Adventure Holiday In Belarus

Our adventure begins at Warsaw Airport, from where we drive to the north-eastern town of Bialystok on the banks of the Biala River. The largest city in the region, Bialystok lies at the heart of Belarus culture in Poland and was a recent finalist for European Capital of Culture. Home to a number of museums and parks, the city also boasts one of the oldest puppet theatres in the country.

Overnight Standard Hotel (H+)

Driving across the Bialystok Uplands this morning we head farther east, travelling through the charming villages of the Knyszynka Forest. Stopping in the small communities of Bohoniki and Kruszyniany, we visit the unique wooden mosques that are still used today by the small Tartar population of the region, before continuing towards the Belarus border. Immigration formalities at the border may take around an hour to complete, after which we continue by road to the city of Hrodna (Grodno) on the Neman River.

Overnight Standard Hotel (H+) Included meals: Breakfast

Home to one of the largest Catholic populations in the country, Hrodna is filled with a wonderful collection of medieval and baroque architecture, including the impressive Cathedral of St Francis Xavier and the unique Church of Saints Boris and Gleb, the only surviving example of Black Ruthenian architecture left in the area. We take a tour of the city this morning, before driving out to view the newly restored eastern section of the 19th century Agustów Canal on our way to the historic city of Lida.

Overnight Standard Hotel (H+) Included meals: Breakfast

Our relentless journey east continue today, with a long drive towards the forests and marshes of the Berezinsky National Park. Covering around 300 kilometres today, we will break our journey on the banks of Lake Naroch, the largest lake in Belarus. Covering nearly 80 square kilometres, the lake is home to pike, perch, eel and tench and its picturesque landscapes provide us with an ideal lunch stop before continuing the rest of the way to Berezinsky.

Overnight Standard Hotel (H+) Included meals: Breakfast

Encompassing one of the largest areas of marshland left in Europe, the Berezinsky Biosphere Reserve provides a haven for an incredible diversity of flora and fauna, including more than 780 herbaceous species, 34 species of fish, over 50 mammals and an impressive list of over 200 different birds. We have a full day hiking and canoeing through the park today, enjoying the natural and scenic beauty of one of the most pristine environments in the country.

Overnight Standard Hotel (H+) Included meals: Breakfast

Straddling the waters of the mighty Dvina, close to Belarus’s border with neighbouring Russia, lies the thriving city of Vitebsk, birthplace of Marc Chagall, one of the 20th centuries most renowned painters. Driving to the city today we pass through the historic town of Polotsk, a cultural gem that is one of the oldest Slavic towns in the region. Tracing its origins back to the 9th century, the town is home to no fewer than 130 historical and cultural monuments, including the 11th century Cathedral of St Sophia, providing us with a fascinating stop en route to our final destination in Vitebsk.

Overnight Standard Hotel (H+) Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch

We turn south this morning, heading towards the Belarus capital of Minsk, a four to five hour journey that should get us into the city early this afternoon. Over the past millennium the city has survived the onslaught of the Mongols, the French and the Germans and today represents one of the finest examples of classic urban planning left in the old Soviet Union. We’ll take a tour of the city this afternoon, enjoying the grandeur of the wide boulevards and imposing monuments so beloved of the old party elite.

Overnight Standard Hotel (H+) Included meals: Breakfast

Our journey west today sees us visiting two UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The first is the impressive castle at Nesvizh, home to the Radswill Family for over 400 years. The second is the 15th century Mirsk Fortress on the outskirts of the town of Mir itself, a superb example of a central European castle. Our day’s journey then ends in Mir, a town steeped in the lore and traditions of both the Jewish and the Roma people.

Overnight Standard Hotel (H+) Included meals: Breakfast

This morning we visit the 19th century fortress at Brest, once the largest in the old Russian Empire. An infamous prison during the Soviet trials of the 1930s, this immense fortress went on to achieve lasting fame when it became a symbol of Soviet resistance during the German invasion of Russia in 1941. After our visit we cross the border back into Poland, driving back to the Polish capital to enjoy a final evening in the city before our departure tomorrow.

Overnight Standard Hotel (H+) Included meals: Breakfast

Included meals: Breakfast