Tuesday 6th May – Chisinau, Moldova

Morning

• Arrive at your own leisure into Chisinau. The capital city of Moldova is well connected with many European and Middle Eastern countries and the Caucasus. Self-transfer to our centrally located Soviet hotel. Pre-tour accommodation can be arranged for your convenience (optional).
• For those arriving early, we can head to the Soviet open-air museum located just outside Chisinau. The museum has many interesting pieces from the Soviet era, including aircrafts, an extensive flag collection, statues of heroes from the Soviet era and the largest collection of horseshoes. It’s fascinating and bizarre, but a real hidden gem!

Afternoon

• Pre-tour meeting will be held at the lobby of our Soviet era hotel at 6:00pm to discuss tour itinerary and to meet your fellow travellers and YPT guide.
• We’ll head out for dinner to the best steak house in the city, and for those inclined, continue with a few refreshments at a local establishment.
• Overnight stay in Chisinau.

Wednesday 7th May – Chisinau

Morning

• Early morning start with a selection of breakfast options, before we start to explore this beautiful, untouristy and underrated European city.
• Our local guide will be ready and waiting for us at 9:30am, with a brief introduction and to explain what’s ahead of us.
• Your journey will feature historical events and vital figures in Moldavian History. We’ll enter a memorial complex dedicated to the brave soldiers who lost their lives during Great Patriotic War and the recent conflict with Transnistria. In traditional Soviet style the memorial depicts scenes of battles to victory and a prosperous future under the Red star of communism.
• The walking tour continues into the Military Museum where you’ll find scattered military hardware from various ages. This includes tanks, fighter jets from the Cold War and cannons used against the Ottomans.
• Along the way, we’ll meet Moldova’s national hero, Stephen the Great, who features on the local currency. The tour concludes outside the Presidential Palace, initially intended to be used for the Supreme Soviet of the Moldavian SSR.

Afternoon

• After learning much about the history of Moldova and the impact of socialism on the country, we’ll head to a restaurant which serves hearty Moldavian cuisine. We recommend trying Sarmale (stuffed cabbage rolls) and Borscht (traditional soup).
• After lunch we’ll make some time for the group to explore the city independently depending on your personal interest. Despite being the least visited country in Europe, Chisinau has plenty to offer. For those wishing to see a performance at the National Opera and Ballet Theatre, wine tasting is complimentary (you must arrange your own tickets prior to the tour).
• For those wishing to explore Chisinau’s Soviet history, we highly recommend visiting the abandoned Chisinau Circus, the Komsomol monument and the epic Yuri Gagarin mosaic – or you can simply walk around and discover the city.
• Once everyone’s ready we’ll head up to the National Hotel, built during the peak of the Soviet era. The hotel was used by the KGB for espionage purposes to spy on guests but is now deserted and a shell of its former glory. It’s also a great spot to enjoy the views overlooking Chisinau and appreciate the brutalist architecture over the sunset.
• We’ll have dinner at a popular grill house, followed by drinks.
• Overnight in Chisinau.

Thursday 8th May – Chisinau – Tiraspol, Transnistria

Morning

• After breakfast at our hotel, we’ll check out and depart Chisinau.
• At 9:30am, we’ll meet our Transnistrian fixer for an introduction and guidelines we must follow during our time in the breakaway republic of Transnistria.
• We’ll head off for a 2-hour road trip where we’ll stop at a gas station to pick up supplies. Please note this will be last time you’ll be able to use your bank cards until we return.
• Once we reach the border, we’ll disembark our vehicle for passport control, before we head into the capital of Transnistria.
• Along our route to the hotel, we’ll see plenty of Soviet era monuments including tanks, bus stops and memorials. On our arrival to our hotel, we’ll check in and drop our bags off.
• We’ll then walk down October 25th Street, the main street in Tiraspol. We’ll see the epic statue of the Russian General Alexander Suvorov who founded Tiraspol in 1792. You’ll be seeing the General throughout your trip, as he features on much of the currency and is considered a national hero.
• We’ll head towards the Transnistria Government building which has the tallest Lenin statue outside Russia. We’ll continue down October Street, visiting the Eternal Flame Memorial complex dedicated to the Soviet-Afghan war, WW2, Transnistrian Civil War and Chernobyl nuclear accident. Opposite the Flame is the battle-damaged T-34 monument from WWII. You’re permitted to climb on it and get an awesome photo.
• On our walk along October Street, we’ll pass the Abkhazia and South Ossetia embassies and our favourite bookshop, to pick up some Soviet and Transnistrian nationalist paraphernalia. It’s the perfect place to acquire your Transnistrian flag and fridge magnet!
• We’ll then stop at the impressive House of the Soviets, built in Stalinist style with a large bust of Lenin outside, before heading to the impressive mural of Yuri Gagarin, the first man in space.
• We’ll pop into Dolce Vita Café, an inexpensive place with great buffet-style food and the eatery of choice for students of the nearby Tiraspol University. It’s not uncommon for students to come and strike up a conversation, not only to practice their English skills but also out of curiosity (remember, no one really visits unrecognised countries).

Afternoon

• We’ll then switch it up and board an old Soviet ferry without an engine and cross the Dniester River to see how the village people live across from Tiraspol. This is an area truly lost in the USSR!
• We’ll visit a still functioning palace of culture with an enormous head of Lenin outside, pockmarked with Kalashnikov bullet holes after Moldovan troops symbolically executed him during the civil war.
• Next, we’ll then visit a stunning and completely self-sufficient monastery complex that must be seen to be believed. We know many of the priests there and sometimes, they allow us to sample their incredible homemade wine.
• When we’re ready we’ll head to a local shop to pick up supplies for our garage party! During the peak of the Soviet Union, the public were given Lada cars and garages to maintain their vehicles in, however some ingenious comrades decided to turn their garages into the ultimate mancave! Our veteran, who has a collection of weaponry from many Soviet engagements, will let us socialise in the Soviet garage, cheers!
• Dinner at a popular Tiraspol restaurant followed by drinks – we recommend trying the vodka tasting sets!
• Overnight in Tiraspol.

Friday 9th May – Tiraspol: Victory Day

Morning

• Early morning start, we’ll have breakfast and coffee to go from the local Sheriff supermarket so we can make the most of the celebrations.
• We’ll head towards the Memorial complex where the Victory Day ceremony will begin with the Armed Forces of Transnistria, veterans and family members paying their respects before the military parade. Depending on the political situation, military vehicles including tanks will be part of the parade.
• After the parade, various celebrations will occur around the city. This is the perfect time to go and explore, to captures pictures and interact with the friendly locals. You can also simply relax at the many food and drink stalls installed for the celebrations.
• When we’re ready we’ll head off to Parcani to join in the Victory Day celebrations. What is unique about this village is that the residents are from a Bulgarian decent.
• We’ll explore Parcani which a has beautiful Soviet era war memorial and of course a Lenin statue, before heading to the Soviet Cultural Centre where members from the local community will be performing.
• To make the most of the Victory Day Celebrations, we’ll head to Bender – the only city in Transnistria which is located west of the Dniester River. It is also the second largest city in PMR.
• We’ll explore the city, firstly heading to the government buildings still bearing the bullet holes left from the Civil war – a reminder for those who are quick to forget.
• We’ll continue down the street until we come across Lenin standing opposite the local cinema. Little has changed at the venue apart from them showing modern films. From here we’ll head to the amusement park built during the Soviet era.
• Our walk will take us to the renovated and well-maintained train station. You’ll notice that there are no trains – it’s an empty ghost station. There are Soviet monuments and an old Soviet train from WWII, with the hammer and sickle on the front, which makes it a great photo opportunity.
• Keeping to the Soviet theme, we’ll head to the CCCP café for lunch – a typical stolovka with a selection of hearty cuisine surrounded by USSR memorabilia.

Afternoon

• After lunch, we’ll head to hidden mines that played a pivotal role throughout history in the region. Along the journey we’ll stop by a local store to collect supplies – beer and snacks are a good option! We’ll be heading deep into the uncharted mines but we’ll be sticking to our route – bring a flashlight as it’ll get pitch black. The area was mined during the reign of Catherine the Great. The stones were used to build Odessa and the tunnels go on for hundreds of kilometres. They were used during various conflicts as we’ll find Soviet era graffiti and carvings inside.
• After the mines we’ll head towards the river bank and have a picnic. From here we can see local villagers on boats unofficially crossing the border between Transnistria and Moldova.
• We’ll head back to Tiraspol to our hotel to freshen up and relax before we head out again.
• For dinner, we’ll head to YPT’s favourite restaurant, Back in the USSR – the owner is a personal friend of the guides and always accommodates the YPT group. The restaurant has loads of Soviet-era memorabilia and there will be music. Those inclined to a Soviet disco and beverages are welcome to stay!
• Overnight in Tiraspol.

Saturday 10th May – Tiraspol – Grigoriopol – Dubăsari

Morning

• Early morning start, we’ll have breakfast at the hotel before we head out to explorer the rural towns of Transnistria.
• Along the journey we’ll stop off at a few unique sites with Soviet monuments which are exclusively maintained by the local villagers, as well as a palace of culture which still teaches Moldovan in acrylic.
• Once we arrive in Grigoriopol, we’ll have some free time to explore the various sights that the small town offers. Here, you can find a Lenin statue and various war memorials. Your guide will also show you an impressive mosaic, tucked away behind the markets.
• We’ll have lunch in Grigoriopol, where there are various small stores selling tasty Eastern European snacks.

Afternoon

• We’ll then make our journey to Dubăsari. Along the road trip, we’ll stop off at a tank memorial – The Barrow of Glory. The memorial commemorates the four soldiers who lost their lives within the tank while liberating Dubăsari from the German-Romanian invaders. The crew died when the tank fell into the Dniester River from a bridge during a fierce battle.
• On our arrival to Dubăsari, the third largest city in Transnistria, we’ll check into our hotel before we explore the city.
• Our tour of Dubăsari will include various key sites, including a peaceful memorial located in the park and a functioning stadium built during Soviet times.
• We’ll take you to a very isolated Soviet music college that is still actively used. It has a large and beautiful Lenin outside and a perfectly intact giant Soviet emblem.
• Next, we’ll visit the hydroelectric dam controlled by the Russian Army. The area is of strategic importance, hence why there is a heavy military presence.
• The best way to meet locals in this rural isolated town is at the local bar – we’ll be stepping back in time while we’re having a few refreshing drinks in this beautifully preserved Soviet-era establishment.
• Dinner in Dubăsari and drinks for those wishing to stay out longer.
• Overnight in Dubăsari.

Sunday 11th May – Dubăsari – Rîbnița

Morning

• We’ll start the morning with an Eastern European breakfast. There’s time in the morning to visit the Sheriffs store opposite the hotel to purchase snacks and gifts.
• Before we leave Dubăsari we’ll take a group photo by the epic Soviet mosaic next to our hotel. For those who would like to see another hidden mosaic at the fabric factory, we can take a quick detour along the way.
• Along our road trip we’ll make a stop at one of the best Soviet signs and bus stops in Transnistria, an excellent opportunity to take pictures and a perfect example of socialist art.
• Once we arrive to Rîbnița also commonly known as Rybnitsa, we’ll head straight to the impressive cathedral before we walk around the memorial park, dedicated to the Great Patriotic War. The scenery is impressive, with Soviet memorials alongside the cathedral and communist apartment blocks in the background.
• We’ll make our way into the heart of Rîbnița to see Lenin standing just outside the city hall, before visiting the largest Soviet mosaic on the tour.
• What makes our route around Rîbnița so unique is that we’ll walk towards the residential apartment blocks and Ladas until we reach the flea market. Here, you can find cheap local products and Soviet-era memorabilia.
• For lunch, we’ll head to a traditional Moldavian restaurant and have our final meal in the unrecognised state of Transnistria.

Afternoon

• After lunch, we’ll head to a Sheriff store one final time, to pick up snacks for our journey back to Chisinau and to exchange our Transnistrian Rubles back to Euros/USD.
• We’ll take the northern border crossing back into Moldova and bid farewell to Transnistria. Along the way we’ll stop off at a very special Soviet bus stop, Disney Bambi features on it! As we can use our bankcards, we’ll stop off at a store to collect some supplies.
• During the peak of Cold War, not only was there a race to produce some of the most destructive atomic weapons but also how to survive it. We’ll head to the isolated Soviet Nuclear War Bunkers known as Object 1180. The bunker descend 13 floors underground. Due to remote area hidden in the woods, some of the journey will be completed by foot.
• After exploring the vast Nuclear Bunker, we’ll have a picnic in true YPT style – beers and snacks on top of an abandoned Soviet mega structure!
• Once we’re ready we’ll head towards Soroca, once famous for producing grapes, maize, wheat and tobacco. Nowadays it’s regarded as the gypsy capital.
• On arrival we’ll check into our hotel, freshen up and relax.
• We’ll head out to dinner and for those inclined can stay out for a few more drinks!
• Overnight in Soroca.

Monday 12th May – Soroca – Chisinau

Morning

• We’ll have a leisurely morning start and have breakfast at our hotel.
• Once we’re ready we’ll head towards the infamous ‘Gypsy Hill’ – a Roma inhabited area filled with some of the craziest or epic (depending on your taste) looking gypsy mansions. There’s even a mini replica of the US Capitol Building and if we’re lucky we may be invited to take a look around inside.
• We’ll tour Soroca Fortress, a historic medieval fortress dating from the days of Ștefan cel Mare (Stephen the Great) which now looks over the river into Ukraine. There’s a nice coffee shop where we can relax after.
• Straddling the Ukrainian border we’ll head to the Thanksgiving Candle, a hilltop monument and chapel with an amazing view of all of Soroca. A symbolic walk up the many stairs is an acknowledgement of these lands that suffered under many invaders. They fought bravely and managed to keep their language, their cultural heritage and traditions.
• Once we’re ready, we’ll start our journey back to Chisinau. Along the journey we’ll have lunch at a local spot.

Afternoon

• We’ll continue onto Chisinau, if time permits, we’ll make stops along the way.
• Once we arrive to Chisinau at 5:00pm, the tour concludes – YPT can arrange additional nights in Chisinau and are more than happy to provide advice for ongoing flights or trains.

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