zephyradventures DETAILED TRIP DESCRIPTION
BELGIUM: Hike, Bike & Beer Adventure
Belgium is a world of scenic landscapes, castles, stone-built villages, multiple languages and cultures, gourmet restaurants, breweries and beer cafes, beautiful walking and cycling paths, and really nice people.
After a day in the capital city of Brussels and a clear appreciation for the beer world we have entered, we first travel to southwest Belgium, a region known as Wallonia where French is the primary language and where we enjoy wonderful hikes on country trails near deciduous forests. Here rivers carve deep canyons through rolling countryside and hills are capped with castles and citadels.
From the south we travel north into a region known as Flanders where the language is Dutch. In Flanders we bike through a landscape rich with agriculture and spend time in historic cities such as Mechelen, Ghent and Bruges. Our evenings are spent in accommodations that range from quaint family-owned hotels to a 15th century brewery and an old convent overlooking the ancient city of Dinant.
Each day you stay active on foot or on bike and visit over ten different breweries and beer cafes while your guides take care of all the details and share information about the region, culture, and beers they love so much.
DAILY ITINERARY
DAY 1 in BRUSSELS: Welcome to Brussels, Belgium! Our adventure starts at 1:00PM, allowing you to arrive in Brussels this morning or the evening before. This afternoon we will walk from our hotel around the beautiful city of Belgium, visiting ancient sites including Europe’s most impressive plaza, The Grand Place. We’ll taste arguably the world’s best chocolate along with Belgian Beer at Laurent Gerbaud. We will walk to Brasserie Cantillon for a tour and tasting of this most impressive and unique brewery. Cantillon uses natural yeasts that are present in the air around us for fermentation. From there we will walk to have a conversation, craft beers and craft cheeses with our friend Jean Hummler at Moeder Lambic. This evening we’ll enjoy Belgium’s typical food specialties and beer cuisine at Restobières not far from The Grand Place. After dinner, if you are not tired from jetlag or our walk, we’ll stop into some of Brussels famous beer cafes, one of which has 3000 beers from which to choose! Accommodation: Hotel Welcome
DAY 2 in BOULLION: Today we travel to southwestern Belgium, a special region known as Wallonia. After reaching our destination, we will walk the Grande Randonnée hiking path along a creek through deciduous forests. En route, you’ll have the option to stop into Le Chameleux, a small café seemingly in the middle of nowhere serving local foods and beverages. After lunch we walk on until we reach out destination, Abbaye Orval. After a tour of the impressive abbey we will then taste Orval beers from the tap at Orval L’ange gardien. This is the only place in the world with Orval on tap. Santi! From Orval we will travel to the historic town of Boullion and our accommodation, Hotel Cosy, on the bluff overlooking town. The owner of the hotel, Wouter Liekens, is also a renowned chef and tonight we’ll enjoy a special four-course Beer Degustation dinner prepared by Wouter just for us. Accommodation: Hotel Cosy
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BELGIUM: Hike, Bike & Beer Adventure
DAY 3 in DINANT: Today is going to be a good day. Today we will walk from the Hotel Cosy, across the river, through Boullion and up the bluff to visit the medieval Bouillon Castle. From the castle we continue on via Grand Randonnee trails through rolling countryside following the river to the small hilltop village of Rochehaut. Here we will enjoy a traditional barbecued piglet outdoors and local cheeses (with vegetarian options available). After lunch we’ll travel to Brasserie Caracole for a tour and tasting. Caracole produces traditional Belgian Beers in a brewery dating back to the 18th century. They still use wood to heat their water for brewing. After visiting the brewery we’ll travel a short distance to the scenic river town of Dinant, which is where the saxophone was invented. Tonight we’ll spend the evening high on the banks of the river in an old convent now known as La Merveilleuse. You will have some free time to explore this scenic village and the towering Citadelle de Dinant before returning to the convent for a tour of the Leffe Beer Museum (Maison Leffe) and enjoying a special beer and food pairing dinner. Accommodation: Hotel La Merveilleuse
DAY 4 in MECHELEN: After breakfast we travel north to the historic riverside town of Erquillines. You will have the option to tour the facility and taste beers at Brasserie Brootcorrens. From here we pick up our bikes and ride along the Sambre River on perfect paved trails through the historic village of Thuin and on to the village of Gozee. In Gozee we will enjoy lunch and Belgian Abbaye Beers at La Brasserie Du Val De Sambre After lunch, we will travel north west of Brussels to the small city of Mechelen, our home for the evening. In Mechelen we will walk along the historic streets and waterways to the Het Anker Brewery, which started brewing beer in 1471 with the permission of Charles the Bold! The brewery happens to also be our accommodation for the evening. Accommodation: Het Anker
DAY 5 in GENT: Our day starts with Champagne! Champagne Beer that is. Today we visit the village of Buggenhout, where we’ll start with a walk in the nearby countryside. We then visit Bosteels Deus Landtsheer Malheur, known for their traditional Champagne style beers. We continue to the historic city of Gent. Here you will have some time on your own to explore the city, find a nice place for lunch, and perhaps do some shopping. We’ll then meet at one of our favorite breweries, Gruut. Their beers are unique because they use special spices (gruit) instead of hops to flavor and preserve their beers. One of the best ways to taste the wide variety of available beers in Belgium is the Beer Cafes (bars) and there are several outstanding beer cafes for us to explore in Ghent either before or after dinner including the historic Herberg De Dullie Griet just off one of the oldest squares in the city. When you order a beer here, they take one of your shoes and hoist it in a basket to the ceiling! You’ll get your shoe back when you return the glass. Accommodation: Hotel Harmony
DAY 6 in BRUGGE: Today we again hop on bikes and explore the Hoppeland region between Poperinge and Vleteren. Places of interest on this ride include the town centre of Poperinge where we will visit the St. Sixtus Abbey, producer of world- famous Westvletren Belgian style beers. This is one of the only places in the world you can buy these highly sought-after brews. We’ll stop for lunch on your own in the village of Watour, where you can optionally choose to enjoy the gastronomic meal at Hommelhof, widely known for its dishes based on heavenly brews. After lunch we travel to Roeselare to visit and taste at the impressive Rodenbach Brewery before returning to Bruges for our final dinner together in Belgium. Before, or after dinner, we’ll stop into Brugs Beertje to say hello to Daisy, the owner, and maybe taste some of her 300+ Belgian Beers. Dinner this evening is a must when in Bruges, Den Dijver. Accommodation: Hotel Prinsenhof
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BELGIUM: Hike, Bike & Beer Adventure
DAY 7 in BRUGGE: On our final morning we’ll have breakfast in the hotel and then take an historical walk of the city of Brugge. You are then free to continue on your travels - take a return train to Brussels, stay in Brugge for another day, or perhaps take the high-speed train to Paris, London or even Amsterdam! Life’s Short... Prioritize Adventure!
TRIP DETAILS
DATE August 3 - 9, 2014 COST $2950 USD per person Optional single supplement of $900 (Single supplement is always optional and we will find you a roommate of the same gender if you do not select the single supplement.) HIGHLIGHTS • Spending time in Belgium with our local guide Sacha Seggai who knows his homeland’s history, culture, languages, food and beers and thoroughly shares it all. • Hiking from Boullion to Rochehaut through the rolling countryside and then having an outdoor barbeque in the hilltop town of Rochehaut. • Biking from Erquillines to Gozee past castles and belfrys along the Sambre River at your own pace with the ride starting and ending at unique breweries! • Exploring and enjoying unique experiences in cities and villages across Belgium like Brussels, Boullion, Mechelen, Ghent, Bougenhaut, Watou and Bruges and not having to drive to each or figure out the train schedule. • Visiting breweries and abbayes you have always heard about like Chimay, Orval, Wesvelteren, Rodenbach and Cantillon as well as smaller, unique breweries like Caracole, Gruut, Millevertus, Het Anker and Bosteels Deus Landtsheer Malheur.
ARRIVAL & DEPARTURE You are free to arrive in Brussels anytime you like prior to our early afternoon meeting on Day 1. This allows you to travel the day before and arrive even that morning. Getting to the Hotel Welcome in Brussels from the airport or train station is easy and we will provide complete information in your Pre-Departure Packet. Our adventure ends in Bruges late morning on our final day. You can easily take a return train to Brussels or wherever your next adventure lies!
WHAT’S INCLUDED • Local Belgian guide plus another Zephyr guide or two, depending on group size. • Double occupancy lodging. If you are traveling solo, we will match you with another traveler of the same gender. However, you may pay a single supplement to have your own room. • All of your dinners and breakfasts. Gratuity for these meals is also included. We leave most lunches open so you have time to explore and enjoy the local flavors en route. • All your transportation is included once you meet your guides on the first day. • Beer tours and special beer tastings. All drinks at meals or in taprooms are on your own. • Bike rental on biking days, as are any fees associated with our scheduled activities.
NOT INCLUDED Beverages, desserts, lunches, gratuities to your guides, personal expenses and travel to and from the destination.
www.zephyradventures.com : : 888-758-8687 : : [email protected] zephyradventures DETAILED TRIP DESCRIPTION
BELGIUM: Hike, Bike & Beer Adventure
BREWERIES & BEER HIGHLIGHTS
• Cantillon – Brussels • Het Anker Brewery – Mechelen • Moeder Lambic – Brussels • Bosteels Deus Landtsheer Malheur – Buggenhaut • Orval – Villers-devant-Orval near Boullion • Gruut – Gent • Brasserie Caracole – Dinant • St. Sixtus Abbey (Westvelteren) – Watou • Leffe Beer Museum (Maison Leffe) – Dinant • Hommelhof – Watou • Brasserie Brootcorrens – Erquillines • Rodenbach Brewery – Roselare • La Brasserie Du Val De Sambre – Gozee
ACCOMMODATIONS
Night 1: Hotel Welcome In the heart of Brussels, Hotel Welcome is a unique and well-situated hotel that allows us to walk everywhere we need to go in Brussels. Each room is decorated as a different country. The market is located in the plaza in front of the hotel.
Night 2: Hotel Cosy The hotel sits high on a bluff above the city of Boullion. The owner is also a trained chef who will prepare our four-course beer dinner.
Night 3: Hotel La MerveilleusseThe impressive old convent offers a panoramic view over the center of Dinant like no other. The hotel also hosts the Maison Leffe Beer Museum and boasts an impressive dining room where we will enjoy a fine beer and food pairing dinner.
Night 4: Het Anker Het Anker is one of the oldest breweries in Belgium (1471). Preserving the authenticity of far-off days, the inner courtyard is complete with cobblestones, a tympanum in grey stone from 1625, and three copper kettles in the brew room dating from right after World War II.
Night 5: Hotel Harmony 2013 Travelers Choice and Certificate of Excellence Trip Advisor Award Winner, Harmony is a family hotel that sits in the oldest neighborhood in Ghent with a garden and a view of the city and canals.
Night 6: Hotel Prinsenhof Awarded 2013 Best Service and Best Small Hotel in Bruges by Trip Advisor, The Prinsenhof is located in the center of the old city of Bruges and is the perfect location for staying in and exploring this wonderful place.
www.zephyradventures.com : : 888-758-8687 : : [email protected] zephyradventures DETAILED TRIP DESCRIPTION
BELGIUM: Hike, Bike & Beer Adventure
BOOKING DETAILS
INTERESTED IN JOINING US? Call us at 888.758.8687 or email us to check availability, or to ask any questions you may have regarding this trip or any other travel ideas you may be considering.
TO BOOK YOUR ADVENTURE You can book online or by calling us at 888.758.8687. Zephyr Adventures requires a $500 deposit (payable by check or credit card) at the time of booking. The remaining balance is payable by check or credit card no later than 60 days prior to the start of the trip.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? We will send you a confirmation email after we receive your booking, as well as a link to detailed printer-friendly pre-departure documents: arrival and departure information, suggestions for making travel arrangements, a packing list, an invoice, information about your trip location and guides. It will also include a link to an information form and liability waiver. We will also provide you with a link to information about travel insurance. We highly recommend you purchase travel insurance because it protects you if you have an unexpected change in travel plans.
www.zephyradventures.com : : 888-758-8687 : : [email protected]