Today is the day that we embark on our journey, but…. we simply CAN'T go on a tour with "Pilsner Fest" in the name without grabbing a beer glass first (especially when in a country so famous for crystal), so we're off to Nizbor to create our custom Czech beer glasses!

During our tour, we'll experience an exquisite culmination of creativity, skill, craftsmanship as Czech glass masters combine the noble beauty of hand blown and  cut crystal with unique design.

We'll witness each of the individual phases and traditional techniques of glass production and hand blowing and have each step explained as they are introduced.  At the end of our tour, you will have the opportunity to engrave a custom design into your own Czech beer glass that will be yours to keep!

With beer glass in hand, we'll start our journey to Karlstejn where we'll be greeted by a horse and carriage that will bring us uphill through this classically preserved town as we approach the castle.

Upon arrival to the castle, we'll enjoy a well earned beer before embarking on an exclusive tour reserved especially for our group only with a dedicated English-speaking guide.

This tour will bring us into the spiritual heart of the Karlstejn Castle and what was once of the Holy Roman Empire as well (having had housed the Crown Jewels of the entire empire)!  We will visit many rooms of the castle to also include "The Gold Room", the Great Tower, and much more.

After the tour, we'll meander downhill stopping at various shops along the way before eating a fantastic Czech lunch.

With mug in hand, we can officially head towards Plzen, the birthplace of Pilsner / Pale Lager beer where we'll settle in for our hotel before exploring the city the best way that we know how... "beer hunting"!!!

Not many Americans are aware that General Patton himself helped to liberate the city of Plzen or that they have a statue and even a museum dedicated to him or that the City of Plzen has a special local holiday dedicated to celebrating the date of their liberation every May!

After breakfast, we'll spend the morning touring the museum dedicated to General Patton and the American Army that liberated their historic city.

After the tour, we'll head towards Plzensky Prazdroj (the brewery responsible for Pilsner Urquell; the world's first, original and best pilsner) where we'll embark on a truly epic 3 1/2 hour experience!!!  We'll take a tour of the brewery to include the cellars where the beer was 1st brewed in 1842!  You'll be served authentic Czech gulas (goulash), before we embark on a tapster class provided at the Pilsner Brewery itself!!!  In this class, we'll learn how to utilize a side pull faucet (Lukr) to create Mliko, Hladinka, & Snyt pours.  And don't you worry.... You'll be served all of the unfiltered, unpasteurized Pilsner Urquell (what we believe to be the very best beer in the world) that you can drink throughout the entire tour and receive a special krygl from the brewery for attending!!!

After ensuring that everyone knows how to make it safely back to the hotel and that everyone has our guide's phone number, you'll get to tour the town or enjoy the people, music, and atmosphere at Pilsner Fest where they will have rock concerts and events galore held at and around the brewery and serve unfiltered unpasteurized Pilsner Urquell throughout.

Enjoy and explore at your leisure.

We'll have a central location that we will be at should anyone want/need assistance, but we suggest you soak it in as it is a truly awesome experience!

After enjoying Pilsner Fest the day prior, we'll start the morning a little later to allow for slow starts or self-exploration throughout the city.

The Cathedral of St. Bartholomew has a tower that offers outstanding views of this beautiful and classically preserved European City & beer haven that we highly recommend visiting.

We'll meet at a central location before leaving to embark upon a tour of the Plzen underground to include the private wells of the families that were originally bestowed brewing rights in the city prior to Josef Groll.  We'll learn how these tunnels not only provided for a very sophisticated water delivery system, but also served as refuge during the Siege of Plzen (the first major battle of the 30 Years War that raged across Europe in the early 1600's).

After the tour, we'll emerge above ground and enjoy the festivities of the day.
As before, we'll make sure that everyone feels comfortable as to how to safely return to the hotel and arrange a central location to meet, should anyone want/need assistance throughout the day.

It's our last day at Pilsner Fest so enjoy responsibly!!!

We'll wake in the morning with a classic European breakfast at the hotel while our driver will load your luggage into our vehicle and then we're off to Česky Krumlov!

Once we arrive in Česky Krumlov, we're off to raft the Vltava river!  Yes, you read that right! 

We'll take a leisurely paddle down this river while experiencing scenic views of Česky Krumlov (weather permitting) culminating as we raft past the beautiful castle (first established in the year 1250 AD)and dock for lunch with a river view.

Afterwards, we'll take a leisurely stroll to the castle where we will tour the  castle interiors, which have remained unchanged since the Ranaissance and Baroque periods (16th - 18th centuries). It will include the Castle Chapel of St. George, Eggenberg Hall with a "golden" carriage, the Masquerade Hall, and much more.

Once the tour is over, we'll leave the evening open to stroll the well maintained and exquisitely manicured castle gardens or explore the city at your leisure.

There is a popular saying in Czech that translates to "Every Czech is a musician" and it's common to find street musicians and breathtaking views around almost every corner.

It truly is a fantastically beautiful city and we know you'll absolutely enjoy it!

Save some room at breakfast this morning as we'll be heading to a traditional Czech bakery to experience heavenly kolač (a pastry made from sweet dough stuffed and/or decorated with all sorts of yummy things like fruit jams, raisins, poppy seeds, nuts, or sweet cheese)!

After breakfast and a short walk through the city, we'll head towards the fabled brewery of České Budějovice, the home of Budějovicky Budvar (the original Budweiser) where we'll tour this historically significant  brewery and taste how Budweiser is SUPPOSED to taste!

Budvar and Anheuser Busch have been in legal battles over brand distribution that revolves around patent law vs origination for over a century!
We love to let our guest's taste buds decide which one should be in distribution...

The tour starts with a sign welcoming you to the "Republic of Beer" and bar where you can order either Světlý Ležák (pale lager), 33 (our favorite), or their tmavé pivo (exceptional dark beer). 

Once the tour starts, we'll be guided through an overview of the brands that they brew at the brewry, proceed to an introduction to their brewing systems, allowing for tastings, and then continue towards their lager tanks, followed by their production line where they bottle or keg for distribution.

They also have a gift shop where they sell a lot of very cool Budvar merchandise!

After the brewery tour, we'll be shuttled to Budvarka for lunch and experience exceptional pours of this beautiful beer followed by a walk to České Budějovice's "Black Tower".   The tower (built in the 12th - 13th century) dominates the skyline and rises a full 72 meters tall and has 225 steps to the top to offer unparalleled views of the city.  Those who don't want to make the climb are welcome to sit and enjoy another beer at Budvarka until we return.

After our climb, we'll head back to Česky Krumlov, where you are invited to continue escapades with a guided "beer hunt" through the city  or enjoy your last evening there at your own leisure before we continue our journey.

While you're enjoying your classic European breakfast, we'll be loading your luggage to begin our journey towards the city of silver known as Kutna Hora.

But first.... We'll be visiting the fairy tale castle of Hluboka!!!

This stunning castle is LITERALLY the stuff that dreams are made of; built in the romantic style of Windsor Castle in England.  It is renowned as being one of the most beautiful castles in the country with the highest castle density in the world (Czech Republic).  We'll stroll the castle gardens, tour the tower to enjoy the rich and beautiful vistas of the castle grounds and surrounding countryside.

After leaving Hluboka, we'll be heading towards Konopiste, the summer home and last residence of Franz Ferdinand.  Yes.... THAT Franz Ferdinand; the Arch Duke of the Austrian Hungarian Empire who's assassination in Sarajevo sparked WWI.  While most people may know who he is/was, many are unaware that he was actually an avid hunter and brewer... There are stuffed animals from his various hunts sprawling throughout the castle, peacocks roaming the castle gardens, and even a bear that lives in the moat.

His brewery not only is still active, but is actually the country's largest exporter of Czech malt and produces a FANTASTIC beer called "Ferdinand".

We'll experience the beer as he made it, tour the castle, learn a lot about the castle's rich history, and even see the very bullet that started it all!

Once we've finished our tour of Konopiste, we'll make our way towards the former silver capital of the world, Kutna Hora, where we'll be lodging for the evening.
Upon arrival to Kutna Hora, we'll move the luggage in to the hotel.
After settling in, guests are more than welcomed to join as we go "Beer Hunting" at local pubs/bars/restaurants or to explore on their own accord.

In the morning, we'll head towards Sedlec Ossuary (aka "The Bone Church") where bones of an estimated 40,000 - 70,000 people have been artistically arranged (in the 1870's) to form decorations and furnishings for this Roman Catholic chapel.

After visiting the Ossuary, we'll take some time for reflection and discussion over a beer prior to going to lunch (included in the program) at one of Kutna Hora's top rated kitchens serving authentic Czech cuisine.

With full bellies, we'll head towards St. Barbara's Cathedral to tour this magnificent structure that took over 500 years to build.  Its breathtaking architecture, stained glass windows, murals, statues, and awe inspiring organ are must sees that always leave our guests feeling awestruck.

After a few hours of self-exploration, we'll meet at a set time and location to head towards Prague, where we'll be lodging for the remainder of the tour.

Once we've delivered our luggage to our hotel, we'll head out to enjoy an experience that few know is available.  We'll tour the interior of Orloj (the astronomical clock) to include the cellar that used to be used as a prison/dungeon, the old town hall, a close up view of the 12 Apostle figures that rotate through the windows at the top of the hour, an overview of how this 600 year old mechanical marvel tells the date, time, astronomical and zodiacal information.  An elevator ride to the top of the tower for what is believed to be one of the best views of Prague's Old Town.

When we are done with the tour of Orloj, we'll eat some of Prague's famous street food to include "Old Prague Ham" cut directly from a rotating spit accompanied with some amazing parings and a great beer from a high top table, people watch, and take it in.

Enjoy the evening after, at your leisure or head back to the hotel with us.

Tomorrow, we'll be exploring more of the city!

We'll meet in the morning over breakfast to discuss our strategy for approaching our visit to  Prague Castle (the world's largest castle complex), St. Vitus' Cathedral, The Golden Street, Mala Strana, Strahov Library, and possibly Petrin Hill  and the National Theater(depending on how everyone feels) with many stops at pubs, breweries, restaurants (and maybe a moonshine museum) along the way.

This is going to be a long and incredibly fun day a lot of walking on cobblestone streets at a relaxed pace!!!

We'll have a leisurely dinner on our last evening together and assuredly have a farewell toast as we will be shuttling you to the airport in the morning for your return trip home or to launch your next adventure!
Na Zdravi (To Your Health)!