Why would anyone travel alone to a war-torn country?
Since 2022, hundreds of solo travelers — from Berlin, Toronto, Tokyo and beyond — have quietly crossed the border into Ukraine. Not as journalists. Not as aid workers. But as curious, self-driven explorers. Backpackers of a different kind.
We spoke to five of them to understand what brought them here — and what they found.
🎒 Lucas (27, Germany): “I wanted to see the truth with my own eyes”
Lucas arrived in Kyiv by train from Przemyśl in March 2023.
“I got tired of reading filtered headlines. I wanted to see what war looks like — and how people still live,” he says.
He visited the Wall of Remembrance near Mykhailivska Square, toured Irpin, and spent a night in a hostel under curfew. “It wasn’t a typical trip, but I’ve never felt more connected to a place. Ukrainians were unbelievably open.”
🎧 Anika (31, Canada): “I came for the music — stayed for the people”
Anika, a sound artist, came to Ukraine looking for field recordings.
She visited Kharkiv and Zaporizhzhia, recording street sounds, sirens, silence.
“One night I was sitting in a shelter, listening to a man play the bandura. It was haunting. That moment alone was worth the trip.”
She later donated part of her project’s earnings to local recovery efforts.
📷 Kenji (36, Japan): “I document survival”
Kenji is a street photographer who backpacked through Ukraine in 2024.
“I don’t shoot soldiers. I shoot bakers who work without power. Kids drawing sunflowers on ruins. These are portraits of quiet heroism.”
He traveled solo from Lviv to Dnipro, publishing his work in an online zine titled Resilience.
💬 Why do they do it?
For some, it’s a personal connection — family history, cultural curiosity, or even guilt. For others, it’s an act of solidarity or bearing witness.
And many agree: traveling alone allowed for more direct conversations, less distraction, deeper emotional experiences.
⚠️ Is it safe to backpack in Ukraine?
Not everywhere.
These travelers followed basic principles:
Stayed in central/western areas or with trusted guides in the east
Registered with their embassies
Respected local rules and curfews
Avoided restricted zones and frontline areas
Traveled with flexibility (and backup power banks)
Ukraine is not for thrill-seekers — it’s for those who are ready to listen, feel, and reflect.
🌍 The New Face of Travel
This is not “dark tourism.” It’s purpose-driven, often emotionally charged travel rooted in human connection. These backpackers return changed.
And many say they’ll come back — not for photos, but for friends.
📌 Want to follow in their footsteps?
We can help connect you with safe solo travel routes, local hosts, and guides who understand both the risks and the reason why you’re here.
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