May 14 - 24, 2020 tour

Sample tour below of what we can do for a group

Best of Bohemia tour – May 14 – 24, 2020 10+ glorious days
Offered by Heritage Tours Inc. email : 4CStours@gmail.com

This extensive – jam packed tour starts and ends in Prague, Czech Republic. I suggest you fly into Prague – on Tuesday May 12th arriving on May 13th which is the day before the tour officially starts, ( that means you will need to depart the USA on Tuesday May 12th – you fly overnight. This way you can rest from your journey, and the bus will pick everyone up from the same hotel, on the morning of May 14th. This is an option, you can try and fly in the morning the tour starts if you wish, but you must be at the hotel by 8:30 AM.

We have reserved rooms in a hotel in the historic center for this pre-tour option.

This tour celebrates many unknown areas of Bohemia in the Czech Republic.

Major towns and locations we visit below on the tour - are in bold print. Note the many UNESCO World heritage sites you will be visiting !

Departure from US

Wednesday May 13 Mark will take people on a walking tour into the old town area, mid-afternoon, dinner on our own. ( we will meet in the hotel lobby, I will let you know when )

Thursday, May 14 Prague The tour departs from our city center hotel at 9 AM sharp. ( please be in the hotel lobby by about 8:30 AM with your luggage ) We departure East to Kutná Hora, optional visit to the bone church in Sedlic lunch time on your own, then we visit the Gothic cathedral of St. Barbara a UNESCO site started in 1388. Then off to visit a local folk artist, before we arrive in Rychnov nad Kněžnou, check-in, to our hotel, dinner with the group, optional evening stroll.

Friday May 15 We start by touring the Chateau of Rychnov and possibly a church, Jewish cemetery and Synagogue ( where Madeleine Korbel Albright's family attended ) Then off to Letohrad ( where Mark's grandmother was born and raised ) to tour the unique private occupation / handicraft museum, then off to tour the one and only lace museum in the Czech Republic. Meet with a local folk artist, shop for traditional lace products, dinner with the group in the village of Potštejn, return to the hotel.

Saturday May 16 We depart Rychnov nad Kněžnou, ending up in South Bohemia. Stopping in historic Litomyšl, Visit the grounds of the Renaissance Chateau (UNESCO) it was built between 1568-1581. You will get to walk through this very charming small town, and have lunch on your own. ( or shop, sight-see, etc ) Next going Southwest we will stop and go through Lipnice medieval castle.

Web site : https://www.hrad-lipnice.cz/cs ) We end our day in České Budějovice, check-in to our hotel right in the historic old town, dinner and optional stroll around the old town square. ( a few steps from our hotel )

Sunday May 17 AM optional church service Then a traditional Czech breakfast after we tour the Budvar brewery(the original Budweiser) and taste some of it's products. Then free time in the city center, lunch on your own, a nap ? We will either stop at Dívčí kámen castle http://www.divcikamen.cz/or at the Monastery of the Golden Crown Klášter Zlatá Koruna Then we are continue to Český Krumlov (UNESCO) walking tour, free time, shopping or ? Next to a small village for dinner at a local restaurant. Then then a Folk dance party. A Private performance of an excellent South Bohemian folk dance group ( about 50 people, with a live band) This will be a EPIC evening. Late return to our hotel in České Budějovice .

Monday May 18 We start with a visit to a with local woodcarver, then off to view the most unique cemetery in the country. ( in a small village ) Next we visit the small city of Písek, walking across the oldest stone bridge in central Europe ( about 1270, UNESCO) a bit of site-seeing in the town, lunch on your own. Next to walk around medieval Zvíkov medieval castle, started before 1234, it's beautifully set almost surrounded by a lake. After that walk, we will have a refreshment stop at a small local brewery, and taste the local beer. Next we will visit a private home in a small village where you will learn to make kolac ( a Czech pastry ) learn a bit of Czech folk dancing, and singing, have a home cooked dinner, and eat the deserts you made. Returning to our České Budějovice hotel later......

Tuesday, May 19 We say goodby to České Budějovice , at our first stop we visit another UNESCO World Heritage site, the charming village of Holašovice. A village that time forgot, as we stroll around and image this is what our ancestors lived like. Our next stop will be in Klatovy, lunch time on your own, maybe visit the mummies in the catacombs ? Then on to a private local pottery workshop. And a stop at a famous Hussite battlefield from 1431. Next we check-in to our hotel in historic Domažlice, dinner, optional stroll around the square.

Wednesday May 20 Our first stop is to a small nearby village with a traditional fabric workshop, one of the last in the country. Then to view a local private kroj ( folk costumes ) museum. Then back to Domažlice, for some free time, lunch on your own. Then we will walk to the local museum, that has a fantastic exhibit of kroje, and many other local interests, you can clime to tower to view the town. We will have a optional walk to a local view point, meet our bus, go to a nearby village for dinner. Return to our hotel and rest. or go out for a local beer ( pivo ) ?

Thursday May 21 We say goodby to Domažlice, and go to Plzeň, for a bit of site-seeing, we will visit a private puppet museum, have lunch ( on your own ) stop at a small private brewery, and visit the new General Patton museum. Then it's off to the big city of Prague. Check-in to our hotel, and walk to a restaurant for dinner. Optional stroll after dinner.

Friday May 22 9:00 AM departure for sightseeing of the Prague castle area, down the hill to Malá Strana ( lesser town ) afternoon free for lunch and site-seeing , if you are looking for something specific, we can help you find it. 6 PM dinner cruise on the Vltava river, under and around the Charles bridge.

Saturday May 23 Today offers you many options - Visit Vysehrad, or Josefov (Jewish Town) or any of the many other sights. Or explore on your own, visit relatives, shop, etc. or a optional visit to Karlovy Vary - ( by one of many companies ) 7:00 PM Wonderful farewell dinner with traditional Czech music and dancing.

Sunday May 24 *Tour ends* with breakfast this morning at the hotel, and a lifetime of good memories !
  You are free to keep traveling, visit relatives, or return home.

PRICE FOR THIS FULL 12 DAY & 10 NIGHT TOUR IS ONLY :            $ 3179.00* Per-person double occupancy.     Single supplement is $600 for a single room during the tour.    Reserve your space !

Tour space is held by a non-refundable deposit of only, $ 300 per-person. Mail in a check for your tour deposit to : Heritage Tours, 2101 S. Meridian Rd # 59, Apache Junction, AZ 85120 ( I will cash checks in Jan. 2020 )

This tour is expected to sell out, do not delay !     Please feel free to contact Mark, as he is on almost every tour, with any tour questions you may have by   email at : 4cstours@gmail.com or by phone at ( 651) 426-1222 ( leave a message, too many spam calls )     Tour price is based on double room occupancy. ( most times it’s two beds in a room ) Single supplement   price is for a single room, with a single bed. Triple rooms are available too. Tour price includes : Hotel   rooms with private bath, in small select superior class hotels ( 4 or 3 star hotels ). Almost all meals, every breakfast, and most all evening meals, ( which are large ).   Professional driver, in a nice new 48 passenger modern air-conditioned motor coach - ( with LOTS of room to relax and spread out on all those empty   seats, this is a real luxury – as most tours will cram you in, every seat is full ) Or a smaller vehicle in case   of a smaller group. This is a fully guided tour, with a full time licensed local Czech guide. You will not be   left on your own, with no clue. ( unless you want to ) Your admission to places and events, on the itinerary.     Plus lots of entertainment, ( due to our extensive expertise, almost all entertainment we have is exclusive to Heritage Tours ) This is a Land only tour. Program is subject to change, tour price based on currency   exchange rates as of Nov, 2019. .   No two tours have ever been the same, each is unique and custom     designed around the local calendar of events. No one else will offer a tour like ours, period. We can easily   book you additional nights at the hotels – no problem. Tour size is limited, again this is a real luxury, as   many of my competitors have 35 to 50 people on one tour.    Tour space is held by deposit only.     *Listed tour price is by personal or bank check, final payment can be made by credit card using Pay-Pal   ONLY and 5 % will be added to your total for credit card fees. Make your tour deposit by personal or   bank check sent by postal mail.

We add many things to our tour program in Europe and are only satisfied when most people say I am too   tired to go on ! We don’t believe in playing games with tour prices, there will be very few extras while you   are on our tour.       Those very few extras are:   a. One meal a day, mostly lunches ( with two BIG meals a day, its not missed by most people) Beverages other than breakfast. b. Car, drivers, translators, for family visits and personal reasons, and additional services done by the genealogical service. c. An occasional evening cultural program, or extra stops at places or events we come across. d. Gratuities during the tour. e. Transportation to / from Europe, and transfers to meet the start of the tour, and return to the airport at the end of the tour.
  For references please feel free to contact :                                      Lisa Messman from MO     email :   Lmessman@hotmail.com    Karen Helwig ( 262 ) 473-2187 in Wisc. email, helwigr@cni-usa.com

Kathryn Muckler in WA state - email : tedwed61@q.com Gary Zabokrtsky ( 402 ) 729-2875 in Nebraska. email : garyzabo@gmail.com Barb Bening ( 507 ) 964-2739 in MN email : barbb@frontiernet.net Betsey McCalley ( 319 ) 363-9163 in Iowa Doreen McKenny 952-941-0426 in MN Doreenlouise@aol.com Kathy Sigdestad in KY email : kathysig@insightbb.com. Marge Duffy in MN email, Mduffy38@aol.com Midge Robbeloth 920-426-8890 in Wisc. LFACHE@aol.com Carol & George Bisek in MN email; cebisek@msn.com Pat & Dick Kutilek 402-393-7469 in Neb. email, dpkutilek@cox.net

Our exclusive family history assistance: While on a Heritage Tour if you are interested in locating your family’s roots, we can make it happen. We take this mission VERY SERIOUSLY. Unlike others we contact and search for your living relatives LONG before you depart for Europe. We check in advance to make sure people know you are coming, that the church will be open, that people will be home etc. All these matters dealing with family history are handled by a professionally licensed genealogical service, run by a Slovak-American married to a Czech based in Prague. They work extensively in Central Europe. They will contact your relatives, and you and they will decide how long your visit will be; a evening, afternoon, a day ? As not everyone will speak English, drive, or even have a car, we can help out with a car, van, driver or translator if you request it, no problem ! ( at a additional fee ) We will basically fill in with whatever you need to make your family visit a roaring success ! Detailed information regarding this service and much more, will be sent out to you – after you have signed up for a tour.

This is a GREAT GENERAL TOUR, each day is plum full of activities, your personal family history and visit is for you, the group is not invited along. We will be very interested to hear about your wonderful visit, but it’s your day to be spent with your family. The tour group will continue seeing great sites, if your gone. Don’t let the large paragraph above worry you if your not of Czech or Slovak background. If your interest is just seeing a wonderful part of Europe - enjoying a more in-depth experience, or extensive travelers looking for a better travel experience – all have found our tours a wonderful off the beaten path travel experience ! In the last few years we have had many people of non-Czech or Slovak background join us, as more of the world learns what a wonderful place Central Europe really is. Including American Teachers and librarians doing school projects, and American’s living in Europe full time. On a 2006 tour, we had 6 Australian’s and a lady from England – two of the Australians were returning for their 2nd tour with us ! ( none of whom are of Czech or Slovak background, they had all heard wonderful things about our tours – all the way down under ! ) You will meet many friends as we have over the last 25+ years, it's less like a tour and more like a family outing visiting friends. Don’t miss your chance…………. Join us for the trip of a lifetime in 2020 !

For more genealogical information please contact the National Genealogical Society I founded: CzechoSlovak Genealogical Society Int. PO Box 16225 St. Paul MN 55116 or visit their web site at: www.cgsi.org or facebook page ( a not-for-profit, volunteer run society )

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samples of our unique tours

Fall Heritage Tour September 6 - 16, 2018

10+ glorious days and nights

We do all the planning, you just have to pack.

Offered by Heritage Tours Inc. 4219 Thornhill Lane, St. Paul, MN 55127 This extensive – jam packed tour starts and ends in Prague, Czech Republic. - the most beautiful city in Europe !

I HIGHLY suggest you depart the USA on Sept. 4th arriving into Prague Sept. 5th or a few days before the tour officially starts on Sept. 6th ( that means you will need to depart the USA on Wednesday Sept. 5th you fly overnight, arriving to Prague on Sept. 6th ) This gives you the option to rest up from your journey, and do some exploring on your own. This is an option, or you can fly in the day before the tour starts on Sept. 5th if you wish. We have reserved rooms in a hotel in the center of Prague, our tour bus will pick everyone up from the same hotel, on the morning of Sept. 7th and off we go !

Major towns and locations we visit below on the tour - are in bold print. UNESCO = World heritage sites ) This tour celebrates many unknown areas of the Central Europe.

September 6, Thursday Tour officially starts at about 4 PM in the lobby of the Hotel in Central Prague. We will go out for dinner at a local restaurant, and a walk after if you wish, early night..... If you have arrived the day before - a option : Sept. 5th Mark will take people on a walking tour.

September 7, Friday

Change of hotel location (start loading luggage at 8:30 AM)
9 AM Depart from our hotel in Prague toward Kutna Hora ( a UNESCO town ) we will visit the historic Gothic cathedral built in 1388. Walk around the town have lunch, etc. Virtual video tour here = http://www.360globe.net/czech-republic/kutna-hora/viewpoint-above-the-chapel-of-corpus-christi.html After a very full day we arrive at Uherske Hradiste, check-in to our hotel, have dinner, then off to enjoy the evenings programs of the wine and harvest festival. ( see below for more details on the festival ) Stroll through town enjoying the music, dancing, wine, kroje (folk costumes).

September 8, Saturday

You have the whole day to wonder around the wonderful Moravian wine and harvest festival. In the morning is the fantastic HUGE parade of over 5000 people in kroje ( folk costumes ) bands, dancing, singing, horses, carts, wagons, bikes, and even wheelbarrows. All day stroll around the folk market, bands, singing, and dancing everywhere ! The evening has a special treat : an evening dance with the 20 piece Moravian brass band !. Or enjoy the folk music in a number of different venues. This will be the highlight or our tour and your whole year !!!! Do view this picture gallery of the festival : http://www.slavnostivinauh.cz/galerie

September 9, Sunday

Attend church or sleep in, or you are free to enjoy the festival. Or we will visit the local area museum Slovacko Museum. Lunch on your own. Then we depart to medieval Buchlov Castle, started about 1220. more info at : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buchlov Next to historic Velehrad a important pilgrimage place for the Czech people, details here : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Velehrad Group dinner at a local restaurant Then back to our hotel.

September 10, Monday

Change of hotel location (start loading luggage at 8:30 AM) We say goodbye to Uherske Hradiste and travel to Trebic ( UNESCO ) stroll around the town, visit the Basilica of St. Procopius, started in 1240. Also visit the Jewish ghetto, one of the best preserved in Europe. Viedo tour here = http://www.360globe.net/czech-republic/trebic/st-procopius-basilica-in-trebic.html Our next stop is also a UNESCO world heritage site – Telc. stroll around this small town that looks like a movie set, but it's all real ! Video tour here = http://www.360globe.net/czech-republic/telc/namesti-zachariase-z-hradce.html ( even the fire station ) Then we drive to the capital of South Bohemia - Ceske Budejovice our third UNESCO world heritage site in one day ! Video tour here = http://www.360globe.net/czech-republic/ceske-budejovice/premysl-otakar-ii-square.html Check-in at our hotel, an easy walk to the old town, dinner in a local restaurant. Evening free. Optional evening stroll around the historic square all lit up, very beautiful ! ( See the video above ).

September 11, Tuesday

Morning free, recover, sleep-in and/or tour around the beautiful town square cut crystal and Bohemian garnets are much cheaper then Prague. Then a traditional Czech lunch – we tour the world famous Budweiser brewery. Group lunch in the brewery restaurant. Then we visit the local ceramic workshop, and take a tour. Next to the famous Hluboka Chateau ( opulent is not even close to describing what you will see ) more details here : https://www.zamek-hluboka.eu/en Return to Ceske Budejovice, dinner on your own, dozens of local places to pick from including a very historic beer-hall type place called Masne kramy :

https://www.masne-kramy.cz/en#home

September 12, Wednesday

Our first stop is a charming Museum of Czech emigration to America. Then we visit historic Trebon, stroll the historic center, lunch on your own. Next to enchanting Cesky Krumlov ! ( a UNESCO town ) virtual video tour here = http://www.360globe.net/czech-republic/cesky-krumlov/at-the-vltava-river-near-lazebnicky-bridge.html Walking tour around the Gothic old town. Free time time to explore, take pictures, relax, or take a tour of the castle. Dinner in a medieval restaurant in the old town.

Then a nearby village for a great evening with a folk group, concert, singing, music fun ! Return to hotel in Ceske Budejovice,

September 13, Thursday

Change of hotel location (start loading luggage at 8:30 AM) First we walk across the oldest stone bridge in central Europe in Pisek video = http://www.visitpisek.cz/en/pisek-sightseeing-stone-bridge/65/ Lunch on your own. Next we stop at a very small village for some treats and you get to learn how to make : Czech kolace. ( this is a private event done just for Heritage tours ! ) While they are baking you will learn some traditional Czech folk songs and dances ! Then we eat your kolac ! Then we visit a Bohemian open air museum - called Vysoky Chlumec. After all that we are off to the golden city of Prague. Check-in at our centrally located hotel, ( right in the center ) Evening free or optional stroll in the historic center.

September 14, Friday

Walking tour through the Prague Castle complex - the largest in the world, see video here : http://www.360globe.net/prague/hradcany/prague-castle/st-vitus-cathedral.html group lunch and continued sightseeing of Karluv Most (Charles Bridge), Stare Mesto (Old Town) until about 3 PM. Then your free - for you to attend one of the many music events and concerts, etc. Dinner on your own. ( or hang with the guide and Mark we know some great places ! )

September 15, Saturday

Today offers you many options - Visit Vysehrad, or Josefov (Jewish Town) with our tour guide or visit any of the many other sights. Or explore on your own, visit relatives, shop, etc. Wonderful farewell evening dinner cruise on the Vltava river, around the historic Charles bridge. Optional evening walk to view the lights in the historic center.

September 16, Sunday
*Tour ends* with breakfast this morning at the hotel, and a lifetime of good memories !
You are free to keep traveling, visit relatives, or return home.
The final itinerary will have more stops, and more detail. I do not put lots of detail on the Internet because we do not want our out-of-the-way places to be swamped with tourists.

Our 25 years of tour finds are for you - our valued guests.

PRICE FOR THIS FULL 10+ DAY & 10 NIGHT TOUR IS ONLY :

$ 2395.00* Per-person double occupancy. (same prices as last year !) Single supplement is $395.00 extra for a single room during the tour.

Reserve your space ! Tour space is held by a non-refundable deposit of only, $ 300 per-person. Mail in a check for your tour deposit made out to : “Heritage Tours” and mail to : Mark Bigaouette 4219 Thornhill Lane, St. Paul, MN 55127

This tour is expected to sell out, do not delay !

Please feel free to contact Mark, as he is on almost every tour, with any tour questions you may have by email at : 4cstours AT gmail.com ( just replace the AT with a @ = to put these complete email address on the Internet will get me thousands of spam or junk emails ) or by phone at ( 651) 426-1222

We visit safe places, the locals love us because we are interested in them, and their history and culture. You have nothing to worry about. Tour price is based on double room occupancy. ( most times it’s two beds in a room ) Single supplement price is for a single room, with a single bed. Triple rooms are available too. Tour price includes : Hotel rooms with private bath, in small select superior class hotels ( 3 stars or above ). Almost all meals, every breakfast, and most all evening meals, ( which are large ). Professional driver, in a nice modern air-conditioned motor coach - Or a smaller vehicle in case of a smaller group. This is a fully guided tour, with a full time licensed local Czech guide. You will not be left on your own - with no clue. ( unless you want to ) Your admission to places and events, on the itinerary. Plus lots of entertainment, ( due to our extensive expertise, almost all entertainment we have is exclusive to Heritage Tours )

This is a Land only tour. Program is subject to change, tour price based on currency exchange rates as of Jan. 1st , 2018.

No two tours have ever been the same, each is unique and custom designed around the local calendar of events. No one else will offer a tour like ours, period. We can easily book you additional nights at the hotels – no problem. Tour size is limited, again this is a real luxury, as many of my competitors have 35 to 50 people on one tour.

Tour space is held by deposit only. *Listed tour price is by personal or bank check, final payment can be made by credit card using Pay-Pal ONLY and 5 % will be added to your total for credit card fees. Make your tour deposit by personal or bank check sent by postal mail.

We add many things to our tour program in Europe and are only satisfied when most people say I am too tired to go on ! We don’t believe in playing games with tour prices, there will be very few extras while you are on our tour.

Those very few extras are: a. One meal a day, mostly lunches ( with two BIG meals a day, its not missed by most people) Beverages other than breakfast. b. Car, drivers, translators, for family visits and personal reasons, and additional services done by the genealogical service. c. An occasional evening cultural program, or extra stops at places or events we come across. d. Gratuities during the tour. e. Transportation to / from Europe, and transfers to meet the start of the tour, and return to the airport at the end of the tour.

For references please feel free to contact : Lisa Messman from MO email : Lmessman@hotmail.com Karen Helwig ( 262 ) 473-2187 in Wisc. email, helwigr@cni-usa.com Kathryn Muckler in WA state - email : tedwed61@q.com Gary Zabokrtsky ( 402 ) 729-2875 in Nebraska. email : garyzabo@gmail.com Barb Bening ( 507 ) 964-2739 in MN email : barbb@frontiernet.net Lisa Conrath email; ewm1573@yahoo.com in SC. Betsey McCalley ( 319 ) 363-9163 in Iowa Doreen McKenny 952-941-0426 in MN Doreenlouise@aol.com Stefanie Husak email : stefaniehusak@gmail.com ( Miss Czech-Slovak US 2010-2011 ) from NE Kathy Sigdestad in KY email : kathysig@insightbb.com. Marge Duffy in MN email, Mduffy38@aol.com Midge Robbeloth 920-426-8890 in Wisc. LFACHE@aol.com Carol & George Bisek in MN email; cebisek@msn.com Pat & Dick Kutilek 402-393-7469 in Neb. email, dpkutilek@cox.net Barbara Douvier in MN 651-738-0268 barbdouvier@comcast.net Elaine Jones in Neb email : ekathryn@cox.net

In the last few years we have had many people of non-Czech or Slovak background join us, as more of the world learns what a wonderful place Central Europe really is. Including American Teachers and librarians doing school projects, and American’s living in Europe full time. On a 2006 tour, we had 6 Australian’s and a lady from England – two of the Australians were returning for their 2nd tour with us ! ( none of whom are of Czech or Slovak background, they had all heard wonderful things about our tours – all the way down under ! )

You will meet many friends as we have over the last 20 years, it's less like a tour and more like a family outing visiting friends.

Don’t miss your chance…………. Join us for the trip of a lifetime in 2018 !

Czech Heritage Tours email : 4cstours@gmail.com