself was a bit surreal.
Should have mentioned they carry giegercounters the whole time and spikes on one side of the structure, with soft mosses (that absorb radiation easily), radiation burnt trees etc is all scary/mind bending/ fascinating
Guys, thanks for all the input, I am super keen to go and have a look. As to the radiation, it cant be that bad surely, after all the workers they had there
building the new cover, somewhere in the program it stated that some workers were living in Pripyat, but for no longer than two weeks at a time to cut
down on transit time.
Now I just got to convince the missus that a 12-13 hour day trip is a good idea, wish me luck.
Have you had kids yet?
Just kidding!
Probably.
So clever my foot fell off.
I’m Johnny old bloke😂
Radiation is fine given level and amount of time you are there. Pripyat part of the tour is also amazing. Seeing the speed everyone had to leave and now how fast the forest is reclaiming the town....
All the best with the trip !
Bear in mind that there is no "safe" level of radiation.
And also that there is a level of radiation everywhere at all times too.
All logic dictates it is now safe for the short time you are actually there, but I've just tonight watched the first episode of the TV series and there is no way I would go there even if I could persuade my wife. Illogical of me definitely, but can't help it.
The wildlife has been doing very well though without us apparently.
Really enjoyed the series, the massive web of lies and ineptitude was astonishing.
And the bravery of workers to go and work there, though I guess there was little choice and did the average man have any idea of the dangers.
Is it like Auschwitz in that you are not allowed to touch anything?
Kids turned out fine for me :)
Had them after the visit (both me and the wife went).
Just had a look at some of the pics from the visit.
Have a pic of my wife and mum sat on a bench with the rusting ferris wheel of the funfair that was in Pripyat at the time in the background.
Looks ‘normal’ until you realise the setting/surroundings.
Well, good news for me, the wife says yes.
Game on for a visit now, hopefully August bank holiday weekend.
I've been looking into it since the series finished and was put off going in the summer by comments saying how hot it is. You have to wear long sleeved shirts and long trousers during the visit. Sounded quite unpleasant.
Also saw mentioned the giant radar station was a must see. Pictures look incredible.
I have a question.
Why would you visit it?
I feel the same way with people visiting Vukovar in Croatia.
Vukovar was completely destroyed during last war over here. It was turned to dust by heavy artillery fire for 3 months of siege and burned to ground. It was also place of massacres,war crimes and fully blown war insanity unseen from Vietnam war.
I am from town 25 miles east from it and every time I go to visit mother I have to go through the town.
The whole place even 30 years after war looks gloomy and bitter. Not a pleasant place to visit. Some places carry negative aura around them,why would you visit them?
I am not judging just asking rhetoric question.
To learn from the past so hopefully it does not happen again.
Unfortunately nobody ever learns.
Cheers,
Neil.
Thats a valid question.
I guess its because I can really, it does interest me as abandoned places do, to see how nature is reclaiming and adapting itself to a man made disaster.
Because something bad happened there is not a good enough reason to not visit, although its not quite the same as the place you mention.
Why do people go to Auchwitz ?? morbid curiosity, to remember, to hope it never happens again, to get a feel for mans inhumanity to his fellow man.
To refresh memories? because if people (as much of the general public as possible) remember what happened maybe it is less likely to happen again?
'Against stupidity, the gods themselves struggle in vain' - Schiller.
I’m booked in for late August - remember it happening as a teenager . Hopefully won’t bake too much - it looks a long day but very interesting
Drop me a pm...I'd like to share a few thoughts.
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Last edited by kozza6; 22nd June 2019 at 02:07.
I’d love to see it, but radiation is really, really, really nasty stuff. Will be staying as far away as possible from it during my lifetime.
The best without question is a private tour with these guys:
https://www.tourkiev.com/
Do not go on a tour with other randoms, you won't do anything interesting and you won't be able to actually explore. The private tour means you and a guide or in my case me a mate and a guide. We went to see what we wanted, the radar array, the school, a particular tower block etc etc. Take a dosemeter as it's good to know. The guide knew of a few spots which we went to where old bits.of graphite were still around.
Even with all this are levels where the same on the way out as in and our total dose was like having a full body x-ray.
Also do the missile silo tour! It's a hell of a long drive out, but so worth it. Amazingly interesting and if you aren't already, it will put you off nuclear missiles for life.
This for me. Totally unfounded perhaps but I can’t see the attraction. I don’t need to visit it to learn how badly things can go wrong with man in charge.
Started out with nothing. Still have most of it left.
Anyone who’s been got pictures?
Why does anyone want to go anywhere?
To me it’s just somewhere iconic, interesting and very different to visit
Thats fine, but I can think of lots of more interesting places to visit than a nuclear plant that had some sort of meltdown! Each to his own I suppose.
Started out with nothing. Still have most of it left.
Just to add my 2 penny worth. I went back in 2015 pre-new cover. Absolutely fantastic experience.
We went for the 5 day experience in October. I've travelled a fair bit to Ukraine and been thought the season but Autumn is one of my favourite, the Ukrainian countryside is beautiful at that time of year when all the leaves are turning. The temperature is lovely, not too hot and no sign of the chilling winter in sight.
Over the 5 days we went to:
1) Kinder Garden out of the city
2) Chernobyl village
3) Pripyat (multiple times) - Ferris wheel, sports track, hospital, supermarket, climbed multiple tower blocks etc.
4) Went as close to the nuclear power plant as possible.
5) Science research lab
6) Cooling towers
7) Spent almost a whole day at the Douga (The OTH RADAR) - aka the woodpecker. (Went into the 'James Bond esq' command and control centre, and all the support buildings (yes, I climbed the antenna array :D)
All accommodation was on site for the 4 days (though we thought we were being bussed in and out each day).
Probably the best urban exploration experience I've ever been to. It's perfectly safe, there are no go areas (such as areas of the hospital) but the guide we had was absolutely fantastic (Nikolai). Can't recommend highly enough for anyone who's 1) into Cold War history, 2) into urban exploration or 3) likes climbing stuff!
Ta
And there's that added bonus of now not having to turn the light on to read at night
How did the trip go?
My eldest come down this evening and said he wants to go next year and so now are looking in to it.
Has anyone else been recently with any info or advice, things to look out for etc?
Hyatt, Radisson
Did the your early December, really enjoyed it
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Which tour company did you use
Thanks
I'll dig the details out and drop you a pm later on
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If all goes to plan I'll be visiting in the summer of 2021.
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