You have probably heard about the Ukrainian Winterfell - Dragobrat, where the ski season is eternal. Do you love conquering mountains, and in this tourist destination, you can hardly be surprised? We want to introduce you to the ski resort "Dragobrat" - the highest ski complex in the Ukrainian Carpathians, located in the Transcarpathian region. It is situated at various altitudes: from 1300 to 1700 meters above sea level.

Dragobrat is very popular for skiing precisely because of its height and the variety of slopes. The highest descents are located on Mount Stih and Velika Blyznytsia, where you can ski on both groomed trails and "wild" natural ones. The skiing season here is the longest, as the snow (with the help of special equipment) sometimes lasts until mid-May.

At Dragobrat, there are more than ten equipped slopes of varying difficulty levels: there are "green" descents (for beginners) and "black" (for professionals). All slopes at the resort are serviced by a lift and, unfortunately, are not illuminated in the evening.

Lift and slope map at Dragobrat ski resort

At Dragobrat, you can ski to your heart's content - there are about 10 kilometers of equipped slopes for skiers and snowboarders. Want some thrills? Then be sure to try the longest slope at 1.3 kilometers, and to make your heart race even faster, we must mention that the height difference on it is 400 meters. All equipped slopes are located on Mount Stih. These descents are suitable for fans of "civilized skiing".

However, Dragobrat is a favorite spot among freeriders. These are people who love to ski "freely", meaning not on the pre-prepared trails for tourists. Freeride descents are on the slopes of Mount Blyznytsia. These are simply unprepared slopes for lovers of free descent. Their approximate length is about three kilometers. We do not recommend beginners and even amateurs to ski on Blyznytsia - it is only for professionals who have dedicated many years to skiing and snowboarding and thrive on extreme entertainment.

New Year at Dragobrat

Dragobrat is surrounded by dense forests and steep slopes. Here, in colorful wooden cottages with fireplaces (or in a hotel room with an incredible view), you can celebrate the New Year. Getting into a fairy tale is incredibly easy if you think everything through in advance. We recommend booking accommodation in Dragobrat 1.5-2 months in advance, as everything here gets "snapped up" too quickly. Plus, financially, it is much more advantageous: early booking of hotel rooms and early purchase of ski passes allows you to save a serious amount of money. The earlier visitors book a room or buy a lift pass, the greater the discount. This promotion is in effect on a permanent basis.

Information for future skiers. Ski School

Do you feel fear, panic, and a complete unwillingness to go anywhere when you hear the phrase: "Let's go for a weekend to ski (or snowboard)?" Don't worry, this will be quickly fixed at Dragobrat. There is a special school that conducts an express course. In 2-3 days, anyone can master basic riding skills. After all, people come here for a short time, so the main criterion for the ski school at the resort is the speed of training.

Local trainers are mostly former high-category athletes. They are all experienced instructors, but each of them undergoes certification and testing annually.

The ski school at Dragobrat offers various types of classes. You can choose what is more convenient for you - individually, in groups of two or three people, or in a large friendly company. There is an opportunity to take such skill courses:

Traditional skiing skills (for different levels of preparation).
Snowboarding.
Free descent (freeride).
Carving descent.
Sport skiing.

The school also conducts training with children from three years old. Classes are held in a game format. This school is philosophical - it not only teaches how to ski or snowboard but also instills a love for the mountains and nature. Equipment for both children and adults can be selected for rent. The price for an hour of skiing or snowboarding is 300 hryvnias per person.

Rental

For both adults and children - the rental of equipment works for everyone. Here you can rent a complete set of skis, snowboards, sleds, clothing, and accessories. You can even dress a two-year-old child. Don't worry about the quality - the resort administration constantly updates the inventory, and it is also tested.

A set for an adult costs 70-120 hryvnias per day, for children under 10 years - 60 hryvnias, freeride equipment - 300 UAH. If you want to test new items in the world of ski equipment - then there is such an opportunity here.

Lifts

Unfortunately, there is no single ski pass at Dragobrat, as the lifts belong to different operators: "Vershyna Karpat", "Dragobrat", "Karpaty Chayka" and "OAZA".

On average, a single lift costs from 20 to 40 hryvnias. At the lift from the company "Karpaty Chayka", you can purchase a pass for a whole day of skiing for 400 hryvnias. From other companies, the prices for passes are as follows: 20 lifts - 400-450 hryvnias; 50 lifts - 850-1000 hryvnias.

How to get to Dragobrat

By plane - a very convenient option, but you land in Ivano-Frankivsk, which is 125 kilometers away. There is also a possibility of charter flights landing at the airport in Kolomyia - from there it is 90 kilometers to Dragobrat.

You can choose the railway. There are several trains from Kyiv to Ivano-Frankivsk. From there, you need to get either by bus or by electric train to the village of Yasinya. There is also a direct train route to Yasinya from Kyiv-Rakhiv. The simplest option is to take a bus to Yasinya from Ivano-Frankivsk.

Now about the roads to the slopes. The roads here are a bit complicated - from the village of Yasinya, only off-road vehicles can reach here.

We talk so much about this village, but the main question is - how to get to Dragobrat? Only by local taxi-off-road vehicles, which are kindly provided by good local residents. This is the only option. Driving your own car is risky, as we have already mentioned about the eternal snows and steep slopes and descents.

Let's summarize the rules:

Do not expect to reach by your own car.
Trust the local residents.
If you are going to ski or snowboard for the first time - then the freeride slopes are not for you.
Do not complain about the different prices of lifts. Different owners - different prices!
Hotels and cottages should be booked at least 1.5 months in advance.
Do not forget about the constant promotion: the earlier you book - the less you will spend.
Trust the instructors with skiing - they will get you on skis or snowboard in 2-3 days.
Enjoy your vacation and follow safety rules!