Day tour From Vilnius to Belarus border a frozen corner of Europe
Description
In 1939, when officials in Kremlin were drawing borders around the Vilnius region that was to be returned to Lithuania, Stalin's pipe was lain on the map. Everyone was to scared to move it away, so they simply drew the line around the pipe. We are offering an enjoyable day tour from Vilnius to the isthmus surrounded by the Belarus border. Unique region of Lithuania frozen in time. Beautiful nature, castles, mounts, old churches, nature landmarks and border secured zone is waiting us during a day adventure to the forgotten corner of Europe.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Pick up from the hotel and drive to Medininkai castle located just on the lithuanian/belarussian border.
Medininkai Castle is situated 32 km from the centre of Vilnius. Medininkai Castle was built in the late 13th or early 14th centuries. According to the space covered, it is the largest castle in the present territory of Lithuania. The castle was built in the transitional period from the Romanesque to the Gothic style, and it is one of the earliest enclosure castles in Lithuania.
Enjoy picturesque views while driving through an open terrains. Very short stop at Turgeliai to see a beautiful church. The name of turgeliai appeared because in the past the town was known of large farmers markets.
The Republic of Paulava (Pavlov) is one of the most unique phenomena in Lithuanian history. It is an autonomous republic that existed in the 18th century, in the times of serfdom, in Merkinė, not far from Vilnius, in the present-day district of Šalčininkai, and had its own constitution, coat of arms, president, peasants’ parliament, money, treasury, mutual assistance fund, militia, and school. Today, we are reminded of it only by the fragments of the manor house, stables and other buildings, but in the second half of the 18th century it was the place where the most radical and progressive peasant reform in the Republic of the Two Nations was implemented.
After visiting Republic of Paulava we will drive to the "Dieveniskes Loop". There is a small checkpoint to enter the Stalin's pipe. It is very thin peace of land only 4 km wide. After a short stop we finally in appendix of Lithuania.
We are entering isthmus checkpoint. This is extremely narrow only 4 kilometers wide piece of land surrounded by the Belarus border. At the entrance travelers could be asked to show the documents.
There are 13 single-street ethnographic villages, such as Lastaučikai, Poškonys, Grybiškės and Rimašiai, which were formed by the Valakas land reform of the 16th and 17th centuries. Although they have have kept their structure to this day, most of the present buildings in these villages were constructed in the late 19th or early 20th century.
We will see impressive 1,000-year-old Grybiškės and Stakai oak trees, with their trunks of almost five metres in circumference, are cousins of the famous Stelmužė oak. The Grybiškės pine is a 100-year-old and potected by the state.
Visiting amazing 16th century Norviliskes castle which is lying just on the Belarus border.
Returning back to Vilnius
We will be visiting Bėčionys hillfort on the right bank of the River Gauja and it's wonderful view of the surrounding area from the top of the hillfort.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
we pick up travelers from their locations
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(8)
The company had quick response to our inquiries and were able to help with the day visa. As US citizens we were unsure about being able to cross the Belarus border. Martynas did all the paperwork the day prior, picked us up from our Airbnb early morning and we spent a wonderful day over in Belarus. He was very accurate with timing it would take to cross back. All 3 of us really enjoyed the trip and Martynas is a great guide. His English is excellent, he was very funny and enjoyable to spend a 16 hour day with. Highly recommend this company.
Dear Wendy, Thank you very much. It was a pleasure to travel with you. We are more than happy when our travelers leave such a good reviews. Regards, Different Lithuania
fascinating look at not only the countryside of Lithuania but also this very strange relationship between Lithuania and Belarus. very hard to go from one to the other. Martin's was a great guide providing a very enjoyable day
Dear traveler, Thank you for this great review. We were more than happy to share our knowledge and experience with you. Warmest regards, Different Lithuania
A different side of Lithuania from the usual sights in and around Vilnius so a hugely worthwhile and enjoyable day. Martynas was a friendly and knowledgeable guide and we saw no tourists anywhere despite visiting really interesting buildings, ancient sites, beautiful nature, and some incredibly unspoilt traditional villages. Visiting the border area and understanding too the day to day difficulties of moving between countries was also quite eye opening. We hadn’t quite known what to expect but had hoped to see and learn more about the country than the usual bucket list. We were not at all disappointed and would very highly recommend the trip.
Dear Theresa, Thank you for this wonderful review. We were honored to show you hidden treasures away from tourists visited attractions. Warmest wishes, DIFFERENT LITHUANIA
The tour was very interesting and informative, my guide took care of my needs with consideration and we had no time pressure whatsoever. I would book this tour again at any time, thank you again for this wonderful day.
Dear Traveller, Thank you sharing impressions with us! It was a pleasure to show you historical Dieveniskes region and travel along the Belarus border with you. We hope you will return for another destinations. Sincerely, DIFFERENT LITHUANIA
Martin was so knowledgeable and really tailored our day to our specific interests. We had a great experience and highly recommend him!
Dear Beloved traveler, Thank you for this great review. We are more than happy to hear such a great words. We hope you will have a chance to return and see more beautiful places with us. Warmest wishes, Different Lithuania
Martinyas was an amazing tour guide. Informed, professional and good humoured. Everything ran smoothly and we talked all day! Highly recommend. I enjoyed so much that I booked the walking tour and Traika trip there very next day. Would use again.
Dear Fraser, Thank you for this top review! We are more than happy that you enjoyed two days with us! We hope you will have a chance to return and see more with us! Sincerely, DIFFERENT LITHUANIA
When we booked this excursion we were not exactly sure what to expect - but it sounded unique and different which is what we got thanks to our great tour guide and driver Martynas. We visited all the great planned sites and more . He told us great border stories , took us to an amazing village where we met one of the residents who gave us apples and tomatos. Martynas came with us into the castles and sites to make sure we understood what we were looking at and made the entire day pleasurable . We went into the woods and picked some berries and mushrooms and at the end of our trip we stopped at a beautiful manor building where he shared some delicious local healthy snacks . He was the perfect guide on a perfect unique experience , my family and I had a fantastic day and this truly was different Lithuania . Thank You Martynas for a great day .
Dear Michael, Thank you for the top review. We were delighted to share our best with you! We wish you unforgettable travels moments in your future travel. Best wishes, Different Lithuania
I recently took a solo day tour from Vilnius to the Belarus border with Different Lithuania in July 2024, and it was a fantastic experience. My guide was incredibly attentive and knowledgeable, making sure to answer all my questions and stopping for photos at just the right moments. The tour took me to several hidden gems, starting with the Medininkai Memorial and the serene Medininkai Castle, which was refreshingly free of tourist crowds. We visited St. Kazimir Church and climbed the Juozapinė View Tower for amazing views from Lithuania's highest hill. The Paulava Republic was a unique stop, rich with history, and picking wild berries near Grybiškės oak was a fun touch. Rimašiai village's traditional wooden houses and Norviliškės Castle added even more charm to the trip. We wrapped up the day at Bėčionys hillfort with a delicious picnic of local Lithuanian food, including rye bread, fresh vegetables, and chicken. This tour was a perfect solo getaway from Vilnius, blending history, nature, and culture in a memorable way. Highly recommended!
Dear traveller, Thank you so much for the amazing review. It was a pleasure for us to share this hidden part of Lithuania with you. Sincerely, Different Lithuania
