Itinerary III: Slonim - Mir - Minsk - Berezinsky Biosphere Reserve - Bobruisk - Gomel
Day1
Arrival in Slonim. Tour of the town, including building of the former synagogue built in 1682 which is to be restored by the Union of Religious Jewish Congregations, Jewish housing areas and restored Jewish cemetery with the graves of local zaddiks, three sites of execution of 41 000 Jews.
Drive to Mir, famous for its medieval castle and yeshiva that functioned from 1617 to 1939. Mir is a birthplace of Solomon Maimon, Naphthali Berlin, Shazal Zalman. You'll see historic Mir Yeshiva, Jewish cemetery, former synagogue, the Radzivils castle used by the fascists as a ghetto for their victims.
Arrival in Minsk. Accommodation at the hotel.
Dinner.
Day 2
Breakfast.
City tour of Minsk which will give you the idea of its history, Jewish life in the medieval, pre-war and modern Minsk. You will see the site of Jewish cemetery, former synagogue and Yeshivah. You will visit Yama, the monument to the victims of fascism, Pravednikov Lane, an alley in memory of people who saved Jews during the World War II, and hear the tragic history of the prisoners of the Jewish ghetto, see the former Jewish blocks built in the last century.
Lunch.
Trip to the Berezinsky Biosphere Reserve (due to the natural variety Berezinsky reserve is unique and has no analogues in Europe (approved by UNESCO in 1979). It is located in the Nothern part of Belarus, 120 km from Minsk and covers the territory of 82 000 hectars. Boundless forests, fairyland swamps, deep rivers and lakes have existed here for thousand years following the laws of their own, and protecting the gorgeous world of animals and plants. Berezina is part of former waterway from the Scandinavian countries to old Greece, "from the Vikings to the Greeks" as we call the route).
Arrival at Plavno. Accommodation at the hotel
Dinner.
Day 3
Breakfast.
Visit to the Nature museum, where stuffed animals and birds, typical for the reserve are presented as if in natural surroundings. Visit to the museum of weaving, where one can try him/herself in weaving and buy articles for a gift.
Departure by bus to the remote forest (35 km from the hotel) for a walking tour along ecological routes. Observation of wild animals and birds (on possibility) from a specially equipped tower.
Lunch-picnic. Time at leisure. Return to the hotel.
Day 4
Breakfast.
Sailing across several lakes. Observation of environment. Fishing (on request).
Lunch-picnic on the bank of the lake with "uha" (special fish soup) and other Belarusian dishes. Time at leisure. Return to the hotel.
After/before dinner there is a possibility to enjoy sauna or Russian "banya"; riding a horse or a horse-drawn coach (on request).
Day 5
Breakfast.
Departure to Gomel. On the way short visit to Bobruisk
Arrival in Gomel. Accommodation at the hotel. Dinner.
Day 6
Breakfast.
Tour around the city. Visiting places connected with Jewish Heritage.
Lunch. Departure to the border.