CLOGGING TOUR 2027
April 29 - May 9
Dear friends,
We warmly invite you into the heart of Europe, into the Czech Republic. Even though traditional American clogging has had a place in the Czech Republic since the 1980s, this will be the first tour for American cloggers.
So, why choose us? One of our founders, Jitka Bonušová, was the very first Czech clogger. She learned the basic steps in the USA and performed her first routine back in what was then communist Czechoslovakia. The seed was sown, and Czechs have been in love with clogging ever since.
Today, we have hundreds of cloggers across the country and numerous dance troupes that compete annually in the National Clogging Championships. We invite you to come to the Czech Republic to see our style of clogging for yourself, meet local dancers, and experience a Czech clogging competition firsthand.
We offer you interesting program of many different activities and locations. During your travels you will have a chance to meet Czech folk dancers, see interesting places listed as UNESCO heritage sites, visit historical towns, meet people who are engaged in traditional folk production, take several short hikes in beautiful surroundings, and also explore different aspects of local folklore. During the trip, we will meet Czech cloggers and dance well-known ‚fun dances‘ together.
We are so glad and honored to have Marek Chytra (a memener of All That!) as our clogging leader.
We look forward to welcoming you to Prague and the Czech Republic!
Jan Pumpr & Marek Chytra
Tour program
April 29, Thursday
The first item on our itinerary will be our meeting in Prague. Due to the individual needs of each participant, we will not be providing transportation to or from Prague. However, we are more than happy to offer advice or assistance if needed. Prague has an excellent international airport, so we believe your travel will be smooth and hassle-free. Approximately one month before your arrival, you will receive an information letter containing detailed instructions on how to get from the airport to the hotel, along with many other useful tips.
After you successfully arrive at the hotel, you can check in and relax. In the late afternoon, we will meet in the hotel lobby and walk to a nearby restaurant for dinner. You will then have plenty of time to get enough rest before we head out on our journey.
April 30, Friday
Today is our first full day together, and it will be quite demanding. To truly get to know Prague, one must explore it on foot. We will start by heading to the Prague Castle area, which we will walk through from the top before moving down to Malá Strana for a group lunch. We will then continue across Charles Bridge to the Old Town, ending our tour at Old Town Square. Once we have covered everything necessary, you will have free time. Those who wish to can stay in the city, while those who feel tired can return to the hotel, which is only a 10-minute walk from Old Town Square. Dinner will be on your own, allowing everyone to choose according to their preference.
May 1, Saturday
We will stay in Prague for one more day. Those who wish to can explore the city on their own, while the rest of us will visit Vyšehrad together. This area is on the edge of the city center, yet it has served as a royal residence since 1085. The history of Vyšehrad is fantastic, and we will enjoy it to the fullest. The tour also includes beautiful views of Prague from the Baroque fortifications. Afterward, we will walk down to the river and return to the city center along the „náplavka“ riverside path. Lunch will be on your own. We will meet again in the early evening, first for a group dinner, followed by an invitation to our first Czech-American clogging evening. We will meet with local Prague cloggers, and we will even have live Appalachian music to accompany our dancing. We will then return to the hotel pleasantly tired.
May 2, Sunday
Today, we leave Prague. This means packing your bags in the morning and loading them onto the bus after breakfast. Our first stop will be the stunning Křivoklát Royal Castle, which has stood here since the beginning of the 12th century. We will enjoy a guided tour of the grounds. Afterward, we will visit a beautiful lookout tower offering amazing views of the surrounding countryside. Our journey then takes us to the historic town of Rakovník for a group lunch. Following lunch, you’ll have some free time to relax and explore the historic square before we meet with local cloggers. Most of them are young dancers who perform their own choreographies. Since American Fun Dance is quite new to them, it would be wonderful if we could introduce them to this style together. Since we are staying in a different city tonight, we have about an hour’s drive ahead of us. Once we arrive in Pilsen (Plzeň), we will check into the hotel and walk together to the main square, which is one of the largest in the Czech Republic. Dinner will be on your own—everything is within easy walking distance of the hotel, and there are plenty of options to choose from.
May 3, Monday
Can you imagine having beer for breakfast? You’re in the Czech Republic, a country that has boasted the world’s highest beer consumption per capita for 30 years running. Don’t worry, we won’t actually force you to drink beer for breakfast, but we will be in Pilsen, home to the most famous brewery in the world—Pilsner Urquell—which will be our first stop today. We’ll learn about the brewery’s history and tour the facility with a local guide, and naturally, we’ll also get to taste some freshly brewed beer in the historic cellars. After the tour, we’ll return to the city center to stay in the main square to enjoy the Liberation Festival. Pilsen is one of the cities liberated by the US Army under General Patton at the end of World War II, which is why these celebrations are held every year at this time. Since the USA is the center of attention here, you’ll have the chance to introduce clogging to the locals, as it is something they aren’t familiar with. Together with the Czech-American band you met in Prague, we’ll perform a simple Hoedown, and there will also be space for solo choreographies for those who are interested. In the evening, we’ll leave Pilsen for a smaller village to enjoy a group dinner and meet local folk dancers, as we want you to experience not only the Czech clogging scene but also traditional Czech culture before returning to the hotel later tonight.
May 4, Tuesday
This morning, we need to pack and load our luggage. Our first stop will be a historical area near Pilsen. Our destination is a rotunda built in 1150. Although it has been damaged and restored several times since its construction, it remains an exceptional testament to medieval craftsmanship. Next, we will move on to the larger town of Horažďovice, where we will have a group lunch. After a good meal, we’ll set off for a pleasant walk along the river. On the way, we will see a beautiful stone bridge; unfortunately, its exact age is unknown. It is estimated to have been built during the 16th century, and only later was the stream’s flow diverted elsewhere. Our next stop will be the town of Strakonice, where we’ll have another opportunity to meet local young cloggers. We will join them for a fun dance before continuing our journey to South Bohemia. We will be staying in the regional capital, České Budějovice, which arguably boasts one of the most beautiful town square in the Czech Republic.
May 5, Wednesday
This morning will be very pleasant as we don’t have to pack our luggage—we are staying at the hotel for one more night. We will set off from České Budějovice heading east, and on the way, we will stop at a unique leveling benchmark from 1877. This point served as the basis for the Czech leveling network, and it is the reference from which all elevations in the Czech lands (and formerly Slovakia) are measured. After a short and pleasant walk, we will arrive in the town of Třeboň, which is renowned for its beautiful Renaissance architecture. Třeboň suffered a major fire in 1562, and most of the houses were destroyed. The subsequent reconstruction of the entire town was carried out in the Renaissance style, which can still be seen today. You will have free time here for a lunch break; those who wish can climb the local town hall tower for a wonderful view. After lunch, we will have a tour of the local unique historic theater, and we cannot miss a walk along the Lužnice River, which is not only a lovely nature reserve but is also closely tied to the Czech tradition of canoeing. On the way back to České Budějovice, we will visit a puppet maker who has a beautiful workshop in his home. He will tell us about his family and show us his private puppet collection. In the evening, we will return to České Budějovice, where you will have free time for dinner on your own. The hotel is within walking distance of the center, so everything will be very convenient.
May 6, Thursday
We will start this morning almost like a fairy tale. Our first stop is Hluboká Castle, which belonged to the Schwarzenberg family until it was confiscated by the state after World War II. After touring its magnificent interiors, we will take a short drive to the small village of Holašovice, a unique site inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list. We will also enjoy a group lunch at a local restaurant there. After lunch, we will visit the ruins of a monastery built at the end of the 15th century—a truly magical place nestled in the heart of beautiful nature. We will spend the larger better part of the afternoon in another fairy-tale location: Český Krumlov (UNESCO). Together, we will explore the castle grounds and wander through the medieval winding alleys. In the evening, we will return to České Budějovice. Dinner will be on your own.
May 7, Friday
Today, we’ll begin our slow journey back to Prague, with several wonderful stops planned along the way. Our first destination is a small village featuring a unique church dating back to the 12th century. Perhaps even more fascinating are the more than 90 arcades lining the cemetery wall—each one is unique and hand-painted. Next, we’ll visit the town of Písek, where we will walk across the oldest stone bridge in Central Europe. This bridge actually predates Prague’s famous Charles Bridge. For lunch, we’ll arrive at a former farm that has been transformed into an outdoor dance center. There, we’ll enjoy a meal, try some simple folk dances, and even learn the art of baking traditional Czech „koláče„.
We will reach Prague in the late afternoon and check into our hotel. For the evening, you are free to head into the city for dinner or simply take some time to relax.
May 8, Saturday
Today is a national holiday as we celebrate the end of World War II. Because of this, please keep in mind that most shops will be closed. However, our main program for the day is attending a clogging competition and we will manage meals there. In the Czech Republic, we have an association that brings together children’s dance groups focusing on American country dancing and clogging. In fact, 2027 marks the 30th anniversary of our very first national championship. We will spend the entire day at the competition, and I believe you will truly appreciate our top cloggers. You might also be surprised by the original country dance choreographies our dancers have created. In the evening, we will join a traditional country dance party with live music. As this is primarily a youth-focused event, please be prepared to dance together with children. It’s time to brush up on your Dosido and Ladies Chain! After the program, we will head back to the hotel.
May 9, Sunday
Today is our final day together in Prague, and we’re going to keep it a bit more relaxed. We’ll be leaving the hotel a little later and heading over to the Museum of Communism. It offers a fascinating look at life in Czechoslovakia between 1948 and 1989; learning about the realities of a totalitarian state is a truly eye-opening experience. Afterward, we’ll take a short walk together into the historic city center, where you’ll have some free time. You’ll be on your own for lunch, so feel free to explore the local spots. In the evening, we’ll meet back at the hotel. From there, it’s just a few steps down to the Vltava River, where we’ll board our boat for the final evening cruise. It will be a wonderful opportunity to experience entirely new perspectives of beautiful Prague.
If you’re interested, here’s the map with basic directions.
