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Black Sea/Crimea/Ukraine
Long the vacation spot for the Russians, the Black Sea takes you back to the mystery and splendor of Russia and Catherine the Great. Surrounded by the Azov and Black Seas, the Crimean Peninsula is a vacationer's wonderland, as well as a place with a history filled with wars and treaties.

Experience the world where East and West meet. Cruise along the crossroads of many civilizations and cultures as you learn about the exciting history and religions of this fascinating area. You can travel by ship between Odessa or Yalta and various cities on the Black Sea and Mediterranean.

The most frequent and reliable is the Odessa to Istanbul route. It's also possible to sail down the Danube River between Odessa and a number of Eastern European river ports. There's a car ferry running between Kerch, at the eastern tip of Crimea, and the Russian ports of Temryuk, Anapa and Novorossiysk.

Ukraine - Port City - Odessa

The "Pearl of the Black Sea," Odessa is a modern city and major seaside resort which rises in tiers above a gently curving bay. The home of Black Sea Shipping Co. (the world's largest shipping company), this port city is also the southern sea gate of the former USSR, through which pass many passengers and a huge amount of cargo. Here, the famed Potemkin Staircase rises 460 feet from the sea to the upper levels of Odessa. Your tour will include the Promenade, the main shopping street, and the Opera House, one of the most beautiful and acoustically perfect in the world.

The best prospects for hiking, trekking and camping are in Crimea and the Carpathians in the south-west, along with a few scattered national parks. In south-west Crimea, easy hikes lead to the cave cities of Chuft-Kale and Manhup-Kale. Other Crimean trekking highlights include the 300m (985ft) Bolshoy Kanyon and the Dzhur-Dzhur and Uchansu waterfalls.

With a good map you can walk anywhere in the Carpathians, where most of the territory is uninhabited and very scenic. The best time to go to Ukraine is in spring (late April to early June), when the trees and flowers are in bloom. During this season attractions are less crowded and rainfall is lighter than in summer.

Ukraine - Port City - Yalta

Yalta is famed for being Russia’s “Golden Riviera.” Besides having a mild climate, people flock to Yalta to take in it’s beautiful scenery. Lately, Yalta has been known as the location of the meeting between Yeltsin and President Clinton in the post Cold War days. Yalta is a traveler's delight, steeped in beauty and history. It has been over 50 years since the famous 1945 Yalta Conference, where the allied leaders decided the fate of the world. This picturesque city is one of the region's most popular destinations. Fans of Anton Chekov will want to visit the Chekov House-Museum, where the great Russian playwright spent the last five years of his life. The house features numerous editions of Chekov's works, memorabilia like his pens and medical kit, and a garden.