Belarus

Walk through Minsk's Independence Square and grand Soviet-era boulevards, taking in the city's striking mix of monumental architecture and modern riverside cafés along the Svislach River. Take a day trip to the UNESCO-listed Mir Castle, with its fairy-tale Gothic-Baroque towers, followed by the Radziwiłł family's Nesvizh Castle nearby. Close the trip with an evening river cruise and a dinner of authentic Belarusian dishes like draniki (potato pancakes) and machanka (pork stew).

This package pairs Minsk's UNESCO castles with a full day at Belovezhskaya Pushcha National Park, home to Europe's last primeval forest and free-roaming European bison - a rare wildlife encounter found almost nowhere else on the continent. A visit to Brest Hero Fortress, a poignant WWII memorial and museum complex, adds historical depth to this nature and heritage combination, rounded off with local countryside dining near the park.

Designed for travelers who want more than city sightseeing, this package covers Belovezhskaya Pushcha's ancient forest trails and bison-spotting excursions, paired with a visit to the lesser-known old towns of Grodno or Vitebsk. Mir Castle's towers and Minsk's Independence Square round out a well-balanced mix of nature and heritage across the country.