Is Chernobyl Safe for Travelers?

When you consider visiting Chernobyl, your worries about personal safety are quite understandable. You have surely heard about radiation contamination risks in that area. You might have also heard about monsters living in the abandoned city. When people talk about Chernobyl, multiple myths usually overload real facts. Nevertheless, hundreds and even thousands of people from Poland, Germany, and other countries visit the place every year,

A tour to Chernobyl has become one of the most popular forms of entertainment in Eastern Europe. Despite the chilling events which took place at Chernobyl and Pripyat in 1986, many tourists visit the area every year. If you want to be one of them, you should know how to make your trip safe.

Is it safe to go to Chernobyl?

The Chernobyl Exclusion Zone covers the territory of 30 km. You will need a day to pass it with tour operators. To go there alone is a crazy thing to do. The environment in terms of radiation is extremely dynamic, so you can expose yourself to harmful levels without proper measurement. Obviously, radioactive or forbidden entry zones are forbidden for the entrance. You should stay well away from them. There are checkpoints within the zone where you will need to demonstrate your passport and permit.

The amount of radiation that you are exposed to may affect your health. A “death” dose of radiation is in the vicinity of 3-5 sieverts in an hour. During a Chernobyl tour the levels of exposure can range from 130 to 2,610 microsieverts per hour, which is 0.00261 of one whole sievert. In other words, this kind of radioactive risk is similar to the one we face on a long-haul flight. Being on a tour, you will be equipped with professional monitoring equipment. It will let you check how much radiation you are exposed to. Exposure to higher levels of radiation puts you at a higher risk through the particles remaining on your clothes.

You should also consider the fact that many of the abandoned buildings are filled with broken glass, making the floor surfaces highly unstable. You’d better make sure to wear protective clothing and shoes. Ideally, you keep your skin well-protected. To prevent carrying contaminated particles with you for a long period, you should wear disposable coveralls. Once you leave the area, you should dispose your clothing and clean your shoes properly.

Safety concerns covered by insurance

When it comes to wycieczki-do-Czarnobyla.pl , you can be sure of your safety. No tour will ever begin without a signed travel insurance contract. Of course, deliberate exposure to radiation can’t be covered by the insurance, but any other injury falls under the policy. You should read carefully every sentence in the insurance contract in order to minimize the risks for your well-being.

Radioactivity surrounding Chernobyl

Over the last several decades, radiation has affected local nature. No, you won't see three-headed dogs here. But due to the absence of people, the area has become a habitat for wild animals. Populations of deer, wild boar, brown bears, and many bird species have all grown considerably. However, the Ukrainian President has recently expressed the intention to turn the entire zone into an official tourist attraction. This will have a positive impact on the national economy and will popularize new yet unusual forms of tourism in the world.

Chernobyl and its surroundings have turned into a ghost town, with a few hundreds of souls who continue to live in this area. This kind of spookiness has attracted many travelers to Chernobyl . If you decide to visit the place, your health shouldn’t be put at stake.