YOUR ITINERARY:
PragueDay 1
- On your arrival at Prague airport, meeting with your individual guide and transfer to your hotel.
- "Royal Road" — our introductory tour around Prague and first acquaintance with Czech pubs
The
Royal Road passes through the whole of medieval Prague from the Powder
Tower to Prague Castle. For centuries this was the route taken on Coronation
Day by the new king in his royal carriage, accompanied by a solemn procession
of royal guards, nobles and aristocrats, and high-ranking members of
the Church. The entourage alighted at Saint Vitus Cathedral, where the
royal regalia were in the ready to crown the new king and invest him
with his powers. Today we will follow in the footsteps of kings along
this 400 year-old route, and view what their royal eyes looked upon…- Lunch in the Czech pub "U Hrocha"
Lunch
at the traditional Czech pub U Hrocha is not a tourist attraction, but
it is an honest-to-goodness treat for beer aficionados! U Hrocha serves
up the best beer, hands down - Plzen! While you whet your whistle there
are plenty of traditional Czech pub dishes to sample, such as the soft,
pickled Hermelin cheese, and fried pork fillet with potato salad. If
you are really hungry, nothing beats koleno, a huge pork knee with horseradish
that you can easily share round with all your table companions!
Prague — Krušovice — Karlový VaryDay 2
- Breakfast at the hotel.
- Full day excursion to Karlovy Vary with the visit to Krušovice Brewery
-
Krušovice
On
the way to Karlový Vary and Loket, we will stop off at the
city famed for its world-class Krušovice beer, brewed here since
1581. Be forewarned: in 1583, when the Emperor Rudolph II stopped
in Krušovice to taste the unique flavor of the brew, he ended
up buying the brewery for the Royal Crown. Here, in the heart of the
Krušny Mountains, amidst the pure spring waters and sweet scented
hops of the fields surrounding Krušovice, you will experience
what goes into making this fabled brew. Mother Nature and the skills
of famed brewers combine to create this unique liquid gold. Our tour
ends with a sampling of Krušovice’s three varieties of
beer: dark, light and light ležak. Moreover, as at any taste
testing, no one will limit your consumption!
Karlový Vary
In
1358, while out on an Imperial Hunt, Emperor Charles IV spied one
of the deer mortally wounded by his party fall at a small spring in
the woods. As he rode towards it, the deer roused, lapped at the spring
waters and, to his amazement, leapt up and bounded away. The inexplicable
curative powers of the spring so impressed the Emperor that he ordered
his court architects to build a hunting lodge at its source. This
is the legend behind the founding of the spa city, Karlovy Vary, and
its city symbol is taken from the little deer “that got away”
that day 600 years ago.
Since
then Karlovy Vary has been known as the cosmopolitan European spa
with renowned curative energies – Goethe and Beethoven, as well
as a few emperors, took “the cure” here. This graceful,
ancient spa, surrounded by forested hills, with a rich history and
Belle Epoch architecture, has long been considered one of Europe’s
most beautiful cities. A wonderful walking tour around the city center
awaits you in Karlovy Vary, where you will have the opportunity to
visit the Moser Glass Factory with its famed souvenirs from local
porcelain craftsmen. - Lunch in one of local restaurants of Karlový Vary
- Return to Prague.
PragueDay 3
- Breakfast at the hotel
- Walking tour "With the Good Soldier Schweik around Prague"
This
is a thoroughly entertaining tour built around the antics of the Czechs’
most beloved buffoon & boozer, known the world over as The Good
Soldier Schweik. Our inspiration for the tour comes from Jaroslav Hašek’s
hilarious satire of the same name, set in the dying days of the Austro-Hungarian
Empire and the First World War. We will visit the pubs and taverns connected
with Good Soldier Schweik’s numerous misadventures. And there
is no better place to start than at “U Kalicha” (The Chalice),
his favorite watering hole! It was here, under a fly-spattered portrait
of Emperor Franz Joseph, that Schweik, abruptly caught up in the turmoil
of World War I, began his absurd wanderings. Schweik’s ghost still
hovers about the pub, and the Emperor’s portrait is still there,
flies and all…- Bowling Party
What
is your personal best in bowling? About a hundred? More than two hundred?
Well, no matter, because today’s outing to a Prague Bowling Alley
is sure to be an experience that beats all! We are off to the city’s
prime bowling club with first-rate lanes and top-notch equipment. After
a busy day on the tourist roundabout, this is a wonderful way to unwind,
quaff a pint of famous Czech beer and enjoy the company of friends
Prague — Kutna HoraDay 4
- Breakfast at the hotel
- Excursion to the medieval city Kutna Hora
-
Nearly every city in the Czech Republic brews its own beer. We make our way east to the graceful city of Kutna Hora to sample their famous brew. The city itself, with its splendid medieval architecture and rich history, adds to our pleasure.
There
are cities that retain their glory throughout the ages: such is the
medieval town of Kutna Hora, due east of Prague. As legend has it,
one day in the 13th century a monk from Sedlec monastery was out collecting
firewood in the forest, when he stumbled upon some silver nuggets.
Laying down his robe as a marker, he hurried home to tell his fellow
monks about his fortuitous discovery. The ensuing “silver fever”
transformed the city of Kutna Hora into the silver capital of the
Middle Ages. During our tour, we’ll go into the depths of an
ancient silver mine, and visit the courtyard where Italian silversmiths
minted the famous “Prague penny”. We’ll travel down
the road a bit to the Sedlec Ossuary for a taste of the truly grotesque.
Lovers of the macabre will gape in appreciation at the chapel’s
interior: the altar and all its appointments, including a massive
chandelier, have been fashioned from over 40 thousand human bones,
skulls and all. In addition, we will visit one of Europe’s most
beautiful and awe-inspiring Gothic cathedrals, dedicated to Saint
Barbara, the patroness of miners. - Lunch in the restaurant "U Krupky" — the best local beer.
- Return to Prague.
PragueDay 5
- Breakfast at the hotel.
- A visit to a Sauna — a healthy indulgence
Sore
feet? A little stressed at trying to get your tongue around all those
Czech consonants? It’s time to rejuvenate tired muscles and pamper
yourself with a visit to a Sauna. Sounds good, doesn’t it? The
steam room, sauna, and massage will work wonders for your mind and body,
and keep you up to snuff for all the week’s adventures.- Transfer to the "Jagr's Sport bar"
- Dinner in the "Jagr's Sport bar"
The
internationally known Hockey player, Jaromir Jagr, opened his own Sports
Bar on Wenceslas Square in 1999. It quickly became a Mecca for hockey
lovers and sports enthusiasts, as well as those who appreciate fine
brews and scrumptious cooking. Here you can imbibe some of that famous
Czech liquid gold, while following all the latest sport events of the
day on the numerous huge monitors. The restaurant interior is done up
like a hockey rink; the perfect acoustics allow you experience the exciting
sports events on offer – and afterwards, you’ll have the
chance to check out a wide array of hockey memorabilia and souvenirs.
PragueDay 6
- Breakfast at the hotel.
- Free to relax and join our optional excursion: Vltava River Boat Trip *
-
This relaxing boat trip gives you a unique view of many of the city’s historic monuments. Now let’s find a deck chair, order a cold Czech beer and its anchors away!
- Transfer to the airport with your guide, departure.