Join our small group tours of Belarus, Ukraine and Moldova and experience this region in a more meaningful way. Our experienced tour leaders help you understand each country’s unique culture and history. Some of our tour leaders who have led these tours.

Jonathan Hodgson Jonathan has lived much of his life dedicated to the idea that he would rather have a wealth of experiences than a wealth of riches. Having taken up a nomadic lifestyle shortly after finishing his undergraduate degree, he has been on the move on and off over the last 25+ years. The wanderlust has taken him to basing himself in places such as Scotland, Australia and Uzbekistan, and to visiting many more locations around our planet. Now (sort of) settled in Vancouver with his wonderful (and patient) family, he still loves the idea of having the world as his office and always enjoys trying to capture the essence of the locations he travels and tours in with his photography. Read More

jonathan hodgson

EDUCATION:
BA in Psychology at McGill University; MBA at the University of British Columbia; self-educated passion for history and culture.

LANGUAGE:
English; conversational French; improving Spanish and Russian. And a decent Scottish accent.

TOURS LED:
I have led tours in over 100 countries over the last 17 years of working for Adventures Abroad on all of the continents except for Antarctica.

FAVOURITE DESTINATION:
Where to begin? Each place has something that makes it a special destination. A few that spring to mind: Kaieteur Falls in Guyana; the snow-covered mountains of Ladakh, India; sipping tea in a chaikhana of the old town of Bukhara, Uzbekistan; and watching the changing colours of Uluru (Ayers Rock) at sunset.

ABOUT:
Jonathan has lived much of his life dedicated to the idea that he would rather have a wealth of experiences than a wealth of riches. Having taken up a nomadic lifestyle shortly after finishing his undergraduate degree, he has been on the move on and off over the last 25+ years. The wanderlust has taken him to basing himself in places such as Scotland, Australia and Uzbekistan, and to visiting many more locations around our planet. Now (sort of) settled in Vancouver with his wonderful (and patient) family, he still loves the idea of having the world as his office and always enjoys trying to capture the essence of the locations he travels and tours in with his photography.

Chris Tripodi Chris travels because it is the most interesting thing he can think of doing between meals. Anyone can buy a plane ticket, but helping a country come alive through its people, sights, culture, cuisine and customs is what Adventures Abroad is all about. Chris enjoys the inevitable challenges, the unforgettable moments, the warm people, the stories shared, the memories made, and every single morsel of each tour. Read More

Martin Charlton For as long as I can remember I have always had a deep-rooted need to travel and discover new places. Today I feel incredibly fortunate to have spent almost three decades researching, organizing and leading tours worldwide. Read More

Victor Romagnoli I love the excitement of getting up each morning on a tour and not knowing exactly how a day will unfold. It keeps me on my toes so to speak, and adds a breath of excitement to each day on tour. With almost 30 years of tour leading under my belt, I thank all of you for being a part of this exciting journey. Read More

victor romagnoli

EDUCATION:
HBA English BA History

LANGUAGE:
Being able to speak several languages has made travelling an enriching experience; the conversations one can so easily slip into with locals - who come from all walks of life - adds greatly to my feel for a place.

TOURS LED:
Over a span of almost 30 years, I have lead tours virtually all over the globe.

FAVOURITE DESTINATION:
Some of my favourite tours just come into being suddenly as a result of a request; someone will ask me to put together an itinerary that will include the highlights of several countries and the next thing you know we have, for example, a tour to Uruguay, Paraguay & Bolivia, or Lesotho, Namibia & Botswana. Sometimes I will be asked to arrange a detailed itinerary to just one region within a country - like a close up look at Sicily or Crete or the Basque Country or Newfoundland. Without the keen curiosity that so many of you travellers have, none of these "spontaneous" tours would come into being. But they do.

ABOUT:
I love the excitement of getting up each morning on a tour and not knowing exactly how a day will unfold. It keeps me on my toes so to speak, and adds a breath of excitement to each day on tour. With almost 30 years of tour leading under my belt, I thank all of you for being a part of this exciting journey.

More Tour Leaders

Tour Leaders Belarus

Join our small group tours of Belarus, Ukraine and Moldova and experience this region in a more meaningful way. Our experienced tour leaders help you understand each country’s unique culture and history. Some of our tour leaders who have led these tours.

Jonathan Hodgson Jonathan has lived much of his life dedicated to the idea that he would rather have a wealth of experiences than a wealth of riches. Having taken up a nomadic lifestyle shortly after finishing his undergraduate degree, he has been on the move on and off over the last 25+ years. The wanderlust has taken him to basing himself in places such as Scotland, Australia and Uzbekistan, and to visiting many more locations around our planet. Now (sort of) settled in Vancouver with his wonderful (and patient) family, he still loves the idea of having the world as his office and always enjoys trying to capture the essence of the locations he travels and tours in with his photography. Read More

Chris Tripodi Chris travels because it is the most interesting thing he can think of doing between meals. Anyone can buy a plane ticket, but helping a country come alive through its people, sights, culture, cuisine and customs is what Adventures Abroad is all about. Chris enjoys the inevitable challenges, the unforgettable moments, the warm people, the stories shared, the memories made, and every single morsel of each tour. Read More

Martin Charlton For as long as I can remember I have always had a deep-rooted need to travel and discover new places. Today I feel incredibly fortunate to have spent almost three decades researching, organizing and leading tours worldwide. Read More

Victor Romagnoli I love the excitement of getting up each morning on a tour and not knowing exactly how a day will unfold. It keeps me on my toes so to speak, and adds a breath of excitement to each day on tour. With almost 30 years of tour leading under my belt, I thank all of you for being a part of this exciting journey. Read More

Frequently Asked Questions

ASK A QUESTION

01. Do you need a visa to travel to Belarus, Ukraine and Moldova?

Citizens from the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the UK and EU do not need a visa to enter Belarus, Ukraine or Moldova for stays of 30 days or less.

02. Is Belarus, Ukraine, Moldova safe?

Belarus: Crime levels are low in Belarus but travellers should be alert to pickpocketing, mugging and theft. Moldova: Moldova is considered a relatively safe country to visit, although petty crime (including bag snatching and pickpocketing) is common, especially in Chisinau. Ukraine: The recent conflicts are an obvious concern for travellers. However, away from the tiny war zone in the far east of the country, Ukraine is generally a safe country. While overall violent and petty crime has risen in recent years, overall levels are not dramatically different from other European nations.

03. When is the best time to visit Belarus, Ukraine, Moldova?

Moldova: Moldova’s climate is heavily influenced by the Black Sea, which helps to create milder winters and longer summers. Between May-June, the pleasantly warm weather is ideal for hiking and city exploration. Ukraine: Ukraine typically has extremely hot summers and freezing winters. Arrive in June or September to enjoy a more moderate climate and fewer tourists. Belarus: Belarus has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. Summer is warm and long, while winter can be bitingly cold with snowfall between Dec-March. Overall, the best time to visit is during the summer months of June-August.

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