Galicia
Jewish heritage tour in Galicia
The intriguing history of Jewish Galicia which, in different historical periods straddled various countries and empires, offers insights into many of our families’ traditions and our collective history. Our itinerary, beginning in the Royal City of Krakow, will take us through a region rich in heritage. We will travel by coach from Krakow through southern Poland and into western Ukraine en route to Lvov. We will explore the area’s vibrant history through visits to Jewish heritage sites, meetings with individuals working to preserve Jewish memory and sessions with community leaders and activists involved in promoting contemporary Jewish life.
This tour is currently not available. Please explore our current tours in the Galicia area:
Explore Our Jewish tours to Poland
Explore Our Jewish tours to Ukraine
Tour Information
Price per person:
$2,390 Land Only.
$ 640 Single Supplement.
Accommodations:
Krakow, 3 nights.
Rubenstein Hotel.
Rzeszow, 1 night.
Bristol Hotel.
Lvov, 3 nights.
Dnister Hotel.
Lublin, 1 night.
Grand Hotel.
Meals:
08 Full Breakfasts.
02 Lunches.
06 Dinners.
Included Services:
Transfers, sightseeing & touring in deluxe air-conditioned coaches.
Luggage handling at all hotels.
Deluxe & First Class hotels.
Buffet Breakfast daily at the hotels.Complete program throughout.
Meeting with local communities.
Participation of educators.
Shabbat Dinner in Krakow.
Professional tour director.
Tips, except to tour director, guides, and drivers.
Pre/Post Tours:
We can accommodate pre/post tour arrangements in conjunction with this departure.
Passport and Visa:
No visa is required for this tour. Always make sure your passport is valid for at least 6 months after the tour ends.
Not Included:
R/T flights from the USA.
Tips to driver & guides.
Travel insurance.
All expenses of personal nature.
Itinerary
Day 1 Thursday Krakow
You will be welcomed upon arrival at Balice International Airport and transferred to your hotel (room available pending your arrival time). In the afternoon you will begin your journey through Galicia with a walking tour of Old Krakow will be followed by a welcome dinner. Rubenstein Hotel.
Day 2 Friday Krakow
Breakfast in the hotel. A walk through Kazimierz, Krakow’s legendary Jewish district. Following the indroduction to this classic Jewish part of Krakow enjoy time for lunch. In the afternoon, visit the Galicia Jewish Museum to learn about life in Jewish Galicia. Later, visit the vibrant JCC of Krakow. This evening enjoy a community-wide Shabbat dinner organized by the Krakow JCC. Rubenstein Hotel.
Day 3 Saturday Krakow
Breakfast in the hotel. Morning at leisure. In the afternoon choose to rest or take part of a walking tour that will include a guided tour of the Schindler Factory Museum. Rubenstein Hotel.
Day 4 Sunday Krakow – Tarnow – Dąbrowa Tarnowska – Rzeszow
Breakfast in the hotel. Depart Krakow by coach and begin the journey into the Galicia, today divided between the South Eastern part of Poland and the North Eastern part of Ukraine. Stop in Tarnow including Zbylitowska Gora execution grounds. Continue to Dabrowa Tarnowska for a visit to the biggest synagogue in Galicia. Continue to Rzeszow and check-in at the hotel. Later enjoy a walking tour of the historic town center. Dinner. Bristol hotel.
Day 5 Monday Rzeszow – Lancut – Jaroslaw – Lvov
Early breakfast in the hotel. This morning visit the famous tomb of Rebbe Elimelech of Lezajsk (a site of pilgrimages and blessings for Jews from around the world) and the beautifully restored synagogue in Lancut. Later, stop in Jaroslaw en route to the border crossing to Ukraine and continue to Lvov, the principal city in north east Ukraine. Dinner. Dnister Hotel.
Day 6 Tuesday Lvov
Breakfast in the hotel. Morning and afternoon tours of Lvov, a city of many identities, also known as Lemberg, Lviv, Lwow and Lembrik (reflecting its multicultural history). See the historic Old Town Square, the Opera House, remnants of the Golden Rose Synagogue, and the former Jewish hospital. Meet with members of the small community. Remainder of the day at leisure. Dinner. Dnister hotel.
Day 7 Wednesday Lvov – Drohobych – Stryi – Bolechow – Lvov
Breakfast in the hotel. Today, tour the area south east of Lvov. Visit Drohobych, home to the legendary Jewish writer and artist Bruno Schulz who was shot dead by a german storm trooper in 1942. Next, continue to the former shtetls of Stryj and Bolechow to explore the remnants of other pre-war Jewish communities in Ukraine. Lunch is served during the tour. Return to Lvov in the late afternoon. Remainder of the day at leisure. Dnister hotel.
Day 8 Thursday Lvov – Zhovkva – Belsec – Zamosc – Lublin
Early breakfast in the hotel. Depart by coach to Zhovkva, a Renaissance-era city, touring the main square and the former castle. Visit the Sobieski Synagogue, a treasure which has been recognized by the World Monuments Fund. Next, cross the border to Poland. Stop at the site of the Belsec camp and Zamosc. Here visit the synagogue and colorful market square. Continue to Lublin En route stop in Izbica, known as the only town in Poland without a church. Upon arrival in Lublin, continue on a brief walking tour of the historic town. Dinner. Grand hotel.
Day 9 Friday Lublin – Warsaw – Home flights or post-tour extension
Early breakfast in the hotel. Transfer to Warsaw airport or continue on an optional post-tour extensions.