Belarus Explorer

Trip Code: MI Price from: £799.00

Join us to explore the villages, forests and historic cities of Belarus and eastern Poland. We walk and canoe in the Berezinsky National Park and visit the town 13)_____ Polotsk – home to the artist Marc Chagall. We also tour the Belarus 14)________ Minsk and visit the 19th century Russian fortress at Brest.

Wanderlust recommends

1. Marvel at the grandeur of Minsk - Its impressive boulevards and expansive green areas a result of post-war Soviet planning.

2. Step back 15)___ time - In the museum towns of Mir and Nesvizh, both UNESCO World Heritage sites.

3. Take your paints and pencils to Vitebsk - The birthplace of Marc Chagall and home to numerous summer arts 16)_______.

4. Trek through - The ancient forests of Belavezhskaya Puscha National Park, home to 212 species of birds.

5. Venture to the frontier town of Brest - Sitting on the border between Poland and the Ukraine, the symbolic gateway to the old Soviet Union.

6. Delve into folk history - In the small village of Dudutki and shop for traditional wares.

Wanderlust tips for travel in Belarus

If you have room, pack a few rolls of toilet paper. Apart from hotel rooms, you will be lucky 17)_____ find any, including in restaurants and bars. Also, try to 18)______ a few Russian words, which will endear you to the locals.

5b)

• What do you think of the adverts? Would you be lured by them?

• What sights would you add to those mentioned in the advertisements?

• Prepare you own advertisement of a tour to Belarus. Decide what sights you would include, how you would travel, what your accommodation would be.

Ex. 6a) Modern types of tourism. Read the article. What are the modern trends in tourism? What can their popularity be attributed to? Adventure Travel: What's Hot, What's Not.

A week on a Caribbean beach or a jaunt through the tourist capitals of Europe still has its appeal. But how about embarking on an African safari, learning about Mayan civilizations or taking an off-road vehicle, well, off the beaten path. Adventure travel is hot, hot, hot. But some forms of 'adventure' are not, not, not.    

Adventure travel, increasingly popular among baby boomers(род. в 44-64 гг.) covers a wide range of activities from camping to mountain biking, wildlife viewings to archaeological expeditions. But it’s as much a mindset, opening yourself up to new experiences and destinations, says Mariel Clayton, an adventure travel specialist with the Flight Centre in Oakville, Ontario.

“For me, ‘adventure’ means anything that challenges you, that you’ve never done before,” says Clayton. “It’s not about hiking Kilimanjaro, but about the intensity of the experience – doing something you’ll remember for the rest of your life.” Already in 2008, Clayton has seen a 30-40% increase in inquiries about adventure travel.

What explains the appeal? Chris Doyle, Director of the Seattle-based Adventure Travel Trade Association attributes it partly to a desire for more “culturally authentic” experiences, and trips that satisfy a growing interest in health, wellness and ecology.

Jeffrey Bernstein, who owns Quest Travel in Vancouver, says tourists are often looking for what he calls “soft adventures,”  That means getting more in touch with nature, meeting the locals and enjoying everything that a destination has to offer, as opposed to just taking the standard package deal offered by travel companies or resorts.