Holidays in Belarus… Did the review of a colleague, relative or just an acquaintance seem so warm and enthusiastic to you that you are already ready to go to the station to buy tickets? In principle, everything is correct, this country cannot but please. It is actually full of mysteries, surprises and surprises.
Section 1. What awaits a tourist in this country
Belarus is a multinational country where the cultures and traditions of many nations are intertwined and coexist peacefully. This state in Eastern Europe has an ancient history and a rich cultural heritage that has been formed over many centuries.
The modern country is rapidly developing in all spheres and industries, including tourism, which is why summer holidays in Belarus have recently begun to find more and more fans both among local residents and among guests due to boundary.
It is impossible not to note the fact that she has amazing opportunities for a pleasant pastime. Much here remindsabout such a near and distant Soviet past. The symbols of the USSR are still on administrative buildings, and monuments to Lenin have also been preserved.
Beach holidays in Belarus can be combined with historical tours that will help you get to know the past and plunge into the painfully familiar world of the past.
The excursion program usually includes visiting ancient castles, churches and churches, going to the theater and watching movies, a colorful show with fire.
But ecological tours will allow you to enjoy nature and feel all the charm of rural life. The most popular options include holidays in Belarus on the lakes.
Hunting, fishing or kayaking will appeal to outdoor enthusiasts.
Section 2. How to get to your destination
You can arrive in Belarus by air, rail and road transport. Aeroflot and Belavia airlines operate direct flights from Moscow to Minsk, the duration of which is 1 hour 20 minutes.
There are also regular flights from other regions of Russia, so if you have already planned a vacation in Belarus, the review of which you are so interested in, then there will definitely be no problems with transport even from the most remote corners.
The country has international rail links. Every day, at least 15 trains run from the Belorussky railway station in the direction "Moscow - Minsk". Travel time takes approximately 10 hours. High-speed train "Slavic Express" will take you to the capital in 7 hours 22min.
One of the budget transfer options is a bus ride. Bus communication is developed with many Russian regions and neighboring regions of Belarus. The length of the route along the motorway from Moscow to Minsk is 690 km, from St. Petersburg - 901 km.
You can also get there by car. Of course, this type of transport is more suitable for those who have planned a vacation in Belarus with children. Crossing the border passes through border checkpoints. An international driver's license is required to drive a motor vehicle. On major highways, there is a speed limit of 120 km per hour. All inscriptions on road signs are written in Cyrillic or Latin. Some highways are paid. Fares on these highways depend on the total weight of the vehicle and the number of axles.
Section 3. Visa and customs control
There is a visa-free regime for Russian citizens and tourists from most CIS countries. To enter the territory of Belarus, it is enough to show a general passport and fill out a customs declaration. By the way, you should pay attention that holidays in Belarus with children require special documents.
Import of foreign currency is not limited, but amounts over $10,000 equivalent must be declared. It is forbidden to transport dangerous items and substances (weapons, drugs, ammunition, military equipment, radioactive and explosive substances, etc.). Import and export of animals and plants is allowed only with a special permit of the phytosanitary andveterinary control.
There are restrictions on baggage and goods. It is allowed to carry up to 50 kg of luggage in the amount of not more than 1500 euros. If the norms are exceeded, a duty is paid in the amount of 30% of its value, but not less than 2 euros for each extra kilogram.
Adult person can import duty-free no more than 3 liters of alcoholic products (including beer). It is also allowed to carry 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars or 250 grams of tobacco (or tobacco products with a total weight of up to 250 grams).
Section 4. What tourists should remember
If you want to organize a great holiday in Belarus (you need to back up your friends review with your own facts!), you should pay attention to some features.
The national currency of the state is the Belarusian ruble, which can only be purchased within the country. In circulation there are denominations of 50 to 200,000 rubles, metal coins are not used for payments. Currency exchange is carried out in any banks and exchange offices, which are located in many shopping centers and hotels. Restaurants, supermarkets, hotels and holiday homes in Belarus accept non-cash payments by international credit cards Visa and MasterCard. There are ATMs in all Belarusian cities.
Usually bank branches are open six days a week (except Sunday) from 9.00 to 18.00. Exchange offices at the train station and shops are open until midnight.
By the way, private holidays in Belarus are welcome, as services providedyou can be sure. However, tourists are highly discouraged from changing foreign currency outside of certified outlets. This is prohibited by the legislation of Belarus, money can be withdrawn. Or you can run into scammers and lose all your cash. In this case, it would be pointless to contact the police, because. you broke the law yourself.
Regarding tips: they are not required, but welcome. As a rule, the tip is approximately 10% of the bill. Sometimes in the hotels of the country, an additional 15% is included in the accommodation bill, which is indicated as a separate amount. By the way, rest houses in Belarus practice exactly the same approach. If there is no separate line, then you can leave a tip to the attendants at your discretion. Usually doormen and porters in hotels leave 1-2 dollars.
Section 5. Local Transportation
The main types of intercity transport in Belarus are the railway and buses.
The route railway network within the country connects more than 2000 settlements. As a rule, there are no problems in getting to the destination, because. without exception, all boarding houses, sanatoriums and recreation centers in Belarus provide their guests with a detailed travel scheme.
The cheapest and fastest way to travel is by bus. However, the train ride is more comfortable and enjoyable. You can also travel around the country in a rented car. The tracks are in fairly good condition, and the rules of the road are practically the same as in Russia.
By the way, if you plan to combine rest and treatment in Belarus with sightseeing, you should pay attention to the fact that domestic flights within the state are limited and very rare. Departures are carried out only to regional centers 1-2 times a week.
Section 6. What to see first
Holidays in Belarus (review and recommendations of relatives will not let you lie) is attractive with the opportunity to visit natural national parks.
In the north-west of the country there is the Braslav Lakes nature reserve, the pride of which is, in fact, the lakes themselves, formed during the Ice Age. They are all interconnected by channels, each of them is unique and beautiful. Many fish live in clear clear waters. Birds and animals of rare species live in this corner of nature. Not far from the park is the ancient city of Braslav. Holidays in Belarus with children spent in this place will definitely remain in the memory of both young and adult travelers for a long time.
The famous Belovezhskaya Pushcha with a relict forest has the status of a biosphere park and is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The oldest centenarians of this region are century-old giant trees that have been living for 600 years. It is here that rare representatives of flora and fauna have been preserved. There are bison in the Pushcha, which you can hardly meet in other places of the planet. The most popular holiday homes in Belarus are located directly in this area.
In the northState located Berezinsky Biosphere Reserve. Dense coniferous forests with a fluffy carpet of moss stretch for many kilometers, clean lakes give way to swamps, and the air is filled with the aroma of resin. In the west, the Berezina River flows, which gave the name to the reserve. Many species of animals and plants are listed in the Red Book. Bears, bison, beavers live here. The natural complex is of great importance not only for the country, but for the whole of Europe.
On the territory of Polesie (along the Pripyat River) the national park "Pripyatsky" was formed. The relief of this area was formed due to constant floods, it is represented by swamps, lakes, meadows and floodplain forests. In addition to the picturesque nature, architectural monuments of the 9th-12th centuries of the Turov Principality have been preserved here.
Section 7. Recreation in the bosom of nature
Today the country attracts tourists from many parts of the world with its pristine nature. That is why, for example, holidays in Belarus on the lakes need to be planned in advance, because. at the last moment, there may simply not be places at camp sites, boarding houses and sanatoriums.
Eco-tourism is especially popular. Wellness treatments can be combined with sightseeing tours and visits to theaters, museums and art galleries.
You can get acquainted with the national cuisine in restaurants and cafes, where all dishes are prepared from environmentally friendly products.
Each season is interesting in its own way. Summer holidays offer mushroom and berry hikes, boating andcatamarans, swimming and sunbathing. And ski centers welcome their guests in winter.
The development of active recreation is proceeding rapidly:
- cycling, horse riding and hiking;
- ski slopes and snowboarding;
- game hunting (wild boars, deer, hares, quail, partridges and deer);
- fishing (eel, perch, roach, catfish and pike), etc.
More and more vacationers prefer to rest in Belarus in the private sector, as they say, in the bosom of nature.
Section 8. Features of treatment in the country
Belarusian medicine is considered one of the best among the countries of the former Soviet Union, it has a promising development. The sanatoriums of Belarus are of great interest. Holidays with children here are recommended by both local and foreign experts. Year-round, doctors carry out medical and he alth-improving procedures that help restore he alth and get rid of many diseases.
It should be noted that after the collapse of the USSR, all boarding houses were preserved and restored. Among the most famous are Belaya Rus, Belorusochka, Nalibokskaya Pushcha and Silver Keys. To date, he alth centers are equipped with modern equipment and medical and diagnostic facilities. Qualified specialists are trained in the best medical clinics in the world.
In addition to traditional methods of treatment, courses of herbal medicine, hirudotherapy, acupuncture and other latest methods of improving the human body are used. Thanks tothe unique climatic conditions of rest in Belarus in a boarding house does not require special acclimatization and contributes to a speedy recovery. For treatment, mineral springs and sapropelic mud, healing air are used. Various SPA-procedures are actively carried out.
All he alth resorts in Belarus are built in natural areas - on the banks of lakes and rivers, in coniferous forests or protected areas. The country of lakes has preserved unique flora and fauna. Many representatives of the animal and plant world are protected. Regardless of the season, you can visit the famous Belovezhskaya Pushcha and Polissya.
All this is an unsurpassed advantage of a holiday in Belarus.
Section 9. Resting with the baby
In general, Belarus is an ideal place to travel with the whole family or with a child. Here you can be calm for the safety of the crumbs.
It is possible to send a child to specialized sanatoriums with various medical profiles ("Kachye", "Rainbow", "Romance", "Chenki", "Youth"). A rich excursion program will allow you to get acquainted with historical monuments, visit ancient castles, museums and theaters. There are a lot of possibilities here. For example, you can go to a ski resort or spend time in a guest house by the lake.
Winter holidays in the company of real Santa Claus in Belovezhskaya Pushcha will remain in children's memory for many years. The child will spend a whole week at the residence of his favorite character and his granddaughter. He is waiting for competitions and games, horseback riding, sleigh rides and others.entertainment.
All recreation centers are located in picturesque places on the lake or in a forest forest. Clean air, stunning nature and friendly staff will help you get away from the bustle of the city and enjoy the silence, which will undoubtedly benefit the whole family.
Recreation in Belarus… Braslav Lakes, Pripyat National Park, Berezinsky Biosphere Reserve - these places should be visited first of all, going on vacation with the whole family. Thus, you can teach a child to love and take care of wildlife.
Section 10. Rest on the lakes of Belarus
Belarusian lakes of glacial origin are the real pride of the country. The most beautiful reservoirs are the Sorochansky and Braslav lakes.
The former are attractive to lovers of canyons, forests and landscapes. There are five cleanest reservoirs in the reserve: Tumskoye, Edi, Sparrows, Gubeza and Kaymenskoye. In the lakes of Gubeza and Yedi, the transparency of the water reaches 4 meters. Movement on the waters of these lakes is allowed only on special water transport. Motor boats are strictly prohibited here.
The composition of the Braslav lakes includes 50 reservoirs. Among them are Tsno, Nedrovo, Voiso, Potsekh, Boloyso, Drivyaty, Strusto. Rest houses, children's camps and tourist centers, piers for boats and yachts were built on the banks. Belarus can provide a pastime for every taste: holidays with a pool, weekends with a tent, cheaper and more expensive - the choice is actually huge.
Almost all sanatoriums, camp sites and luxury hotels are located on the banks of water bodies, which means that you can admire the scenerywill be from the room window.
Sailing competitions are often held here. A large number of spectators gather for such regattas. More than 30 species of fish live in these places, including pike perch, pike, burbot and eel.
Not far from Lake Naroch is the famous tourist base "Blue Lakes". On the shore of a unique reservoir there is a resort village of the same name with rest houses, boarding houses and he alth resorts. Residents of Belarus, CIS countries and far abroad come here. This is one of the best holiday destinations in the country. Each he alth resort has its own private beach where you can rent a catamaran, boat or boat.
Section 11. Rent cottages in Belarus
For recreation in Belarus, you can rent a cottage in the countryside. This has an advantage - for a certain fee, not a room is rented, but a whole comfortable house with a garden and a swimming pool. Most often, these cottages are rented by business people for corporate events, negotiations or conferences. But ordinary tourists who prefer comfort also choose this option for vacation housing.
You can rent a separate house or a whole estate in any part of the country. The choice is quite wide and varied, it all depends on the preferences of the tourist. Someone chooses a cottage on the shore of a lake or river, someone seeks to get away from urban civilization. Vacation rental rates vary by location, capacity and tourist season.
The price of houses in the area of ski resorts increases in winter. Between spring andin mid-autumn, estates in picturesque resort areas become more expensive: in the forest, on the banks of a river or lake, etc. Typically, cottages can accommodate a company of 10 to 20 people on average. The rental price per day ranges from 200-300 euros (for one person - from 10 euros). At the same time, for such money, guests are provided with a swimming pool, a bathhouse or a sauna, private parking, a separate access to the lake and much more. This is a very advantageous offer if you are planning a vacation with friends.
Section 12. Holidays in Belarus in winter
Thanks to climatic factors in Belarus there are no cold winds and severe frosts. Winters are snowy and mild, with an average January temperature of 6 degrees below zero. Over the past decade, the country has been popular with skiers and snowboarders.
There are no mountain peaks in Belarus, but there are slopes and hills ideal for skiing. Two large ski resorts were opened - "Silichi" and "Logoisk". Each of them has modern tracks and a developed infrastructure that is not inferior to well-known European resorts.
These ski centers are very popular with Russian tourists. And the benefits of such a winter holiday are obvious:
- the road to Belarus takes little time;
- no visa regime;
- reasonable vacation prices;
- European level ski slopes;
- great weather conditions.
Ski slopes, lifts,extreme park, skating rink and gym, restaurants and cafes, equipment rental, etc.
Other ski centers also operate in Minsk, Vitebsk and Gomel regions: Yakutskiye Gory, Mozyr, Raubichi. And in the city limits of the Belarusian capital, on the banks of the reservoir, the complex "Solnechnaya Dolina" is located.
The influx of tourists in sanatoriums and rest homes is observed during the New Year holidays. Each boarding house offers its own entertainment program and a number of different services (including wellness treatments). Most often, the duration of tours is up to 10 days. The program includes sightseeing trips to famous Belarusian cities (Minsk, Grodno, Brest, Gomel), sightseeing, horseback riding and horse riding lessons, skating and skiing.
On the days of traditional holidays, entertainment events are held at the resorts. New Year's Eve, Valentine's Day and Maslenitsa are especially cheerful here.
