• Kiev

Located in Eastern Europe between Russia and Romania, Ukraine is set at the crossroads between Europe and Asia and is the second largest country in Europe. Traditionally an agricultural area due to the quality of its fertile black soil, Ukraine is an exciting place to travel in to witness the post-communist transformation of Eastern Europe. Old legends tell of the discovery of Kiev, the capital city, in the 5th century, so you are guaranteed a country steeped in history and tradition. Subdivided into 24 regions and crossed by many rivers, the country consists mainly of level plains (steppes) with the Carpathian Mountains ridging the west and the Crimean peninsula in the extreme south. The climate offers warm summers and cold winters where the rivers and abundant lakes freeze over. Temperatures in winter can reach as low as -20¢ªC in the north where snow often remains among the thickly wooded areas for weeks. The country is a pioneering force in hydro-electricity, harnessing the power of the rivers which flow through the land. Ukraine¡¯s main river, the Dnieper is one of the longest European rivers and one of the main sources of this power. All over the country, sleepy little villages compete for recognition against a backdrop of healthy agricultural land and sugar plantations. Ukraine, in the geographical centre of Europe, is one of the world¡¯s main centres for sugar production. The country has over 2,500km of coastline with some beautiful beaches. It will clearly not be long before this largely undiscovered country is placed firmly on the holiday map.

Agriculture plays a large part in the life of Ukraine (wheat, maize, corn, etc), so look out for large farm vehicles travelling slowly in rural areas. Driving is on the right side of the road. An International Driving Permit is needed to drive in the Ukraine. There are 29,227km of main or national roads in the country, but you will find that a good number of the lesser roads are pot-holed and do not have lines to indicate lanes. You will need to proceed with caution, as the residents tend to drive erratically, and there is always the possibility of encountering cattle and goats on the road. Speed limits are as follows: 110km/h on motorways; 90km/h in the countryside; and 40km/h in built-up areas. The biggest problem in Ukraine is the availability of suitable petrol - unleaded is not available - so make sure you have enough fuel before you set out on a journey. Do NOT drink and drive - there is a policy of zero tolerance in Ukraine.