Two ways to get to the Chernobyl zone for free (24 photos)

If you like to tickle your nerves and dream of getting to Chernobyl, then I will tell you two ways how you can get into this exclusion zone without paying a penny and on absolutely legal grounds. Let's read.

As you probably know, to go on an excursion to the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, you either need to pay $130 for the tour (1040 hryvnia, 4000 Russian rubles), or have a good friend who works there and ask them to give you a “Pass”.

But there is a third way to travel around Chernobyl and Pripyat for free and legally. Chernobyl and Pripyat are worth visiting at least once. Most have seen beautiful photo reports of abandoned villages, abandoned Pripyat.

I will also tell you where to go and what to see.

To begin with, I will say that the effects of radiation are not fully understood. And although formally there is no more radiation in Chernobyl than in Kyiv, all responsibility for health lies solely with each of us.

There are two options. One works only twice a year, the second all year round.

First option (tested by me).

On April 26 and May 9 every year, the management of the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone allows entry into the zone on the so-called. "Wake." That is, formally, former residents and their descendants can go to the graves of their relatives. They should be allowed through without any problems. Well, great! Let's pretend to be descendants.

We take a car and go, not forgetting to take our passport with us. From Kyiv to Chernobyl the road is approximately 150 kilometers.We go through Vyshgorod and Dymer to Ivankovo, from there we turn towards Chernobyl (it will be on the sign).

After Ivankovo, the road leads us directly to the “Zone”.

We are approaching the first Checkpoint “Dityatki”.

There is an important nuance here! Those who arrive in the morning usually have travel problems. We arrived around noon - by this time everyone was already being let through.

We only had juveniles in the car - 20-23 years old. This did not bother the police. They ask who we are going to and where we are going. We bought 2 cheap plastic flowers in advance (supposedly for the grave). We made serious faces, “We’re going to the Semikhodskoe cemetery, to see Elena Larina.” They asked for passports and showed that they were all adults. They issue a pass - and the way is clear!

Agree, not every Ukrainian city can boast of such cleanliness and tidiness as Chernobyl!)))

Nearby there is an alley in memory of villages and cities that disappeared from the Earth.

To the left of it are abandoned houses, as well as houses in which live those who, for whatever reason, refused to leave the Zone.

Time stood still in 1986.

From Chernobyl we go to Pripyat.

You've probably seen a lot of similar photographs, so I won't burden you too much.

Dosimeter. Just a meter from the road.

Driving on central roads is fine. Going into the depths is dangerous.

Second way.

I’ll say right away that I haven’t tried it, I’m only writing theoretical discussions.

You can come from Slavutich by train to Pripyat, and go back by train. Since being in the “Exclusion Zone” without a pass entails administrative responsibility, you can buy round-trip tickets on the same train so as not to leave it. Plus: You can take good pictures of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, the Sarcophagus, the 4th power unit, and the surrounding area. Minus: Actually, you won’t see much else; you can’t go to Pripyat.