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The Railway Touring Company · Escorted tour

Festive Steam and Luxury Rail Adventure in the Czech Republic

Festive rail adventure combining Christmas markets, steam charters, and a New Year's Eve luxury

Illustration of Festive Steam and Luxury Rail Adventure in the Czech Republic

The Railway Touring Company's 11-day Festive Steam and Luxury Rail Adventure combines Prague's winter attractions with two private steam railway charters and a 7-day First Class rail rover across the Czech Republic. Starting in London with a direct flight, the tour centres on Prague for three nights and Olomouc, a UNESCO-listed city, for seven nights. You will explore Prague's Christmas Market and ride illuminated heritage tramways, ascend the newly reopened funicular to Petrin hill, and visit the National Technical Museum. On Day 8, a private narrow-gauge steam charter hauls you over the scenic Osoblaha branch line near the Polish border, pulled by the 1948 tender locomotive U57.001. On New Year's Eve, you travel on a luxury heritage train through snow-covered Moravian mountains in a 1907 Teak dining car with 1930s Swiss coaches, enjoying a silver-served lunch and a sparkling wine toast. Three days in the middle offer freedom to explore using the included First Class rail rover. The tour is escorted throughout by a Tour Manager and local guide.

What to know before you look closer

  • Only one departure listed: December 2026. Confirm availability and book well in advance.
  • The main steam charter on Day 9 includes a multi-course lunch in the Teak dining car, but the itinerary text cuts off mid-sentence; confirm full meal details with the operator.
  • Days 5, 6 and 7 are unguided exploration days using the rail rover; the Tour Manager advises but does not accompany excursions.

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: Prague

    London to Prague

    Direct flight from London to Prague, transfer to a centrally located hotel, welcome lunch, and free time to explore the capital.

  2. Day 2overnight: Prague

    Prague Christmas Market and festive seasonal heritage tramways

    Explore the world famous Prague Christmas Market in the Old Town and ride the illuminated, specially decorated heritage tramways on lines 23 and 41 connecting the Old Town, city centre and Prague Castle. Free time before dinner at the hotel.

  3. Day 3overnight: Prague

    Reopened Prague funicular and visit to the National Technical Museum

    Ride the panoramic Prague funicular from Mala Strana to Petrin hill (reopened autumn 2026 after a rebuild, with new carriages), then visit the National Technical Museum at Letna, housed in a 1930s building with rare steam locomotives, classic cars and a Spitfire. Free time before Christmas Dinner at the hotel.

  4. Day 4railovernight: Olomouc

    Scenic train trip to Olomouc and afternoon at leisure

    Loco-hauled First Class service train (about two hours) to the UNESCO-listed city of Olomouc. Check in to a hotel near the station, lunch, then free time to explore the Old Town, cathedral and tramway, with a public transport rover ticket provided for the duration of the stay.

  5. Day 5railovernight: Olomouc

    Freedom of the Czech Republic with your OneTicket railway rover in First Class

    First of three days with the continued validity of the 7-day First Class OneTicket rail rover, free to explore cities such as Brno, Ostrava, Opava or Luhacovice, or the 'Silesian Semmering' route to Jesenik; the Tour Manager is available to advise.

  6. Day 6railovernight: Olomouc

    Freedom of the Czech Republic with your OneTicket railway rover in First Class

    Second of three days with the First Class OneTicket rail rover, free to explore the country's railways and cities at leisure.

  7. Day 7railovernight: Olomouc

    Freedom of the Czech Republic with your OneTicket railway rover in First Class

    Third of three days with the First Class OneTicket rail rover, free to explore the country's railways and cities at leisure.

  8. Day 8railovernight: Olomouc

    Steam train with giant tank engine over rare track in Moravian Silesia

    Czech Railways service train from Olomouc via Krnov to Tremesna, then a private steam charter on the narrow gauge line to Osoblaha near the Polish border, hauled by the 0-10-0 tender locomotive U57.001 ('Blue Behemoth'), with run-pasts, photo stops, complimentary drinks and lunch refreshments, covering the full 20km branch line return. Back to Olomouc by service train.

  9. Day 9railovernight: Olomouc

    Main line steam luxury train over rare track in the Bohemian and Moravian countryside

    First Class loco-hauled service train to Zabreh na Morave, then a private chartered heritage train hauled by 2-6-2 tank engine 331 058 (former GYSEV Nr. 132), formed of 1930s Swiss First Class coaches and the 1907 Ringhoffer-built Teak dining car (originally built for Wagons Lits). Route past Sumperk to the ski resort of Kouty nad Desnou, via Petrov, Sobotin, Hanusovice and Dolni Lipka. Silver-served multi-course lunch in the Teak dining car with a wine reception, dessert and complimentary sparkling wine to toast the New Year; cab rides possible. Return to Olomouc by service train hauled by a 'Goggle' diesel locomotive. New Year's Eve celebrations in Olomouc.

  10. Day 10railovernight: Olomouc

    At leisure in Olomouc or another day of discovery with your railway rover

    Relaxed day exploring Olomouc's Old Town, or a further excursion using the First Class OneTicket rail rover. Farewell dinner in the evening at a traditional Czech beer hall.

  11. Day 11rail

    Travel to London

    Transfer by train to Prague Airport for the return flight to London.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 2Explore Prague's Christmas Market in the Old Town, then ride illuminated, specially decorated heritage tramways on lines 23 and 41 to the city centre and Prague Castle.
  • Day 3Ride the Prague funicular from Mala Strana to Petrin hill, reopened autumn 2026 with new carriages, offering panoramic views.
  • Day 8Private narrow-gauge steam charter hauled by the 0-10-0 tender locomotive U57.001 'Blue Behemoth' (1948) over the full 20 kilometre Osoblaha branch line near the Polish border, with run-pasts, photo stops, and lunch refreshments.
  • Day 9New Year's Eve luxury heritage train through snow-covered Moravian mountains: 2-6-2 tank engine 331 058 (1907) with 1930s Swiss First Class coaches and a 1907 Ringhoffer-built Teak dining car, silver-served multi-course lunch with complimentary drinks and sparkling wine toast.

Included

  • Flights from London to Prague and return
  • 10 nights accommodation with breakfast in centrally located hotels in Prague and Olomouc
  • 2 lunches served in nearby restaurants
  • 3 dinners
  • Buffet lunch on-board the private steam charter train with complimentary alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks
  • A silver served lunch in the 1907 Teak Dining Car on December 31 with complimentary alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, including sparkling wine to toast the New Year
  • All train and heritage rail travel as detailed in the itinerary
  • Complimentary public transport tickets in Prague and Olomouc
  • All private steam and heritage rail travel as detailed in the itinerary, including the two charter trains listed
  • A 7-day OneTicket Czech rail rover pass in First Class
  • The services of a local guide
  • The services of a Tour Manager

Not included

  • Rail or flight services from the UK and return for ground-only bookings
  • Transfers to or from your hotel(s) on the first and last day for ground-only bookings

Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included?
Yes. All rail travel is included: Czech Railways First Class loco-hauled services, a 7-day First Class OneTicket rover, and two private steam charters (narrow-gauge Osoblaha branch on Day 8 and the luxury heritage train on New Year's Eve, Day 9).
Is this an escorted tour?
Yes. The Railway Touring Company provides a Tour Manager and local guide throughout. Days 5, 6 and 7 offer freedom to explore independently using the rail rover.
What trains are used?
A narrow-gauge 0-10-0 tender locomotive U57.001 (1948) on the Osoblaha branch; a 2-6-2 tank engine 331 058 (1907) with 1930s Swiss First Class coaches and a 1907 Teak dining car on the New Year's Eve luxury train; and Czech Railways loco-hauled First Class services.
Where do we stay?
Three nights in a centrally located Prague hotel and seven nights in a hotel in Olomouc, a UNESCO-listed city. Both include breakfast.
When does this tour run?
One confirmed departure: December 2026.
What meals are included?
Breakfast daily, two lunches in nearby restaurants, three dinners (including Christmas Dinner and New Year's Eve farewell at a traditional Czech beer hall), plus buffet lunch on the narrow-gauge steam charter and silver-served multi-course lunch in the Teak dining car.

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