2026 Summer Carpaty

June 2026: 9 days cycling in Poland, Slovakia and Ukraine

This was a short but very memorable cycling trip through Poland, Slovakia, and Ukraine. I rode about 1,000 km over nine cycling days, camping most nights and crossing the borders several times.

The highlight was definitely Ukraine. I loved the scenery, but even more than that, I was struck by how warm and friendly people were. I had countless spontaneous conversations with locals, from children picking cherries to families who invited me in from the rain. It felt incredibly genuine and reminded me of my childhood in the USSR.

The trip wasn't without challenges: extreme heat, thunderstorms, terrible roads, limited food options in Ukraine, and quite a lot of arm pain. But those things were part of the adventure. I also discovered some incredible camping spots, crossed the Tatras, and rediscovered Kraków.