In this article, we will review the most unusual tours that have taken place in Kaunas, which you may not have heard of. And if you are looking for interesting tours in Kaunas and guide services in Lithuania, you can find them on our website – Gervė Tours excursions.
A tour about puddles
In 2022, an excursion took place in Kaunas where people walked through Šančiai while observing… puddles! That was the name of the tour – “Puddle Watching.” The artist Mirja Busch from the platform “B_Tour”, collaborating with “Ekskursas” guide Indrė Urbelytė, told participants about the different types of puddles, explored how they change, what shapes they can take, and why they even form in the first place. At the end of the walk, each participant received a small book about puddles as a gift. Sounds strange? Well, it was. However, the tour attracted dozens of participants.
A tour of funeral service companies
You’ve probably heard of tours taking place in cemeteries. In Paris, guides lead visitors through the Père-Lachaise Cemetery, in Vilnius through the Rasos Cemetery, and in Kaunas through the Petrašiūnai Pantheon. However, the “Gražinkime Kauną” group came up with the idea that, for All Souls’ Day, it would be interesting to visit not only cemeteries but also funeral homes!
During the walk, two funeral homes were visited, and participants learned about the funeral service industry. They looked at caskets and urns for sale, and discussed service prices. At the end of the tour, the Eiguliai Cemetery was visited, which houses a unique pantheon for circus artists in Lithuania. This seemingly strange tour could be considered a form of dark tourism, which is becoming increasingly popular today.
A guided walk with a blind guide
This is a unique walk in Kaunas, where you experience not by seeing, but by feeling. The participant (a sighted person) wears special simulation glasses that allow them to travel in complete darkness. They are given a blind person’s cane, and most importantly, they travel with a blind guide, who is open to any questions, making it possible to truly understand what life is like in the dark. The walking route takes place in several different spaces in Kaunas – in the Ąžuolynas park, through the Exhibition Hill, and along Laisvės Alley. You can book the service by clicking here.
“Kaunas Cardio” – the most interesting stairs in Kaunas and their stories
Kaunas is located in a valley surrounded by hills on all sides. As the city grew, people began settling on these hills. As a result, numerous stairs appeared around the city center, leading to various parts of the city. Back in 2006, the Kaunas Tourism Center organized tours called “Historical Stairs of Kaunas.”
Today, Kaunas stairs are a popular theme among tour guides. During tours, certain stairs are often mentioned, and some guides even offer tours dedicated solely to the city’s stairs. One such tour is offered by Gervė Tours: “Kaunas Cardio” – a tour of Kaunas stairs. If you find this tour too easy, you can try the Kauko Stairs Marathon (article in Lithuanian) – climbing up and down 42 times to cover a distance of 23 kilometers!
“Inch By Inch”. A performance – tour with headphones.
If the climbing Up and Down seems too difficult, you can choose the performance-tour “Inch By Inch” (Lithuanian: „Pakopa po pakopos“) through the interwar Žaliakalnis, organized by the ULNA dance troupe. The tour begins with the legendary Kauko Stairs, which are considered a symbol of interwar Kaunas.
Using dance, theater, and music, the audience is introduced to the issues of interwar Žaliakalnis and sees how the area looks today, experiencing its transformation. All participants wear headphones, which allow them to hear a clear narration and music, while also witnessing performances by dancers encountered along the way in Žaliakalnis. Tickets and more information can be found on the ULNA Facebook page. An English tour is also available!
Canoeing in Kaunas Tour with a Guide
Or perhaps you’d like a tour on the river? A guided kayak trip on the Nemunas River is a great way to relax after a workday or spend an active and memorable weekend. Paddling in the city center allows you to save time, so there’s no need to plan long trips to more remote locations. For more information, click here.
Fluxus tours
These are tours where you walk in one location, but the story being told is entirely different. For example, you might walk through the streets of Kaunas, but the guide talks about Berlin. Sounds strange? It is – but that’s the essence of Fluxus tours.
However, the “Fluxus tours” were even awarded as the “Tourism Innovation of the Year 2022” by the National Tourism Promotion Agency “Travel in Lithuania.” The tour is based on the principles of the Fluxus movement, founded by Jurgis Mačiūnas. This tour was led several times by the Gervė Tours team in collaboration with the Kaunas Artists’ House.
Gerve.lt – Interesting Tours in Kaunas.
Gervė Tours guided tours in Kaunas introduce you to the Old Town, city center, forts, and other interesting locations. You can find more tours on the website – www.gerve.lt
