“You know more about my family than I do”,
said my 70-year old fellow traveller with tears in his eyes as I turned onto the road for his grandparents’ birthplace of Rietavas which was on the way from Klaipėda to Vilnius.
I am sure, that day changed his life for ever. And mine, also.
Moments like this are why I guide Jewish heritage and Litvak roots tours across Lithuania.
Jewish Heritage Tours in Lithuania
Are you planning a trip to Lithuania to explore your Jewish roots? I offer custom-guided Jewish heritage tours across Lithuania. They are designed to help you reconnect with your family’s history. The experience is authentic, respectful, and personal.
Many of the people I guide are visiting from the U.S., South Africa, Israel, or Europe. They come looking for the towns their grandparents or great-grandparents came from. They want to walk the streets, visit family graves, and explore records.
If you know where your family came from, even approximately, we can create a journey to your ancestral town. If not, we can still visit major Jewish sites and museums across Lithuania and explore historical sources that shed light on the lives of the people in those towns.
How to Prepare for Your Visit
Before you travel, it helps to gather any information you may already have about your family or the towns you want to visit. Useful details include family names, town names (even approximate), old documents, photographs, or any other notes. Even small pieces of information can make a visit more productive and provide context for what you will see on site.
If you have any written memories, publications, or books, these can be very valuable. Sometimes, even during the visit, we may discover unexpected details in books or manuscripts that have been brought along, and unplanned visits to these sources can reveal new information.
During the visit, attention is given to both historical sources and what can still be observed in the town today. Photographs, maps, and documents are often used to identify specific sites. This approach allows travelers to connect the historical records with their current locations.
Travelers should also be prepared for variable conditions. Some cemeteries or older buildings may require walking over uneven ground, and weather can change quickly. Comfortable shoes and appropriate clothing make it easier to move between locations and focus on observing and recording what is present.
Jewish Heritage Journey Examples
Read about some of the journeys I have taken with visitors searching for their family towns:
Jewish Heritage Journey in Lithuania: Kaunas to Pakruojis
Tracing Jewish History in Lithuania: Kaunas to Telz Tour Insights
Emotions and Experiences
“It’s as if all the memories from my DNA are in my mind and they are clear. Thank you, Aušra, for driving us around for 12 hours today through mud and sleet to find the places dear to my heart and for helping us to understand our story.”
Karen, a trip to Pilvishok (Pilviškiai) in December, 2018
“Ausra accompanied me on a day trip from Vilnius to Plungė where my Jewish family originated. What an extraordinary experience thanks to Ausra – I cannot recommend her highly enough. Ausra is impressively knowledgeable and has a gentle, sensitive manner which felt just right, particularly at times which were emotionally moving for me. “
Rosemary, a tour to Plungė (Plungyan) in November 2024
“Ausra in Vilnius is a top star and everybody fades in comparison to her. My last couple were very impressed with her.”
Dora from the travel agency, a Jewish tour in September 2023
“Ausra was a fantastic guide – so knowledgeable and informed and such a wonderful communicator. We learned so much.
Sue from a private Jewish tour, organised by travel agency JERULITA TRAVEL, to Zarasai (Ezherene), Biržai (Birzh), Šeduva (Shadeve), Šiauliai (Shavli) in June 2025
Planning your own Jewish Heritage Tour in Lithuania
If your family has roots in any former shtetl of contemporary Lithuania, I can help you explore them together. I specialize in custom tours that combine historical insight with personal family connections.
Let’s plan a journey that honors your ancestors and brings their stories to life.
Get in touch to start planning your tour via info@litvakshtetls.com or fill in this form:
Litvak Shtetls 