Most people are familiar with the name Chernobyl. On April 26, 1986, Chernobyl was the site of a nuclear disaster within the Ukraine. The after effects of the disaster were felt around the world, but 34 years later Chernobyl is now a major tourist destination.
It is not safe to venture into certain areas around the former Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant. This is due to high levels of radiation, but many of the zones are safe to visit with a guide.
To visit the site, you must book a tour, which typically leaves from the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv. These tours cost about $99 and are very comprehensive.
A tour with the company Chernobyl Tour will take you into the now-abandoned Zalissya village, Pripyat, the Exclusion Zone, and many other important sites around the former nuclear plant.
Each of these places tells the story of the disaster and gives visitors a glimpse into the past. The tour ends with a meal at the Chernobyl state canteen—for some authentic Soviet style food. Don’t worry, the food is brought in from Kyiv and not grown nearby.
It is important to remember what happened at Chernobyl and visiting the surroundings allows visitors to learn from the past. There is a haunting beauty to the site, and the forest and animals have slowly begun to take over the abandoned villages. Chernobyl has to be one of Eastern Europe’s spookiest tourist destinations.