Since the premiere of the HBO miniseries about the 1986 disaster at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, I've been thinking a lot about how cool it would be to visit.  That lead me to do research into exactly what it takes to play tourist near the abandoned nuclear plant and Pripyat, the nearby city built to house the power plant's workers.

Visiting the site is actually way easier, and cheaper, than I would have thought.

There are several companies that do tours, but the one I looked into most was Intrepid Travel.  For just about $1,700, you can take the Highlights of Ukraine trip.  You'll spend eight days journeying around Kiev, Chernobyl, Lviv, and the Carpathian Mountains.

During this trip, you'll spend an entire day exploring the area around Chernobyl.  Visitors will get to see the massive new sarcophagus (the largest moving structure on land) sealing up the exploded reactor number 4.  Following lunch at the Chernobyl Cafe (brought in from outside, so the food is radiation free), you'll journey to Pripyat where you'll see stroll down Lenin Street, see an abandoned school, and check out the (super creepy) abandoned amusement park.

The Intrepid Travel makes sense if you don't want to make the trip all the way to the Ukraine JUST to risk glowing in the dark.  But, if you JUST want to make the trip for the sole reason, there are some cheaper alternatives.

Check out a list of one and two day tours HERE


 

How much will it cost?

No matter what, airfare from Logan International to Borispol International will be about $1,000 (roundtrip)

Hotel stays are about $75/night (cheap!)

Meals are about $7

A single day trip to Chernobyl will cost about $100

A two day trip will cost around $500

A multi-day tour of Eastern Europe tour will run between $1,700 and $4,400


 

Not that I have a desire to glow in the dark (that can't really happen, can it?), but I am already saving my pennies to make this trip!

Have you, or someone you know, made this trip?  Share your pictures or videos with us!

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