Belgium Tour
September 7 - 15, 2024 | $3,995
What's included in the tour:
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Accommodations for 8 nights at 3-4 Star hotels*.
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All transportation during the tour: train tickets between cities (1st Class when available), transportation to and from venues (breweries, museums etc.) and tram passes.
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All event (brewery, museum, etc.) entry fees.
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Breakfast daily.
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Group lunches (6).
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Group dinners (5).
*Accommodations based on double occupancy.
Tour cost: $3995.00 USD
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Single Supplement: $1195.00 USD
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**Payment plans available
This is a unique tour in that we will experience two weekends of special events in Belgium. Our first weekend features Belgium Beer Weekend with beer related activities throughout the city of Brussels highlighted by a beer festival in the Grand Place. The second weekend features the iconic Bruges Beer Festival.
In between the two weekends we will visit numerous iconic breweries in Belgium, take two “road trips” and sample some of the best beer Belgium has to offer.
Day 1 Saturday, September 7, 2024
We will meet at our host hotel mid-morning for a tour of the city. Brussels is an old-world city full of history and interesting architecture. After our tour, we will visit one of the oldest cafés in Brussels, A La Mort Subite. Here we can sample some of their own Gueuze and fruited Lambics.
Afterward we will visit the festival in the Grand Place and sample the countless beers offered. We will be free to explore the area shops before meeting at the hotel at 19:00 for dinner at the famous Chez Leon. (D)
Day 2 Sunday, September 8, 2024
After breakfast, it’s a short walk to the Bourse de Bruxelles and a visit to the Belgian Beer World. This unique museum is all about beer, past and present and is an excellent way to get an overview of beer in Belgium. From here, we will board the train for the short ride to Lot and visit the famous Brouwerij 3 Fonteinen lambik-O-droom for Open Beer Days, one of the few festivals and tasting events offered. We have lunch and a tasting before heading to Beersel for a tour and tasting at Oud Beersel. We return to Brussels to catch the tail end of Belgium Beer Weekend. Dinner tonight is on our own. (B, L)
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Day 3 Monday, September 9, 2024
Today is a big day. We rise early and after breakfast, travel to western Belgium. Our first stop is 't Hoppecruyt, a Hop Farm. Here we will have a private tour of the farm and learn about hops and their cultivation. We will also have the opportunity to sample
some of their beers. Next, we visit the Sint-Sixtus Abbey, home of the famous Westvleteren beer. Tours of the brewery are not permitted, but we will visit the abbey’s welcome center, In de Vrede, and sample some of their amazing beers (and possibly purchase a bottle or two to take home). From here, we will make a quick stop at Brouwerij St Bernardus and see what special beers they are offering to go. They discontinued tours during COVID and have not resumed them. Next, it’s off to Brasserie Dubuisson for a tour and tasting and lunch. We return to Brussels and further explore the city before dinner tonight at a local restaurant. Following dinner, it’s drinks at the famous Moeder Lambic before returning to the hotel for the night. (B, L, D)
Day 4 Tuesday, September 10, 2024
Today we take a day trip to Bruges, a beautiful, medieval city about an hour from Brussels. Our first stop is the Church of our Lady, home of Michelangelo’s Mother and Child sculpture. This statue has an interesting history including being taken from the church during WW II, as depicted in the movie, Monuments Men. Next, we will visit the first of two breweries -Brouwerij de Halve Maan. This is a modern brewery with a nice tasting room and an interesting expansion story. We will have lunch at the brewery before meeting with our guide for a tour of the city and its prominent sites. After the tour, we will visit the second brewery of the day, Brouwerij Bourgogne de Flanders for a tour and tasting. From here it's off to La Trappe, an unusual “cellar bar” offering a wide variety of world beers including Trappist beers. We will meet for dinner at 19:00 at a local restaurant before returning to Brussels. (B, L)
Day 5 – Wednesday, September 11, 2024
Today we visit the city of Ghent. The train ride is approximately 30 minutes and our first stop with be Saint Bavo Church, home of the famous Ghent Altarpiece. We will explore the church before strolling through the Korenmarkt and its many shops. We will spend time exploring the market before heading to lunch and a tour/tasting at Artevelde Brewery. After lunch, we will visit another brewery which brews Gruit beer, a unique style of beer that uses spices rather than hops in the brewing process. We will learn about this beer through a private tour and have the chance to taste their product. From here we head to the Vrijdagmarkt by way of the Trollekelder, a wonderful bar with a huge assortment of beers. Time permitting, we will visit Dulle Griet, another local pub with a great beer selection. We dine tonight back in Brussels on our own. (B, L)
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Day 6 Thursday, September 12, 2024
After breakfast, we take a train a short distance to TrainWorld. TrainWorld is more than a museum and we will enjoy a private tour of their interactive museum while learning of the history of trains in Belgium. Next, it’s off to Brasserie Cantillon and its Musee bruxellois de la gueuze. Cantillon has been brewering Geueze for generations and we will learn about their rich history during our private tour of the brewery. Following our tour, we will enjoy a relaxing stay in their new tasting room. From here we move to another famous brewery, Brasserie de la Senne. This brewery moved to its current location several years ago, greatly increasing its production capabilities. Here we will have a chance to enjoy some of their wonderful beer before heading to dinner. (B, L, D)
Day 7 Friday, September 13, 2024
Today is another road trip, this time south. Our first stop is Brasserie Caracole. This unique brewery produces some outstanding beers and we will have the opportunity to tour their brewery and sample some of their beers. Next, we move on to Espace Chimay. Like Sint-Sixtus Abbey, the brewery at Abbey Chimay is not open to the public, however they have an excellent welcome center where we will have lunch and a sampling of their beers before heading to Brasserie de Blaugies for a tour and tasting. We return to Brussels and relax before dinner at a nice local restaurant. (B, L, D)
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Day 8 Saturday, September 14, 2024
Today we travel to Bruges, Belgium for the Bruges Beer Festival. This festival featuring some 200 beers from all over Belgium. As in most Belgian festivals, many of the beers will be available for purchase to go. We will return to Brussels for our final dinner together. (B, D)
Day 9 Sunday, September 15, 2024
Today we say our goodbyes and depart for home or wherever our next adventure takes us. (B)
Mobility Notice
This tour involves substantial walking through breweries, museums and the cities we visit. In addition, climbing of stairs, navigating entryways, etc. is required. Many venues visited on this tour would not be considered ADA compliant. If you have concerns regarding these issues, please contact our staff as this might not be the best tour choice for you.