Baltics

9 days Baltic Jewish tours to Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia

The Baltics in Depth

The Baltics – seat of over 1,200 years of Jewish heritage, Lithuania and Latvia produced an abundance of scholars and thinkers whose legacy is still immense. Besides Rabbinical greats, many Jews of Lithuanian heritage are writers (including the co-founder of this company); many are scientists and scholars; and Israel’s government, from the earliest days to the present, is graced with an abiding “Litvishe” spirit. Tour Jewish Vilna and Kovno, the two sterling cities of Jewish Lithuania, as well as the major seaport town of Klaipeda (once known as Memel), the lovely beach resort of Palanga, smaller Jewish towns such as Pakruojis with the oldest wooden synagogue in Lithuania, and Riga, the culturally rich capital of Latvia. You will also enjoy visiting Estonia – a gorgeous gem with its own Jewish flavor and a charming capital, Estonia. This is the definitive Baltics tour.

Explore Our 7 day Jewish tours to the Baltics

Day 1 Monday Arrival in Vilnius 

Upon arrival in Vilnius, capital of Lithuania, transfer to your luxurious hotel in the heart of the city. In the afternoon, enjoy a walking tour in Vilnius’ Old Town, learning about Jewish life and personalities. Pass by the Medieval Jewish Quarter and the Vilna Ghetto, where more than 40.000 Jews were concentrated in 1941-1943, and learn the history of the Great Vilna Synagogue and Gaon of Vilna. Visit the heart of the city – Cathedral Square. Walk by historic Castle Street and admire the Baroque-style Vilnius University, where the thriving modern Yiddish institute is located. Return to the hotel and enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure. Stikliai Hotel.

Day 2 Tuesday Vilnius

Today, continue discovering the place in the Baltics once called “the Jerusalem of Lithuania.” Vilnius boasted dozens of synagogues and Jewish schools – consequently, we call it “Vilna,” its Yiddish name. While Poland is the source of joyous Chassidism, the Litvak or “Litvishe” mentality is, for the most part, known for its Talmudic reasoning. First visit the only working Synagogue, and explore the beautiful Vilnius Jewish Museum and Art Gallery. Next, visit the Ponar Forest and Memorial outside Vilnius. Amidst the rustling of the poplar leaves, feel the presence of thousands of Jews, taken and immediately shot in the early days of the war. Lastly, visit the Jewish cemetery, and pay respects at the Vilna Gaon’s sacred resting place. Above all, the Vilna Gaon personifies the Litvishe heritage; his attribute, “Gaon,” is Hebrew for sage. Return to the hotel and enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure. Stikliai Hotel. (B)

Day 3 Wednesday  Vilnius – Kaunas 

This morning, depart for Kaunas (or Kovno), the second city of Jewish Lithuania and, at one time, the nation’s capital. Visit the Kovno Ghetto and Monument, the Ninth Fort, where 30,000 Jews were murdered, and the splendid Chorale Synagogue.  Later, visit Sugihara House – honoring the Japanese diplomat who (like Schindler) saved hundreds of Jews. Check-in at the hotel in the afternoon. The remainder of the day is at leisure. Daugirdas Hotel. (B)

Day 4 Thursday Kaunas – Kedainai – Pakruojis – Rundale – Riga

Depart Kaunas this morning. Visit Kedainai, formerly home to several synagogues, and visit the small Jewish Museum. Continue to Pakruojis, home to the oldest  of the traditional wooden Synagogues in Lithuania. The building suffered during the Holocaust as well as during the Sovjet days when it was used for various activities. However, in 2017 it was restored and stands today as the best sample of this traditional style of a synagogue. After a short drive visit the impressive Baroque Place in Rundale. From here, continue to Riga, the capital of Latvia. In the late afternoon, arrive in Riga and check-in at the hotel. Grand Poet Hotel. (B)

Day 5 Friday Riga

Embark on a full-day tour of Jewish Riga, including the Jewish Quarter and Memorial to the Great Synagogue (which was burned down). Visit the wall honoring Righteous Gentiles in order to learn the story of Jannis Lipke, who saved many Jews. Pass the19th century Jewish School en route to the Latvian Holocaust Museum, located in the former Riga Ghetto. Next, visit the small but informative Jewish Documentation Center, part of a museum exhibit on Jewish life from the 18th century to the present. This Center illustrates how the Jews played a major role among intellectual Latvian society, and how their community was, nonetheless, destroyed by the Nazis. Additionally, the newest section of this museum illustrates how Jewish life was reborn after Latvian independence; the exhibit is therefore named: “The Jewish People Survived!” Cap the day with a visit to Peitav Synagogue, before returning to the hotel in the late afternoon. Grand Poet Hotel. (B)

Day 6 Saturday Riga

Enjoy a full day at leisure or join an optional tour (included). First, walk through the Old Town, one of the important ports of the Hanseatic League, Stroll by Medieval landmarks such as the Old Guild House, Powder Tower and magnificent House of the Blackheads. Learn about the Riga’s role as a member of the powerful Hanseatic League between the 1400s and 1600s, and discover must-sees such as St. Peter’s Church and the Swedish Gate. Next, visit Riga’s renowned Art Nouveau houses — including one of the few Art Nouveau synagogues in the world. You will also see the childhood home of Sir Isaiah Berlin, philosopher and famous Oxford professor. His commemorative plaque is appropriately engraved in Latvian, English, and Hebrew. Return to the hotel in the afternoon.  Grand Poet Hotel. (B)

Day 7 Sunday Riga – Parnu – Tallinn

Begin this day with a visit to the uniquely fascinating Jewish Cemetery. Later, depart Riga by coach and drive north towards the charming Republic of Estonia. Stop at the scenic resort town of Parnu, situated upon the shores of the Baltic. Continue to Tallinn and check in at the hotel. Telegraaf Hotel. (B)

Day 8 Monday Tallinn

In the morning, explore the city of Tallinn, rated by many travel magazines as one of Europe’s best-kept secrets, and deservedly placed on UNESCO’s list of “World Heritage” sites. Drive to the Upper Old Town, located on top of a hill, and enjoy vistas of the city below and the Baltic Sea beyond. Later, enjoy a stroll in the Historic Lower Old Town. This part of Tallinn has been carefully preserved through the centuries; it is one of the finest examples of a Medieval Hanseatic town. Stroll past the Gothic Town Hall to St. Catherine‘s Passage, featuring quaint old merchants’ houses. Continue to the intimate Synagogue and Jewish Center, the heart of Jewish life in Estonia. Telegraaf Hotel. (B)

Day 9 Tuesday Tallinn

Transfer to the airport for flights back to the USA. (B)