Cultural Discovery Tour of Belarus and Poland

• 1

  Join tour Warsaw (Poland); drive to Bialystok

  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 Belarusian 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
  Single Rooms Available

  Included Meals:  None

• 2

  Drive through the Knyszynska Forest and onto Hrodna (Belarus)

  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 mosque that is 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
  Single Rooms Available

  Included Meals:  Breakfast

• 3

  Morning sightseeing; afternoon drive to Lida

  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
  Single Rooms Available

  Included Meals:  Breakfast, Dinner

• 4

  Drive to Berezinsky National Park via Naroch Lake

  We continue our eastward journey towards the forests and marshes of the Berezinsky National Park. Covering around 400 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
  Single Rooms Available

  Included Meals:  Breakfast, Dinner

• 5

  Hiking in Berezinsky National Park

  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 species of mammal and an impressive list of over 200 different birds. We have a full day hiking or optional canoeing through the park today, enjoying the natural and scenic beauty of one of the most pristine environments in the country.

  Overnight: Standard Hotel
  Single Rooms Available

  Included Meals:  Breakfast, Dinner

• 6

  Drive to Vitebsk via Polotsk

  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 most renowned painters of the 20th century. 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
  Single Rooms Available

  Included Meals:  Breakfast

• 7

  Free morning in Vitebsk; afternoon drive to Minsk

  This morning is left free to explore this historical town at your own pace. Towards the afternoon we will drive our way south, heading towards the Belarus capital of Minsk; a four to five hour journey with a stop at Khetyn memorial en route.

  Overnight: Standard Hotel
  Single Rooms Available

  Included Meals:  Breakfast

• 8

  Sightseeing in Minsk

  Over the past millennium the city of Minsk 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 today, enjoying the grandeur of the wide boulevards and imposing monuments so beloved of the old party elite. We will have some free time here to enjoy this delightful city.

  Overnight: Standard Hotel
  Single Rooms Available

  Included Meals:  Breakfast

• 9

  Free morning in Minsk; drive to Nesvizh; visit Nesvizh Castle

  After enjoying a free morning at Minsk, we journey west towards a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the impressive castle at Nesvizh; home to the Radswill Family for over 400 years.

  Overnight: Standard Hotel
  Single Rooms Available

  Included Meals:  Breakfast

• 10

  Visit Mir Castle; drive to Brest Fortress

  Our day today starts with a visit to another UNESCO World heritage site, the Mir Castle. After a guided walk here 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.

  Overnight: Standard Hotel
  Single Rooms Available

  Included Meals:  Breakfast

• 11

  Drive back to Warsaw

  Today 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
  Single Rooms Available

  Included Meals:  Breakfast

• 12

  Tour ends Warsaw

  Tour ends Warsaw after breakfast.

  Included Meals:  Breakfast