We are IPO "Center "Pripyat.com" — legally registered public organization that unites those, who have Chernobyl Zone in their hearths. We are NOT a travel agency, but a team of experienced and skilled explorers that for almost 10 years work in the Zone. All tours are bing held upon state-issued permit we obtain from Department of the Zone of Exclusion.
Despite we use the word "tour" as more understandable for general public, it would be much more correct to call them "explorations" or "expeditions".
Contrary popular beliefs, the Chernobyl NPP Exclusion Zone is not a simply abandoned barren land, but a strictly regulated secured area under the rule of Ministry of Ecology of Ukraine, where numerous nuclear facilities are still operating. Therefore, you must confirm that you have read and agree with rules described below.
Violation of these rules can result in an immediate tour termination for entire group of visitors (without any refunds), and/or legal responsibility. Your guide will advice and aware you, if something will go wrong.
We offer 3 types of transportation to and within the Zone
Contrary popular beliefs, Chernobyl is a small ancient town (15,000 of population before the disaster), that located around 18 kms far from Chernobyl NPP, and was never related to it in any way. Currently, Chernobyl serves as administrative center of Chernobyl Zone and a staypoint for around 3,000 employees of its different departments, who come on shift basis. Radiation level at Chernobyl is generally normal.
While Pripyat is a much bigger (55,000 inhabitants, now abandoned) city created in 1970 directly near NPP as its satellite. Currently, only very few facilities that serve the NPP still operate in city. It has no population and heavily contaminated with long-living nuclear substances.
Average radiation exposure during 1-day stay at Zone roughly equals to that average human can get during regular flight. It is around 2 μSv (or 200 μR in microRoentgens). Just for comparison, it is less than when you make a X-ray check. If you will follow safety rules and recommendations by your envoy officer (guide), risk will be reduced.
All our routes planned in such a way to avoid contamination of visitors. However, you have to clearly bear in mind that visit to Chernobyl Zone means a visit to the territory of nuclear disaster which followed by radiation exposure and/or physical contact with radioactive sources.
The cheapest option is to take a bus Kyiv-Chernobyl from 3rd platform of Polissya Bus Station of Kyiv (located at T. Shevchenko square), which starts on 7:30, 11:40 and 15:30 and arrives to checkpoint Dityatky within 1.5-2 hours. You will have to purchase a ticket at bus station (~50 UAH). Return buses start from checkpoint to Kyiv on 15:20 and 18:00, fare is to be paid to driver.
Please note: as a visitor, you cannot enter or exit the Zone via bus, even if you have a permit, as passing the checkpoint is tied to particular vehicle.
Another option is to drive by taxi or rented car (~110 kms from Kyiv) and park it at parking lot near checkpoint.
Depending on actual availability and your wishes, we may stay:
Please note that since Chernobyl is a town under special security regulations, visitors are not allowed to leave territory of the hotel without being accompanied by envoy officer. In case of Orane, no restrictions applied, but we will have to exit the Zone on each day's evening and enter it again next morning. It takes just a little time.
We always recommend to come one day before the tour to meet in Kyiv for a coffee — to discuss all questions, check gear and documents and just to let us know each other closer. Moreover, it is a good idea to have a day of a rest before the adventure :)
Well, it is not recommended. Really.
In fact, it is officially forbidden to enter them since 2011, and it is explicitly written in every permit for any group of visitors, regardless, who organizes the visit. There is an exception of this rule only for scientific visits. All other interpretation of this fact is simple not true.
Please don't forget that most structures at Zone stay without even basic maintenance for almost 3 decades, so you cannot be sure that particular object won't collapse just behind you.
In Pripyat we select structures, where you can see internals very good without entering them. Plus, we prefer to go to structures at Chernobyl-2 which currently is far more rich in this aspect - contrary to popular beliefs, Pripyat passed very intensive decontamination in 1986-87, so inside the structures a very little amount of stuff remained. Many structures also were used after disaster, hence internals changed too.
No, you can not. Since all substances within the Zone considered the nuclear waste, taking some artifacts from Zone may cause criminal responsibility. For sure, this not related to your personal items, clothes, etc, and things you legally can buy at sttores at Chernobyl.
Yes, you can, but not in open areas — only in the bus or within permitted facilities. You can take food and water with you, but keep in mind that, well, we have a problem with toilets at Zone :)
Before you eat or drink, check that your hands are clean (it makes sense to take a pack of wet wipes).
Please note that drinking any kind of alcoholic beverages is strictly prohibited, as well as entering the Zone in intoxicated condition.
Drinking any alcohol (even beer) before 19-00 (7PM) is strictly forbidden by legal order of Zone's administration.
Entering the Zone in intoxicated condition is also banned. Violation of this rule will result in immediate termination of a trip for the entire group without compensation of payment and/or legal actions.
In order to reduce the β-radiation, you must wear long-sleeved clothing — your body should be covered as much as possible, especially when you are at the 10-kilometer zone. This means that regardless of the weather conditions, no T-shirts, tops, shorts, skirts, etc. allowed. It is desirable that you choose the clothes made of durable fabric, so you could not break it if we pass through extensive vegetation. However, basically to at least minimally fit requrements it is enough if you wear long-sleeved shirt and jeans long enough to cover your shoes 1-2 cms. When traveling in the wet season it is reasonable to have a waterproof jacket. In the dry season, some participants wear "Tyvek" suits, that are lightweight and comfortable enough and meet all the requirements set out above.
As for the shoes, keep in mind that you could meet virtually anything on the surface while at the Zone. This can be gravel, stones, branches, rusty metal, barbed wire and so on. In the summer it is hidden with grass, and in the winter with snow. Additionally, it can be contaminated with radioactive substances. Inside buildings there are lot of broken glass, tiles, bricks. Adding frequent rains, it may turn to sticky mixture of mud, clay and plaster. Therefore, use only a comfortable closed shoes with strong soles. The best shoes for all parameters are military or hiking boots. It will be just fine, if the shoes are high enough that you can tuck into your trousers.
Remember that even during 1-day trip you will have to walk about 5 hours at a time. It makes sense to take a change of shoes. We remind you that the visitor that does not meet requirements on clothes and shoes may be denied for entry to the Zone at checkpoint.
It is a good idea to have at least basic means of personal protection against dust: cheap cloth gloves, dust mask, protective gloves. Normally, there is no need to wear all of this, but sometimes that may be handy in case of contact with high-contaminated objects. Also we recommend to bring a pack of wet wipes to clean your hands.
Yes!
We offer airport transfers, hotel booking and even sightseening in Kyiv upon individual request. Contact our customer support to discuss this along the tour plan.
All foreign nationals may enter Ukraine with their travel document (passport). Please, check if you need a visa before travel.
No! Your border control stamp in passport is a proof of your legal stay — no further actions needed.
Most foreign nationals are not required to have a visa to enter Ukraine, however, normally stay is limited to 90 days per every 180 days in a year. Please check visa information section at Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine for actual information.
You can pay on arrival in EUR or UAH based on actual exchange rate. In high season we normally require a partial deposit.
You must specify the details of the document that certifies your identity in Ukraine, and to have this document with you on the trip.
For Ukraine nationals: internal passport only or temporary certificate of citizenship.
For foreign nationals: travel passport only. NO driver licenses, ID cards, etc. allowed.