Pripyat Blog

Did you know that even though it is prohibited for people to live in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone (though some people do live there now), it is possible to visit the area for a day or two?Many people would like to visit the area but are concerned about the radiation levels. Though the levels in much of the Zone are higher than normal, they are not dangerous for short visits such as a day or two. Actually, there are some areas of the Zone where the background radiation levels are fairly normal. Yes, there are dangerous hot spots in the Zone, but the guides who escort you through the Zone know these areas and will keep you away from them (you will be required to have a guide with you).

There are several tour operators in Kyiv that offer day trips to the Zone. The trips include a brief visit to the information center close to Reactor 4 at the Chernobyl Nuclear Plant, and several hours in Pripyat, the city that used to be the home of the Chernobyl Plant workers.

Another option is to look at the Pripyat.com website forums at Pripyat.com forums. Members of the site administration typically conduct monthly trips to the Zone, usually focusing on the abandoned city Pripyat. You can find announcements in the English-language forum or the Russian-language forum

If you would like to read about visiting Pripyat and the Zone, you can view the threads about previous trips in the Russian-language forum.

Also, I personally visited the Chernobyl area for two days in June 2006 with a friend and former resident of Pripyat. We toured the Chernobyl Plant (including the Reactor 4 control room), several of the abandoned villages, and Pripyat. I have posted a photo journal of my trip at:

My Journey To Chernobyl: 20 Years After the Disaster

So, if you’re interested in seeing Pripyat and the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, you now have the opportunity to do so.

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