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The Railway Touring Company · Escorted rail holiday

Czech Autumn Steam Gala

Eight-day Prague steam festival tour with private heritage railways

Illustration of Czech Autumn Steam Gala

The Railway Touring Company's eight-day Czech Autumn Steam Gala is a Prague-based escorted tour for steam enthusiasts and their companions. You fly from London to Prague on Day 1, then spend seven nights in a centrally located 4-star hotel. The heart of the tour is the Benesov Steam Locomotive Festival, where a two-day rover ticket lets you ride main line steam trains, vintage diesel locomotives, and heritage electric trains on branch lines including the scenic Sazava Valley route. Intermediate days take you by train to private steam galas: a gala at the Zamberk narrow gauge railway near the Polish frontier, with two locomotives in steam on the dual 600/750 mm gauge, and a private chartered run at the Czech Railways Museum at Luzna u Rakovnika using the museum's vintage early 20th-century coaches. The tour includes flights, accommodation with breakfast, four lunches, public transport passes in Prague, and the company of a Tour Manager.

What to know before you look closer

  • Only one departure date is currently listed: September 2026.
  • The itinerary description for Day 7 is truncated in the source material; confirm the full schedule with The Railway Touring Company before booking.

Day by day

  1. Day 1railovernight: Prague

    London to Prague

    Direct flight from London to Prague, transfer to a centrally located hotel near the main railway station, welcome lunch, then free time to explore the city.

  2. Day 2railovernight: Prague

    Main line steam in Central Bohemia

    Join a main line steam train on its positioning run through Central Bohemia towards the festival, featuring an impressive locomotive and antique coaches, with lunch refreshments included. Return to Prague by service train.

  3. Day 3railovernight: Prague

    Steam on the festival train

    The Benesov festival formally opens with the inaugural steam-hauled train from Prague by scenic byways to Benesov, with reserved seats in classic coaches. Time to enjoy the festival atmosphere at the historic railway station and roundhouse before returning to Prague.

  4. Day 4railovernight: Prague

    Full throttle at the Benesov Steam Festival (day 1)

    Freedom of the festival rover ticket to travel on the many main line steam and vintage diesel trains hauled by local and visiting locomotives, including the Sazava Valley route, turntable shows and a freight train demonstration. Reserved seats on the morning express festival train from Prague.

  5. Day 5overnight: Prague

    Full throttle at the Benesov Steam Festival (day 2)

    Second day of freedom with the festival rover ticket to ride the gala trains and branch lines near Benesov.

  6. Day 6railovernight: Prague

    Private steam gala at the Zamberk narrow gauge railway

    Intercity train east to the Eagle Mountains near the Polish frontier to visit the narrow gauge railway and industrial heritage museum at Zamberk, an old 1830s textile mill. Private steam gala with two locomotives in steam on the dual 600/750 mm gauge railway, staged run-pasts, and a visit to the Museum of Old Machines and Technologies. Lunch at the museum restaurant, then Intercity train back to Prague.

  7. Day 7railovernight: Prague

    Steam at the Czech Railways Museum in Luzna and private main line charter

    Fast train to Luzna u Rakovnika to visit the Czech Railways Museum's roundhouse collection, with a private steam charter on the museum's own narrow gauge railway and lunch at the museum cafe. A private main line charter follows, with the museum's rake of early 20th-century four-wheeled coaches hauled by a classic unsilenced diesel locomotive, on the line to Krupa and Kolesovice used in numerous WWI/WWII film productions. Return to Prague by fast train.

  8. Day 8

    Travel to London

    Free morning and early afternoon in Prague, then transfer to Prague airport for the flight back to London.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 2Main line steam positioning run through Central Bohemia with antique coaches towards the festival.
  • Day 3Inaugural Benesov festival steam train departs Prague by scenic byways with reserved classic coach seats.
  • Day 4Full day at Benesov Steam Festival using the rover ticket to ride main line steam, vintage diesel, and the Sazava Valley route.
  • Day 6Private steam gala at Zamberk narrow gauge railway with two locomotives in steam on the dual 600/750 mm gauge line.
  • Day 7Private main line charter from Luzna u Rakovnika hauled by a classic unsilenced diesel locomotive through the WWI/WWII film location lines to Krupa and Kolesovice.

Included

  • Flights from London to Prague and return
  • All train and heritage rail travel as detailed in the itinerary
  • 7 nights' accommodation with breakfast in a 4-star hotel
  • 4 lunches
  • Complimentary Benesov steam festival rover ticket
  • Complimentary public transport tickets in Prague
  • The services of a Tour Manager

Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included?
Yes. The package includes all train and heritage rail travel as detailed in the itinerary, flights from London to Prague, and a complimentary Benesov Steam Festival rover ticket covering two days of gala trains.
Is this an escorted tour?
Yes. The Railway Touring Company provides a Tour Manager throughout the eight days.
Where do I stay?
A centrally located 4-star hotel near Prague's main railway station for all seven nights, with breakfast included.
What is the main focus of the trip?
The Benesov Steam Locomotive Festival, with additional private steam galas at the Zamberk narrow gauge railway and the Czech Railways Museum.
When does it run?
One departure is listed in September 2026 at a price of GBP 2,325 per person.
How much walking is involved?
Days involve festival grounds exploration, museum visits, and station walking, but no hikes or significant climbing.

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