Horse Trails from Kamianyi Dvir Cottage, Yaremche

Besides accommodation, the Kamianyi Dvir (“Stone Yard”) cottage on Hrushevskoho Street in Yaremche is known for its horse rides. Trail rides on hardy Hutsul horses start here and lead through forests and along mountain paths to waterfalls and high meadows around the town. Routes vary in length and difficulty, from a two-hour ride for beginners to a full-day trip onto the ridge above Yaremche. It is a fine way to see the Carpathians slowly, from the saddle, and to reach places no car can get to.

Why go: four routes and more

• Route 1: wildlife enclosures — Divochi Slozy waterfall. Starting in Yaremche, you pass the Carpathian National Nature Park enclosures with red deer, wild boar and roe deer, then follow a mountain road to the Divochi Slozy (“Maiden’s Tears”) waterfall, where you can swim in summer. About 2 hours — the best choice for a first ride.
• Route 2: Bahrivets — Probiy waterfall. A climb to the Bahrivets pass with views of the Gorgany, Makovytsia, Yavir and the Bukovytsia meadow, finishing by the souvenir market and the Probiy waterfall. About 2.5 hours.
• Route 3: Mount Makovytsia. From the bus stop in the Yamna neighbourhood along a forest road and a path past the Dovbush Rocks to the summit, with views of Dora, Mykulychyn, Yaremche, Deliatyn, Khomiak, Syniak and the Staiky meadow. The climb is mostly gentle — a good chance to get used to the saddle. 4–5 hours.
• Route 4: Yavirnyk meadow and the Horhan ridge. About 18 km and 5–6 hours; on the meadow you can watch Hutsul budz, bryndza and vurda cheese being made and taste or buy some.

Apart from riding, there are carriage and hay-wagon rides, sleigh rides through the snowy mountains in winter, and riding lessons with an instructor. Groups of up to 20–25 riders can be accommodated, so the routes suit both family holidays and company trips. Experienced riders can pick new directions with the instructor every day, with river fords, descents and climbs through beech forests.

The Hutsul horse and what to expect

For centuries highlanders bred small but very strong and enduring horses, made for steep mountain crossings and carrying loads; they are often fondly called “hutsulyky”. Such a horse walks surely on stony trails, fords streams calmly and is not bothered by mountain weather, so horse riding in Yaremche suits even those who have never sat in a saddle. On the longer routes you get a feel for how the Hutsuls themselves once travelled the mountains — from house to meadow, from village to fair. And on the Yavirnyk meadow there is a bonus: fresh cheese straight from the shepherds.

Practical information

• Start: Kamianyi Dvir cottage, 20 Mykhaila Hrushevskoho St, Yaremche (Route 3 starts at the bus stop in Yamna).
• Booking: +380 96 296 43 03, +380 98 779 87 09 — for a set time, in advance; in high season and on holidays, a few days ahead.
• Prices: depend on the route; in 2025 indicative prices ranged from 1,800 UAH per person for a two-hour ride to 4,500 UAH for the Yavirnyk meadow trip. Transfer to Yaremche is extra. Confirm current rates by phone in advance.
• Season: all year — horseback, carriage or wagon in the warm months, sleigh in winter; in heavy rain or ice a route may be shortened or rescheduled.
• What to bring: comfortable trousers, closed shoes with a good tread, a rain jacket, water; a snack for longer routes. Ask about minimum age for children and weight limits when booking.

Please confirm by phone before your trip.

How to get there

Yaremche is one of the most accessible Carpathian towns: trains run here from Ivano-Frankivsk, Lviv and Kyiv, and buses use the N09 Ivano-Frankivsk — Bukovel road. Hrushevskoho Street is within the town, so you can walk to the start or take a taxi from the station. By car it is about 60 km from Ivano-Frankivsk on the N09.

Website and social media: kamendvir.com.ua

Photos: transferdokarpat.com.ua.