Jewish Heritage Tours
DAY
1
Arrival in
Kiev,
transfer to the hotel, check in, dinner at the hotel.
(If arrival early,
can add more sightseeing)
Welcome to Kiev, Capital of Ukraine!
There has been an important Jewish community in Kiev for more than a thousand years. At the turn of the 20th Century, Kiev was one of the most important centres of Jewish culture in Eastern Europe. Jewish synagogues, schools, businesses and markets were prominently represented in a city where Jewish businessmen, engineers, scientists, teachers, doctors, lawyers, writers, artists and tailors all lived and prospered. Israeli political leaders Golda Meir and Ephraim Katzir, as well as the Soviet.
DAY 2
Morning city tour “Kiev through the Jewish eyes”, visiting the places where Sholom Aleichem, Golda Meir and other world known personalities of Jewish culture and politics lived. Visit of the Brodsky Synagogue and of Babyn Yar. Dinner at a local restaurant .
With your private English speaking guide specializing in Jewish Heritage, explore Jewish Kiev, with a visit Podol Synagogue, and the Great Kiev Community Center. You will also pay respects at the Babi Yar Memorial, site of the Nazi massacre of Kiev Jewry, and movingly commemorated by world-renowned Russian poet Yevgeny Yevtushenko, who identified with the sufferings of the Jewish people.
See the
monument to the great Yiddish writer, Sholom Aleichem – author of “Fiddler on
the Roof” as well as many other bittersweet tales of Ukrainian shtetl life. You
will also see the buildings where prominent Jews used to live in Kiev - Babel,
Ginzburg, Mendelshtam, Liberman, Trumpeldorf and the site of the house where
Golda Meir was born.
Afternoon visit of Chernobyl Museum
and
Central Synagogue in Podil.
DAY
3
Morning,
Visit Sholom Aleichem Museum.
DAY 4
After early breakfast check out and drive to Pereyaslav-Khmelnytsky (90 km) – the birth place of Sholom Aleichem (1859-1916) to visit his museum located on the territory of the Museum of Ukrainian wooden folk architecture.
Afternoon flight to Simferopol. Upon arrival in Simferopol transfer to Sevastopol (70 km) and check in hotel, dinner at the hotel.
DAY 5
The whole day tour to Bakhchisarai to visit the Khan’s Palace (XV-XVI cc). Next
is Chufut Kale to see the cave. Assumption monastery and the cave town with
the best preserved Karaites buildings. Climbing up to the top of the cliff
one can really feel the wild beauty of the Crimean mountains. The air full of
flower and grass fragrance will help you to cover this ascent.
Some free time in Sevastopol for personal discoveries and dinner at the “Kavkaz” restaurant.
DAY 6.
The day starts with the visits of famous Panorama painting “The defence of Sevastopol, 1854-55” during the Crimean War ( the next 2 years are the anniversary ones) and Chersonesus - one of Crimea’s most exciting spots, called the Russian Troy dating back from an era when the Greeks started settling here in the 6th c. B. C.
Afternoon tour to the Sapun-Mound - the spot of the decisive fights for Sevastopol in WWII. The tourists will see the Memorial and the exhibition of the Soviet and German military technology of the WWII; visit of the diorama-museum “The Assault of the Sapun-Mount on the 7th of May”. The city tour also includes some places connected with the history of the Jews in this area. A wonderful early evening scenic drive through the Southern Crimea to Yalta (76 km). Along the spectacular way one can see the highlights: Balaklava valley, known for the Charge of Light Brigade in the Crimean War 1854-56, an impressive Baidar Church. One can also see from the top of a hill Foros (the place of President M. Gorbachev’s seclusion in August, 1991).
Check in the hotel and dinner.
DAY 7
Morning guided tour of the magnificent Vorontsov Palace (in Alupka) that immerses in the lush verdure of a splendid park with the crags of Mount Ai-Petri towering over the Palace. One of Russia’s biggest 19th century landowners, Vorontsov spent 9 million silver rubles on the Palace (now the Arts museum). The Palace presents original modification of Tudor style with elements of oriental architecture. The guests are then transferred to the former count Vorontsov’s wine cellars to taste ten samples of prestigious Massandra fortified and dessert wines.
Next visit - Imperial Livadia Palace, constructed in 1910-11 for Nicholas II and his family and located in the very heart of the majestic park of the former main Romanovs’ estate in the Crimea. This beautiful white Renaissance palace was the swan’s song for Nicholas II and his wife Alexandra. In 1945 it was the residence of American President F. D. Roosevelt and the venue of all 8 plenary meetings of the Yalta Conference. The “Big Three” gathered on the peninsula to divide the post-war world into spheres of influence. Nowadays, museum features exhibitions dedicated both to the Romanov family and the Yalta Conference of 1945.
The day ends at the museum of Anton Chekhov and dinner at the hotel.
DAY 8
After early breakfast check out and drive to Feodosia (180 km). En route visit
of the Genoese fortress in Sudak. Upon arrival – check in the hotel “LIDIA”***
and tour round one of the oldest towns in Ukraine with visits of the local Lore
museum and places connected with the history of Jews and Karaites in Feodosia.
Visit of Aivazovsky Art Gallery acquaints the guests with the works of the world
famous marine-painter.
Dinner at the café “Chance”.
DAY 9
After early breakfast drive to Kerch (211 km) to get acquainted with the remnants of Pantikapeum – center of the Bosporus kingdom, “Tsars’ kurgans”, Turkish fortress Eni Kale and Church of John the Baptist (VIII-XIX cc).
Kerch Lore Museum presents some of the most ancient stone monuments of Jewish culture. The tour also includes the meeting with a local Jewish community. Dinner in Kerch at the local restaurants and late return to Feodosia for overnight.
DAY 10
After breakfast drive to Simferopol (112 km) for a homebound flight.
PS: On the request - one full leisure day for personal discoveries in Yalta can be added.
This is a
suggested itinerary and will be modified upon specifc client's requirement
Prices are on request, please
email number of people, dates, what
kind of hotels (deluxe or tourist class) and we
will provide you a quote.
Client Feedback and itineraries we created for them to explore their heritage
L.F. Family of 4 , CA , August 2011 trip to Russia, Ukraine and Poland
In Kiev, the guide made arrangements with a Jewish family in
Radomyshl to take us around. That was incredible. They didn’t know
anything about my family, but were able to show us things we wouldn’t have
otherwise seen, including the lumber mill – which may be the same mill that my
great grandfather worked at.
The hotel in
Lviv was nice (Medieval). The room was spacious and well decorated. Only issue
is the elevator does not go to the ground floor. You have to carry luggage up 5
or 6 steps to get from the lobby to the elevator. Not a big deal, but not the
best setup.
Simone, 4 people from California and France, Ukraine and Poland, October - November 2010
Thank you so much for organizing the trip for
us. Every piece of the puzzle fitted perfectly together.
Kiev: A very interesting city. We had a well-informed guide. We were
greeted at the airport - which was very helpful. The guide was very
knowledgeable and patient. The driver was a perfect gentleman. We had wonderful
tours, and the visit in Malyn was particularly special. We were received
by a lady who told us the history of the town as well as her personal
experience. She offered us tea - which became a full meal. Then, an older
gentleman guided us around the town. We were very impressed by what we saw and
by how well the new Jewish cemetery is maintained. The hotel offered a
good breakfast and was comfortable. (The weather became very cold.)
Lviv: A beautiful city. The weather was sunny and it was warmer than in
Kiev. When we arrived, we were greeted by a young man who became our guide on
Friday. On Thursday, we had a very interesting guide with a wonderful sense of
humor. He took us around Lviv. The driver was very nice.
On Friday, our guide was Horest? (I would love to be able to contact him to
thank him) He was truly exceptional. He prepared for us with great enthusiasm
and took us to Komarno, which turned out to be a very interesting visit.
We met with the mayor of the town who gave us good information, and he called a
man who took us to various sites and to the forest - where people have been
killed during the war. The path leading to the site in the forest was muddy and
drivable by the van, so we started to walk to reach our destination. Soon an old
Russian truck came by, and my sister in law and I climbed in it. Then, the rest
of our group got rides in wagons pulled by horses from a group of foresters who
were picking up tree trunks in the forest. It was an unusual experience. Our
guide also took us to a couple of other town he felt would interest us.
The hotel was great and the breakfasts wonderful. Excellent location.
Sophia, you arranged a perfect tour for all of us and we are truly greatful to you for making it such a pleasant and informative experience (you even ordered the perfect weather!) The people you contacted and who helped us were each wonderful in his/her personal way. The hotels were comfortable and provided us with very good breakfasts. The train ride from Kiev to Lviv was also a very pleasant experience. I must add that everyone we met during our tour was eager to provide us with information and was very pleasant. The whole trip was perfect
Our clients
Bruce and Eve Weber explored Jewish Heritage of Kiev in May 2010 with our best
guides, Jewish Specialist Irene Trantina
Below is their feedback.
Bruce and Eve Weber, from California, May 2010, Russia and Ukraine
As you know, everything is connected. So what
happens when you want to experience an adventure in Russia and the Ukraine
combining Jewish heritage and Russian historical and cultural sites?
Easy question to answer. You contact Sophia Kulich and give her the outline of
your dream trip. Then sit back and let her perform her planning magic.
Sophia held our hands through the maze of Russian bureaucracy (government visas,
currency exchange, etc.); reserved top-notch, hospitable hotels in Moscow, St.
Petersburg, and Kiev; collaborated with tour operators in Russia and Ukraine as
well as our personal travel consultant in the United States; established a
meaningful itinerary and, in addition, exposed us to must-see historical gems;
and, most importantly, selected and vouched for extremely well-versed,
English-speaking guides, all steeped in education and knowledge.
As several months went by before the trip, Sophia continued to hone the
itinerary, improve an already detailed schedule, and constantly updated us with
travel tidbits and important salient facts. She is efficient, dependable and
professional.
As veteran global travelers, we have experienced many adventures--and a very few
misadventures--and can easily state: "Our customized, private tour of Russia and
Ukraine, as developed by Sophia Kulich, ranks as one of our finest and memorable
travel adventures.
Would we contact Sophia again to piece together another one-of-a-kind
experience? Absolutely yes, in a New York (ooops, Russian) second.
Bruce and Eve Weber
World, meet the Ukraine.
Visiting Kiev, the capital, is like stepping into a rich, fascinating culture of monumental history, neoclassical charm, and enormous beauty.
World, meet Irene Trantina.
She is, without doubt, the best ambassador and guide the country could appoint as its tourist representative. Irene is the perfect guide, educator and director. The perfect professional.
When you’re led by Irene, the only thing you won’t encounter is a dull day. She won’t allow it.
Irene directs, teaches, informs and paints a verbal picture of historical, charming and intimate Kiev, and also guides you on adventures to the “other” Kiev of quirky streets and unusual scenes. Irene does everything in a calm, efficient and professional manner.
Kiev is something completely different. You’ll only experience it if you’re fortunate enough to have Irene Trantina as your leader.
Bruce and Eve Weber
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