View Full Version : Would you go on an excursion to Chernobyl?
vitalii
6th May 2009, 13:00
Тhe city is already dead for 23 years. It remained in 1986 forever.
For many years tour operators in Ukraine are conducted tours to the exclusion zone. Today zone is a unique monument to the greatest man-made disaster in the twentieth century.
You will be able to see the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant from a viewing platform, visit the ghost city of Pripyat, located near the station, and the dead town of Chernobyl. And within a radius of 30 kilometers, you will not meet any people...
Would you go there?
MikeD08
6th May 2009, 13:16
Definately! I watched a documentary a while ago about life after humans and they used Chernobyl as an example of what would happen if nature took over.
I saw another documentary on Chernobyl that showed wildlife (deer etc) returning to the area.
So, yup, I'd go!
Beachcomber
6th May 2009, 14:15
If it was a toss up between Chernobyl and Slough then yes, I'd go to Chernobyl. ;)
ImproveSearchListings
6th May 2009, 15:31
When will it be safe to be inhabited?
Nickdavis87
6th May 2009, 15:48
Yeah i'd go, the rediation levels are pretty safe for short visits up untill you get close to the reactor, just don't go round touching stuff and keep a geiger counter with you and your good.
KidsBeeHappy
6th May 2009, 15:51
When will it be safe to be inhabited?
Slough?:rolleyes:
vitalii
6th May 2009, 15:58
When will it be safe to be inhabited?
Тhere are many opinions on this question.
Some people (more than 400) live constantly in the exclusion zone. Almost all of them are over 70 years. The effect of radiation influence on them is still unknown.
They say that in 300 years this territory will be safe to live there.
Mister B
6th May 2009, 17:36
Absolutely no chance. World's a big place and I can think of far better ways of spending my time.
Mister B
"Тhe city is already dead for 23 years."
"the greatest man-made disaster in the twentieth century."
"the dead town of Chernobyl." "you will not meet any people..."
As a sales spiel this really is probably the fascinating I have ever read.
My suggestion would be to make a grand tour to include:
The pig farms just outside Mexico City; The minefields of Africa; Landscape sketching in Helmand Province rounded off by an orgy in Tehran.
Pap_sak
6th May 2009, 20:54
Тhe city is already dead for 23 years. It remained in 1986 forever.
For many years tour operators in Ukraine are conducted tours to the exclusion zone. Today zone is a unique monument to the greatest man-made disaster in the twentieth century.
You will be able to see the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant from a viewing platform, visit the ghost city of Pripyat, located near the station, and the dead town of Chernobyl. And within a radius of 30 kilometers, you will not meet any people...
Would you go there?
Depending on price, yes I think it's a great idea.
You will have to convince people that it's safe, but could definitely work. Although I do not think it would work as a "stand-alone" package, it would need to be included (or added on) to a more "normal" holiday. The trip to Moscow or Petersburg with this added on..I think there would be quite a few takers.
cal900
6th May 2009, 23:07
Go for it mate. Would like to have a look round myself.
Im currently thinking of going on a tour around Iraq, 2k for 22 days seems a good deal for me.:cool:
Scott-CopyandDesign
6th May 2009, 23:15
I'd actually love to visit Chernobyl and have a look around. The city and the eerie atmosphere is something I'd really like to experience.
sirearl
6th May 2009, 23:29
Slough?:rolleyes:
cracked me up kiddo.:D:D:D
Earl
sirearl
6th May 2009, 23:32
Beats sitting in front of a sun ray lamp and you get done much quicker.
Earl
Fook that, Im off to Spain this year!
vitalii
7th May 2009, 09:37
"Тhe city is already dead for 23 years."
"the greatest man-made disaster in the twentieth century."
"the dead town of Chernobyl." "you will not meet any people..."
As a sales spiel this really is probably the fascinating I have ever read.
But this territory is really dead. Within a radius of 30 kilometers live about 400 people, and a thousand come every morning to work at the station. As far as I know, being in the exclusion zone without the permission provides a criminal liability. So the probability to meet other pepole here is very small.
Look at somebody's amateur photos, you will see why I called this city as dead city. monk.com.ua/article.php/20081001125944288
And about the sales spiel. The truth is that I do not want to sell anything, I have no relation with the tour operators or travel agencies. It is interesting for me the size of the demand for this type of tourism.
Depending on price, yes I think it's a great idea.
You will have to convince people that it's safe, but could definitely work. Although I do not think it would work as a "stand-alone" package, it would need to be included (or added on) to a more "normal" holiday. The trip to Moscow or Petersburg with this added on..I think there would be quite a few takers.
The real price for a ten hour tour ranges from 350 to 450 UAH. (£29 - £38). My friends were there last autumn, they payed 400 UAH for one person.
Two way ticket London-Kiev-Lodon costs approximately £100 at low-cost airlines and approximately £180 at BMI airline.
And fot the £100 you can rent a great apartment in Kiev for 3 days.
To prove that it is safe is difficult. The average level of radiation at Chernobyl is about 200 micro roentgens at hour. (This is the same radiation as flying on a passenger plane at an altitude of 10 000 meters) But the radiation depends on the location, it can be small in some places and it can be very high - more than a few mili roentgens at hour. There are special routes, depart from which is not recommended.
When you leave the exclusion zone all will be measured on the level of radiation. And if radiation level is high, then you have to pass the decontamination procedure. (As I understand you will be irrigated some chemical solution until the radiation level does not reach acceptable standards) As far as I know such cases practically are not present.
Tour operators promise that received dose of radiation does not exceed a dose received at x-ray research.
Robert Wheeler
8th May 2009, 13:29
I think that anyone that would take a intentional trip to Chernobyl would be absolutely bonkers, but that does not mean that there would not be thousands of takers lining up to get on board.
However, the figures about the safety quoted above make no sense. Chernobyl is not a safe place to live or visit. There is not an even distribution of contamination, there are still strong pockets of radiation present that could cause very perceptible and immediate harm.
People do still live in the area and do even consume products grown in land which the government have advised people not to grow on, and they do still live. However, plenty have also died from the long term effects of exposure to unusual levels of radiation. And while certain wildlife has returned to the area, there has been a very high incidence of creatures being born with defects and unusually mutations.
I would strong advise anybody planning to visiting this part of the world to reconsider. I would do the same to anyone who was planning to operate such tours to also reconsider. I think it may have short term profits, but in the long term I think it is inevitable that there will be lawsuits from patrons who go on to develop diseases linked to exposure to high levels of radiation, whether their visit to Chernobyl had influence it or not.