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October 23, Thursday: Arrival

• Arrival day! You will have made it to the hotel from the airport or train station on your own; in either case it is very simple either by cab or public transportation. A month before arrival you will receive detailed information about options for getting to our hotel from Prague airport or main train station.
   
  After you arrive at the hotel, you will check in and perhaps have time to relax a bit. In the late afternoon we will meet in the hotel lounge, greet old friends, meet new people, and hand out additional materials you need for the tour, including a booklet with details for each day’s activities and a map of Prague. After this, we will walk to a nearby restaurant for our first dinner together.
   
  The rest of the evening will then be yours to do with as you will, whether it be relaxing or further exploring the city.

October 24, Friday

• Today we will depart from Prague and head north. Because the Czech Republic is widely considered a hiker’s paradise, we will begin with a lovely walk in a famous sandstone rock area and will learn about the unique Czech hiking movement called Tramping.
   
  For lunch we will stop in a scenic small town. Lunch is on your own, and you can chose to enjoy a sit-down meal in a restaurant or get picnic supplies from the local grocery store and dine al fresco. In contrast to our first stop (a walk in the woods amidst towering rocks) we will now stop at a beautiful chateau – the former residence of Austrian emperors. We will then continue moving north and the last place of interest will be a glass museum. Northern Bohemia is famous for its glass art with a centuries-long history. You will be amazed at what artists are able to make from glass.
   
  Finally, we will arrive in our hotel, check-in and enjoy dinner together. The evening is free for you to enjoy as you will.

October 25, Saturday

• Today we will take you to Germany for couple of hours. First, we will stop close to the border (on the Czech side) to see the local Loreto (grave of Virgin Mary) from 1704. This is a magnificent masterpiece of Baroque art. Afterwards you will learn about the unique art styles of nativity scenes throughout central Europe and see some beautiful wooden sculptures.
   
  Our next stop will be over the border in Germany, at the historic town of Zittau. Here in the scenic city center there are many options for you to enjoy lunch on your own. After lunch, we will enjoy a ride on an old-fashioned steam train that will bring us close to the romantic mountain ruins of Oybin. Today it is well-loved as an old historical monastery but it was originally built as a castle in the 13th century. These ruins are magical and will take us many centuries back to the past. Even if you are not really a fan of such distant history, you cannot but help enjoy the beautiful and breathtaking views in the Zittau Mountains.
   
  Later we will return to the hotel, relax a bit and have together dinner. Afterwards we will walk to a nearby dance hall a meet with local folk dancers. They will perform traditional Czech music and dances for us then we will join them and dance together. Tired but happy, we will then return to the hotel.

October 26, Sunday

• Today we need to pack our luggage and load the bus, as we will change hotels. Our first stop will be short, but interesting, as we visit one of Napoleon’s battlefields from 1813. Then it is up the hill on a ski lift! You can decide if you will join us on the lift or if you would prefer to stay grounded near the bus. The ski lift will be a fun little adventure! It was made during the 1950s and it is really open-air. When we reach the top we will have lovely panoramic views and then enjoy a gentle walk back down the hill.
   
  For lunch we will stop in the town of Teplice – well known as a spa resort with thermal springs dating back to the 10th century. After lunch you can enjoy a relaxing walk in the local park. Before we reach our hotel, we will stop in the historical town of Kadaň, with a beautiful and picturesque square.
   
  From here we will go directly to the hotel and have dinner after check-in.

October 27, Monday

• Our first stop today will not be light-hearted, but it important as we learn more about the history of Czechoslovakia. We will visit the former political prison known as the Red Tower of Death. It is part of an old uranium-processing mine where political prisoners in the 1950s had been forced to work as their punishment.
   
  From here we will move to the fairy tale town of Loket where the historic town center and 12th century Gothic castle are well preserved. This is where you will enjoy lunch on your own. Our next stop will be another town – the famous Karlsbad. Here we will visit the city center and walk through Kolonada – the spring sources. Those of you who would like to leave the city can enjoy a short guided hike in the surrounding areas, with beautiful vistas and perhaps even some wildlife!
   
  We will all meet again and take the funicular to the top of the hill where we will enjoy dinner together in a restaurant that is more than a century old. After dinner we will return to the hotel.

October 28, Tuesday

• Today we will move to our next hotel, so we will load the bus in the morning before departure. Our first stop will take us underground when we tour the unique Caolin mine that opened at the end of the 19th century. Our next stop will be in Plzeň (the capitol of Western Bohemia). The city center is beautiful with one of the largest churches in the Czech Republic. After lunch we will have a guided tour of the local puppet museum. We will make one more stop – to a Jewish cemetery where we will learn about the history of the Jewish community during the 20th century.
   
  After checking in to our lodgings in České Budějovice in South Bohemia, we will have dinner together in the hotel followed by an optional an evening walk to the city center.

October 29, Wednesday

• Can you imagine a better way to start a morning in the Czech Republic than by taking a tour in a brewery!? This particular brewery would be the original Czech Budweiser and you will be able to enjoy tasting the freshly brewed beer in the low-ceilinged, original cellar at the end of the tour.
   
  After that we will be introduced to another traditional handcraft – pottery. At the culmination of the pottery factory tour, you will be able to buy traditional, lovely, and inexpensive pottery. Save room in your suitcase for it!
   
  For lunch we will return to the city and you will have free time to do as you would like: enjoy a meal, then rest in your room or walk around the city. In the afternoon we will visit the monastery of Zlatá Koruna from the 13th century. This monastery is not a ruin but, rather, beautifully renovated. We will learn interesting details about the monastery and the lives of the monks who used to live there.
   
  One more stop on this busy day – we will arrive in the magical and medieval town of Český Krumlov (UNESCO). Here we will have a sightseeing walk and some free time. Our dinner will be together in a rather unique building – the former jail! After dinner we will return to the hotel.

October 30, Thursday

• We depart after having breakfast and loading the bus. Our first stop will be in Písek where we will admire, learn the history and then and cross the oldest stone bridge in Central Europe. It has been here since 1300. Our next stop will be a short hike following the Vltava river. We will enjoy the the soothing sounds of nature, and the view of the impressive royal castle Zvíkov which is just across the river.
   
  For lunch and the afternoon we will enjoy a variety of activities in Květuš – a former farm house. Today it is turned into a recreation area and folk dance studio. While here we will try our hands at making traditional Czech cookies, try our feet at learning some Czech folk dances, stretch our vocal cords to learn Czech songs, and enjoy a traditional Czech lunch made for us by local villagers.
   
  Then it is back to where we began – Prague. Dinner will be on your own in one of many restaurants in the area.

October 31, Friday

• Today is your first full day in Prague, the “City of 100 Spires”, the capital of Czech Republic, and the historical capital of Bohemia. We will visit some of the not-to-be-missed sites of the city center with our guide, go up to the castle complex and walk through Pražský hrad (Prague Castle) and down to Malá Strana (Lesser Town). We will share lunch together with the group, then continue our city tour by walking across the 14th century bridge Karlův most (Charles Bridge) through Staré Město (Old Town) and end at Old Town Square.
   
  After the tour you will have rest of the afternoon and evening on your own to further explore this jewel of the a city.

November 1, Saturday

• This morning you have a choice of making your own plans or joining those of us who would like to visit the Vyšehrad (Upper Castle). There are extensive grounds, the Basilica of St. Peter and St. Paul, and the Vyšehrad National Cemetery. In the cemetery you will find the graves of famous Czechs such as composers Dvořák and Smetana, and artist Alphonse Mucha.
   
  Lunch will be on your own. In the late afternoon we will meet again to enjoy a sunset river cruise where you are able to enjoy viewing Prague from a totally different perspective.

November 2, Sunday

• How the time has flown, and it is now time to say goodbye, and return to our homes, families, and regular lives. But we hope you will take back many memories to share and treasure from your time in Czech Republic. We also hope you will stay in touch, and that, perhaps, we will see you again soon!