Who else has been to Chernobyl?

kahlua said:

We had a charity for years here run by Adi Roache (who later ran for president) and her charity still takes children affected to stay in homes for a month or more and get good freah air and whatever medical treatment is organised/needed. She did a book - Children of Chernobyl- a while back to help promote the charity & cause and the photos and stories would make a blind man weep. Would also make you hesitate a bit before taking any plunge - I think a some of the organisers who went over there in the first few years have all had obscure rare cancers and unexplained debilitating illnesses. Frightening stuff.

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I know a lady who takes children from the zone in for a couple of weeks holiday every year, lovely kids, polite and very appreciative apparently.

When in the zone most people tend to have a dosimeter with them at all times and the background radiation is a little higher than usual but nothing serious as long as exposure is not for long periods hence the good folk of Chernobyl are only allowed to stay for 15 days then have to be elsewhere for 15 days thus limiting exposure.
There are hot spots and some very very hot spots but as long as you take notice of the dosimeters you should be ok.
A few days in the zone will give less exposure than the flight over as long as you are sensible.

Not sure how many of you were born when it went bang but when it did in 1986 I was over in the US installing some equipment. To say I was a little worried was the least. The Americans were up in arms and the news was full of it showing where the fallout was going and us in the UK were nearer that them. You could see the cloud would get here eventually as it was little did but parts of Europe cropped it more than us. It was a worrying time must confess and your heart has to go out to those poor guys who were dealing with it many of them knowing they did not have long to live. I have never been doubt I ever will but I do like seeing your photos. If you go that you should pay your respects at the memorial and thing about what they sacrificed for you.

As we did and will do in Sept if we go

I've been twice, once in summer and once in winter. 2012 and 2015

I've never been, but it's on the bucket list. 37 and I've still yet to leave the UK tbh...

I have my trip planned for coming march.. I am so thrilled! 4 days in the zone..

You will love it

I visited Chernobyl in early September in both 2016 and 2017. Had an awesome trip both times, such a great place. Sad to hear the childrens holiday camp was recently destroyed in a forest fire though. I would recommend anyone thinking of going should do it sooner rather than later as the more time that passes the more buildings become dangerous and inacessible.

Scattergun said:

I'm not ashamed to admit its been a bucket list trip for a while but I've just not gotten round to it. I'd happily jump on a group trip if there's anyone else planning to go this year. Or next. Depending on the global fuck up.

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Create a thread, see if you can find a group going this year! Tour aside, it's a cheap trip too

frisboo said:

No way, that’s amazing! How did you manage to get in on a stalker tour?

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I met some Friends in Kiev and we got a stalker taxi to edge of the zone and sneaked in from there

Some photos from around Belarus. From a visit relating to charity work with the freinds of chernobyl children charity. Terribly sad what happened at Chernobyl.

I went in 2019. One of the most memorable trips of my life. Did a two day private tour through Young Pioneer Tours (have previously been to North Korea with them a couple of times). I'd definitely recommend anyone going to spend at least two days there so you can see things like the Duga Radar Station and spend enough time in Pripyat.

thetripgoeson said:

I went in 2019. One of the most memorable trips of my life. Did a two day private tour through Young Pioneer Tours (have previously been to North Korea with them a couple of times). I'd definitely recommend anyone going to spend at least two days there so you can see things like the Duga Radar Station and spend enough time in Pripyat.

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Do you have more info on the NK tour you did? Site or anything?

I went in 2016 and 2018! I went back because it was during a snow storm in November and my camera kept frosting up, so I returned in August! I got to climb the Ferris wheel and some way up the Duga! Friends are going next year, I'm tempted to join them as it is a great experience! It is expensive for what it is really; a bus ride, a rushed walk around a small section of the city and one night in a hostel and flights to Boryspil (Kiev) are pricey as there are no direct ones. Pripyat is crumbling and will be totally unsafe some day as nature takes over. So do it soon people!

I put several reports, such as the one below, on here in overseas sites after my trip.

https://www.derelictplaces.co.uk/threads/chernobyl-schools.36673/
Hopefully will be there again in Sept of this year.

I went back in 2019. I spent 4-5 days within the zone. Sleeping in abandoned apartments and buildings. I also witnessed the most beautiful sunrise from the 16 storey rooftop. Absolutely beautiful. I’m returning this summer and going to be exploring the hospital and reactor 5 i think!

Bignickb said:

I went in 2016 and 2018! I went back because it was during a snow storm in November and my camera kept frosting up, so I returned in August! I got to climb the Ferris wheel and some way up the Duga! Friends are going next year, I'm tempted to join them as it is a great experience! It is expensive for what it is really; a bus ride, a rushed walk around a small section of the city and one night in a hostel and flights to Boryspil (Kiev) are pricey as there are no direct ones. Pripyat is crumbling and will be totally unsafe some day as nature takes over. So do it soon people!

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For sure, but it's really the most expensive part of the trip, I stayed in probably one of the nicest hotels I've ever been in with a buddy for £50 each, flights were £40 each and food was literally a couple of ££s a meal. All in, I spent less than a flight to the US for one of the experiences of a lifetime. Well worth it!

frisboo said:

For sure, but it's really the most expensive part of the trip, I stayed in probably one of the nicest hotels I've ever been in with a buddy for £50 each, flights were £40 each and food was literally a couple of ££s a meal. All in, I spent less than a flight to the US for one of the experiences of a lifetime. Well worth it!

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My hotel was very cheap too, but flights from Manchester to Eastern Europe really cost an arm and a leg - £400!!

Bignickb said:

My hotel was very cheap too, but flights from Manchester to Eastern Europe really cost an arm and a leg - £400!!

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Cost me about £330 in 2018 with klm from manc but this year I've got em for £207

Tbolt said:

Cost me about £330 in 2018 with klm from manc but this year I've got em for £207

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Woooow, I paid less than £100 for mine from Stansted. Not sure if it was just luck or some sort of deal but it was CHEAP.

Funny story though. Final day in Kiev, my mate and I were knackered from nights out in Kiev and from chain smoking the dirt cheap cigarettes and he wanted to check the tickets on his phone. I paid £60 for parking in Stansted, bare in mind... he said to me “is it a problem that the car is in Stansted and the return flight is to Gatwick”. Swear to god I wanted to cry at this point! haha

The taxi from airport to airport cost me £60!!

Maybe that is why it was cheap