A taste of the Ardennes Luxembourg and Belgium, DIRECT from Jersey
Saturday 23rd June – Saturday 30th June 2018 8 day, 7 night fully escorted tour
Day 1: Channel Islands to Luxembourg – DIRECT Jersey flights
The direct flights for Luxembourg (1 hour 35 minutes) will depart at 15:40 from Jersey Airport. Jersey clients will meet their Tour Manager on check-in at the airport. For those clients from Guernsey, your Flybe flight departs for Jersey at 09:30 and your Bontour Tour Manager will be waiting for to check-in for your Direct flight to Luxembourg. On arrival, you will get your first glimpse of the Capital city of Luxembourg before transferring to your first stopover in the Belgian Ardennes, the 4* Hotel Van Der Valk in Arlon. A three course dinner will be served at the hotel, including two glasses of wine or two pints of acclaimed Belgium craft beer. Dinner will be the perfect occasion to get to know your travel companions.
Day 2: The Belgian Ardennes, Orval, Bouillon & Rocheraut
After a hearty breakfast at the hotel, you will be coached to Villers-devant-Orval, where you will visit the famous Abbey of Orval. During your English guided tour, discover the history of the Abbey and the daily life of its monastic community. Your guide will present the Abbey’s exceptional historical heritage and share the legends of Orval while the monks, the current occupants of the Abbey, famous for their production of pungent beer and soft cheese, will bring alive their ancestral crafts in front of your eyes.
After a very informative tour, you will have some time to enjoy a light lunch consisting of a board of salt meats and cheeses from the Abbey, coffee and sweets and two glasses of
01534 496687 | bontour.co.uk wine or beer. Lunch is included in your tour and will take place in the restaurant of the Abbey, the Ange-Gardien. Around 14:30, and after a short 30 minute transfer, you will have some free time to explore the medieval town of Bouillon. Named the "Pearl of the Semois", Bouillon is, without doubt, the largest and most attractive tourist centre in the Semois valley. Its perfectly-preserved medieval castle continues to watch over the River Semois, which flows around its walls. Miles of marked footpaths invite visitors to discover the surrounding hills and countryside and panoramic views can be enjoyed from the Belvédère and Ramonette viewpoints. For the most adventurous, we do suggest a visit of the Fortified Castle, now the oldest medieval edifice in Belgium.
After this, sit back, relax and enjoy the some of the most beautiful landscapes of the Ardennes while you are coached to your hotel for the next two nights, the 4* Auberge de la Ferme. Located at the heart of the village of Rocheraut, a stone’s throw from the famous viewpoint over Frahan, this family-run hotel-restaurant is a dream destination to sample local specialties. Dinner tonight will start with an Aperitif served in the wine cellar together with the tasting of some local ham followed by a scrumptious five-course meal (drinks during the meal are not included).
Day 3: Porcheresse, St. Hubert and Michelin-starred lunch
Following breakfast in the hotel, you will embark on a walking tour of the village of Rocheraut before your departure to the heart of the Ardennes, La grande Foret de Saint- Hubert, the land of the deer and Legends. The deer is the emblematic animal of the great forest of St-Hubert and you might come across a family of deer, quietly strolling on the edge of a clearing while on your horse-drawn carriage tour. The tour will take approximately an hour and you will be served on-board a platter of local cured meats washed down with beers. What's more original than taking advantage of the beauty of the Ardennes landscapes while enjoying a culinary and cultural experience?
After the aperitif on board the carriage, you will continue the culinary experience at the Michelin-starred restaurant Le Moulin Hideux. Sample the best local delicacies with a 3 course Gourmet lunch in a wonderful 17th century mill, located along the Semois River. The chef, Julien Lahire, fourth generation to hold this establishment, will greet you with gourmet cuisine and his team, with impeccable service.
After lunch, you will visit the Abbey of Saint-Hubert at your own pace, with an audio- guide. Founded in the 7th century by Plectrude, and rebuilt in 1729, the abbey is dedicated to both St Benedict and St. Hubert. There is a shrine donated by King Leopold I of the Belgians, and an altar dedicated to St. Hubert. The legend states that nobleman Hubert was out hunting in the great forest when a stag appeared with a crucifix in its antlers, which led Hubert to convert to Christianity, become a bishop and later a saint.
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Later, enjoy some free time in Rocheraut and dinner at leisure. You can either walk to one of the many cafés or eateries of the quaint village or have a light snack at the hotel’s Tavern: La Taverne de la Fermette.
Day 4: La Roche-en-Ardenne & Durbuy
This morning, it is time to say goodbye to Rocheraut as you will make your way to one of the most popular destinations of the Ardennes, La Roche-en-Ardenne. Surrounded by wooded hills and lapped by the waters of the River Ourthe, La Roche-en-Ardenne is the centre of the Ardennes tourism. The town welcomed its first day-trippers and tourists in the nineteenth century: they came to visit its medieval castle and to enjoy its stunning panoramic views and delicious, reinvigorating food. Admire the beauty of La Roche on board the little train which will take you around the authentic quarters and well- preserved lanes and from which you will witness the daily life of the Ardennais, the inhabitants of the region.
After the tour, we suggest a visit of the Butcher's shop to buy salted local meats of the Ardennes. Certainly a delicious souvenir!
Later that day, you will drive towards Durbuy, also known as the smallest city in the world. You will check-in the 4* Sanglier des Ardennes Hotel, where a three course dinner will be waiting for you (including drinks) before perhaps, relaxing in the Spa of the hotel.
Day 5: Durbuy & Liège
After breakfast, discover the smallest city in the world with a comprehensive tour on which your guide will desctribe how Durbuy was founded on an island in the River Ourthe, which protected it from attacks, as did its castle perched on a rocky outcrop and its almost 550m of ramparts over 6m high. Even today, this tiny stone city seems preserved in time, surrounded by gently lapping water and wooded hills. The town centre is a maze of narrow, pedestrianized streets, which wind between the ancient houses and walls. The visit will end with a tour of the Topiary Park which contains 250 sculpted box trees, covering more than 30,000 square feet. Topiary is the art of sculpting plants and Durbuy’s park have masterpieces on display, some over 120 years old.
After lunch, you will make your way to the historical city of Liège with a stop en-route at the renowned Chocolaterie Darcis.The Darcis chocolate factory hosts a boutique, a tasting room, production workshops, a pastry academy and a chocolate museum. Your visit to this ambassador of Belgian chocolate with an audio guide will end along the workshops where you will observe the craftsmen at work. Jean-Philippe Darcis, the Belgian chocolate ambassador and pioneer of the macaroon in Belgium will opens its doors and share with you his passion for the delicious delicacy.
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Upon arrival in Liège, you will check-in at the 4* Penta Hotel and dinner will be at leisure. Options in Liège are endless with something for every taste and budget. You may want to dine at your hotel’s restaurant, the Pentalounge which specialises in modern European cuisine.
Day 6: Liège & Dinner at the theatre
After a substential breakfast at the hotel, start the day with a guided tour and discover the city's monuments and museums. The Grand Curtius and its yards, Saint Bartholomew's Collegiate Church, Hors-Château street with its classified heritage sites and culs-de-sac, the Place du Marché and the Perron, the City Hall and the Prince-Bishops' Palace all await your visit. Enjoy the opera house and the many entertainment halls in the old island district, stroll down the Carré's shop-lined pedestrian streets and savour the friendly atmosphere of the area before heading to Saint Paul's Cathedral and its breathtaking Gothic cloister. End the visit beautifully with a cruise on the Meuse, along the Vauban, with a traditional aperitif served on-board.
After some free time for lunch in the city centre, sit back and relax on a short coach ride to the Chateau du Val Saint Lambert for a crystal discovery visit. Discover the secular history of the Val Saint Lambert site, as well as the glass work techniques used in the old Cistercian abbey. The Cristal Discovery museum comprises of Mémoire de Verriers (Glass workers' memories), an exceptional collection of 250 pieces presenting the artistic evolution of the Cristallerie since its creation in 1826. It showcases its flourishing eras, the different styles and the various techniques used 5 glass sculptures by Belgian artist Bernard Tirtiaux, a sensory approach to the material and contemporary art at its most impressive.
Back in Liège, you will have some time to unwind before the evening’s celebrations. Tonight on the menu is a three course dinner (including ½ bottle of wine per person) at the prestigious restaurant of the theatre of Liège, le Balcon de l’Emulation. It should please all the gourmet tastes with its sophisticated salon on the first floor and its splendid original terrace.
Day 7: Luxembourg City After breakfast, you will leave Belgium and drive across the Ardennes to reach the last stop on this trip, Luxembourg City, the capital of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. Start with an English guided tour and explore a multicultural city, location of many European institutions. Between tradition and modernity, let yourself be surprised by its many landmarks to visit, its UNESCO World Heritage monuments and the numerous museums and squares. You will then have the rest of the day at leisure and walk back, in your own time, to the last hotel of your stay, the conveniently located 4* Novotel Luxembourg Centre Hotel.
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Day 8: Luxembourg to Channel Islands
Say goodbye or “äddi” to Luxembourg and depart the hotel after breakfast with a short transfer to Luxembourg airport. The flight will depart at 14:30 and will land in Jersey at 15:05 local time. Guernsey clients will be accompanied by their Tour Manager to the departures in Jersey to check-in their flight, which will depart at 17:10.
Activity level The activity level for this tour is easy and we advise you that you should be able to walk up to one hour on guided excursions.
Currency
The currency in Belgium and Luxembourg is the Euro.
Meals included
On-board meals on both flights with drinks. 3x course dinner at Hotel Van Der Valk with two drinks on Day 1. Light Lunch at the Abbey of Orval on Day 2 with two drinks. Aperitif & 5x course dinner at Auberge de La Ferme Hotel on Day 2. Beer and cured meats on the horse-drawn carriage ride on Day 3. 3x course Gourmet Lunch at the Michelin-starred restaurant Le Moulin Hideux on Day 3 without drinks. Aperitif and 3x course dinner at Hotel Le Sanglier des Ardennes on Day 4. Aperitif (Drinks) served on the Cruise in Liège on Day 6. 3x course dinner with Cava and ½ bottle of wine at the Theatre on Day 6.
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