In 2005, four cultural and tourist areas appeared in Vitebsk oblast: Vitebsk area, Polotsk area, Braslav area and Orsha-Kopys area. Specialists developed 50 travel itineraries. Agrotourism and ecotourism started to develop in the oblast; 32 country estates opened their doors for tourists providing opportunities for recreation and leisure.

Hunting and Ecotourism

Forest is beautiful all year round, regardless of whether it is winter or summer, and having a water reservoir somewhere nearby makes it an ideal place for recreation. A hunter’s house will strike you with the atmosphere of tranquility and the smell of tar. You will find all the conveniences there, including a kitchen, a gas-cooker, plates and dishes, a TV-set and hunter’s trophies on the floor and on the walls. You may take advantage of visiting the traditional Russian bania (the Russian analogue of the Finnish sauna), tasting fish soup and strolling around the timberland in company with experienced hunters.

Vitebsk oblast is famous for the display grounds of wood-grouse and black-cock and big elks and wild boars. There are 120 to 130 species of bears in the Vitebschina forests. Up to 600 wolves are shot annually there.

 Agrotourism

What can be better than wandering around in the quite of the forest, breath in the fresh air rich in oxygen and scents of thousands of trees and flowers, drink crystal-clear water from the brook or simply nestle yourself on the bank of a river or a lake with a fishing-rod and relax? The guests of Vitebsk oblast will be accommodated in convenient small bowers and treated to home-grown eco-friendly products.

Experienced guides and staff of the nature reserves and biosphere reservations of the oblast are always eager to help eco-tourists ‘hunt’ rear or endangered species of animals and birds using binoculars or a photo-camera.

Sports Tourism

The sports tourism is developed along two avenues in Vitebsk oblast:

sports tourism (various forms of hiking) – trips by bicycle, water trips, skiing, walking trips.    
various types of tourist competitions.
The tourists-athletes of the oblast have won tourist championships and tournaments many times.

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