Planning a leisure route

Autumn is not a time for gloom and preparing for hibernation. It is a time of bright colours, warm knitted blankets, hot tea and no less interesting and exciting trips. In Belarus, nature blooms with all its glorious colours, inviting everyone to enjoy its charm. Dampness and short daylight hours won’t be a problem for outdoor activities, as long as you plan ahead. What are the ways to relax and unwind in autumn in our country?

Hydro park in Sosnovy Bor health resort, Minsk Region   Ilya Shvedko

Comfort for every taste

Belarusian sanatoriums are traditionally popular not only among locals but also with our neighbours. The secret is simple: alongside affordable prices, they offer a wide range of services and comfort. In our health resorts, guests can undergo a course of various treatment procedures, including balneotherapy, mud therapy, physiotherapy, and more. Visitors note that the cost of relaxation in Belarus is significantly lower than in similar establishments in other countries.
Depending on the comfort level of the room and the services offered, prices range from Br97 for a double room in a block to Br439 for a single two-room suite per person per day. This usually includes accommodation, five meals per day, a doctor’s consultation, and prescribed treatments according to the necessary profile. Sanatoriums typically hold competitions, games, entertainment programmes, sports and musical events, as well as tours of sights and local attractions. Guests can enjoy table tennis, billiards, bicycle rentals, swimming pools, spa complexes, saunas, and other services. 

Belarusian agro-estates offer vast opportunities for diverse leisure activities. According to experts, this season has proved to be very active. In addition to Belarusians, Russians and our neighbours from Latvia are showing great interest in Belarus’ agro-ecotourism, arriving in groups. Currently, around 1,300 farmsteads are operating in the country, all of which are in demand. Many travel agencies include visits to popular farmsteads in their programmes. Recently, the northern direction has become particularly trendy: for example, Yelnya — the largest unique area of raised bogs in Belarus. Certified guides are now working there.

Close to the nature reserve

Resting in the countryside is an excellent choice for those who wish to enjoy nature and spend weekends or holidays in the cosy corners of Belarus with picturesque landscapes. One can rent a small house or cottage in a desired location. Options and prices can meet various needs. Thus, you can relax at a dacha in the village of Semkovo, Logoisk District. This village-style house features wooden finishing, three rooms, a land plot of 7,000 sq.m., a pond, a bathhouse, a barbecue area, a gazebo, a fireplace, a fridge, and even the internet! All these amenities cost Br30 per day per person. Moreover, if necessary, the owners are ready to help arrange a birthday celebration, a wedding, corporate event, or other festivities.
Another option is a wooden cottage by Lake Sumovka in Braslav. This is a nature reserve area near the Yelnya National Landscape Reserve, which is called the lungs of Europe. The house can comfortably accommodate up to eight people. The land plot of 5,000 sq.m. includes landscape design, a grill area, and a bathhouse. A boat, table tennis, and a karaoke speaker are included in the cost. The price per day is Br400 (for eight people), per week — from Br2,500, and per month — from Br8,000. A discount system is in place.
There are plenty of options available in the leisure market, and everyone can choose something suitable in terms of price, conditions, and location. In any case, even the most budget-friendly houses are equipped with everything necessary for a peaceful and comfortable stay.

Radyushi farmstead in Grodno Region is surrounded by picturesque meadows and floodplain oak forests    grodnovisafree.grsu.by

Eco alternative

Agro-ecotourism remains popular and continues to be a unique feature of our country. Thus, a tour with foreign visitors always includes a visit to a farmstead — it is like the cherry on the cake.
Today, travel agencies come up with fascinating itineraries that encompass engrossing activities, such as kayaking trips, visits to the ‘Blue Lakes’, and gastronomic delights at farmsteads, among others. Belarusian tour products are becoming increasingly diverse, showcasing distinct facets of Belarusian culture — this is what our guests are primarily interested in. Participants can engage in various workshops and masterclasses led by artisans, or learn folk dances and songs, ensuring there is never a dull moment. Additionally, travellers have already personally experienced how a holiday abroad can turn into a test due to various restrictions. As a result, many prefer not to turn their vacation into a challenge and choose to relax at home, especially since Belarusian climate has now become close to Mediterranean.
Prices vary, depending on the conditions and richness of the recreation programme. It is one thing when a large group of tourists arrives, and quite another when a few individuals or a family come for the weekend, needing merely accommodation and breakfast. Some visitors may wish for a varied, tailored programme, such as kayaking down a river — this incurs an additional fee. A 24-hour stay in comfortable conditions with breakfast typically costs around Br100. Some places might charge as little as Br60, depending on the amenities. If one adds a kayaking trip, it would be an extra Br70-80. In any case, this is quite a reasonable price for spending leisure time or a holiday with joy and benefit combined.
Typically, all leisure options are booked in advance. Summer, of course, is the peak season, but it is worth noting that autumn is also a vibrant period. Therefore, it is wise to act swiftly to choose the most suitable holiday option.

To the point

Tatiana Lidyayeva, Deputy Head of Sports and Tourism Department at the Grodno Regional Executive Committee,
“Agro-estates are not just places for quiet rural retreats. In Grodno Region, there has been created a comprehensive tourist product, offering ‘all in one package’ — active nature outings, gastronomic tours, cultural and entertainment programmes, and more. The variety of engaging events in many of those farmsteads rivals that of urban tourism. For instance, there are workshops on baking unleavened bread, decorating gingerbread, making homemade butter, and preparing pancakes, as well as samovar lighting, among others. In Mosty District, a tourist route has been established that includes kayaking on the Shchara River, off-road safari in the Lipichanskaya Pushcha, cooking dishes based on traditional regional recipes, and tasting herbal teas. In Shchuchin District, an ecological trail has been laid out, and a house-museum of village history and peasant life has been opened. Last year, 267 active agro-estates in Grodno Region welcomed over 82,400 tourists.” 

By Dmitry Shamko