For the summer of 2004 we are planning to organize several group trips to the former Soviet Union. As of today, we have received several requests for tours to Russia-Ukraine and to Russia-Belarus-Lithuania. For groups of 12 or more persons we offer tours, which include three days in Moscow, four days in Saint Petersburg, and then trip to either Ukraine (Kiev and visits to shtetlach in Ukraine), to Belarus (Minsk and Vitebsk), or to Lithuania (old Vilna, including a visit to the ghetto and a Karait settlement).
If you are interested in visiting those parts of Eastern Europe, please e-mail us indicating your preference, time when you would like to travel, and level of the hotels. Basing on your requests we will prepare the suggested itineraries and post them here for discussion. We do not want big groups and crowded busses of 40-60 tourists. Zekher Avoteinu offers small, intimate groups of 12 to 24 passengers for more personalized services. Advantages of group tours: - A group tour has a considerable advantage of price. You will save up to 50% compared to traveling on your own. - You will also enjoy the company of interesting fellow travelers, as active, sociable, and curious about the world out there as you are. Since we specialize in Jewish tourism, the greater part of our guests are people that share the same interests - learning about the Jewish history and present-day Jewish life and searching their Jewish roots. Many lasting friendships began on a tour. - Another convenience is the assistance of a tour director. Besides a professional tour guide, each group is accompanied by an expert in the country who assists the tourists in just about everything, from changing the rooms at a hotel to shopping to entertaiment suggestions. All tour directors speak many languages, know local culture and customs, and have experience of working with tourists. - Less waiting in lines. Many of Europe's most popular museums and attractions give preference to group visits arranged months in advance, so your group will be ushered to the head of the line. - For those foreign tourists who are somehow reluctant to explore Russia and other countries of the former Soviet Union on their own, group tours offer security and safety in the company of fellow travelers and of experienced tour guides who know all the local customs. - Groups of tourists may enjoy private entertainment, including klezmer and classical music recitals and folk shows. - It is easier to arrange mashgikhim for Kosher catering for groups than for individual tourists.
Accomodation:
All the accommodations are in First Class, Superior First Class or selected Deluxe. All guest rooms are twin-bedded with private bathroom and/or shower. On a budget tour you will stay at Superior Tourist-Class and Tourist-Class hotels. Hotels are always located in good neighborhoods, some more centrally located and others in residential areas. On deluxe tours you stay in four and five star centrally located hotels. On luxury programs all properties are five star and above.
Door-To-Door Service
Your hotel check-in and baggage handling tips are taken care of. You'll get door-to-door service every step of the way. Each morning your luxury motorcoach will be waiting right outside your hotel, ready for you to embark on an exciting touring. Selected rest stops will always be near toilets or cafe facilities, for your convenience, and every evening you'll be safely chauffeured to the front door of your hotel.
Free Time:
On the tour you will have a perfect balance of planned sightseeing and free time to explore on your own.
Food:
A full buffet breakfast is usually included in all hotels and you will always find there something you may eat.
In some cities there are kosher facilities supervized by the local rabbis (Chabad Lubavitch), there are also many vegetarian and fish restaurants (kosher style). Local guides are the best source of information on such places, as well on what kosher food you may purchase and where. Kosher catering by licensed mashgikhim is available for groups with an arrangement well in advance.
Social visits and meetings with local communities:
A visit to a local community is not only an act of solidarity or formal visit. It also gives you a possibility to re-establish the links with your second cousins and, if you have donated to the UJA or ORT or another Jewish charity, you will see your generosity at work, as the major funding for the Jewish revival in the FSU comes from abroad. We consider extremely important for people to know what's being doing with their money, that is why we include in our programs those visits.
For those interested we are happy to organize visits to Jewish welfare centers, day care centers for kids and/or elderly, schools, summer camps, Hillels, etc. Please be advized that the most popular community centers on the territory of the FSU are the welfare centers, which unite a considerable amount of people and organize for them various activities.
Combination of entertainment and social visit:
This summer we invite you to combine these two things and to attend the Klezfest (Klezmorim festival) in St. Petersburg and Purimshpil festival in Vitebsk (Belarus).