Hospitable Belarus

The tour introduces guests to Belarus’s rich historical and cultural heritage. All sites are within 100 km of Minsk’s ring road. Tour duration is 5–7 days (we offer an extended program on request), including arrival and departure from Minsk.

Hotel accommodation at 3–4-star hotels by guest preference. Breakfast and dinner on arrival day are included. Lunches and dinners on other days are at an additional cost.

• Your journey begins in the capital, the heroic city of Minsk.
• Our tour bus will greet you, and with a guide’s accompaniment, you’ll head to a 3–4-star hotel (as arranged in advance).

DoubleTree by Hilton Minsk. All conditions are provided for comfortable accommodation — air conditioning, refrigerator, TV, hairdryer, iron, tea/coffee in rooms, safe, terrace, and mini-bar. The hotel features a restaurant, bar, gym, and conference hall. Every guest has internet access. Available services include:

dry cleaning, laundry, room service, concierge service, and luggage storage.

• Lunch at a traditional Belarusian restaurant. “Litviny” — a restaurant with the authentic atmosphere of a Belarusian village. Wooden beams, a fireplace, and antique furniture create a sense of coziness and warmth. Here you’ll experience the true spirit of the Belarusian countryside. The menu features traditional Belarusian dishes such as village duck, dumplings, fried potatoes with meat, as well as infusions and mead prepared according to ancient recipes. It’s an ideal place for Belarusian cuisine lovers seeking authentic flavors. The restaurant is renowned for its rich selection of national beverages and appetizers, as well as unique service traditions that add to the genuine countryside atmosphere.

• Next is a city tour of Minsk: you’ll visit Victory Square, the Upper Town, the National Library, the Red Church, and explore the historic center of Minsk on Nemiha Street.

• On the second day, after breakfast at the hotel, we head to Mir Castle, located 105 kilometers southwest of Minsk. Built in the early 16th century as a feudal residence, it is an architectural monument included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The castle is the easternmost Gothic structure and the largest and only non-religious object among the few surviving examples of authentic Belarusian Gothic.

• After touring the castle, we have lunch and rest at a nearby agro-estate, then return to Minsk refreshed. The “Svetlazara” estate features comfortable cottages in one of Belarus’s most beautiful, enchanting, and somewhat mystical places. Guests can enjoy a traditional sauna with herbal teas, horseback and pony rides, and handicraft workshops in pottery and straw-weaving.

• On the next day, after breakfast at the hotel, we visit the Dudutki museum and ethnographic complex, with lunch at the museum café. Dudutki was first mentioned in chronicles in the 11th century. It is believed that a trade route to Polotsk ran through these lands, and according to researchers and the “Tale of Igor’s Campaign,” Prince Vseslav the Sorcerer of Polotsk rode here “like a wolf from the Dnieper near Nemiga from Dudutki, having learned of the siege of ancient Minsk…” Today, an open-air museum of ancient folk crafts and technologies stands on the site of the ancient village. You’ll enjoy an exciting journey into the world of bygone life and professions, taste authentic local dishes, visit the zoological garden, and enjoy horseback riding.

• After visiting the Khatyn Memorial Complex, a monument to all Belarusian villages destroyed by the Nazis, we return to Minsk.

The village of Khatyn no longer appears on maps of Belarus. The Nazis burned it along with 149 residents, including 75 children. In memory of those who perished, the “Khatyn” memorial complex was established on the site of the former village. The decision to build the memorial was made in 1966. Khatyn became a monument to all villages burned during World War II in Belarus. According to the latest data obtained during the investigation of a genocide case against the Belarusian people, the tragic fate of destruction shared by Khatyn was experienced by at least 12,348 rural settlements in whole or in part!

• The fourth day is dedicated entirely to learning about the Great Victory. After breakfast at the hotel, we visit the Museum of the History of World War II. This museum is the largest and one of the most significant museums in Belarus dedicated to World War II. The exhibition covers all stages of the war from the first days of invasion to the final liberation of Belarus and Europe from Nazi invaders. The museum houses more than 140,000 exhibits, including military equipment, weapons, photographs, personal belongings of soldiers and officers, documents, awards, and much more.

• Lunch at one of Minsk’s most atmospheric restaurants — ASTORIA RIVERSIDE.

ASTORIA RIVERSIDE — a green oasis in Belarus’s capital featuring Azerbaijani and European cuisine with a designer eco-interior unmatched in Minsk and worldwide.

• After lunch, we head to Stalin Line. The “Stalin Line” historical and cultural complex is one of the most impressive fortification ensembles in Belarus. It was created for the 60th anniversary of the Soviet people’s victory in World War II at the initiative of the “Memory of Afghanistan” charitable foundation with the support of the President of the Republic of Belarus.

• On our journey’s final day, after breakfast at the hotel, you’ll have time for shopping or exploring the capital of Belarus. After lunch at a restaurant, our bus will take you to the airport.

Optional: The route can be extended by 2 more days with the following locations:

A trip to Belovezhskaya Pushcha National Park, a tour of the nature reserve, observation of European bison, hiking trails, a visit to the nature museum and the Grandfather Frost estate, lunch at an eco-restaurant (featuring local products), a themed photo session in the forest in the evening, and overnight accommodation at a hotel in Brest.

A trip to a village or agro-estate (in the Ivye/Lyuban/Postavy region, your choice), participation in a master class on pottery or weaving, preparation of traditional dishes with the hostess (casserole, pancakes, kvass), and overnight accommodation at an agro-estate.