People in the swamp: traveling through Polesie

Vetliva
4 min readNov 28, 2021

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Belarus is famous for its natural wealth. Forests, lakes and, of course, swamps attract lovers of ecotourism here. Polesie is rightfully considered to be the most attractive, because of its picturesqueness which will give odds to many popular resorts. So, together with VETLIVA, we will figure out where to go and what to see in Polesie.

What to see

Polesie is a place where hundreds of bird species nest. Therefore, if you are a fan of birdwatching, that is, you like to observe birds in their natural habitat, you should definitely visit here! Belarusian Polesie has been chosen by such rare species of birds as turukhtan, blue tit, morodunka, etc. By the way, people come here from all over Europe to see them!

Advice from VETLIVA: if you like another format of recreation, then you can feel yourself a stalker and take a trip through the Belarusian exclusion zone. Whole abandoned villages, animals that are not afraid of humans, and vivid emotions from an unusual excursion await you.

Traveling through Polesie: excursions in swamps and other leisure options

Waterproof shoes, warm clothing, an experienced guide and a positive attitude — these are four whales that accompany every walk in the swamp. It is important to remember that swamps can be dangerous. Therefore, you shouldn’t leave the paved path in any case, and also walk exclusively during daylight. It is best to get acquainted with the beauties of Belarus as part of organized tours: it is absolutely safe and very interesting, because the routes pass through the most picturesque places.

Eco trail in Olmansky bogs

Thanks to the Olmansky swamps that Belarus got its name “The lungs of Europe”. Here you have to breathe in the spicy scent of wild rosemary, feast on cranberries (if you are lucky enough to be here during the harvest), swim on a boat on the Bolshoy Zasominnoye Lake and, of course, admire the nature of this beautiful land. The trail is one and a half kilometers long, and at its end you will find a real surprise: an ascent to a 40-meter tower, from which an amazing panorama of the surroundings opens.

Excursion to the national park “Pripyatsky”

The Pripyatsky National Park is another pearl of Polesie. The walk along the eco-trail includes a visit to the Church of All Saints, Tsar Oak and Tsar Sosny, as well as sightseeing tours around Turov and water cruises around Pripyat. In addition, this national park is simply made for fishing and hunting enthusiasts! There is no problem with a place to stay: fishermen, hunters, bird watchers and botanists have plenty to choose from.

Advice from VETLIVA: there is a safari park in the Pripyatsky National Park, which can be bypassed with a special train. Be sure to take your children with you: they will definitely be delighted with the meeting with fairy-tale characters, Santa Claus and Snegurochka, as well as a tame deer named Kuzmich. An excellent option for a New Year holiday!

Boat cruise

Pinsk is rightfully considered one of the most picturesque towns in Polesie. After admiring its beauty during the excursion, you can take a cruise on a motor ship. In three days you will see the beauty of Pinsk, get acquainted with the ancient Turov, have a great time at the hydroelectric complex in Stakhovo and visit the authentic Polesie village of Kachanovichi. After such an intense water journey, you will be able to consider yourself a full-fledged Polissya Robinson.

Have you ever been to Polesie? Share your impressions!

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Vetliva

VETLIVA is a multifunctional online booking service and a catalog of tourist services specializing in rest and tourism in Belarus.