The amazing natural monument is known even to those who have never been to Belarus. A remnant of a relic forest, Belovezhskaya Pushcha is considered one of the main attractions of the country. The Sarmatian mixed forest also occupies a small part of Poland. The state border runs through its territory. The flow of tourists seeking to visit the protected area is quite large. Many go as part of a tour, but there are many fans of independent travel. The distance from Minsk to Belovezhskaya Pushcha is considerable, so you have to plan your trip in advance.
What to see in Pushcha
Mention of an unusual forest is found in the Ipatiev Chronicles in 873. In the Middle Ages, the Forest was the hunting grounds of the Polish kings. Trees were cut down for shipbuilding and household purposes.
The ancient forest is home to many rare and endangered species. To preserve the unique natural monument, Poland and Belarus created a biosphere reserve, which was included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
The bison became the symbol of the reserve. Hunting these mighty animals has brought them to the brink of extinction, and the hard work of specialists has helped correct the situation. The diversity of the flora is very high, the average age of the trees is 81 years. There are oaks that live about 600 years, spruces that reach the 200-year mark.
The area is conventionally divided into a core, buffer and transition parts. Tourists can only access the recreational area, there is a segment where entry is permitted only with a guide. Only staff and scientists work in the closed protected area. The administrative center is located in the village of Kamenyuki, so everyone who goes to the reserve, first get here.
The largest part of the visitors are fans of ecotourism. They come for a few days, checking into hotels and choosing an itinerary to their liking. There are organized tours and trails for independent travel.
How to get there?
The distance from Minsk to Belovezhskaya Pushcha is about 334 km if you drive on the highway. On the map the section Minsk – Belovezhskaya Pushcha looks small, but you should take into account that during the trip you will want to look at the surroundings and to wander through the most beautiful places, so you better leave with plenty of time.
Route: Brest – Belovezhskaya Pushcha
Route: Minsk – Belovezhskaya Pushcha
Those who prefer public transportation should consider the direct route, but buses only run on Saturday and Monday. The exact schedule is available at the station or on the official website. A more convenient option involves transplanting. First, you need to take a train from Minsk to Brest, and then take a minibus to Kamenyuk. The distance from Brest to Belovezhskaya Pushcha is short, about 65 km.
From Minsk to Belovezhskaya Pushcha you should take M1-R7-R83 highway. You will have to spend 3.5-4 hours on the road, not including stops. Some travelers prefer to stop in Brest and make an intermediate stop there. To know how many kilometers from Brest to Belovezhskaya Pushcha, it is worth knowing in advance and approximately calculate the travel time in order to arrive in the first half of the day and have time to take a tour or choose a room, if the trip is designed for several days.