Vintage Tramways of Prague and the Czech Republic

An all new tour to the historic Czech cities and delightful tramways of Prague, Pilsen, Most and Brno, travelling on specially chartered heritage trams and enjoying exclusive experiences in beautiful places rich in culture and history.

• Based in the vibrant Czech capital of Prague throughout, you will benefit from a central 4-star hotel in the Old Town, ideally located next to two important tram interchanges. You will be given a complimentary public transport rover ticket valid for the entirety of your stay.
• In every city you will enjoy comfortable sightseeing of the historic city centre and the most attractive parts of each tram network with privately chartered vintage vehicles, giving you exclusive and behind-the-scenes access to depots and museums, photos stops at scenic locations and travel over those unusual parts of the network that are not covered in regular service, including rare curves or unusual lines. Additionally you will also have free time in each city for photography or individual travel on the rest of the tram network using complimentary rover tickets. 
• The tour will make use of the most interesting, privately chartered heritage trams in each city, using classic vehicles spanning different decades of the 20th century, sampling different designs, from old teak-bodied Ringhoffer cars to the iconic Tatra T1 and T2 semi-streamliners from the 1950s.
• An ideal tour for tramway enthusiasts and connoisseurs of vintage transport, yet also a refined holiday for non-enthusiast partners, as in every city there is sightseeing in fine style and formidable comfort, seeing all the sights and landmarks by tram rather than having to walk. See the best of the Czech cities on an off-the-beaten path, with many delightful surprises along the way. At each city a nice lunch at a typically regional restaurant is also included.

Monday 13 April 

Arrive in Prague

You have a direct morning flight from London to Prague, with a mid-day arrival in the Czech capital. After arrival you check into your centrally located hotel, where you will enjoy a welcome lunch at a nearby restaurant.
Following lunch, you have the rest of the day at leisure to explore Prague and all of its historic and cultural attractions. Plus the expansive tram system, which has been extended six times during the past five years, with lots of new lines to explore. The popular heritage tram line 23, which is in daily service, is a great starting point for everything and calls near the hotel. (L)

Tuesday 14 April 

Sightseeing of Prague and ‘rare track’ by private tram charter

Today you enjoy your first private tram charter of the tour, using an elegant 1930s streetcar. You will see the attractive highlights and historic districts of the city a little bit off the beaten path and pause for photos along the way.
Your route will cover some impressive bridges across the River Vltava, along with balloon loops that are not in regular use. After your private charter tour, you will have more free time to continue your individual exploration of the city. (B)

Wednesday 15 April 

Tramways of Pilsen 

After breakfast you take a Czech Railways intetcity train in First Class, 80 minutes west to Pilsen, the hub of western Bohemia.
This city is legendary for its beer and steel-building industry with the famed Skoda works. Even today, Skoda still produces modern trams in Pilsen! Arriving at the city’s beautifuk Art Nouveau railway station dating from 1907, a wonderful ancient two-axle tram dating from 1899 will take you on a private siteseeing tour of the city. This iconic tram will cover most of the scenic highlights of the urban tram system, travelling over ‘rare track’ out of public use.
You will also have the opportunity to visit the tram depot of Slovany, which has recently undergone a transformation with sustainable lighting solutions. The most extensive renovation in the recent history of Pilsen’s municipal transport companies. A project executed while the facility remained fully operational. The tram depot, in its original state 1943, had become unsatisfactory in terms of both capacity and quality. The new depot’s passage halls stretch from 124 metres, accommodation up to 52 cars measuring 33 metres in length and 7 cars measuring 15 metres in length. After the tram tour, lunch will be served in the Old Town near the main station and impressive cathedral. In the late afternoon you return by intercity train to Prague. (B L)

Thursday 16 April 

Tramways of Most

Today is dedicated to the discovery perhaps the most unique and distinctive tram system in the Czech Republic, with the special interurban network covering the two industrial cities of Most and Litvinov. This will be a day "off the beaten path," as these cities are not typical tourist destinations. However, they are all the more fascinating due to the vast industrial sites and large processing facilities served by the interurban tram line. This includes both a local oil refinery and expansive chemical works, served by the trams, creating a fascinating and photogenic backdrop for picture taking along the tram tracks. You will travel by a classic Tatra car for your private charter, covering 'rare tracks' and making a depot visit as well. After the tram tour, there will be a welcome lunch in the charming Old Town of Litvinov, followed by some free time for you to photograph the modern trams on your own. In the late afternoon you take a Czech Railway IC train back to Prague, once again travelling in stylish First Class. (B L)

Friday 17 April 

Tramways and Museums in Prague

After two days of travelling beyond the capital, today you have time to relax and enjoy more of what Prague has to offer. This includes a morning visit to the Technical Museum, with its impressive collection of locomotives, vintage cars and aircraft. If you prefer, you can visit the wonderful National Gallery, which is dedicated to 19th and 20th-century art and is housed in a modernist architectural landmark dating from the 1930s. Your leisure time may also be used for further exploration on the expansive tram network. (B)

Saturday 18 April 

Tramways of Brno

It's time to explore another great Czech city and its scenic tram system. After a two-hour rail service in First Class you arrive in Brno, the hub of southern Moravia. This elegant city shows its proximity to Vienna and features lots of Viennese flair and classic 19th century urban architecture. You will explore the attractive historic centre and the tram network on a private charter using a distinctive 1940s car. You will pass the hilltop cathedral and the imposing Spilberk fortress, once again making convenient photo stops for keepsake pictures of the trams and impressive buildings. The tram tour will cover ‘rare track’ and pass through the depot grounds and 1930s fairgrounds. After a late lunch at one of Brno’s famous brew houses, you will have time to explore the city and the network at your own pace, providing you with photo opportunities of the trams at many of the scenic junctions and interchanges outside of the main railway station. In the late afternoon you return on a direct express train back to Prague. (B L)

Sunday 19 April 

Tramway museum, heritage tram line and leisure in Prague

To cap the holiday in fine style, you have a final day in Prague. After breakfast you will have complimentary admission to the excellent public transport museum at the heritage tram depot at Vozovna Stresovice. This features large collection of vintage trams and trolleybuses. You are then free to enjoy the city and the trams at leisure with your inclusive rover ticket for the ‘hop-on, hop-off’ museum tram line 41 that is in weekend service. In the evening you reconvene with your fellow travelers for a farewell dinner at one of Prague’s famous, historic restaurants. (B D)

Monday 20 April 

Return to London

Following breakfast, you have some free time before travelling to Prague airport for your flight back to London, following a memorable Czech Republic holiday.