• France: +33-755811034 | India: +91-9867886893

Belarus Cycle Tour

Belarus Cycle Tour

Belarus – 10 Days

Type of tour: Guided
Level: 3
Duration: 9 Nights
Distance: 29 Miles/day average
Dates: Jul 3, Aug 7, 2015
Tour price: US$1400
Start city: Bialystok, Poland
End city: Mir, Belarus

Tour Description

A three hour eastward journey from Warsaw brings us to the borders of a country represented by a blank spot on many tourist maps.

We are about to discover a scarcely known but exceedingly welcoming country. The cities are clean and well maintained with carefully renovated cultural monuments. And the magnificent natural landscapes and national parks are a particular highlight. Cycling through Belarus requires no great effort. Traffic is sparse, there are no mountains, and the roads are quite good – some of them even with bike lanes.

We will be on the road for 10 days (from Friday to Sunday) with full-board accommodation. The tour will start and end in Warsaw, a city that enjoys easy accessibility with numerous flights and trains.

Daily legs over flat terrain do not exceed the 25-37 miles (40-60 km) limit. And the additional transfers by bus in Belarus are also not all that long (at the most 2-3 hours). There are two overnight stays at lakeside hotels and both are for two nights. You have the choice of resting at the lovely lakes instead of going on an excursion. We would request you to register early for this tour due to visa requirements for tourists.

Highlights

Highlights: Guided

  1. Warsaw
  2. Naroch National Park and Naroch Lake
  3. Augustow Canal, dating to the 19th century
  4. Minsk
  5. Radziwill family’s castle in Nesvizh from the 17th century
  6. Castle in Mir, an UNESCO World Heritage Site

Itinerary

Daily Program: Guided

Day 1: Warsaw – Bialystok
Individual arrival in Warsaw. Depending on how you choose to arrive, we meet at either the airport or at the central railway station in the afternoon. Departure to Bialystok (a city near the Belarusian border) is at 2:00 pm. We would advise those not able to book a morning flight or the night train to Warsaw to come a day earlier and to book an extra night.
Overnight in Bialystok.

Day 2: Neman valley (28 miles/45 km)
After crossing the border we cycle along the high banks of the Neman river to arrive at the Augustów Canal. This old waterway dating back to the 19th century recently underwent complete renovation. The four chamber lock at Niemnowo is particularly impressive. There is an overnight stay at the medieval city of Hrodna, a city with two castles and some churches of historical interest.
Overnight in Hrodna.

Days 3 and 4: The lake plateaus and Naroch National Park (28-34 miles/45-55 km)
We travel by bus to northern Belarus where time seems to have come to a halt. Villages with tiny wooden huts standing empty for the most part have scarcely altered in the last century. We then cycle along a string of smaller lakes and soon arrive at the crystal clear Naroch Lake, the country’s largest lake.
Overnight in Naroch National Park.

Days 5 and 6: Berezina National Park (22-28 miles/35-45 km)
Berezina National Park has the country’s most famous biosphere reserve, the Berezina Biosphere Reserve, which is at the water divide between the basins of the Baltic and the Black seas. This is the source of the Berezina River, famous from Napoleonic times. We then cycle through a huge expanse of untouched wilderness- dark forests, moors, rivers and seas. You may, if you wish to, also go for a canoe ride.
Overnight in Berezina National Park.

Day 7: Minsk (28 miles/45 km)
East European metropolises are not usually a particularly good goal for tourists on cycles. This capital city is an exception to the rule. Completely destroyed in World War II, Minsk was rebuilt by Stalin to become the “ideal” socialist paradise city. The Svislach River flows through the entire city, and breaks up into numerous lakes surrounded by parks and beautiful alleys. We then cycle to the city centre, a mixture of Soviet architecture and high-tech style.
Overnight in Minsk.

Day 8: Nesvizh and Mir (34 miles/55 km)
And finally we visit two imposing historical architectural monuments that are exactly a day’s leg apart. The Radziwill family’s castle in Nesvizh from the 17th century with its beautiful parks was recently renovated with great care. There is an even older castle in Mir similar to a fortress. It is a mixture of gothic, renaissance and baroque work that was recognized as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site following successful restoration efforts.
Overnight in Mir.

Day 9: Warsaw
Today we start the return journey to Warsaw, where we will be spending the last night. The time of our arrival will be either early or late afternoon depending on how long border formalities take.
Overnight in Warsaw.

Day 10: Departure
Departure from Warsaw unless you would like to go on another cycle or trekking tour offered by Bird Service or extend your stay in Warsaw.

Included Services

Included Services: Guided

  • All bus transfers from/to Warsaw
  • 9 nights accommodation in Hotels 2-, 3-,and 4-star hotels (all rooms with shower/bathroom)
  • All entry fees
  • Full board: 9 x breakfast, 8x lunch, 8 x dinner
  • Luggage transportation from hotel to hotel
  • Visa fee
  • Specialist English-speaking guide

Bike Rental

Bike Rentals: Guided
Bikes available to rent on this tour (must be reserved in advance at the time of booking):

  • Hybrid touring bikes: 21-speed, light aluminum frame

Bikes come equipped with:

  • Rear rack with panniers
  • Suspension gel-saddle
  • Lock

Pedals:
The bikes are equipped with flat pedals. You may bring your own pedals if desired.

Seats:
Tour saddles are included, but you may bring your own seat. Please ensure that your seat will fit with a universal seat post.

Helmets:
Please plan to bring your own helmet for safety and hygiene purposes. Helmet rental is not available on this tour.

european
Open chat