In a world increasingly drawn to authentic, off-the-beaten-path experiences, rural destinations are stealing the spotlight. On October 17, in the historic city of Huzhou, China, two enchanting villages from Ukraine’s Zakarpattia region—Kolochava and Synevirska Poliana—were officially inducted into the United Nations World Tourism Organization’s (UNWTO) prestigious Best Tourism Villages network. This elite list now boasts over 250 villages across 60 countries, celebrating locales that masterfully blend tourism with sustainable development, cultural preservation, and community upliftment.
Zakarpattia, often dubbed the “Ukrainian Switzerland” for its alpine meadows, ancient forests, and crystalline rivers, has long been a whisper among savvy travelers. Nestled in the Carpathian Mountains, this corner of western Ukraine pulses with folklore, where wooden churches echo with centuries-old hymns and shepherds’ paths wind through mist-shrouded peaks. The addition of these villages marks a milestone: Ukraine now claims four spots in the network, following Urych and Vorokhta’s entry last year. As global tourism rebounds post-pandemic, these inclusions spotlight how small communities can drive big change—fostering eco-friendly economies while safeguarding irreplaceable heritage.
Kolochava: The Village of Ten Museums
Picture a valley cradled between rolling polonynas (highland pastures), where wild edelweiss blooms and the air hums with the scent of pine. Kolochava, in the Khust district, earns its nickname as the “Village of Ten Museums” not through dusty artifacts, but living tributes to a multicultural past. This is a place where history unfolds like a family album: an 18th-century wooden church stands sentinel, its onion domes piercing the sky, while the narrow-gauge Carpathian railway—affectionately called the “Kolochava Eco-Train”—chugs through emerald forests, offering glimpses of forgotten eras.
But Kolochava’s true magic lies in its immersive storytelling. Wander the museum-skansen of folk architecture, where thatched-roof cottages recreate Hutsul life, or delve into quirky exhibits like the one honoring migrant workers—a poignant nod to the diaspora that shaped Ukraine’s soul. Represented in the UNWTO contest as the “Heart of the Carpathians’ Cultural and Natural Heritage,” Kolochava dazzles with its commitment to green tourism. Within the Synevir National Nature Park, it promotes digital innovations for trail mapping and hosts festivals blending gastronomy from Romanian, Hungarian, and Slovak influences—think hearty bogracs goulash simmered over open fires. Here, visitors don’t just sightsee; they partake in a revival of traditions, hiking routes that double as cultural classrooms.
Synevirska Poliana: Guardian of the Carpathian Eye
A short drive from Kolochava brings you to Synevirska Poliana, a serene hamlet orbiting the legendary Lake Synevir—the “Eye of the Carpathians.” This glacial tarn, Ukraine’s deepest and one of its seven natural wonders, shimmers like a sapphire under perpetual veils of fog, drawing romantics and nature lovers year-round. Legend whispers of a drowned noblewoman’s tears forming its depths, but the reality is no less captivating: emerald waters fringed by ancient spruce, where lynx and brown bears roam the shadows.
Synevirska Poliana impressed UNWTO judges with a staggering 65 landmarks, but Lake Synevir remains the undisputed star—the “Pearl of the Carpathians.” Complementing its allure are hands-on wonders: the Synevir Deer Biopark, where rehabilitated stags graze in harmony with visitors; the eco-park “Valley of Wolves,” a sanctuary educating on apex predators; and a nearby brown bear rehabilitation center that tugs at the heartstrings. Don’t miss the Ethnographic Center “Shepherd’s Farmstead,” a living museum of mountain pastoral life, complete with cheese-making demos and wool-spinning workshops.
A 19th-century wooden church anchors the village’s spiritual core, its bells tolling over meadows alive with wild herbs. This spot excels in agritourism, weaving nature and culture into experiences like wolf-tracking tours or farm-to-table feasts featuring foraged mushrooms and sheep’s milk ricotta. As the Zakarpattia Regional Administration’s Tourism Department notes, “The Best Tourism Villages program honors rural areas that harness tourism for sustainable growth, cultural safeguarding, and elevating residents’ lives.” In Synevirska Poliana, that ethos shines—reviving mountain heritage while ensuring the Carpathians’ whisper endures for generations.
A Beacon for Ukrainian Resilience
Amid Ukraine’s ongoing trials, these accolades arrive like rays of dawn. Over 800 villages from 100 countries vied for spots in this fourth-year program, underscoring a global hunger for genuine escapes. Kolochava and Synevirska Poliana exemplify how tourism can be a force for good: economically empowering locals, preserving biodiversity, and sharing Ukraine’s soul-stirring narratives with the world.
For the intrepid explorer, Zakarpattia beckons with more than postcards—it’s an invitation to slow travel, where every trail tells a story and every meal mends the spirit. As UNWTO champions such models, one can’t help but wonder: in a crowded world, might these mountain hamlets redefine wanderlust? Pack your boots; the Carpathians await.