Belarus Tours
A. Eight Wonders of Belarus Tour | B. Roman Catholicism in Belarus Tour | C. Spiritual Sacred Values of Belarus Tour | D. Discover Belarus Mini-Tour
A. Eight Wonders of Belarus Tour
Itinerary 1: Minsk – Polotsk – Novogrudok – the village of Syncovichi – Belovezhskaya Pushcha National Park – the town Of Mir – Nesvizh – Slutsk – Minsk
Duration: 6 days/ 5 nights
Day 1
Arrival in “Minsk-2” International Airport. Our guide meets the group. Transfer to Minsk (45 km). Check-in at the Hotel. Sightseeing tour of Minsk, the capital of Belarus including architectural and cultural monuments of the 17th – 18th cent., historical part of the city – Trinity Suburb.“Belarusian Cuisine” Dinner.
Day 2
Early departure to Polotsk Historical cultural Reserve (230 km). Sightseeing tour of Polotsk – the oldest Belarusian city (founded 862) and the centre of Old Slavic history and culture. Polotsk is famous for its 11th cent. St. Sophia Cathedral, Covent of St. Ephrosinia of Polotsk (12th cent.) a benefactress and matron Saint of Belarus, Saint-Ephrosinia Church (the 12th cent.) with beautiful frescoes and where the Sacred Cross of Ephrosinia – the national heritage is kept Acquaintance with Sacred Cross and Francisk Skorina Bible (History and Facts). Among other objects worth seeing is the Museum of Book-printing – one of the best in Europe. “The Stone of Boris” – the example of old Slavic culture, its weight is 25 tons; organ show in St. Sophia Cathedral. Return to Minsk. Time at leisure.
Day 3
Departure for Novogrudok (155 km). Sightseeing tour of Novogrudok – once the first capital of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania (GDL). “The Statute of GDL” – history and legends. Tour of Novogrudok includes ruins of the Fortress – an ancient monument of Belarusian defensive architecture (the end of the 13th – the beginning of the 14th cent.). Leaving Novogrudok for the village of Syncovichi – (96 km). Paying tribute to the magnificent church of Syncovichi – the unique monument with defensive elements (the end of the 15th – the beginning of the 16th cent.). Departure for “Belovezhskaya Pushcha” National Park (130 km).Check-in at the hotel. Time at leisure.
Day 4
One-day stay in “Belovezhskaya Pushcha”. National Park. Relaxation.
Day 5
Departure for the town of Mir (225 km). Sightseeing tour of Mir and of Mir Castle (16th – 18th cent.). The castle is a unique example of architecture of the 16th cent. The architecture of the castle has features of the late Belarusian Gothic. In the 17th cent. castle was rebuilt in the style of Renaissance. Today it has features of Gothic, Renaissance, defensive and palace architecture Then about 28 km forward there is another wonder – Nesvizh Castle, a former residence of the Radzivills family, of medieval Belarusian magnates, with its beautiful park ensemble and a neighbouring 16th cent. Church designed by Bernardoni, the outstanding Italian architect. Sightseeing tour of Nesvizh. Departure for Slutsk (70 km). Visit to the Local Lore Museum. The beautiful history and acquaintance with Slutsk Belts Return to Minsk (100 km). Check-in at the hotel. Time at leisure.
Day 6
Transfer to the airport for the departure flight.
B. Roman Catholicism in Belarus Tour
Itinerary: Minsk – Nesvizh – Pinsk – Grodno – Minsk – Budslav – Minsk
Duration: 6 days/ 5 nights
Day 1
Arrival in “Minsk-2” International Airport. Transfer to the hotel with guide assistance. Check-in at the hotel in the center of the city. Meeting with Catholic community representatives. A “Friendly cup of tea”. Dinner and overnight in Minsk.
Day 2
Breakfast. Departure for Nesvizh (130 km) – a former residence of the Radzivills – medieval Belarusian magnates. Sightseeing tour of Nesvizh including the Palace and Castle Ensemble founded in the 16th cent. & built by Italian architect Jan Maria Bernardoni, Corpus Dei Roman Catholic church (the 16th cent.) built also by Bernardoni, a patrimonial burial-vault for the Radzivills, Slutsk Gate (the 16th cent.), Town Hall (the 16th – the 17th cent.), Castle Gate Tower (the 16th cent.), Benedictine monastery (the 17th – the 18th cent.). Lunch. Departure for Pinsk (110 km) – the city founded in the 11th century and famous for the abundance of architectural, historic and cultural monuments. Check-in at the hotel. Attending the service in the Roman-catholic church. Dinner.
Day 3
Breakfast. Sightseeing tour of Pinsk including St. Francis Catholic church and monastery (the 16th – 18th cent.), Jesuit Collegiums (the 17th cent.), Karl Baromey Catholic Church (the 18th cent.), St. Barbara church (the 18th cent.). Meeting with members of Catholic community. Lunch. Departure for Grodno (310 km) – the city of Belarus, founded in the 11th century and ranking today as the city number one in its authentic planning and having a lot of historical monuments. Check-in at the hotel in the center of the city Attending the service in the Roman-Catholic church. Dinner.
Day 4
Breakfast. Sightseeing tour of Grodno including Old Castle (the 14th cent.), New Castle (the 18th cent.), Jesuit Catholic church (the 17th cent.) with a rich carved altar, ensembles of numerous cloisters and churches. Meeting with Roman-Catholic Community. Lunch. Departure for Minsk (founded in 1067) – the capital of Belarus (300 km). Check-in at the hotel. Dinner.
Day 5
Early breakfast. Departure for Budslav (156 km) – place for catholic pilgrimage since the 16th cent. Sightseeing tour of Budslav including Bernadine Catholic church where the unique wooden altar is preserved and Sacred Icon of Budslav God Mother, declared the patron of Belarus by the Pope of Rome in 1992, is being kept. Meeting with Catholic Community. Departure for Minsk (156 km). Sightseeing tour of Minsk with accent on Catholic churches & places. Attending the service in the Catholic Church. Farewell dinner.
Day 6
Breakfast. Transfer to the airport for your departure flight.
C. Spiritual Sacred Values of Belarus
Itinerary 1: Minsk – Polotsk – Minsk
Duration: 5 days/ 4 nights
Day 1
Arrival in “Minsk-2“ International Airport. Transfer to the hotel with guide assistance. Check-in at the hotel in the centre of the city. Time at leisure. Attending service in the Holy Trinity Cathedral. Dinner.
Day 2
Breakfast. Sightseeing tour of Minsk including architectural, historical and cultural monuments of the 17th – 18th cent., historic part of the city – Trinity Suburb and orthodox churches. Visit to the Museum of Old Belarusian Culture featuring weaving, embroidery, old icons and wood-carving. Visit to the Local Arts Museum with interesting icon-painting section. Meeting with representatives of Minsk Diocese. Dinner.
Day 3
Early breakfast. Departure for Polotsk (252 km) – the oldest Belarusian city (founded 862) and the centre of old Slavic history and culture. Polotsk is famous for its 11th cent. St. Sophia Cathedral, Convent of St. Ephrosinia of Polotsk (12th cent.) a benefactress and matron Saint of Belarus, Saint-
Ephrosinia Church (12th cent.) with beautiful frescoes and where the Cross of Ephrosinia – the national heritage is kept. Among other objects worth seeing is the Museum of Book-printing – one of the best in Europe. “The Stone of Boris“ – the example of old Slavic culture, its weight is 25 tons; organ show in St. Sophia Cathedral Tour of Polotsk including all above-mentioned objects.
Departure for Minsk. Dinner.
Day 4
Breakfast. Tour to the Khatyn Memorial (60 km) erected on the site of the village of Khatyn – one of the 186 Belarusian villages burnt to ashes by the Nazis during World War II. On the way back visit to the Orthodox Churches in the town of Logoysk. Visit to Raubichy Folk Arts and Crafts Museum. Displayed in the former Krestogorskaya Church are folk costumes, fine fabrics, articles
made of straw, pottery, weaving, icon-painting. Farewell dinner with folk-show. Departure for Minsk. Dinner.
Day 5
Breakfast. Transfer to the Airport for your departure flight.
D. Discover Belarus Mini-Tour
Itinerary 1: Minsk – Nesvizh – Mir – Minsk
Duration: 4 days/ 3 nights
Day 1
Arrival in “Minsk-2” International Airport. Transfer to the hotel with guide assistance. Check-in at the hotel. Dinner. Time at leisure.
Day 2
Breakfast. Sightseeing tour of Minsk (founded 1067), the city offers the view of its 17th cent. Cathedral of the Holy Spirit and Sts. Peter and Paul Church; the 19th cent. Troitskoye Predmestye (Trinity Suburb) – an example of Minsk urban architecture of the previous century; Independence Square with its Government Building (1929 – 33) and Red (Krasny) Roman Catholic Church of the early 20th cent.; Victory Square with its 38 metre obelisk and the Eternal Flame commemorating the heroes of World War II; Parks and modern architectural ensembles.
Visit to the Museum of Country Architecture and Life in the open air in Strochitsy (18 km from Minsk) displaying the original pieces of rural architecture from various regions of Belarus as
well as numerous domestic utensils, articles of applied arts and agricultural implements used by
the rural population in the past. (in winter time – visit to the Art Museum of Belarus (Picture Gallery) displaying its rich collection of Belarusian fine arts of the 16th – 20th cent. including icons, old wooden sculpture, articles of applied arts, painting and drawings Dinner in the beer-restaurant “Rakovsky Brovar“ Evening entertainment program: Belarusian ballet, opera performance, philharmonic society, circus, casino, etc. ( depending on the period of the year).
Day 3
Breakfast. Departure for Nesvizh (130 km) – a former residence of the Radzivills – medieval Belarusian magnates. Sightseeing tour of Nesvizh including the Palace and Castle Ensemble founded in the 16th cent. and built by Italian architect Bernardoni. Corpus Dei Roman Catholic church (16th cent.), a patrimonial burial-vault for the Radzivills, Slutsk Gate (the 16th cent.), Town Hall (16th – the 17th cent.), Castle Gate Tower (16th cent.), Benedictine monastery. Lunch. Departure for Mir. Sightseeing tour of Mir. The 15th cent. Castle of Mir offers a unique example of architecture of this period The architecture of the castle has features of the late Belarusian Gothic, Renaissance defensive and palace architecture. Departure for Minsk. Dinner.
Day 4
Breakfast. Time at leisure (2–3 hours). Guide assistance in buying souvenirs or shopping. Transfer to the airport for the departure flight.