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A sortie to the observation place should be done at night, in order to get there before dawn. We are lucky that there is a unique Carpathian family, which is ready to accept each guest as a relative, to instruct him/her in the evening and to bring him/her to the places of observation of wild animals in the morning. This is the Romaniuks – the owners of the hospitable manor house “Skarby Chornohory”: father Vasyl is a forester, mother Paraska and son Vasyl will organise a real Hutsul party for you – singing, dancing, playing musical instruments – with your full involvement in this fun process.

Highlights of the tour:
Introduction to the course of authentic Carpathian hunting;
Seeing the sunrise and hiking in the forest to observe wild animals;
Hutsuls’ vocal messages and Hutsul singing from personal experience;
Participation in a Hutsul party – full inclusion in the sincere Hutsul entertainment.

DAY 1. Arrival at a Mysterious Forest

Arrival at the urban-type settlement of Verkhovyna. Option 1: a transfer from Verkhovyna by a rented car, Option 2: going to the village of Zelene (Topilche) by your own car (an off-road vehicle). Arrival at the Skarby Chornohory guesthouse. Dinner and planning for tomorrow. A video lecture on distinguishing the behaviour of animals. Comments and instructions of the owner-forester for a morning sortie to the forest to observe wild animals. Try to fall asleep faster so that at dawn you can go on a hike to get acquainted with the Hutsul hunting culture, whose roots reach the Neolithic era.

DAY 2. Diving into the Wildlife of the Carpathians

A rise at dawn. The rise time varies depending on the day of the calendar. A light snack before the sortie-following to the places of animals’ usual habitats. We observe animals for about three hours from dawn. If you are lucky, you will be able to observe wild boars/deer/roe deer/small fur animals, depending on the tracks that will be interpreted by the owner-forester (3 hours). Breakfast in the forest with an exciting discussion of animals’ behaviour. Returning to the guesthouse. Half an hour of rest after the forest walk will be enough to regain strength and to be ready to learn more about the peculiarities of hunting in the Carpathian forests and rivers. Take a master class on ancient fishing methods. Try to create your own raft (a Carpathian daraba) and take a walk along the bank of the Chornyi Cheremosh, launching the daraba. Lunch that will impress with a variety of dishes and snacks. Watching unique videos from forest cameras, that will be commented on by the hosts. An acquaintance with ancient traditional hunting weapons, true stories of hunting game in the forests of Hutsul land for the survival of people. Dinner can be accompanied by Hutsul music or can be calm.

DAY 3. The Taste of Life in the Mountains

Hutsul breakfast with good bread baked by the hosts in their own bakery (it does not stale for up to two weeks). A sortie onto one of the most picturesque mountain polonynas (meadows) – Krynta. The forester’s stories about the traditions of hunting on the meadow, deer’s roaring, animals’ spending summer. Amazing ‘ohykanie’ from the hostess (ancient exclamations which wind brought from one mountain to another – a means of conveying mountain dwellers’ messages about each other’s location, especially in bad weather). Authentic rare Hutsul songs from Paraska Romaniuk. Before returning from the polonyna, there will be Hutsul entertainments: singing, ‘dantsi’ (dancing), playing the ‘floier’ (the semi-transverse flute) and the ‘tylyntsi’ (the woodwind instrument). You will be very close to a Hutsul ‘nabuvannia’ (a party), when after hard work Hutsuls gathered under one roof on Saturday or Sunday and improvised songs, musical melodies, danced themselves to exhaustion. At the same time, they almost did not drink alcohol. Surrender to emotions to the fullest, as Hutsuls knew how to do that. Returning to the guesthouse with new impressions. Hot late lunch and departure.

Discovering the Foresters’ Heritage of the Carpathians (Jäger-Tour)