About the trip
Karlovy Vary is the grandest of Bohemia’s three West Bohemian spa towns — a place built almost entirely around its hot mineral springs, which have drawn the powerful and the privileged since the 14th century. The springs rise from the earth at temperatures between 30°C and 73°C, and the town’s famous colonnaded promenades — running the length of the valley between Belle Époque hotels and Baroque churches — were designed to make the daily spring-tasting circuit a civilised ritual rather than a medical obligation.
The visitor list over the centuries was remarkable: Tsar Peter the Great, Beethoven, Schiller, Goethe, Brahms, and Karl Marx (who worked on Das Kapital during multiple visits) all came for the waters. In the 20th century, the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival established itself as one of the major events in the European cinema calendar, bringing a different kind of celebrity to the hotels along the promenade.
Loket Castle lies 12 kilometres south — a medieval fortress on a dramatic rocky promontory almost completely encircled by a meander of the Ohře River. The small historic town clustered around the castle is one of the most photogenic in western Bohemia.
The drive from Prague takes approximately 2 hours along the D6 motorway. Karlovy Vary and Loket work as a full day: the spa grandeur of the first stop and the medieval intimacy of the second complement each other particularly well.
You might also enjoy: Marianske Lazne & Fairytale Castle, Pilsen, Czech Beer Trail.
Pricing: Car tour — price per kilometre, stops, and waiting time. Vehicle: Hyundai Staria (up to 8 passengers). Karlovy Vary spring promenade: free. Loket Castle entry: approx. 130 CZK/person.
Tips: The spring circuit on the main promenade takes 30–45 minutes — the traditional spa cup (porcelánový pohár, available in every gift shop) is required for drinking directly from the spring taps. The Mill Colonnade (Mlýnská kolonáda) houses five springs and is the most architecturally impressive stop. The hot spring geyser near Diana Funicular erupts every 1–2 minutes. The Grand Hotel Pupp at the southern end of the promenade has an excellent café for mid-morning coffee. For Loket, allow 60–75 minutes for the castle interior and a walk around the town. The view from the castle tower over the river bend is the best photograph of the day.
Stops
Karlovy Vary 2 h 30 min
Karlovy Vary’s thermal springs are the source of everything the town is. Thirteen main springs rise from the earth at temperatures between 30°C and 73°C, each with distinct mineral profiles, and the daily circuit of the colonnaded promenades — drinking from the traditional porcelain spa cups at each spring tap — has been the central ritual of a Karlovy Vary visit since the 18th century. The springs are free to taste at the source; the cups themselves are the town’s signature souvenir.
The architectural ensemble along the river valley is one of the finest concentrations of late 19th-century resort architecture in Central Europe. The Mill Colonnade (Mlýnská kolonáda), designed by Josef Zítek and completed in 1881, stretches 132 metres along the river and houses five springs beneath its neo-Renaissance arcade. The Grand Hotel Pupp, in continuous operation since 1701 — and recognisable internationally as the setting for the Casino Royale Bond film — anchors the southern end of the promenade. The forested hills rising on both sides of the valley are threaded with marked walking trails and accessible by funicular from the town centre.
Loket Castle 1 h
Loket Castle occupies one of the most striking natural sites in Bohemia: a rocky promontory almost completely encircled by a meander of the Ohře River, forming what amounts to a natural island connected to the surrounding terrain by a narrow neck of land. The fortress was established in the 12th century as a royal stronghold; Holy Roman Emperor Charles IV spent part of his childhood here before later using it as a political prison. It remained an active castle and subsequently a prison until the early 19th century, after which it was gradually converted into a museum.
The interior tour covers the castle’s history from its 12th-century origins through to its prison period, with collections of medieval weaponry, Karlovy Vary porcelain (made nearby since the 18th century), and preserved prison cells. The castle walls can be walked, and the tower provides a panoramic view over the river bend and the red-roofed houses of Loket town below — one of the most satisfying compositions in western Bohemia. The town itself, with its Baroque main square and Gothic church, deserves a 30-minute walk before returning to the car.
Price per vehicle with driver (max. 8 persons)
Frequently asked questions
Planning your trip with Private Tours Czech is simple:
- 📍 Choose your pick-up location.
- 🗺️ Plan your route and stops.
- ⏱️ Select the length of each stop or 🛏️ overnight stay.
- 📍 Set your final destination (which can be the same as your starting point).
- 👶 Choose additional services – child seats, a tour guide, 📸 a photographer, or a special photography tour with a photography course.
🚐 Travel in comfortable, spacious vehicles and complete your booking easily online.
💡 If you don’t want to plan the entire trip yourself, you can choose from our Popular Tours section with recommended routes and then customise them to suit your needs.
💳 Payment is made directly to the driver – you can pay in cash or by card in your chosen currency (CZK / EUR / USD upon request).
✅ The price includes everything listed in your confirmed booking – for example, transportation in a comfortable vehicle, professional driver services, and selected additional services.
❌ The price does not include expenses such as parking fees, entrance tickets, local guides, meals, overnight stays, or other personal expenses.
⚠️ Please cancel at least 12 hours before the scheduled pick-up time. For quick cancellation, use the cancellation link in your confirmation email.
🔄 There are two ways to change your booking:
- ❌ Cancel your existing booking using the cancellation link in your confirmation email and create a new one.
- 💬 Contact our customer support via email or chat – our team will make the changes for you.
🚐 We use fully equipped Hyundai Staria 4×4 vehicles for up to 8 passengers, with a fixed price and large luggage capacity.
Perfect for airport transfers, transporting multiple passengers and luggage, weddings, families with children, and trips.
All vehicles feature:
- 🛋️ Leather seats
- 👶 Britax Römer child seats
- 💧 Vittel water
- 🚪 Electric doors
- 🕶️ Tinted windows
- 🛡️ Modern safety systems
- 📶 USB and air conditioning
👨✈️ Drivers are carefully selected, follow strict quality codes, and are regularly checked.
✍️ If you have special requests – such as assistance for passengers with reduced mobility, transport of sports equipment, specific vehicle equipment, or route adjustments – include them in the “Notes” field when booking.
💬 You can also contact us via email or chat for personalised advice.
📌 Don’t want to plan from scratch? Choose from our range of Popular Tours with carefully designed routes and itineraries.
You can customise each one – change the order of stops, adjust the length of visits, add services, or include your own stops.
