Learn the Spiritual Secrets of Beekeeping in Lithuania
6 days/5 nights Beekeeping TourAverage Reviews
Description
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be a beekeeper? How about beekeeping in Lithuania?! In Lithuanian mythology, bees are known as holy God bugs. Bee-keepers believed that bees chose the clusters on their own, therefore they became a corporate property of the old beekeeper and homestead, where the new cluster is created. The friendship between man and bee became a beautiful relationship, which gave the noble word “Bičiulis“ (friend).
Learn about the secrets of beekeeping in this *sweet* 6 day/5 night tour of Lithuania, including 3 beautiful cities: 2 nights in Vilnius, 1 night in Kaunas, 1 night in Druskininkai.
We’ll visit the country of Lithuania and learn about its beehives, while making friends along the way.
A persons life is like a bees life. As children, we are looked after and loved by our parents. As we grow older, we live separated from our parents and be responsible for ourselves. We begin a career, work long hours as a honeybee does and make our homes as bees do with their hives. Old apiarists respect and treat bees like human beings. The first bee-hive in our family was made a decade ago. This occupation becomes like a hobby to our family. At the beginning, only our family used honey as a sweet, delicious, natural product and a remedy too. Later a lot of people became interested in our honey and today we have many clients.
Tour Package Includes:
- Accommodation in centrally located 3 star hotels: 2 nights in Vilnius, 1 night in Kaunas, 1 night in Druskininkai
- 1 night accommodation in a farmstead or hotel;
- Full board: 5 buffet breakfasts & 4 lunches & 5 dinners
- Meetings with beekeepers, learning about beekeeping, traditions, tools
- Honey with honeycombs straight from the beehives
- Sightseeing as per itinerary
- Traditional Candle making workshop
- Entrance tickets to the places of interest
- Arrival and departure transfers
- Car / coach and guides services
- Souvenir
- Information package
Itinerary
Arrival to the international airport. Transfer to the hotel from the airport. Later meeting with the capital of Lithuania, named Vilnius. Cathedral and it's square, Gediminas Castle, University campus, Pilies street with the 16-18th century historical and architectural monuments are included in the Old Town. We enjoy a nice dinner together. The night will be spent in Vilnius.
DAY 2
The guide will meet you at the reception of the hotel. You will meet a representative of wild beekeeping in the Dzūkija National Park with en route stop in Trakai. Trakai is the capital of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. You will see the15th-century Insular Trakai Castle.
Lunch at a local restaurant in Trakai. We’ll proceed to Dzukija National Park, a natural paradise with amazing views and friendly locals.
A trip to Musteikiai village, an old traditional Lithuanian village, is a must for any wild beekeeper. You can find ancient beehives there and learn more about the fascinating history of wild beekeeping. Walk the wild beekeeping path and take a tour of hives in trees. See examples of "bee-hives" and learn about their amazing work as pollinators. After a day of exciting city tour in Kaunas, spend the night in the charming spa town of Druskininkai. Accommodation and dinner.
DAY 3
Morning departure to Rumšiškės. unique open air museum depicting the 18th and 19th century architecture and traditions, crafts and the way of life of different ethnographic regions of Lithuania. Candle making workshop. Learn how to make candles in a traditional Lithuanian way, using natural materials.
Enjoy Lunch. Afterward, drive to Kaunas – second largest city in Lithuania. Get a tour of the city with a local guide. Dinner and overnight accommodation at the restaurant.
DAY 4
Meet the guide at reception. Take a trip to the interesting Horse Museum at the beautiful Lithuanian resort, Anyksciai.
Enjoy Lunch. Later we visit to the NINE HONEY apiary in the Aukstaitija region.
Our apiary NINE HONEY is in a remote place near Kukiai forest glade in (the ethnic region of) Aukštaitija, Lithuania. This region is well known for its tree-covered hills, dotted lakes and open-hearted people. In this marvelous scenery Lithuanian original honey is made.” – says the owner of the apiary NINE HONEY.
Enjoy Dinner.
DAY 5
After visiting with beekeepers of various Lithuanian regions, we summarize things and visit museum of ancient beekeeping. Founded by Bronius Kazlas in 1974, this beekeeping museum is one of the strangest things you’ll likely ever see. Attracting around 10,000 visitors annually the museum, situated in a rustic cottage, depicts the art of bee-keeping throughout the ages, as well as exploring its spiritual links.
The role bees have played in ancient mythology are well presented with displays detailing their part in ancient Egyptian, Native American and pagan Lithuanian culture. Wood carvings of native bee gods Babilas (a fat, hairy spirit) and the altogether more dainty Austėja (a bee goddess) make for great photographs.
The reason you’ll find many bee hives standing on top of trees was in theory to keep them as close as possible to these Bee Gods. Items of interest include an oak tree once worshipped by pagans, hilarious carvings, elaborate hives and a couple of ingeniously menacing antibear traps (think rusty spikes on springs).
The woodland surrounding the museum is currently home to seven swarms of bees, and a short trail makes for a scenic and interesting walk. Guests are welcome to sample their honey at the end of their visit. Later visit some most beautiful places of Aukstaitija National park – Ginuciai, Ledakalnis, Palūšė.
Farewell dinner in Vilnius. Overnight.
DAY 6
Free time for independent activities.
Transfer to the airport.
Departure.
