Khatyn Private Tour

Khatyn Private Tour

Gain a deeper understanding of the tragic events of World War II with this tour of Khatyn, the scene of one of the bloodiest massacres in Belarusian history. 

We'll pick you up at the agreed time by collecting you from your hotel in Minsk to take you to the village of Khatyn, one hour from the Belarusian capital. 

Upon arrival, we'll walk through the sad history this place has suffered while visiting the Khatyn Memorial. In March 1943, the Nazis launched Operation Barbarossa in an attempt to invade the Soviet Union. The territory of Belarus was among the first to be attacked, and in the same month, one of the most ruthless massacres of the war was perpetrated: the Khatyn massacre.

SS soldiers locked 149 villagers in a shed and set fire to it. Later, the Nazis would wipe out the entire village, reducing it to ashes. The memorial was built by the Belarusian Ministry of Culture to commemorate this tragedy and mark it as a symbol of the suffering of the civilian population during the war. 

We’ll observe the 19 feet (6 metre) bronze statue of Joseph Kaminsky, the only adult survivor, holding his dead son in his arms. We'll also witness the horror of this tragedy by seeing the 26 sculptures representing the houses of the village before they were burned by the Nazis. It'll be a truly eye-opening and emotional experience. 

Inside the memorial, you'll also see other memorials that showcase the horrors of war: the Wall of Remembrance, the Square of Remembrance, the Eternal Flame and the Tree of Life, honouring other villages that were burned by the Nazis. 

On the way back to Minsk, we'll stop at the Mound of Glory, a monument to the Soviet soldiers who fought to liberate the capital from the Nazis. Finally, to round off the tour, you'll be dropped off at your hotel after a 4 and a half hour tour.