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‘Best of’ Belarus Tour
Overview
Always wanted to go to Belarus but haven’t known where to start? This ‘best of’ Belarus city tour will give you a well-rounded experience that explores the highlights of this magnificent country from nature and food to history and local culture. If you want a balanced nature, history and culture experience that covers the highlights of Belarus then this is the tour for you. This tour includes excursions to Mir Castle and Sophia Cathedral, several Belarus cities tours, and a trip to Belovezhskaya Puscha Nature museum.
City tours in Minsk, Grodno and Vitebsk
Exploring the military fortifications of Stalin’s Line
Exploring the Nesviszh Palace
Visit to the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Mir Castle
Belovezhskaya Pushcha National Park
Itinerary
Minsk
Minsk is the official capital of Belarus, situated on the Svislač and the Niamiha rivers. The city has origins dating to the 11th century and has formed part of several kingdoms over its lifetime including the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, before becoming the capital of the Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic. The city has around 11 theatres and 16 museums, including the Belarusian State Museum of History which is home to exhibits from World War II.
Day 1
Arrival in Minsk
Welcome to Minsk! Your driver will pick you up from your scheduled arrival point (airport or railway station) before taking you to your hotel where you will be able to drop off your bags and get a bite to eat.
Lunch
Arrival Transfer
City Tour by car
Svisloch River
Prominent Landscape
Free Time
Scenic Surrounds
Day 2
Visiting ‘Stalin’s Line’
After breakfast, you will be taken to National Art Museum which houses the largest collection of foreign and Belarusian art in the country, before setting out on a journey to Stalin’s Line. This impressive defensive line was constructed in 1941 to protect the city from attack and you will get to see the original pillboxes, fencing and more up close. For an additional charge, you will also have the chance to ride in a tank, shoot from an anti-tank rifle or try “Soldier’s Porridge” for yourself!
Breakfast & Lunch
Belarusian National Arts Museum
Expert Guide
Guided History Tour
The Historical and Cultural Complex “Stalin`s line”
Scenic Surrounds
Free Time
Optional excursions
Travel to
Grodno
Founded in the 12th century, Grodno is one of Belarus’ oldest cities and is situated by the Neman River around the border with Poland and Lithuania. The city is best known for the 12th century Kalozha Church of St. Boris and Gleb, which is the only surviving monument of ancient Black Ruthenian architecture, with its combination of polished blue- and green-tinted stone and majolica tiles.
Day 3
City Tour of Grodno
After having breakfast in the hotel, your guide and driver will meet you in the lobby before taking you to the 4 ½ hour journey to Grodno. The city is famous for its architectural heritage and you will get the chance to explore the city’s streets, natural landscapes and a few of the more well-known sites including the New Castle, Jesuit Church and the Gleb Church.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
City Tour by car
Prominent Landscape
Religious Buildings & Monuments
New Grodno Castle
Jesuit Church and the Gleb Church
Free Time
Scenic Surrounds
Travel to
Brest
Situated on the Polish-Belorussian border, Brest is the capital of the Brest region in Belarus and one of its oldest cities. Founded as a town in the 11th century by the Kievan Rus, Brest has been the site of many historic events, including the Union of Brest and Treaty of Brest-Litovsk. The city is known for its Hero Fortress, commemorating the city’s spectacular defence during the first weeks of the German-Soviet War in 1941 – 1945.
Day 4
Sightseeing at Belovezhskaya Puscha
After a light breakfast you will check-out of the hotel in Grodno. Your driver will pick you up from the hotel lobby before taking you on 3 ½ hour journey journey to Belovezhskaya Puscha near to the Polish border.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Transfer
Belovezhskaya Puscha
Prominent Landscape
Belarusian State Museum of Folk Architecture and Rural Lifestyle
Scenic Surrounds
City Tour
Brest Hero Fortress
Military History
Travel to
Mir
A small village situated Southwest of the Belarussian capital, Mir was founded in the 14th century and has since become one of the country’s primary tourist hotspots. The village originally belonged to the Illinič family and was later taken by the Radziwiłł family before being destroyed by the Swedish forces in 1655 and later in 1706. The village is best known for its castle.
Day 5
Excursions to Mir Castle
Start your day with breakfast before checking out of your hotel and meeting your driver for the 4-hour drive to Mir.
Excursion to Nesviszh Palace
After arriving in Nesviszh, you will explore one of the most famous sites in Belarus, Nesviszh Palace. This 16th century palace was the former residence of Prince Radziville, a part of the ancient line of Belarusian-Lithuanian lineages.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Transfer
Mir Castle Complex
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Scenic Surrounds
Nesvizh Castle
Prominent Landscape
Free Time
Travel to
Polotsk
A historic city situated in Belarus close to the Dvina River, Polotsk is one of the oldest cities of the Eastern Slavs. The site has a rich cultural heritage and claims to date to the 9th century according to a chronicle from Kievan Rus. During the 10th century, its first known Prince, Rogvolod was said to have ruled the area, and it later became a vassal city of the Lithuanian princes.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Transfer
City Tour
Saint Sophia Cathedral
Expert Guide
Museum of Belarusian Book Printing
Convent of Saint Euphrosyne
Vitebsk – cultural center
Souvenir Shopping
Day 7
Departure from Minsk
Your last day will include breakfast at the hotel before checking out. Your driver will meet you at the hotel and take you on the 3 ½ hour journey from Vitebsk to Minsk where you will be dropped off at your scheduled departure point (airport or railway station).
Breakfast
Departure Transfer
Prominent Landscape
Scenic Surrounds
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More information
What’s included
Accommodation as part of the tour- Activities as part of the tour
- Airport / Railway Station Transfers
- All tours are COVID-19 secure and offer flexible booking options. Visit our Covid-19 information page to find out more
- Audio guides (Mir Castle and Nesvizh Palace)
- Belarussian Visa Invitation
- English, German, French, Spanish or Italian speaking guide
- Food and drink (as mentioned in the tour itinerary)
- Transport (as specified in the tour itinerary)
What’s not included
Any transport not specified in the tour- Belarusian Visa processing
- Food and drinks (unless specified)
- International train / plane tickets
- Personal costs (souvenirs, additional snacks etc)
- Tips for drivers/guides/in restaurants
- Travel / medical insurance
Travel Tips
All travellers are asked to check the vaccination requirements before travel. Visit our Vaccines and Health page to find out more- Any dietary or allergy requirements will need to be disclosed before the start of the tour
- Carrying a water bottle with you is recommended
- Medication should always be taken with you and kept on your person
- Please ensure that you keep any personal documents and valuables on your person at all times
- WIFI will be available at most of the hotels, although mobile coverage may vary in rural areas
- Your local guides will recommend stops where you can go souvenir shopping during your tour
Special notes
Individuals using wheelchairs may face accessibility difficulties to some objects at Stalin line historical complex, Nesvich palace, belavezhskaya Puscha and Convent of Saint Euphrosyne. If such pax are accompanied by trained assistant the Tour Operator will do our best to implement the tour and try to escape the obstacles where it is possible, e.g. all tourists have to walk to Nesvizh palace 15-20 minutes but in such cases we received a special permission for transport and deliver our guests to the main entrance of the palace. The program will be interesting for children not younger than 7-8 years. There are no restrictions fort children entering the objects mentioned in the program.
Suggested reading
Enrich your travel experience with our list of top recommended books from specialist travel guides to compelling novels. Whether you are looking for something to pass the time on the train, or want to get to grips with the local history, reading is essential to turning your trip into a fully-fledged experience.
Belarus
A new edition of the best-rated guide to Belarus from acclaimed writer Nigel Roberts. The Bradt guide to Belarus is a one-stop all you need to know guide to the country including six regions, five cities, and a detailed guide to its capital, Minsk. Drawing on a wealth of personal experience as well as recommendations from local people and colleagues, this guide offers much more than your typical guide with insider tips, cultural insights and more.
Greater Than a Tourist – Minsk Belarus: 50 Travel Tips from a Local
While most travel books cater to tourists, it is fair to say that this guide succeeds in going above and beyond. As well as offering all the usual tips on where to eat, drink and explore, the greater than a tourist book includes insider knowledge of someone who has actually lived in Minsk, focusing on offering constructive advice rather than detailed lists of opening hours and contacts. If you are looking for a unique local guidebook that places experience at the forefront, then this is the one for you.
Gingerbread
A magical novel contrasting fairy-tale with harsh reality, Gingerbread follows the life of a young, orphaned boy and his grandfather, who go to scatter his mother’s ashes in the nearby woodlands as her final wish. Although fear grips the young boy’s heart, who realises he must keep his promise to his mother: to stay by and protect his grandfather, whatever happens. For her last gift to him she grants a little wooden horse and hunks of her homemade gingerbread. The journey proves challenging as the ancient forest around them harbours buried secrets that test the boy’s unbreakable promise to his mother in unimaginable ways. Her last potent gifts – a little wooden horse, and hunks of her homemade gingerbread – give him vigour. And grandfather’s magical stories help push the harsh world away. But the driving snow, which masks the tracks of forest life, also hides a frozen history of long-buried secrets. And as man and boy travel deeper among the trees, grandfather’s tales begin to interweave with the shocking reality of his own past, until soon the boy’s unbreakable promise to mama is tested in unimaginable ways.
Belarus: The Last European Dictatorship
A truly enlightening read that explores the complicated road to the forging of the Belarusian nation, Belarus: The last European Dictatorship offers a glimpse into the struggles of Easter European politics, which the west has often overlooked. Wilson delves deep into the Belarusian identity, focusing on Aliaksandr Lukashenka’s surprisingly long term as president, despite human rights abuses and rigged elections. As well as the internal situation in Belarus, Wilson is keen to explore the complex relationship between Belarus and Russia, and how the country has established itself as the convenient middleman between Western Europe and the Russian Federation.
Visa Information
