In just a month, on April 25, the official season of walking the Saint James Way of Podillya (Camino Podolico) will start. Since Ukraine is still under martial law, the organizers have prepared some recommendations for tourists and pilgrims regarding walking the route, as well as the list of possible shelters.
The entire Camino Podolico way includes 13 stops in the communities of Vinnytsia and Khmelnytskyi regions and its length is 252 kilometres. They can be covered on foot in 12-14 days, or by bicycle in 5-7 days. Updated information on the website www.caminopodolico.net will allow you to plan a walking or cycling trip with the necessary infrastructure for food and overnight stays every 20-25 kilometers. There is also interesting information for pilgrims about the history and sights of the regions.
As you travel, please remember that you are responsible for planning and making your journey safe by following the guidelines below.
Verification of documents and regime objects
Always carry an ID document and a pilgrim's passport to confirm the purpose of the trip. You can obtain the passport in Vinnytsia – in the Church of the Holy Virgin Mary of Angels (12 Soborna Street, Monday-Saturday: 8 a.m. – 8 p.m.; Sunday: 8 a.m. - 7:15 p.m. Bureau: 067 840 93 95), as well as in Bar public library (3 Sviatoho Mykolaia Street). For male residents of Ukraine between the ages of 18 and 60, it is necessary to have a military ID or registration certificate.
Important: it is forbidden to approach military units, air defense systems, regime facilities (hydroelectric power plants, railway depots, etc.), as well as to photograph them and persons in military uniform.
Booking places for overnight stay
As in pre-war times, the availability of free places in overnight establishments is not guaranteed, so it is important to book them in advance, and look for a reserve in case of full occupancy of one or another establishment, or a fenced area for pitching a tent. During the curfew, it is not recommended to set up tents in public places - people who are on the streets, in the fields or forests during the prohibited time can be checked by law enforcement and other authorities (this restriction does not apply during air alerts to go to shelter). As a reminder: currently the curfew in Vinnytsia and Khmelnytskyi regions lasts from 00:00 to 05:00 in the morning.
Up-to-date information on overnight accommodation as of 2024 can be found in the «Where to Stay» tab (for each community on the route), information will be updating at least until mid-April.
Safety measures during air alerts
Take care of your own safety! When walking the route, we recommend using the «Air alert» app with the settings for the appropriate region (Vinnytsia or Khmelnytskyi), as sirens may not work in rural areas and smaller cities. Be sure to take power banks with you in case of a long absence of a power source or interruptions in the power supply.
Move to the nearest shelters during an air alert! The list of shelters on the route can be found in the Diia application, on the updated online tracking (will be available after April 15) or at THIS link.
In case of air alert in places without shelter, lie down in depressions (pits, caves, curbs, ditches) or move to covered areas where the two-wall rule applies. Also, if available, the first floor of any building, basement, underpass, cellar can be used - the main thing is to stay away from windows, mirrors and other glass.