Private tours in Ukraine, Yalta, port of call, cruise tours

Located in a natural vineyard-ringed amphitheater of mountains, Yalta is a dramatically handsome resort on the southern tip of Crimea. Yalta will always be a favored destination with its mild climate, lush green landscape and rugged beaches. The ancient homeland of the Scythians, the city gained fame as a choice 18th-century Russian retreat. Treasures also remain from the 19th-century. Vorontsov Palace, in a 100-acre park, is a remarkable piece of architecture not to be missed. Edward Blore, one of the men who designed Buckingham Palace, helped create the palace as an "English country house" on the Black Sea coast. In 1945, Churchill, Roosevelt, and Stalin met at Livadia Palace to decide the future of Europe. The meeting became known as the Yalta conference and was probably one of the 20th Century's most important historical events.

The Best of The Crimea from Yalta

From the pier you will travel west to Alupka village to visit the Vorontsov Palace, one of the most beautiful Crimean resorts. Known as Alupka Palace, this architectural marvel was built between 1828 and 1846 by Mikhail Vorontsov, the Governor-General of Novorossiya.

Prince Vorontsov was brought up in England and the palace was designed to be an imitation of an English mansion. Although one side of the palace is in the English Tudor style, the opposite side shows strong Byzantine influences, both in its architecture and interior decor. Walk through part of the 100-acre park before enjoying a guided tour of the palace. The richly decorated rooms provide splendid views.

The next stop is at the “Swallow’s Nest” which looks like a turreted medieval castle perched on a cliff hanging over the sea.

Continue your tour to visit the Livadia “White Palace”. Built in 1911 by Czar Nicolas II, Livadia now houses a spa and museum. You will see the site of the famed Yalta Conference, Roosevelt’s headquarter and restored conference room.

Enjoy a little time at the souvenir shops at Livadia with a generous selection of Russian and Ukrainian items.

Complete your tour with a superb Crimean-style lunch at one of the best local restaurants. Among other delicacies, you will taste borsch, black caviar, vodka and unforgettable local wines.

From the pier, your motor coach follows the coast to the "White Palace" at Livadia. Built in 1911 as the summer residence of Czar Nicholas II, the early Italian Renaissance style estate now houses a sanatorium, museum and picture gallery. Your local guide will show you the restored meeting room of the famed Yalta Conference, Roosevelt's headquarters and the Czar's study.

After you'll proceed past the "Swallow's Nest," which resembles a turreted medieval castle and is perched on a cliff jutting out to sea. Alupka is one of the Crimea's most beautiful resorts. Here is Vorontsov Palace, where Churchill stayed during the Yalta Conference.

The Governor General of Novorosiysk ordered the palace's construction during the mid-19th century. Prince Mikhail Vorontsov was raised in England and the palace was crafted in the image of and English country home. You'll stroll through a portion of the expansive landscaped grounds before entering the ornate apartments.

Note: There is a walk of approximately 15 min. to and from the coach parking area to each palace.

Not only is Yalta an attractive city, it is steeped in a special brand of Ukrainian cultural history. Playwright and author Anton Chekhov loved the Crimea climate and built a villa here in 1898. He lived in the city for the last five years of his life. We have arranged a unique opportunity to bring two cultures together on this half-day tour.

Your hosts await you ashore. The people who live here are proud of their city and are pleased to share it with you.
One of our local guides will conduct the excursion, buy you will be joined by the Yalta residents who have generously invited you into their homes today. While they will refrain from interjecting too much, enjoy their personal anecdotes about their beloved city.

After your walk, you will continue, in a small group, to the home of your host family. Enjoy Ukrainian style tea as a guest in your new friend's home as you exchange ideas. Ukraine has undergone remarkable changes in this decade and the conversation will be stimulating for all involved.

Following your pleasant and interesting visit, it is time to bid farewell and return to the ship.

Livadian Palace and park are really world famous. The White Livadian Palace was constructed to be a summer residence of the last Russian Tsar - Nicholas II.

Later on it housed a sanatorium for peasants and in February of 1945 the Yalta Conference of the Three Allied Powers was held here. After the Victory the palace was the summer residence of Soviet leaders where Stalin, Molotov and others used to come. Then again it was a holiday center replaced by a museum in 1974. The park of 126 hectares was laid out in the early 19th century in the landscape style by gardener Delinger and boasts 400 species of trees and shrubs and also original Rose, Tsar's and Turkish summer pavilions, 80 meters long pergola of roses, wisteria and wild grapes - the longest in the Crimea.

A traditional Russian tea ceremony will be held at the Italian courtyard of the palace. An assortment of Russian and Ukrainian delicacies will be served with the tea and throughout the ceremony you'll be entertained by the "Kalinka" folkloric group who will perform traditional music and songs. A panoramic tour of the City of Yalta shows you views of its will-planned streets, fountains, luxurious gardens and surrounding hillsides.

Note: This tour involves a 10-15 minute walk from the coach parking area to Livadia Palace. There are some gentle inclines with some stairs to be negotiated and passengers with physical limitations are requested to take this into consideration

The Palace of Alexander III in Massandra is one of the best architectural constructions on the southern coast of the Crimea, dating from the second half of the XIX century.

An architectural and arts museum has recently been unveiled in the Palace. Designated as an imitation of a romantic castle on the Loire river, the Palace with its bright looks was to reflect and merge harmoniously with the southern nature. In its abundant ornamentation, details of a Renaissance style and newly born art nouveau style can be found, however the dominate feature is its baroque. The exquisite decoration of the rooms excite admiration from all. All the architectural works executed in the Massandra Palace are noted for their spectacular quality of workmanship and artistic taste.

The palace is also known as Stalin's Dacha. Surrounded by a nice little park with a fountain and set like Versailles, this charming summer palace once received the Russian Imperial family of Romanoff.

Your guided visit to the Palace will allow you to admire its beautiful interiors, furniture, art pieces and memorabilia of all sorts - photos, documents, letters - all carefully arranged. Stroll around the lovely palace garden and enjoy the views.

Upon reboarding your car, you will be taken through some of the narrow, winding streets of the new part of the town. This affords you an opportunity to watch the local people going about their daily business.

From the pier you will travel by coach east of Yalta to a picturesque settlement of Massandra to visit Alexander III Palace, which was built especially for the son of Alexander III - George.

En route you will see the historical part of the town including Polikurovsky Hill, and the Bell Tower of Ioann Zlatoust church - places visited by the first Russian Emperor Nicholas I in September 1837.

From the parking place a mini-van will take you up a narrow road to the Palace, which is also known as Stalin's Dacha. Surrounded by a nice little park with a fountain and set like Versailles, this charming summer palace once received the Russian Imperial family of Romanov. Your guided visit to the Palace garden will allow you to admire it's beautiful interiors, furniture, art pieces and memorabilia of all sorts - photos, documents, letters - all carefully arranged.

Stroll around the lovely palace garden and enjoy the views. Continue driving to Livadia settlement - Former summer residence of Russian Tsars from the end of XIX century, to visit the lavish "White Palace." You will visit two floors of the Palace - main halls of the ground floor (Festive dining-room, reception-room, billiards-room) where the famous Yalta Conference took place in 1945, and some private rooms of the first floor (study, library, children's class room, family dining-room, etc.)

You will also see the wet part of the Palace - the Bell Tower and church of Exaltation, which was built by Alexander II.
The tour will be completed by a Royal Lunch at "Livadia" restaurant. You will have a chance to taste the dishes which were common on the royal menu.
The lunch will be accompanied by the special music which was popular during the Tsars' reign.

Appetizers: black caviar, salted salmon, vegetables, cooked mushrooms.
First course: Sturgeon fish soup
Second course: "Royal hunt" (meat with special sauce).
Dessert: Blini with fruit
Drinks: Vodka, Cabernet red wine, mineral water, tea or coffee.

Next door to the Magarach Wine Institute, the gardens were laid out in beautiful terraces down to the sea in 1812 by a Russian botanist with the unlikely name of H.H. Steven. Here you can admire some 7,000 trees and plants, with a rose garden that has over 1,600 varieties, and other curiosities such as a 1,000 year old pistachio tree. As the treasury for development of most of the Southern Crimean parks, the gardens could impress any visitor with their magic atmosphere.

Nikitski Botanical Garden is situated about 7km. from Yalta Sea Port (20-30 minutes by car). The visit to the gardens should be conducted on foot. The excursion includes wine and fruit tasting. It will take about 1 hour and 15 min. to walk through the upper and lower parks and 40-50 min. for tasting.

This tour along the southern coast of the Crimea combines the region's history with it's unique nature and gives you a chance to taste a beautiful bouquet of local wines. Departing the pier your drive will take you through Yalta and into it's scenic surroundings, once the favorite resort of the aristocracy.

About 4 miles into the pretty countryside, you will make your stop at Alupka. Upon arrival in Alupka your guide will take you on a walking tour of the grand Vorontsov Palace. Designed by English architects in 1828 for Count Vorontsov, the building is a bizarre combination of Scottish castle and Arabic fantasy in the setting of an exotic park.

It is difficult to find in the Crimea a more popular and more beautiful place to visit. The park itself is a real masterpiece of garden art. The tour will continue by wine tasting ceremony at the famous Alupka Wine-Tasting Hall. You will have an opportunity to try 8 samples of local wines and to feel the romantic atmosphere of this idyllic place.

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