Be On Mission: Prague 2027

A vision trip is a chance to come and see. Instead of a construction project or a packed program, we’ll spend time with Czech pastors and believers, hear their stories, worship with them, and walk through the places where the Hussite and Moravian story began. You’ll come home understanding what God is doing in the Czech Republic and how you, your family, or your church might stand with it.

John and Tricia Goyer. Tricia first visited the Czech Republic in 2000, and our family has been connected to ministry there ever since. We’ll be partnering with pastors from the Maják Network, and the homeschool track will be run by Homeschool Travel Adventures.

Maják (“lighthouse” in Czech) is a network of 11 churches in the Czech Republic with a goal of planting many more. Its pastors are trained and equipped, and the network is looking for churches and believers in the U.S. to partner with them. Pastor Bedřich “Freddy” Smola, who came to faith as a teenager in an atheistic culture, is one of the church planters you’ll get to meet.

The trip is open to Christian individuals, couples, and families.

Yes! There are two tracks, and everyone travels, stays, and serves together:

• Travel & Homeschooling: Built for families with kids. In Prague, it adds history talks from Tricia and kid-friendly sightseeing. On the Saturday in Vsetín, families visit the Wallachian Open-Air Museum in Rožnov pod Radhoštěm, where kids can step inside a traditional Czech village.
• Travel for Leisure: Built for adults. In Prague, it includes the Jewish Quarter, a boat cruise on the Vltava River with lunch, and a Prague food tour. On the Saturday in Vsetín, this group stays to serve at the festival.

Both tracks share the Maják festival ministry, Sunday worship, Olomouc, and Vienna.

Homeschool Travel Adventures, led by founder Trish. She has been planning educational trips for homeschool families for eight years and has taken nearly 400 families on hands-on learning adventures. Kids will see Jan Hus, the Reformation, the Moravian missionaries, and World War II history come alive in a way no textbook can match. Learn more at homeschooltraveladventures.com.

Sunday, August 15, through Wednesday, August 25, 2027. You can also add an extra day in Vienna and fly home on Thursday, August 26.

11 days and 10 nights, or 12 days with the Vienna add-on.

In hotels in four cities, with breakfast at the hotel each morning:

• Prague: 4 nights (August 15–18)
• Vsetín, in eastern Moravia, where the Maják festival takes place: 3 nights (August 19–21)
• Olomouc, a historic university city: 2 nights (August 22–23)
• Vienna, Austria: 1 night (August 24), plus 1 more if you choose the add-on

We’ll travel between cities together by coach.

No. You’ll fly into Prague (PRG) and home from Vienna (VIE). When you book, choose a “multi-city” ticket instead of a round trip.

Here’s the day-by-day plan. A few details are still being finalized.

• Day 1 (Sun, Aug 15): Arrive in Prague, get settled at the hotel, and have dinner together.
• Day 2 (Mon, Aug 16): Prague city tour, including Old Town Square, the Charles Bridge, and the Astronomical Clock. That evening, a prayer walk or ministry project.
• Day 3 (Tue, Aug 17): Homeschool track: Prague Castle, St. Vitus Cathedral, Golden Lane, and Malá Strana. Leisure track: the Jewish Quarter and its historic synagogues.
• Day 4 (Wed, Aug 18): Homeschool track: the Jewish Quarter, New Town, and Wenceslas Square. Leisure track: a Vltava River cruise with lunch and a Prague food tour.
• Day 5 (Thu, Aug 19): Travel to Vsetín (about 5–6 hours with stops). Meet the Maják church family and begin festival ministry.
• Day 6 (Fri, Aug 20): Festival ministry in Vsetín.
• Day 7 (Sat, Aug 21): A possible pancake breakfast at Lighthouse Church. Homeschool track: the Wallachian Open-Air Museum in Rožnov. Leisure track: festival ministry.
• Day 8 (Sun, Aug 22): Worship with the Maják church at its Sunday service in a local theater, then travel to Olomouc (about 1.5 hours) for an evening in the town square.
• Day 9 (Mon, Aug 23): Cultural day in Olomouc (details coming soon).
• Day 10 (Tue, Aug 24): Travel to Vienna (about 3–3.5 hours), take a sightseeing bus tour, and close the trip with a farewell dinner at a traditional Viennese restaurant.
• Day 11 (Wed, Aug 25): Fly home, or stay for the Vienna add-on: a slow morning, then your choice of Schönbrunn Palace and Gardens, a Viennese coffee-and-cake tour, or an Old Town walking tour. End the day at the Prater and its 130-year-old Giant Ferris Wheel.
• Day 12 (Thu, Aug 26): Add-on travelers fly home.

On the homeschool track, Tricia will lead three talks in Prague:

• Jan Hus and the Moravian movement
• The Moravian Church, Count Zinzendorf, and the Herrnhut revival
• World War II, Operation Anthropoid, the Nazi occupation, and Czech resilience

We’re finalizing the budget now. We expect the trip fee to cover hotels, coach travel between cities, breakfasts, most dinners, and guided tours, with airfare booked separately. A few meals are on your own. We’ll post the full cost for each track, the Vienna add-on price, and the payment schedule here.

Yes. Many people invite friends, family, and their church to help send them. We’ll share tips and a sample support letter once you register.

Fill out the form on this page to join the interest list. You’ll be the first to hear when costs and registration open. Space is limited.

Yes. The U.S. State Department rates Czechia Level 1, “Exercise Normal Precautions,” which is its lowest advisory level. (Many Western European countries, like France, Germany, and the U.K., sit at Level 2.) The main thing travelers are warned about is petty theft such as pickpocketing in tourist areas and on public transit. We’ll go over simple habits to protect your belongings before we leave, and we’ll keep an eye on the advisory as the trip gets closer.

No special vaccines are required. Talk with your doctor about routine vaccines, and ask about hepatitis A, since health officials have reported a recent outbreak in the Czech Republic, including Prague.

We strongly recommend it. Most U.S. health plans offer little or no coverage overseas. Look for a plan that includes medical care, evacuation, and trip cancellation.

Expect a lot of walking, often on cobblestones and hills, plus stairs in older buildings. There are also a few long travel days by coach, especially the 5–6 hour drive from Prague to Vsetín. If you have mobility concerns, tell us early so we can plan around them.

No. U.S. citizens can visit the Czech Republic and Austria for up to 90 days without a visa.

You’ll need a passport that is valid for at least 3 months after the date you leave Europe. We recommend 6 months to be safe. If you need a new passport or a renewal, apply this year. It’s one less thing to worry about later.

The EES is a new digital border check where your fingerprints and photo are taken on arrival in Europe. It’s already in place, so plan for a few extra minutes at passport control. ETIAS is a short online travel authorization (about €20) that Americans will need before visiting Europe. Its launch date has been delayed and isn’t confirmed yet. We’ll tell the team if it’s required for August 2027, and when to apply. Only use the official EU website.

Every child needs their own passport. If a child is traveling with only one parent or with another adult, bring a signed letter of consent from the parent(s) who aren’t traveling.

August in Prague is usually warm, with highs in the mid-70s to low 80s °F, and it can get hotter. Expect some rain showers. Pack layers, a light rain jacket, and good walking shoes.

No. Many people in Prague, especially younger people, speak some English, and our hosts will help translate. Learning a few words like dobrý den (hello) and děkuji (thank you) goes a long way!

The Czech Republic uses the Czech koruna (crown, CZK), and Austria uses the euro. Cards are widely accepted. Bring a debit card with low foreign fees to pull cash from a bank ATM.

Most U.S. carriers offer an international plan, or you can buy an eSIM for Europe. Wi-Fi is common in hotels and cafés.

The Czech Republic and Austria use 230 volts and European round-pin plugs. Bring a plug adapter, and make sure your chargers say “100–240V” (most phone and laptop chargers do).

Prague and Vienna are both 7 hours ahead of Central Time.

Hearty Czech food (think dumplings, goulash, and soups), plus plenty of familiar options. Let us know about food allergies or dietary needs when you register.

Not at all. The most important thing you’ll bring is a willing heart, a listening ear, and a readiness to pray.

Start praying for the Czech pastors and the Maják Network now. Read up on Jan Hus and the Moravians. Our team meetings before the trip will cover the history, the culture, and what to expect.

That’s where the real story begins! Some people come home and pray. Some give. Some bring their church into a partnership with a Czech church plant. We’ll help you discover what your next step is.