Rogue Trip: Ukraine

Ukraine is one of the youngest countries in the world. It’s actually the exact same age as Mack, gaining independence after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. But it remains caught in a tug of war between Russia and the West, so most travelers head elsewhere. But for those willing to look past the headlines, incredible adventures await. Bob and Mack are excited but also exhausted. Ukraine is their sixth country and all the travel has started to wear them down. Thankfully, they’re adding a fresh explorer to the team: Mack’s younger sister, Cathryn. She’s raring to go when meets them at the airport, ready to shake things up for the Rogue Trip crew’s last hurrah. Together, the Woodruffs wander through Cold War era tunnels and try powerlifting in Kyiv’s makeshift muscle gym. They race Soviet tanks from one of the world’s largest stockpiles and journey inside the Chernobyl exclusion zone where they visit the infamous power plant, witnessing how nature has rebounded since the disaster. But there’s so much more to Ukraine than its Soviet legacy. For their last stop, the Woodruffs head to a region known for its awe-inspiring natural beauty: the Carpathian Mountains. Taking to the sky in a hot air balloon, the Woodruffs look back on their journey and everything they’ve learned on their adventure around the world.