Itinerary

Day 1 Arrive Minsk
Upon arrival in Minsk you will be met and transferred to your hotel. Remainder of the day is at leisure to relax or begin your exploration for the Belarussian capital. Dinner at the restaurant Mirsky Zamak. Overnight at the Hotel Minsk.

Day 2 Minsk-Khatyn-Polotsk
After breakfast you will be taken on a Minsk city sightseeing tour with private English speaking guide, You will get-acquainted with the thousand-year history of Minsk city development, learn about it’s interesting and difficult destiny. You will walk to the Troitskoye Predmestye (Trinity Suburb)- one of the oldest areas in Minsk. During the excursion you will be able to visit the Island of Tears, Independence Square, House of Government and the Red Roman-Catholic Church (1908), Victory Square with its 38m high Obelisk and Eternal flame, the Holy Spirit Cathedral (1642), St. Peter and Pauls Cathedral (1611), City Hall, Yanka Kupala Park and the modern area of the city. Later depart to Polotsk with a short photo stop in Khatyn. The memorial complex Khatyn is situated 35 miles away from Minsk at the site of a village which was burnt together with its inhabitants during the Second World War. Khatyn is a memorial commemorating the victims of Nazi terror on the occupied Belarusian land. You will see the streets of the former village, the pipes monuments where the houses used to be and will hear the Khatyn Bells, Late afternoon arrival in Polotsk. Dinner and overnight at the Hotel Slavianski.

Day 3 Polotsk-Vitebsk
After breakfast you will enjoy a Polotsk city sightseeing tour with private English speaking guide, Polotsk is one of the most ancient cities of the Eastern Slavs. It was mentioned for the first time by the Primary Chronicle in 862 together with Murom and Beloozero. The Norse sagas describe the city as the most heavily fortified in all of Rus. The city’s Cathedral of Saint Sophia in Polotsk (1044-1066) is a symbol of the independent-mindedness of Polotsk, rivaling churches of the same name in Novgorod and Kiev and referring to the original Hagia Sophia in Constantinople (and thus to claims of imperial prestige, authority and sovereignty). The building of the cathedral had been ruined by the troops of Peter I of Russia. Hence the present baroque building by Johann Christoph Glaubitz dates from the mid-18th century). Afternoon transfer to Vitebsk, the capital of the Slavyanski bazar festival. Dinner will be served in a local restaurant. Overnight at the Hotel Eridan.

Day 4 Vitebsk
After breakfast you will be taken on a Vitebsk city sightseeing tour with private English speaking guide, city tour includes an old town walking tour, visiting the Marc Chaghall House and Art Center, (Marc Chagall spent his yearly days in the house on Pokrovskaia street, built by the artist’s father in the early 1900’s. He wrote about this period of his life in the autobiographical book “Ma vie” (My Life). The Home Museum was inaugurated in 1997. Its collection consists of household articles used at the turn of XIX-XX cc., as well as copies of archival documents and works by Chagall, relating to the artist and his family’s life in Vitebsk. The Marc Chagall Art Center, еstablished in 1992, exhibits graphic works by Marc Chagall (lithographs, wood cuts, etchings, aquatints). The Art Center’s collection consists of the series of illustrations to Nikolay Gogol’s poem “Dead Souls” (1923-1925), the series of color lithographs from the Bible Series, made in 1956 and 1960, the cycle of color lithographs “The 12 Tribes of Israel” (1960) and other works by Marc Chagall.), afternoon at leisure, Dinner and overnight at the Hotel Eridan.

Day 5 Vitebsk-Beresinsky Nature Reserve-Minsk
Breakfast, Departure from Vitebsk to Minsk with a stop at the Berezinsky Biosphere Reserve on the way. Walking tour of the reserve, visiting the museum of nature and a walk on the ecological path. In 1979 Berezinsky was awarded the status of Biosphere Reserve, and in 1995 it was awarded the Diploma of the Council of Europe. The Reserve was subsequently renewed in 2000 and 2005. Today the reserve is a fully fledged scientific research establishment with a staff of scientists. Later arrive to Minsk. Dinner and overnight at the Hotel Minsk.

Day 6 Minsk-End of Tour
After breakfast you will be taken to the airport or rail station. You can extend your stay in Belarus or continue to Poland, Lithuania or Russia.

Day 7 

Additional nights in Minsk available.

A visa is needed for travel to Belarus and is not included.