Active Tourism in Belarus

Belarus attracts active tourism enthusiasts through a compelling combination of its natural beauty, seasonal diversity, unique destinations, and infrastructure.

Travel that involves exploring new places, emotional rejuvenation, and high-energy activities is increasingly popular. Although Belarus lacks high mountains or cliffs for mountaineering and extremely difficult trekking, and has no access to the sea with “big waves” and colorful depths, this country in the center of Europe is a popular destination for active tourism. Particularly for mass and family tourism - diverse in types and difficulty levels, moderately extreme, and requiring no lengthy specific preparation.

Famous relic primeval forests and dense woods, thousands of stunning lakes and rivers with varying currents, vast expanses of ancient marshes, diverse terrain, numerous historical and architectural monuments, and unique ethnic culture in the countryside… All of this makes Belarus an appealing destination for tourists seeking to challenge themselves and get to know the country better.

Moreover, across different seasons, Belarus can not only captivate with its picturesque and “never-dull” landscapes but also add a thrill with its unpredictable and changeable weather.

Types of active recreation and tourism in Belarus

Belarus offers a diverse range of active tourism opportunities, combining vivid experiences with physical activity.

Popular land-based activities include:

• Hiking (day hikes and multi-day treks, guided walks along eco-trails, excursions using swamp boots or snowshoes),
• Cycling tourism (bike tours along designated routes, extended cycling trips),
• Equestrian tourism,
• Safaris (on ATVs, buggies, cars, or snowmobiles),
• Adventure tourism (activity parks with challenge courses and entertainment, tourist multi-sport events),
• Alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, and snowboarding,
• Dog sledding (when conditions permit).

Hunting tourism holds a special niche of active leisure. Today, Belarus is one of the most attractive countries in Europe for hunters, thanks to the diversity of available trophies and the well-organized tours. Enthusiasts of fishing, both summer and winter, will also find many interesting locations in Belarus, a country rich in lakes and rivers.

The most common water-based types of active recreation and tourism in Belarus are:

• River rafting (by kayak, canoe, or raft)
• Stand-up paddleboarding
• Wakeboarding
• Windsurfing
• Sailing (yachting)
• Open-water swimming

Diving is also practiced in Belarus. Training programs at sports complexes and swimming pools, which allow participants to obtain international certification, are the most common form of this activity. However, the country also has lakes where interesting dives are possible and practiced. Among these are, for example, Dolgoye (the deepest lake in Belarus), Rudakovo, Naroch (the largest in the country), and Braslav Lakes... Interestingly, the depth of some natural water bodies formed after the retreat of ancient glaciers in Belarus exceeds 50 meters.

Popular aerial adventure tourism and recreation activities in the country include:

• Hang gliding and paragliding
• Skydiving
• Hot air balloon
• Sports aircraft flights

Interesting routes and places in Belarus worth seeing

Belarus boasts over 300 routes for hiking, cycling, water-based, equestrian, and other forms of travel. Many of these routes pass through protected natural areas: national parks, a biosphere reserve, and nature sanctuaries of national and local importance. For tourists, this is an opportunity not only to connect with nature in the most favorable ecological settings but also to witness truly magnificent places rich in biodiversity.

Here are just a few of the routes and locations to give you a glimpse into the diverse and fascinating opportunities for active tourism in Belarus:

Belovezhskaya Pushcha, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a natural jewel, is the largest surviving relic primeval forest in Europe, a shared treasure of two nations. On the Belarusian side, the Belovezhskaya Pushcha National Park features an extensive network of pedestrian eco-trails and cycling routes. Additionally, the park organizes horseback riding, tours on electric and automotive transport, and wildlife watching excursions for visitors.

The Berezinsky Biosphere Reserve, Belarus' only reserve of this kind, offers visitors over 120 types of tourist services, including six pedestrian routes. For instance, thrill-seekers can embark on a 12-kilometer guided swamp trek. For cycling enthusiasts, the park has developed five routes, including Trails of Victory which passes through areas where a partisan hospital once operated. The reserve also provides equestrian routes ranging from one hour to a week in duration, as well as kayaking trips lasting from one to seven days.

Belarusian Polesie, a remarkable region of southern Belarus,  encompasses the Pripyat River valley and its numerous tributaries. These lands were once called the “Sea of Herodotus” as the ancient Greek historian described this vast expanse of water. Today, it is often referred to as the “Polesian/Belarusian Amazon” due to its impressive scale, especially during seasonal floods, breathtaking beauty, and the unique, pristine natural landscapes that have survived to this day (floodplain oak forests, marshes). All this makes Polesie a compelling destination for active tourism, offering boat trips on rivers and lakes, challenging hiking and cycling routes, and safari tours. Visitors can explore the National Park Pripyatsky and other natural treasures, discover historical and architectural landmarks, and experience the unique charm of the region.

During the summer, the country’s only cruise ship, the Belaya Rus, sails the Pripyat River. Guests are offered multi-day voyages along three routes from Brest to Mozyr and back, with an itinerary that can include 15 towns and 24 attractions. Another unique destination for water tourism is the Polesie floating hotel, located in Turov on the Pripyat River.

The Belarusian Lake District, in the country’s north, is a stunning natural and historical region whose landscape was carved by an ancient glacier. It is famous for its more than 3,000 lakes and hundreds of rivers. Among its gems are the Braslav Lakes (a national park of the same name has been established here), the Blue Lakes, and the country’s largest lake, Naroch (encompassed by the National Park Narochansky). The region also boasts the country’s deepest lake, Dolgoye, and the northernmost and second-largest lake, Osveyskoye. The legendary Yelnya Swamp and numerous routes for active tourism round out the Poozerie region’s offerings.

In Verkhnedvinsk District, a major draw is Lake Osveyskoye and the largest island in Belarus located on it – Du, known locally for centuries simply as Ostrov [island]. Inhabited until the 1970s, the island is now home only to wild animals. The “Mysterious Island of Du” eco-trail is open to tourists, with campsites for overnight stays. The island is accessible only by boat, motorboat, or sapa. Incidentally, the year-round glamping site Osveysky opened on the mainland shore in 2025, offering a comfortable retreat amid stunning scenery.

The famous Yelnya Swamp stretches over 200 square kilometers across three districts – Miory District, Sharkovshchina District and Glubokoye District. This natural complex, over 9,000 years old, is the largest raised bog in the country and the fifth largest in Europe, contributing to Belarus’ reputation as the “lungs of Europe.” The Yelnya National Landscape Reserve, established here, is one of the country’s most visited natural attractions. Beyond the bogs, the area boasts over 110 lakes, forests, and is home to 130 bird species, including the rare black-throated loon, white-tailed eagle, and black stork. As a Ramsar site, Yelnya attracts birdwatchers from around the world. Every September, thousands of common cranes and tens of thousands of geese stop here during migration. Visitors have access to eco-trails with wooden boardwalks and unique excursions, including bog-shoeing tours and rides in a special all-terrain swamp buggy.

Did you know that...

Unlike most European countries, Belarus has preserved naturally regenerating wetlands – 1,348 bogs covering approximately 863,000 hectares. They enrich and purify the atmosphere as effectively as 20 million hectares of forest.

Swamp soccer, or peat soccer, has become a popular form of active recreation and a spectacular sporting event. The country hosts an annual National Peat Soccer Tournament, and in 2024, the world’s first dedicated peat soccer stadium opened in the village of Pravdinsky, Pukhovichi District. Amateur peat soccer competitions are also held at eco-festivals and celebrations, like Sporovskie Senokosy (Sporovsky Haymaking) scything championship and the Sea Festival on the Augustow Canal.

Belarus, romantically known as the “Blue-Eyed Country,” is rich in water resources. The country boasts over 20,000 rivers with a total length of 90,000 km, over 10,000 natural lakes, more than 60 large artificial reservoirs and over 500 relatively small ones. This makes it an excellent destination for both amateur and professional water tourism, including kayaking, canoeing, rafting, SUPing, and excursions on various vessels, like catamarans, boats, motorboats and yachts.

Due to the flat terrain, most Belarusian rivers are rated as Category I (out of six). However, this doesn’t mean the routes are monotonous or very easy. More relaxed rafting trips are available on the Isloch, Neman, Ptich, Vilia, Sluch, Berezina, Dnieper, Pripyat, Ubort, and Sozh, while extreme sports enthusiasts can find rapids on the fast-flowing tributaries of the Western Dvina, such as the Stracha and the Stviga.

Exciting water excursions and other activities are organized on lakes and reservoirs across Belarus.

The main recreational zone for the Belarusian capital, Minsk, is the Zaslavskoye Reservoir, located just a few kilometers from the city limits and widely known by its popular nickname Minskoye More [Minsk Sea]. It is the country's largest beach destination and a popular spot for recreation and tourism. Its waters offer a variety of activities - from windsurfing and kitesurfing to paddleboarding and wakeboarding, as well as sailing on catamarans, kayaks, canoes, motorboats, and yachts - all subject to the season and prevailing weather. Hiking and cycling routes are available along the coast. For example, there is a 28km cycle route To the Minsk Sea and Back leading from the Belarusian capital.

The gem of Mogilev Oblast is the Chigirinskoye Reservoir on the Drut River. It attracts tourists with its beautiful landscapes and diverse recreational opportunities. Each year its shore hosts the international Bard Music & Fishing Festival, which brings together fans of singer-songwriter music, fishing, and active forms of tourism.

The largest lake in Brest Oblast, Vygonoshchanskoye, is the center of the same-name nature reserve. Its territory features rivers, lakes, and numerous raised, transitional, and lowland bogs, with about a hundred pristine islands scattered across its waters. For visitors exploring on land, there is an eco-trail featuring four distinct hiking routes. A unique tourist complex, comprising two traditional Poleshuk [resident of Polesie] houses, occupies one of the islands accessible via this trail. The first is an authentic, relocated village house from 1921 (hand-hewn with an axe, not sawn), which has been turned into a distinctive museum. The exhibition shows how the Poleshuks lived a century ago, and what crafts and trades they practiced. Visitors are also offered a ride in a boat hollowed out from a single tree trunk. The second is a modern Poleshuk house, built to allow tourists to compare how life in these parts has changed over time.

The famous Augustow Canal is a shared heritage of two nations and one of the rare hydraulic engineering structures in Europe. The Belarusian part of the canal, located in the Grodnenskaya Pushcha Nature Reserve, is not only one of the country's top tourist attractions but is also renowned as a territory for active recreation, including water sports, hiking, and cycling. Numerous events are held here throughout the year, including some for the most energetic and sporty travelers. Among the major events are the International Water Tourism Festival Neman Spring, the Susedzi [Neighbors] Cycling Marathon, and the Sea Festival (featuring a race of traditional and homemade vessels and a peat football tournament).

Today, every district in Belarus offers interesting routes for active tourists. It is not just challenging, long-distance journeys in natural locations that are popular; urban walks that require significant physical exertion are also in demand. Typically, these routes connect famous historical landmarks, scenic parks, and green spaces.

For example, the Belarusian capital offers the 25km route “Minsk: On Foot from Chizhovka to Glebkovka”. It begins in N.G. Grekova Park, passes through Serebryansky Park, the historic Loshitsa Park, Serebryany Log Park, Chingiz Aitmatov Park, the 50th Anniversary of the Great October Park, the Forest Paths recreation area, and the Stepyanka Forest Park, ending in the Glebkovka Biological Nature Reserve.

Vitebsk, the host city of the Slavianski Bazaar, invites you to walk the route “On Foot from Oksanovka to Olgovo Through the City Center”. Its length is 23 km. The distance connects the Oksanovka Forest, the Shpili Forest, Vitebsk 1,000th Anniversary Park, Student Square, Victory Park, Pushkin Square, Frunze Park, the 40th Anniversary of the Komsomol Park, a decorative dam, the Botanical Garden of Masherov Vitebsk State University, the Square of the Heroes of the Patriotic War of 1812, the Park of Partisan Glory named after Shmyrev, and the Soviet Army Park.

Sport events and tourism festivals in Belarus

Thematic events held in various regions of Belarus bring together different forms of active tourism, mass sports, the thrill of competition, energy, and the camaraderie of like-minded people. These include active recreation festivals and holidays, marathons, races, amateur tournaments with large-scale entertainment programs, and more.

Among the largest and most popular events are:

• Minsk Half Marathon, the largest mass-participation running event in the country;
• Mogilev Half Marathon;
• Vytoki sports and cultural festival;
• Viva Rovar bicycle carnival;
• BISON RACE project, an extreme obstacle course race;
• Motol Regatta water tourism festival;
• Neman Spring international water tourism festival
• Susedzi bicycle marathon;
• Salt of Polesye bicycle marathon;
• Yazylskaya Desyatka national running festival;
• Peat football tournaments, and others.