People say that "Bukovel" is the best ski resort in Ukraine. Perhaps that's true, if you wish to ski on well-organized ski runs, and sit on clean, fast ski lifts. But if you prefer to ski completely out of bounds, in the free and wild country then the best place - by far - is "Dragobrat."
Although the ski area itself is a mess -- 4 different ski lift owners -- meaning you must buy tickets for each lift separately, the off-piste skiing is exceptional. The ski area begins at 1,600 meters, which is the top of the Bukovel area. And most of my "lifts" were either on the sno-cat, or on my own two feet. :)
The area - with top of Dragobrat lift in the (distant) background.
I skied all of the mountains and aspects that you see in this photo:
Typical descent for me and the "crew" - who were also on the sno-cat. Thanks to "Andriy" our guide, who found these fantastic ski slopes that were steep, deep, and also safe from avalanches:
Our "taxi":
At the bottom of one of the runs: "high five!"
Where I stayed - called "Krokus". This is in Dragobrat proper. Before this, I had to
stay in the village of "Yarsenia", because all of the hotels were full.
It was basic, but you can't beat the price: 450 UAH per night, or $16/night - including breakfast and dinner.
View from my room in Krokus - of the "Dragobrat Lift":
Other photos:
At the bottom of a run, at an old settlers' cabin in the Carpathians:
Typical Church - gleaming from the mountainsides!