The best Chernobyl tours from the creator since 1999. Instant Booking.

FAQ

Why should I book my Chernobyl trip with SoloEast Travel?

SoloEast is the first travel agency to start regular trips to Chernobyl Zone in 1999. The way the tours are run now is a result of our 15-year history of developing the tours, negotiating and persuading the government institutions to bring them to the level where the comfort for the visitors and accessibility to the major sites don’t conflict with the safety and security regulations. In spite the fact that some companies and individuals simply copied our tours, in 2014 we handled more then 80% of all English language tours to the Exclusion Zone in a professional and reliable manner. We work with many travel agencies, hotels and hostels. Regardless if you deal directly with us or if you book a tour through our partners - you can expect the same great service. We are the only operator to Chernobyl to use own (not rented) comfortable and modern air-conditioned minibuses Mercedes Sprinter and Ford. Our drivers speak English and they are instructed to drive our passengers safely. Every seat is equipped with a seatbelt.

I saw a lower price on the Internet for the similar trips - why should I pay more??

Many people call the trip to Chernobyl a lifetime experience. It is expensive mostly because of the cost involved to travel to Ukraine. The cost of the regular tour starts from US $79.00 for a full day trip, covering almost 300 km in a comfortable vehicle with an English-speaking guide and other visitors who speak English. We believe that even "cheap" tours to Chernobyl can be a great experience as most of them copy what we developed for the last decade. The biggest dissapointment though to see some people who paid for a tour, who spent two hours on the bus and who were denied the access to the zone because they compromised the quality to the cost.

Who is SoloEast Travel ?

SoloEast Travel is an incoming tour operator. To provide travel services to tourists from abroad it is a law in Ukraine that a company has a travel license. A tour operator in Ukraine has an insurance coverage of Euro 20,000 for any unforeseen circumstances. A travel company's staff is trained to assist foreigners in Ukraine and they know what to do if there is a problem - be it a sickness, stolen documents or any legal issue where you may require a local manager who can liaison in your favor with local government.

I see many offers on the Internet what should I check before I book such a tour?

Ukraine is a developing country. Unfortunately because of the lack of ethics some visitors to the country are subject for frauds. Very often reporting the crime to the police doesn’t help unless it's something very serious. When you book a tour- you have to make sure you deal with a real/legal company that has a registration. Check their website well. Usually those who call themselves 100% officials in fact are not. It’s good to know a physical address of the company you dealing with, phone number, business hours etc. Ask who will be on the tour with you? The government fee for the Ukrainians to visit the zone is less then for foreigners and the official guide speaks Russian or Ukrainian on such tours. You should be able to pay for your tour not only with cash but with your credit card.

I booked the tour through a mediator/facilitator who acted on my behalf with the administration of the exclusion zone - what are my pros and cons??

There are mostly cons: so-called facilitators charge you for sending an application for your tour to the Chernobyl authorities and for arranging the transportation. In most cases they do business illegally. Should there be a problem- you will be more likely dealing with it on your own - as your facilitators would prefer not to be involved. It's easy to define them by the way they handle payments - they will prefer cash or Western Union payment for their "services" and the legal fee you will pay directly to the office in Chernobyl. So it's up to you to make a right choice.

Is the tour to Chernobyl safe?

The tour is 100% safe. You have to follow very simple rules you sign upon entering the Exclusion Zone. The most important things to remember are to watch your steps and follow your guide’s instructions. It's unsafe to leave the group and wonder on your own in the places you're unfamiliar with. If you find walking to intense you can always tell the guide and rest in or near the transportation provided.
Please watch this video for the detailed information.

Will my clothes get contaminated? What should I wear? Do I have to throw my cloths away after the tour??

It is very unlikely that you will get any contamination on your cloths during the tour. There is a dosimeter control when leaving the exclusion zone. Anybody or anything that passes this very sensitive in term of radiation control is clean. There is a dress code inside the zone, which is a must: no shorts, no skirts, no sandals and no short sleeves. We still can enter some buildings with care but it's not mandatory and you can as well stay just outside.

Can I stay on the bus during the tour or do I have to be with the group all the time? What if I change my mind and decide to quit the tour? What if I have an emergency?

You can quit the tour anytime before or at the first checkpoint - after that you either have to be with the group or remain on the bus. If you have an emergency you need to get in touch with SoloEast representative - if needed in critical situation you can be airlifted.

I am disabled - can I attend the tour?? What if I am pregnant?

We have assisted many visitors with disabilities in taking the tour. Unfortunately we cannot offer much in term of comfort because of the nature of the area but we do try to help everybody. Please contact us in advance for arrangements. We do not suggest women 5+ months pregnant to attend the tour.

What is the mandatory insurance of $10.00 for?

Chernobyl Exclusions Zone can`t be access by a third party`s transportation - only authorized ground and air transportation can enter the area - which means visitors to Chernobyl can`t use their own medical emergency insurances. All visitors to Chernobyl are required to get insurance from the authorized Travel Insurance Company EIA (http://www.eia.com.ua). The company has a right to assist people in the Exclusion Zone by providing airlift or transportation that can access the restricted area fast in case of emergency. SoloEast has an agreement with the company that all its clients going to visit the zone get the insurance automatically. The final list of the people for the insurance purpose is finalized on the day of the tour before departure - that's why we separated the fee from the cost of the tour - and no pre-payment for the insurance is required - you don`t pay for it if you cancel your trip or change the date.

Disclaimer

Confirmation of booking on a tour does not guarantee entry to the exclusion zone. Due to the nature of the site of Chernobyl, rules change daily and permits can be revoked at late notice. 99% of our tours take place without any issues but very occasionally they are cancelled due to issues completely out of our control. Please be aware of this when booking.

Cancellation

Important !!! Our cancellation policy regarding the Chernobyl tour:
We will fully refund your deposit if you cancel your reservation within two hours after the payment is done (e.g. booking by mistake). Otherwise the deposit of US$50.00 per person is not refundable and not transferable to another person. You can transfer the deposit to another trip but not later then 24 hours before the tour.
Please note that the cost of the tours to Chernobyl booked on the short notice are higher due to the "rush" paperwork involved in obtaining the permits.
For US$5.00 you can book an alternative date for your trip - this way the cost of the tour will remain the same should your plans change. If you cancel your participation less then 24 hours before the tour or in case of "no-show" your deposit or full payment will be gone.

Tour Cancellations Stats:

2016 - No Cancellation. Some tours were re-routed due to the completion of the new confinement in November 2016.
2015 - As demanded by the Ministry of Defence the zone was closed for two days (March 7th and 8th) for a military training. Tours cancelled and re-scheduled.
2014 – No Cancellations.
2013 – Only one tour cancelled on the 24th of March because of heavy snowfall.
2012 – Three tours were cancelled because of the technical reasons and weather conditions.
2011 - Visits were banned from July to November by the procecutor general office in Ukraine due to the legal issues of the tours to the Exclusion zone.

Video 1

Video 2

Video 3

Video 4