I’m glad you are here. Truly. Buzkyi Gard is not just a route through protected areas, and it is certainly not an ordinary tourist destination. This is a place where stone preserves the memory of human footsteps, and the sound of the river resonates with human voices. Along this path, there is no need to hurry. It is a place to pause, listen carefully, and take in what surrounds you.
Each time you follow this route, Buzkyi Gard reveals itself differently. Sometimes it feels rugged and wild; at other moments, calm and welcoming. What matters is that Buzkyi Gard is always alive and authentic. Simply notice how the ground beneath your feet changes, how the wind slips between granite boulders, and how the Southern Bug River speaks with its banks. This protected landscape is a granite fortress rising from what were once boundless steppes that historically covered nearly half of Ukraine. Fragments of this ancient landscape still remain on the slopes surrounding us. Wildlife of these steppe habitats have been preserved here since the time when endless grasslands connected Ukrainian lands with the eastern edges of Eurasia. All natural features around you still carry traces of the last Ice Age. It was glacial winds that once shaped the low-growing, resilient steppe, while powerful meltwater flows during the retreat of the glaciers carved the largest canyons and shaped the modern landscape of Europe.
These lands were once part of a great Cossack civilization. Here, Ukrainians learned to live in harmony with nature while also defending their freedom. Buzkyi Gard served as both a stronghold and a place of strength and liberty. Even now, centuries later, this energy continues to flow through these protected landscapes.
During this journey through the Buzkyi Gard National Nature Park, you will encounter 16 stops. Each one has its own character, atmosphere, and story waiting to be heard. The total route stretches for 80 kilometers, so take time to study how the stops are arranged on the map. They are divided into three separate groups. The easiest way to travel between these groups is by car or bicycle, while walking is the best way to move between stops within each group. Do not forget to scan the thematic QR codes at every stop. Now it is time to prepare for a meaningful and engaging journey through the landscapes of Buzkyi Gard, where every detail matters. Now it is time to take a deep breath, fill your lungs with the fresh, spicy scent of the steppe, and take your first step toward the place where this story begins.