Ethno-style rest. TOP-5 places for a reboot and immersion in traditions

Right now, more than ever, we want to learn more about our roots. Explore the layers of Ukrainian history and culture that shaped us as a nation, uncover names and facts that were previously silenced or hidden. We’ve compiled a selection of places in Ukraine where you can do this in the most vivid, interactive way, combining it with relaxation, new acquaintances, and experiences. We’re sure many of these you already know, so today we’re talking about the lesser-known, but no less awesome complexes. Let’s go for a reboot in ethno-villages and estates!

Maiorova Khata

Maiorka Village, Dnipropetrovsk Region

The dream of creating such an ethno-estate-museum was nurtured by Lyudmyla Shutyak for 20 years, and she finally managed to bring it to life in 2019. She and her husband bought a century-old house on the banks of the Dnipro River in Maiorka village and turned it into an ethnographic museum. The foundation of the collection was made up of embroidered items inherited from her mother. Over time, the exhibition was supplemented with antiques, household items brought by locals, and collected by the hosts. Part of the exhibits from the museum intended for the local church were also relocated to Maiorova Khata. Today, the collection includes about 200 items.

Your acquaintance with local culture will not be complete if you don't try the local cuisine. That’s why Lyudmyla invites you to the table! Local gastronomic traditions have been heavily influenced by the proximity to Moldova and Romania. Here, you can try plăcintă, vertuta, varzari (pumpkin pie), various sour soups, dumplings, and local borscht with shuleniki (flatbreads with gravy).

Khutir Savky

New Petrivtsi, Kyiv Region

"Khutir Savky" is a small family-run ethnographic museum where the hosts, Mr. Savka and Valentina Semenivna, introduce visitors to traditional Ukrainian life, entertainment, customs, crafts, and cuisine. The museum consists of two houses. The first, built in 1786, belonged to a wealthy local farmer, and the second, a noble house from the mid-19th century, was relocated from Zhytomyr. The interesting part starts right from the yard: beehives, a blacksmith shop, a barn, a cellar, a garden, and Mr. Savka's pride – a collection of roots and stones in bizarre shapes. At "Khutir Savky," you can:

• try your hand at weaving, beekeeping, carpentry, shoemaking, and blacksmithing;
• learn to grind flour and use a millstone;
• cook dishes in the oven;
• discover many processes and items from various aspects of life that our ancestors used to deal with;
• shoot with a bow and a catapult;
• explore the intricacies of moonshine distilling;
• taste various traditional dishes;
• get acquainted with authentic rituals and celebrations, and if you're lucky, you might even participate in them.

Our team was lucky enough to visit Mr. Savka and Valentina Semenivna. With smiles on our faces and saliva in our mouths, we remember how it was.

Ethno-village "Divosvit"

Helendzhik Village, Zaporizhzhia Region

In the past, people traveled to Helendzhik to search for brides for the Turkish sultan (the village’s name translates to "city of white brides"), but now they come to find an interesting rest. A few years ago, the tourist complex ethno-village "Divosvit" opened here. Why go there?

• test your talents in pottery, embroidery, weaving, and braiding;
• learn survival skills in the village through master classes on farming, haymaking, and bundle tying;
• relax in a bathhouse or with a massage after work;
• indulge your taste buds with new flavors of traditional dishes and even learn to cook them;
• have a picnic by a large stove with a luxurious view of the endless Ukrainian steppe;
• ride a bike along the steppe route;
• see how our ancestors lived thousands of years ago in dugouts and yurts. And even spend the night in a traditional Ukrainian house.

Omelkov Khata

Kozubivka Village, Poltava Region

Want to immerse yourself in rural life? Then, you should visit Omelkova Khata. Who is Omelko? A man who once lived in this homestead and whose name it now bears. Here’s what your perfect day there might look like:

• wake up with the sunrise to the sound of birds singing,
• start your day with a traditional breakfast,
• and off to work: chopping firewood, mowing the grass, taking care of the garden and vegetables, tending to the animals,
• and when the sun starts to shine, you can dive into learning about centuries-old local traditions at the ethnographic museum, where various exhibits from the 18th to the 20th century will tell you all about them,
• then – culinary workshops from ethnic craftswomen, where you can prepare a delicious traditional dinner or lunch yourself.

Sounds cool, right?

Poltava region is famous for great opportunities in ethnocultural and eco-tourism. Just consider the famous estate "Lyalina Svitlytsya" with the largest collection of motanka dolls, a borscht museum, and a wide range of workshops. Or "Staryi Khutir" with a master’s school, "Mastery of Opishnyan dishes," its own farm, and brewery. Before your trip, we recommend checking out our article with top summer destinations in Ukraine, where you'll surely find several cool travel ideas for exploring Poltava and beyond.

Falconry Homestead

Petrushivka village, Chernihiv region

The ethno-complex "Sokolynyi Khutir" was founded by Mykola Cherep – a descendant of an ancient Cossack family on the banks of the Smosh River. Mykola created a cool atmosphere of the Hetman era with many traditional Cossack games and activities. We recommend staying in one of the authentic homesteads in the settlement to fully immerse yourself in the vibe of that time and make the most of your visit, as there is a lot to do:

• learn a lot of interesting things at the Historical and Ethnographic Museum of Chernihiv region;
• see rare examples of weapons from the times of Zaporizhian Sich, the UNR, and the Kuban Cossack army at the Museum of the History of Liberation Struggles of Chernihiv region;
• travel back in time to Taras Shevchenko’s era at the open-air museum "Time Machine";
• explore a collection of protective talisman coins at the Coin Mint Museum;
• visit art exhibitions at the Taras Shevchenko Art Gallery;
• learn horseback riding and attend a real equestrian show;
• try the Cossack kulesh cooked in a cauldron over an open fire and other tasty Ukrainian dishes. Or even learn how to cook them yourself;
• catch a fish from one of the cleanest rivers in Ukraine;
• embark on a boat or catamaran trip down the Smosh River;
• master the use of Cossack weapons;
• have a picnic and enjoy an evening tea. Mykola dries local berries, rosehips, and, every year, together with a local healer, collects and dries over 20 types of herbs. Just imagine the taste and aroma!

In its 20 years of existence, Sokolynyi Khutir has received over 120 national and international awards, and the local homesteads have an eco-certification of II level "Green homestead according to European standards." By the way, at Sokolynyi Khutir, you have the chance to stay in the scribe's homestead, which is 175 years old and was once home to a descendant of the scribes of the Zaporizhian Army.

Recently, Ukraїner released a whole project "Strikha", which also tells about Ukrainian folk architecture and ethnographic complexes throughout Ukraine.

Photo: xutir-savky.com.ua