The caravan is coming: suitable campsites in Belarus. A new look at auto tourism: will Belarusians be given motorhomes?
While many European countries earn millions of euros from motor tourists, one small country continues to boast of his profitable geographical location. But simply building roads was not enough: last year, 12 thousand caravaners (as owners of motorhomes and caravan trailers are called) passed through Belarus. They mostly traveled in transit, making occasional stops at gas stations and roadside cafes. Perhaps car tourists could find shelter in the only car camping site created in our country in the mid-1990s, but it is now aimed at other vacationers.
For European campers and autotourists, Belarus still remains terra incognita. Many, of course, will ask: what didn’t they see here? But in reality, the Czechs, Germans, French, Swedes, and Finns have an interest in our country. What's stopping them? There are several good reasons: the visa regime and the lack of reliable information about Belarus in the national language of tourists. But the main thing is the lack of specialized campsites. For comparison: in neighboring Lithuania there are 1,200 agricultural estates where they are ready to receive caravanners. In 2010, 18-20 thousand autotourists visited there.
— Theoretically, Belarusian agricultural estates can also accept caravanners,- says Nikolai Denisman, an experienced autotourist and one of the initiators of the development of caravanning in our country. — But in reality, their owners don’t even have an understanding of what is needed. It should be quiet place with all the necessary infrastructure and communications where supplies could be replenished fresh water, connect to the power grid, take a shower, cook a simple lunch. This is the minimum required. It is better if the campsite is located near the city, and there are tourist sites nearby. I'm not even talking about free wifi, the ability to rent a car, although in Europe all these services are provided on such sites.
It seems that there are not so many requirements, but finding such a place in Belarus is almost impossible now. Dudutki was chosen to host the international congress of caravanners and autotourists, which is taking place these days. “No one else could offer such a cultural program,”- Nikolai Denisman admitted.
Today about 100 crews arrived there: Poles, Czechs, Finns, Estonians, Russians, Ukrainians. These people, without parting with their mobile home, visit different cities and countries. Autotourists, not travel agencies, decide and plan their route and travel time. That's why caravans are popular in Europe. Their owners unite in clubs, organize trips, and explore new places together. ordinary tourists They don’t carry it. In Finland (caravanning is especially developed in this country), 280 thousand people participate in this movement, there are 68 specialized clubs.
— By the way, it turned out to be very difficult to persuade some of the invitees to come,— the Belarusians grinned. — Our Czech colleagues, for example, feared for their safety, did not know what to expect at the border, and asked what our roads were like. The fight against stereotypes took a long time. For six months we corresponded, sent them photographs, after which we finally managed to convince them that everything was fine here. I authoritatively declare that Belarus is the safest place in Europe in this sense. Some of our friends had unpleasant incidents abroad, but never here.
Belarus also has its own club of caravaners and autotourists. Now they are trying to register it with the Ministry of Justice as a public association. “There are 57 people in our club. Half of them are actively engaged in caravanning, In Belarus, as a rule, wealthy people buy motorhomes or trailers. ABOUTof our ownThere are no technical difficulties (we wrote about some of them in one of the first publications on Auto Onliner. - Author), maintenance is the same as for a regular car, we store motorhomes in regular parking lots. Sometimes difficulties arise with some components, but this can also be solved.”
Nikolai and his wife have a motorhome based on a Ford Transit, which has everything they need for an independent life - a heating system, microwave, sink, bathroom, TV, cozy sofas, etc. In general, a full-fledged mobile residential complex.
But the married couple does not travel around Belarus very often; they mostly go abroad. “We spent a week in Holland, spent 750 euros for five people,- Nikolai Denisman talks about his latest journey. — But the main thing is that we planned our vacation ourselves: we drove about 40 kilometers through tulip fields, visited small towns and villages where ordinary Dutch people live their lives. This is a different way of looking at the country.”
- But this is a seasonal holiday?- I ask.
- Why?— the caravaner was surprised. — Let's travel all year round. In 30-degree frosts we went to Veliky Ustyug. We were in Suzdal for Christmas. At the same time, we spent the night in a motorhome.
During our conversation, the caravaners recalled with nostalgia that this was something that once arose in our country. On the Zaslavl-Dzerzhinsk highway there is a place called Krutogorye, where in the mid-1990s they tried to make the first Belarusian car camping. “What is there now?”- they sighed.
But really!
The road winds through the fields and leads us to a gate with the old inscription “Highmountain”. At the exit you are greeted by a dusty trailer-dacha as a symbol of the past. Was here once military unit, then it was disbanded and a car camp was organized at this place. And then... everything changed overnight.
— The restoration period is currently underway,— a park employee greeted us. — But in general we position ourselves as a center family vacation. Here you can play paintball, for example. We have a shooting range, ATVs, football and volleyball courts...
Just near the football goal we found signs of car camping - old sockets. There are several dozen of them. Once upon a time, the tourist auto business began here. But everything stopped. There is no specialized parking lot, the sockets are rusting... It is noteworthy that the memory of autocamping in Krutogorye is still alive among autotourists.
- Yes, they still call and ask,— the center employee immediately recalled. — In June we will receive a special bus, 20 German tourists will arrive. They plan to live right on the bus, equipped with everything they need. Where to put motorhomes if you have to? Good question...
Meanwhile, it is relevant for the entire country. Recently, Deputy Director of the Department of Tourism of the Ministry of Sports and Tourism, Andrei Martynov, said that it is necessary to build more campsites. But won't this remain just another declaration of intent?
Unfortunately, our service sector still has a Soviet accent. Now almost every village house claims to be an agricultural estate. And for how many years now they have been talking about the development of roadside service, but things are still there. Where is the network of “one-stop service facilities” on the highways?
As of January 1 of the current year on republican highways worked 319 gas stations, 122 automobile gas filling stations, 68 hotels, 47 car washes, 71 guarded parking lots, 309 trade enterprises, 436 food outlets and 97 service stations. Currently, construction and reconstruction of almost 70 facilities are underway. Belneftekhim, regional executive committees, the Ministry of Trade and Belkoopsoyuz are faced with the task of commissioning 48 facilities this year - gas stations, car washes, service stations, hotels, guarded parking lots and food outlets. The numbers seem to be large, but this is an illusion, because there are many more kilometers of roads.
Only this year they started talking about real benefits for investors involved in the creation of tourist facilities. Businessmen have repeatedly drawn attention to the problems associated with the construction of roadside service facilities: approvals take too much time, and there are absurdities in the technical requirements.
— My small company is ready to invest in the construction of a campsite,- says Nikolai Denisman. — The main thing is that officials do not create obstacles. We have good roads, order at the borders, and there is no danger for tourists. We know how to organize a vacation for autotourists.
According to him, it is quite possible to cultivate wild recreation. Nikolai is ready to build a parking lot with a cafe, several guest houses, a children's playground, install communications, and organize car and bicycle rentals. “Anything is possible, but it is necessary that we simply not be disturbed. We know the nuances and even how to attract tourists,”- says the businessman.
Nikolai DenismanHowever, not all entrepreneurs share Nikolai’s optimism. Businessmen who were thinking about creating car camping sites told us what difficulties they had to face. Firstly, there is no single coordinating center that would deal with the field. What is it - tourism, roadside service or agroecotourism? Secondly, after all, caravanning is seasonal - in winter, Europeans would rather prefer warm countries. Thirdly, there are difficulties in selecting qualified personnel. After all, we need specialists who not only have experience in the service sector, but also speak at least conversational English at a decent level. Fourthly, there are unresolved nuances with the land issue (businessmen are asking for guarantees).
However, no one says that starting a new business, especially something like this, is easy. It is possible and necessary to take advantage of the advantageous location: according to the most conservative estimates, with the development of this industry, the flow of auto tourists may increase several times. But first you need to create something in order to get a tangible result.
Almost 500 people from 11 countries came to the international gathering of caravanners, which took place over the weekend at Minsk-1 airport. They fry potatoes here, chat and praise Belarusian sweets. the site visited tourists, and they showed them their way of life, talked about how much a mobile home costs and why it is practical, but not always cheap.
Traveling in such a house can be either cheaper or more expensive than a regular tour
At the gathering of caravanners we met with Brest resident Viktor Orabei, chairman of the association "Belarusian caravaners". There were enough Belarusians among the participants, but still there were not as many of them as, for example, Estonians or Poles.
“Even thirty years ago, I looked with interest and even envy at the dacha houses that appeared in Belarus. My family and I often went out of town with a tent, and equipped trailers on wheels made it possible to do this almost with the comfort of home,” says Victor, giving a short tour of his motor home. Small in the literal sense of the word - the house is very compact.
Victor had the idea of buying such a house for a long time. As a result, in 2011 I bought a used Hobby caravan trailer. The family drove the trailer for a year, and then decided to exchange it for a motorhome.
“We thought it was more convenient if the cabin was combined with a living area,” explained the motorist. — Although among fellow tourists there are eternal disputes about which is better. But both options have their pros and cons. For example, a caravan trailer can be unfastened and left in the parking lot, and you can go to the city in a passenger car. And driving a motorhome in the city is difficult because large dimensions. But we can move to the residential area without stopping along the way. This is convenient when there are small children.
If Victor bought the trailer-dacha in Belarus, then he decided to import the motorhome from Europe. The required option was found in France - an almost new van based on Fiat, with only 15 thousand km on the clock. With customs clearance, it cost the Brest resident 40 thousand euros.
— I don’t think it’s expensive. For example, prices for new motorhomes in Europe start from 35 thousand euros, add customs clearance to this. In addition, motorhomes are practically not sold in Belarus. These are mainly caravan trailers.
Victor is sure that anyone can drive such a car if they have the desire.
— Before that, I only drove cars. To drive a motorhome, you do not need to open any additional category - category B is enough. But you can’t do without certain skills. The dimensions of such a car are larger: length - 7.5 m (this is half a meter more than two Daewoo Matiz put together. - Note..
Victor stores his motorhome on the territory of his private house. Other campers park their motorhomes in paid parking lots.
— Unfortunately, Belarusian campsites do not provide storage services for motorhomes and caravan trailers. But in Europe such a service is provided. In a European campsite, they will clear the snow from the motorhome and warm it up if the owner so desires.
Victor and his family - his wife and daughter - were pleased with their new acquisition: it has everything you need to travel in comfort. The house even fit a tiny kitchenette and a small bathroom.
“A three-burner gas stove, oven, refrigerator, kitchen cabinets, hot and cold water, shower, toilet,” the owner of the motorhome lists the household amenities. — Four full-sized beds, a wardrobe, an extendable table and even a TV. This is the same house, only very compact.
Of course, you need to take care of the motorhome: monitor the battery charge, clean the toilet on time and replenish water supplies - the motorhome has a hundred-liter tank.
— One hundred liters of water is enough for us for several days. Of course, it all depends on how much you spend it. We have a thin stream in our shower, so the flow rate is small. Some water goes to the toilet, the rest goes to cooking. On the way, you can replenish your water supplies at gas stations (if we're talking about about Belarus), and in Europe - at a campsite.
The motorhome has a dry closet. There is no smell from it. The main thing is to clean it on time.
— There are special sanitary products for such toilets; they dissolve waste and eliminate odors. We use instant granules that look like those that housewives throw into the washing machine tank. One granule lasts us for two days, and a whole jar lasts for a year of use.
When setting off on a long journey, Victor does not worry about possible breakdowns that may occur along the way.
“We didn’t have to break down on the road—the car was “fresh.” In addition, before leaving, I check how it works and that everything is in order inside. But if suddenly something goes wrong with the engine or chassis, the breakdown will be fixed at any service station. And if something breaks inside the van, you need to go to a special service for caravans. In Europe they exist, but in Belarus there are small private companies that have experience working with caravans.
For six years, Victor and his family traveled almost everywhere European countries. There were also short trips for weekends, and long holidays of several weeks. Brest residents can go on a trip at any time of the year if they wish.
— Traveling in a motorhome can be both cheaper and more expensive than a vacation according to the package - it all depends on the place where we are going, on the season - after all, even the cost of staying at the same campsite in spring and summer can be different. But the biggest advantage of our trips is that we are free to move, not tied to transport schedules, hotel rooms, or tour guides.
During all his travels, Victor made a conclusion for himself: he would never exchange his motorhome for a tour from an agency.
“If someone is just thinking about such travel and doubts whether he can drive a motorhome, he should try it,” the caravaner recommends. “But you don’t need to immediately run out and buy such transport. Rent a camper trailer a couple of times and take a short weekend trip. You will immediately understand whether this is your hobby. Well, if you like it, see you on your travels!
By the way, Victor is a keen caravaner not only in terms of travel, but is also gradually developing interactive map campsites and camper sites, where you can find out where and how caravaners can stay in Belarus.
According to Victor’s observations, every year there are more and more Belarusian caravanners, even taking into account the fact that the infrastructure for this hobby in Belarus is poorly developed, and there are almost no specialized caravan maintenance services.
— Yes, the direction is developing. But I would like this movement to develop more intensively in Belarus, real campsites to appear, like in Europe, then tourists from other countries will come to us. But this requires greater support from the authorities and the Ministry of Sports than today. Yes, on paper there are campsites in Belarus, everything is fine. But in reality, it can be difficult to find them even on a map! Let me give you the simplest example: on the highways we don’t even have road signs that indicate that there is a campsite somewhere nearby! But even if you find it, visiting a Belarusian campsite will also leave a lot of impressions and raise many questions. After all, in reality, this is just a site, without infrastructure - at best there will be an outlet here, which you still need to get to. Unfortunately, we are far from civilized European platforms.
“The impressions from your country are very different! We have to go again"
We decided to get acquainted with caravaners from other countries - after all, almost 500 participants this year - an impressive number. Last year it was twice as much.
— There are toilets, there is water, you can charge the battery. The police protect us and even search visitors at the entrance - there is no fear that they will bring in something prohibited. It’s possible to live,” the Lithuanian Algirdas says optimistically when we meet.
About 60 tourists came to us from Finland alone. Traveling on wheels in this country is very common, this is evidenced even by the number of club members - they number in the hundreds of thousands. For example, Anneli has been traveling on wheels for over 40 years. The woman traveled around Europe several times, and was in Russia and Kazakhstan. But this is her first time in Belarus.
“There are no good toilets, electricity and water are far away,” Anneli shook her head with regret, assessing the infrastructure of the caravan rally in Minsk. The tourist chose not to talk about her return visit to Belarus.
Guests from Warsaw - spouses Grazina and Stanislav - have been traveling on wheels for 13 years. For the last three years they have been driving in a luxury motorhome; they bought it new for 100 thousand euros.
— This is our second time in Belarus. Last year we were in Brest. We then collected water at a gas station, but we didn’t need electricity - the system runs on diesel fuel.
Grazhina said that she liked it in Minsk. She even managed to look into some of the capital's stores.
— Your prices may be higher than in Poland, but we can afford everything. I was surprised, but in large stores you have very a good choice products, even better than in Polish. We bought a lot of Belarusian sweets with us - very tasty.
Despite the fact that the rally took place in a “clean takeoff field,” the caravaners were glad to meet and make new acquaintances. People gathered in groups, cooked together, sat at the same tables, visited each other and exchanged souvenirs.
— I really like to travel on wheels. I bought my first motorhome in 2002, and this is my third,” said Estonian Silvar, who came to Minsk with his wife, grandson and a small red dog. — The bus has all the amenities you would expect at home. It was expensive - 87 thousand euros. But in Estonia they give loans for the purchase of such motorhomes - their prices practically do not fall, so this is regarded as an investment.
The Estonian has already been to Belarus once. He didn’t feel any inconvenience at the rally in Minsk; he said he had everything he needed on the bus.
- But this trip is very short, so I will definitely open a visa and return to you for another couple of weeks - I will travel through the villages, talk to people, admire nature. You have a wonderful country, I loved it.
The development of this type of autotourism, such as caravanning, in Belarus can repeat the success of rural tourism. At least, this is what the Ministry of Sports and Tourism is counting on. Among the main arguments are the country's transit position, the love of Belarusians for cars and, no matter how trivial, the 2014 World Hockey Championship. It’s much easier to bring a large-scale idea to life for a significant event.
The state first started talking about the development of trailer tourism back in 2011, and the leadership of the Ministry of Sports came up with an idea - to attract auto tourists and transit visitors to our country with the help of tourist parking lots. But businessmen did not take up the initiative: no one dared to transfer tourists into mobile homes without administrative leverage. Now they will still try to direct the “caravans” of tourists in the “blue-eyed” direction.
Moreover, private businesses will be offered to develop caravanning in Belarus. District authorities will allocate land plots on favorable terms, and investors, as planned, will fill them with infrastructure. Large equipped parking lots with car washes, toilets and shops will appear in each region. Sites for their construction should be provided by local executive committees. First of all, campsites will appear along highways, near picturesque bodies of water and in national parks. By the way, the Presidential Administration will be responsible for the “caravanization” of the latter.
Both foreign and domestic investors are ready to engage in camping in Belarus: travel companies, “mature” owners of rural estates and experienced caravaners. There are many traffic enthusiasts in Belarus: even the Minister of Sports and Tourism Alexander Shamko prefers to travel by car.
Volleyball, lunch and... Internet
For the sake of camping, they may make legislative concessions. They should affect future parking lots near highways. So far, only those located at a distance of 100 m from the edge of the roadway are classified as roadside service facilities. To count on preferences, an investor needs to fit into the “100-meter line.” However, the owners of tourist parking lots do not want such proximity: after all, autotourists will be attracted by nature, and not by the road. Therefore, the hundred-meter limit for camping may be revised.
But investors are also expected to have a “sense of style.” Parking areas should include guest houses, shops, cafes, heated restrooms and sports fields. Autotourists can be offered fishing, cycling and excursions to local attractions. Ideally, the site should have a Wi-Fi network with free Internet access.
- It is assumed that the campsites will be located in picturesque places and include all the necessary infrastructure, including volleyball and mini-football courts, leisure programs,- notes the head of the planning and organization department tourism activities Department of Tourism of the Ministry of Sports and Tourism Lyubov Maksimova.
The campsites will be created with foreign tourists in mind. In the European Union, caravanning has long been one of the most promising areas: in search of new sensations, German campers - by the way, the founders of the movement - reach all the way to the Urals. People usually visit Belarus in transit and do not stay long. They will try to correct this misunderstanding before the hockey championship.
- Camping can be used comprehensively. If you zone it correctly land plot, then you can attract both foreign tourists and domestic travelers - especially among young people and family people,- Lyubov Maksimova is convinced.
They will give you a loan, they will collect the car
Sites for autotourists are intended to be all-season. “They can be used both in summer and winter, when tourists can be offered skiing, ice skating or fishing on a frozen pond,” the expert believes.
The MAZ-Kupava plant will provide motor homes for Belarusian tourists. His “portfolio” already includes two models of motorhomes and seven types of travel trailers. While the Belarusian market is “warming up”, most campers are pointing their wheels towards Russia.
To stimulate the tourism business, the plant is ready to make concessions: sell cars on credit or on leasing terms. The idea is simple: businessmen buy motorhomes and then rent them out year-round. But there are still few such daredevils among entrepreneurs.
True, one of the Belarusian banks is now developing a program for lending to roadside service facilities. It may provide for the allocation of loans for the construction of camper sites.
Belarusians, although rarely, use campers to explore Europe. Typically, trailers are rented in Lithuania or Poland and traveled with them throughout the European Union. Some tourists have already acquired their own car trailers, which most collecting dust in garages for years.“It is assumed that they will be able to store them in equipped parking lots and rent them out in order to generate additional income,”- explains Lyubov Maksimova, head of the planning and organization of tourism activities department of the tourism department of the Ministry of Sports and Tourism.
Get on the map of Europe
The success of caravanning in the republic will depend on the enthusiasts of the movement. They have already organized the Union of Camping Sites of Belarus. The Ministry of Sports invites them to go even further and create a republican association of camping sites. Such an organization will be able to draw up a map of parking lots on the territory of Belarus and attract attention International Federation camping and caravanning. They, in turn, will be able to put Belarusian sites on the camping map of Europe, which will ensure an influx of motor tourists into the country.
The finest hour for Belarusian caravanning should come during the 2014 World Hockey Championship. Free visas for the period of the competition should spark the interest of European motor tourists.“This direction should be no less promising than rural tourism”, - emphasize the Ministry of Sports.
But not everyone shares the idea of putting a house on wheels. Caravanning, first of all, is interesting to active people who are annoyed by being “tied” to a hotel or sanatorium. Most tourists will prefer beaches with sun loungers and cocktails to campsites. And traveling on wheels is not so cheap: renting a motorhome and fuel costs may well “cover” the cost of a trip to the sea. So, even if caravanning finds its audience in Belarus, it is unlikely to be numerous.
“Caravan routes” are still bypassing Belarus
Chairman of the Board of the Belarusian Club of Caravaners and Autotourists Mikhail Berezovsky told the site’s correspondent about the development of the camper movement in our country. In his opinion, at present this promising niche of the Belarusian tourism industry is practically empty.
— Caravanning in Belarus is just beginning. Although abroad it brings in 2 times more profit than the hotel business. This is due to the widespread nature and accessibility of this area. The caravaner may not resort to hotels, sanatoriums or rural estates during the trip, but he does use the services of campsites. However, it does not affect the hotel business. These people prefer to travel by caravan. Once you get involved in this, you won’t agree to anything else.
There are still few caravaners in Belarus - only a few hundred. Belarusians prefer to live at home and vacation abroad. At the same time, trailer sales statistics say little. Often campers are bought not only by motor tourists, but also by fishermen, professional athletes and cyclists.
European motor tourists are of interest to Belarus. They travel to Russia every year, where they circle the Golden Ring. True, as long as transit visas are required from them, they will not travel through Belarus. Although it is more convenient for them to travel through Belarus. But because of transit visas, they bypass the republic. Moreover, the number of such motor tourists reaches 3-4 thousand per season.
It is noteworthy that European tourists have the opportunity to freely come to Belarus from Russia. Some do just that, and then return the same way. But in Belarus they don’t pay anyone anything, since there are no normal campsites in the country. Many people here do not understand that a campsite is not a parking lot, but a hotel for cars.
Ideally, a campsite should include rich infrastructure. For cars this means electricity and water, for people - normal showers, kitchens, laundries, etc. Moreover, autotourists are willing to pay for it - up to 40-50 euros per day. By the way, campsites abroad are certified and, like hotels, receive 3,4 or 5 stars.
The main expenses during a road trip include the cost of fuel, food, communications and renting a campsite. Moreover, there are two forms of charging fees - from a machine and a person. In some parking lots in the European Union, tariffs can reach 10-30 euros per car.
Belarusian motor tourists will be interested in Poland and Lithuania, where there are quite a lot of campsites. The European Union has created a good infrastructure for caravans. Many autotourists from the CIS countries travel to both Scandinavia and Southern Europe, and even in Morocco.
Caravanning attracts people with a sense of freedom. You are not tied to tickets, hotels and reservations. But campsites need to be created where they will be in demand. Generally, these should be scenic spots that attract people. No one needs camping in the middle of a highway or near a city. Autotourists will stop where they can see something, go somewhere. And people don’t rest near the road itself - it’s noisy and boring there.
But also on the most romantic means of transport for travelers - a trailer or motor home. Blue-eyed campers often note that the culture of caravanning in our country is still at the beginning of its journey. And yet, there are suitable and equipped campsites in Belarus, and many of them are located in very pleasant places. And if you don’t have a caravan or motorhome yet, that’s not a problem. Firstly, you can rent it if you wish. And secondly, you can arrive to most of the locations on our list by regular car and stay in a tent or guest house. Start the engine!
Who are caravaners?
Travelers who prefer low-cost airlines to trains and buses cozy houses on wheels are called caravaners. These people are like snails who carry their little home with them everywhere. Caravanning is a whole travel philosophy, and our country even has its own separate public association “Caravaners of Belarus”. You can find a whole trailer on the club forum useful tips: where car camping sites are scattered around the world, how to repair your motorhome on the road, where to rent a trailer and much more. Campers also love to meet at special international gatherings and hang out together, which is why caravan gatherings are held annually in Europe.
MINSK REGION
"Camping 1"
Lake Selyava - Kolodnitsa village, Krupsky district, Minsk region
Coordinates: 54.543696°N, 29.173997°E
Distance from Minsk - 160 km
The camping site on Lake Selyava is cool because it is the only one equipped according to all European standards among its counterparts in Belarus. In addition to cabins and tents, there is exactly what we need - as many as 50 places for motorhomes and cars with caravans. In addition to the standard features, such as toilets, showers, a kitchen and all kinds of communications, at the base there is a place to play volleyball and a place for kids to climb. And even Wi-Fi works throughout the campsite (we hope you won’t need it in such a picturesque location).
The area around didn't disappoint either - the campsite is located on the shores of Lake Selyava, with an area of about 1,500 hectares. This is one of the largest reservoirs in the northeast of Belarus. Swimming here on a boat (and not only) is a sacred thing. By the way, locals like to tell the legend that in August 1942 a bomber crashed in Selyava, transporting 4 tons of gold to England - an advance payment for deliveries under Lend-Lease. So, if you're lucky, you'll also find a treasure!
Issue price: a place for a trailer or motorhome plus a place for a car plus accommodation for two people will cost BYN 20 per day. Children under 7 years old will be admitted free of charge.
Autocamping "Naroch"
Coordinates: 54.827540, 26.728157
Distance from Minsk - 150 km
Holidays in Naroch are a classic of the travel genre in Belarus. Here you can swim, go fishing, pick berries in the forest, and watch birds - everything is possible. National Park"Narochansky" is not just beautiful place, but also one of the five specially protected natural sites in our country.
On the territory of the park there is a huge recreation area, where grannies go to improve their health, and young people go to hang out in the fresh air. For now, the second is more important to us, so we head straight to the campsite. There is a hotel and residential houses for those who arrived in a regular car, and a special parking lot is equipped for the lucky owners of trailers. You can freely use sockets, water, toilets and other essentials here. necessary things. Places for motorhomes at the campsite are not booked in advance - although there are only 15 of them, there is always free space.
Issue price: you will have to pay BYN 6 for a car space, and another BYN 7 per person per day.
Autocamping in Dudutki
Minsk region, Pukhovichi district, Ptich village
Coordinates: 53°35.782\" N, 27°40.990\" E
Distance from Minsk - 40 km
Perhaps this will be a discovery for you, but in “Dudutki” you can not only stare at the blacksmiths and drink the only legal moonshine in Belarus, but also stay in a trailer. There is an equipped parking area where you can park your motorhome. All the necessary communications for campervans are available here, and your vacation in “Dudutki” promises to be eventful: in addition to trips to craft workshops, horseback riding and swimming in Ptich, they will even heat a bathhouse for you on the river bank.
If you wish, you can stay in a hotel (from BYN 55 per day per room) or a guest house by the river (BYN 430 per day for the whole house). There are no problems with food either: the tavern, cafe and bar “Shinok” do everything to ensure that guests remain well-fed.
Issue price: Parking for caravans will cost BYN 26 per day.
Car camping in ski resort"Logoisk"
GSOC "Logoisk" is located 35 kilometers from Minsk to the north along the M3 highway
Coordinates: 54.1058, 27.4830
Cool place for lovers active rest. Here you can fish according to the classics, and try out a whole bunch of sports equipment. Shoot at the shooting range, play mini-football and volleyball, cling to the ropes of the rope course, ride quad bikes and roller skates, play paintball - and this is only part of the entertainment in Logoisk.
As for car camping, here caravaners can safely place their motorhomes and connect them to all the necessary communications. While the biocapsule is being cleaned, go to a bar or admire the picturesque rolling hills of Belarusian Switzerland.
Issue price: Although Switzerland is Belarusian, the prices are the same as in the real world - € 40 for parking one trailer per day.
Autocamping "Prival"
Not far from the agricultural town of Loshany, Minsk region, 6 km from the city of Zaslavl in the direction of Molodechno (Route P28)
Coordinates: N 54.057789, E 27.296143
Distance from Minsk - 20 km
“Halt” is rated quite highly by local standards by Belarusian caravaners. Sockets and water are already good, but if you have a warm shower, a toilet (flush!), a washing machine and free Wi-Fi, there is no limit to the camper’s happiness. Moreover, the parking lot here is of decent size and can accommodate about 50 motorhomes at a time.
“Halt” is located, however, in a place that is not for everyone - on the Stalin Line. If you, like a true pacifist, don’t consider riding tanks as entertainment, then fine. It won’t hurt to stop at a campsite, and there’s no need to go into the military complex.
Issue price: parking for one motorhome with connection to water, electricity and sewerage will cost BYN 22.5 per day.
Camping "Rybchino"
Located on the road P 58, 25 km from Vileika
Coordinates: 54.4738, 27.1122
Distance from Minsk - 70 km
The very place where you need to go if you want pine trees on the shore. The shore here, although not sea, is long (1.5 kilometers), sandy and has a smooth entry into the water. And the Vileyka reservoir itself is considered one of the cleanest in Belarus. You are allowed to stop at any place you like along coastline even with a motorhome, or even with a tent (if desired, you can rent it on the spot). “Rybchino” has a bathhouse, gazebos, residential houses, and boats with catamarans. If you want to swing a racket, rent a tennis table or badminton. You can go to the toilet, take a shower and run around sports and playgrounds for free.
Issue price: A place for a motorhome or a caravan costs BYN 7 per day.
BREST REGION
Camping at the Alliance circuit
Brest, st. October Revolution, 117B, karting stadium
Coordinates: 5761700, 1172200
A spacious campsite in Brest, where at least 50 caravans can stay at the same time. It may not be worthwhile to purposefully drive here on vacation, but as a transit point on the way to Europe (or from it) it is a very good place. A shower for 3 BYN will refresh tired travelers, sockets will not allow you to be left without electricity, and security guards will ensure that there are no incidents. There are also toilets on site, although they only work during the warm season.
Not far from the race track there is a forest and a lake, and for entertainment you can race go-karts or ATVs.
Issue price: to stay in the camping area will cost BYN 12 per day.
Camping in the agricultural estate "Kalinka-2"
Brest region, Kamenets district, Goly Barok village, 27.
Coordinates: 52°12’26.77, 23°44’15.09
The estate with a cute name is located on the territory Belovezhskaya Pushcha, just 2 kilometers from Kamenets. The campsite here, although quite small, designed for only 4 motorhomes, is well equipped. Of course, the campsite was built with partial help from a USAID/UNDP small grant, so everything was done not in a clumsy way, but with all the necessary bells and whistles. Here you can connect to electricity, drain biocapsules, and replenish supplies drinking water. On the estate there are two kitchens, good showers and clean toilets, and, of course, everything for evening gatherings - barbecues, gazebos, dishes and other important little things. Those who arrived by regular cars can spend the night in a nice guest house for BYN 30 per day.