Time for winter fun

What attracts discerning tourists to rural guest houses in winter?

The image of Belarus’ hospitality sector is built not only on well-known health resorts but also on the people who welcome tourists to their estates. How effectively do guest houses utilise the winter months? We ventured into different corners of the country to find out how owners of farmsteads from various regions greet the cold season and what secrets of cosiness help them attract guests even in the frostiest months. For some estate owners, the snowy season becomes the peak of popularity. For others, it is a quiet period requiring thorough preparation.

Guest house in village of Panteleiki                                                                                      

For the ZimaLeto (WinterSummer) guest house in Logoisk, the snowy season is, without exaggeration, a golden time. The owner, Svetlana Lagunovskaya, does not hide the fact that the main trump card of their estate is its strategically advantageous location just two kilometres from the Logoisk ski resort and five kilometres from Silichi. “We practically do not advertise, as we already have established clients who return year after year,” says Svetlana. “People come specifically to ski. In the evenings, a heated banya (bathhouse) awaits them to instantly restore their strength. Guests come from all corners and even from Russia, with many tourists from Smolensk booking a cottage for a week.”
In summer, accommodation costs are significantly cheaper, while in winter, prices predictably rise. The estate offers accommodation in a guest house designed for six people, with an equipped kitchen. The décor, executed in a cosy rural style, is constantly maintained in perfect order.
The situation is quite different for Natalya Brishchuk, the owner of the U Kamina (By the Fireplace) guest house in the village of Khvoyanovka, Kamenets District, on the very edge of the Belovezhskaya Pushcha. While in summer her sturdy log house surrounded on three sides by forest and field, where roe deer and deer can often be seen, is in great demand among lovers of unique nature, in winter unforeseen difficulties arise. 
This winter has been the first so severe in recent years, forcing Natalya to close the estate until it warms up. Although U Kamina usually welcomed guests for the New Year celebrations, this year the priority was to maintain communications and prevent failures. It is likely that the guest house doors will not reopen until May, when the Belovezhskaya Pushcha comes to life again.
Valentina Atroshko, the hostess of the Ozyorny Bereg (Lake Shore) guest house in Slobodka, Braslav District, is an amazing woman with a rich past. A former teacher of French and headmistress, she is now retired but continues to lead an active lifestyle, welcoming guests and finding her vocation in this.
Valentina receives guests in winter only in favourable weather conditions and if she has free time. Frosts create certain problems: the water can freeze, she needs to be confident in uninterrupted electricity and clear the paths of snow. Therefore, she only accepts guests when she can guarantee them a high-quality and comfortable stay. “In winter, the bathhouse and, of course, fishing are very popular here. Lake Potsekh is connected to Nespish; the ice is strong, which attracts fishermen,” noted Valentina. “You can sit just 10 metres from the porch with a cup of coffee and savour the views of the lake, the peace and quiet.” 
Despite the difficulties, Valentina always invests everything she earns in the development of the estate. The house, built in 1932, requires constant care and modernisation. The summer months, especially July, are already being actively booked, which indicates the continued popularity of this place in the warmer months.

  



















Dog trekking is popular in Vitebsk Region                                     Husky riding at Utrina farmstead

Aleksei and Emilia Berezin, a large family with four children, have become the owners of the Lazurny Bereg (Azure Shore) guest house and live on the Petukhovshchina farmstead in Braslav Region. Their house is perfectly adapted for family holidays. “The neighbours are far away, and the lake is close,” says Aleksei. “The house is spacious and cosy, ideal for six people. In winter, not only fishermen come here, but also those who love a quiet holiday: to sit by the fireplace, have a steam bath and grill skewered meat in the gazebo. January brings a quiet lull, as it does for many.”
This year, the Berezins are expanding their offering by building another house made of environmentally friendly wood.
Natalya Melnichenko, the owner of the Utrina farmstead and head of the Utrina peasant farm from Glubokoye District in Vitebsk Region, has created a real eco-park, where winter recreation takes on a special northern flavour. Utrina is not just a farmstead, but a large complex including a peasant farm and personal subsidiary plot with more than 100 goats and sheep, 11 horses, 32 huskies, as well as pigs. This is a genuine petting zoo, where everyone will find something interesting. “In winter, our speciality is winter recreation, we are developing the Belarusian Alaska brand,” recounted Natalya. “We have a husky park where our pets live.”
The winter season in Utrina is a kaleidoscope of activities. The most popular service is dog sledding. Huskies cover routes of up to two kilometres in 10–15 minutes, giving guests an unforgettable experience. The farmstead workers specially roll the snow so that the paths are preserved until spring.
The Japanese furo [wooden bathtub often with deep, straight sides to fully submerge], a hot plunge tub for 12 people in the open air, located on the terrace of the guest houses, is a great opportunity to improve your health and relax. Winter horse riding trips are held with an instructor, you can ride even without a saddle, bit and bridle, which is very good for your health and allows you to soak in the beauty of the winter forest. Walks with dogs (dog trekking) are popular and involve special harnesses, a picnic on the Shosha River, where pancakes are baked and hot tea is prepared. There are also a variety of masterclasses: culinary, archery, playing the didgeridoo [an Australian Aboriginal musical instrument made from hollowed-out wood]. Sure enough, evenings feature fascinating programmes.
The Legendary Pony agro-eco estate recently opened in Olgovo, Vitebsk Region, offering exciting rides in antique sleighs and horse riding tours through the winter forest. The owner, Yana Aleksandrova, is an experienced horse breeder. The ancestral sleighs have been given a new lease of life, immersing modern Belarusians in the rural past. Everything is as it used to be: you sit on a straw pallet, hear the creak of the sleigh runners on the snow, your face is nipped by the frost as you squint from the sparkling white all around... No urban hustle and bustle. Notably, the estate offers an hour-long horseback riding route as well as riding lessons.
The winter season for agro-estates is a time of special enchanting atmosphere and, at the same time, serious challenges. Some, like ZimaLeto, benefit from a developed infrastructure for outdoor activities and an established customer base. Others, like U Kamina, are forced to take a break due to the vagaries of the weather and remoteness. And still others, like Ozyorny Bereg or Lazurny Bereg, find their guests by offering them a quiet holiday by the fireplace, winter fishing and the opportunity to enjoy the untouched beauty of Belarusian nature.

Anyway, they are all united by one thing: a love for what they do, tireless work and a sincere desire to give people comfort and warmth, which is especially valuable in the cold season.

 Riding in a one-horse open sleigh at Legendary Pony agro-eco estate                                               Anton Stepanishchev

 By Alena Yasko

Photos from the protagonists’ archive