The Great Beers of Belgium with Brassigaume Festival

Description

October 15 – 25, 2026

Departs every year in October

Trip Price (Land-only, Based on double occupancy)
$3,695 per person | Single Room add extra $785
International airfare not included.

Belgium makes a very strong case for being “beer heaven.” From your first beer in Brussels until the last one in Antwerp, you’ll experience a wide variety of classic breweries and their great beers in optimum condition. Multi-night stays in Brussels, Brugge and Antwerp — plus a pilgrimage through the Ardennes to visit Trappist breweries in southern Belgium — offer a rich mix of beer and cultural experiences.

There’s plenty of time to explore on your own and take in Belgium’s history, architecture and café culture. Great meals, visits to unique and historic breweries, transportation by rail, private coach and public transit, and well-located hotels are all built into this trip.

Space is limited to 15 travelers.

Beer, Food, History & Local Flavor — From Brussels to Antwerp

This itinerary links three of Belgium’s best beer cities — Brussels, Brugge and Antwerp — with a loop through the Gaume and Ardennes regions for festivals, Trappist abbeys and countryside breweries. Lambic, Trappist, saison, Flemish red, strong golden, dubbel, tripel, farmhouse ales… you’ll see (and taste) how they all fit into everyday Belgian life.

We balance brewery visits and beer dinners with castle walks, market squares, canals and cobblestones. Scenic drives, guided city walks and free time help keep the pace relaxed, even as the beer list stays ambitious.

Why We’re BeerTripping Here

• Focuses on Belgium’s classic beer regions with enough time in each place to feel at home.
• Combines big-city beer culture (Brussels & Antwerp) with medieval Brugge and rural Ardennes towns.
• Visits legendary breweries and beer shrines: Cantillon, 3 Fonteinen** (when available), Orval, Chimay, Dupont, Rodenbach and De Koninck.
• Includes the Brassigaume Beer Festival (or comparable event, subject to confirmation) for small producers and rare beers.
• Uses a private Beer Bus where it matters most, with rail and local transit in cities.
• Small group size means easier logistics, better brewery access and more conversation with locals.

Trip Snapshot

• Duration: 11 days / 9 nights on the ground (plus Day 0 travel)
• Group Size: Maximum 15 travelers
• Travel Style: Small-group, brewery-focused cultural journey
• Start / End: Starts in Brussels • Ends in Antwerp
• Transport: Private Beer Bus, European rail and local public transit
• Overnights: Brussels (2), Durbuy (1), Bouillon (1), Brugge (3), Antwerp (2)
• Physical Level: Easy to moderate walking on cobblestones and historic streets

Beer Highlights & Brewery Visits*

• Belgian beer and breweries in almost endless variety.
• Cantillon — atmospheric lambic brewery and living museum in Brussels.
• 3 Fonteinen** (when available) — deep dive into traditional lambic and geuze.
• Brassigaume Beer Festival in the Gaume region — small producers, rare beers, local crowd.
• Trappist stops: Rochefort, Orval and Chimay — abbeys, beers and cheeses.
• Brasserie Dupont — the quintessential saison / farmhouse brewery and its café.
• Rodenbach & (when possible) Liefmans — masters of Flemish red and brown ales.
• De Koninck in Antwerp — “bollekes,” city brewery and beer culture.
• The Beer Bus — our traveling tasting room stocked with local specialties.

Wine & Spirits Highlights

• Opportunities to sample regional spirits (genever, eau-de-vie, herb liqueurs) in classic cafés.
• Optional Belgian gin or house aperitifs in restaurants and bars where beer and spirits share the menu.

Where We Stay

Brussels: Steps from the Grand Place, within easy walking distance of cafés, beer bars, restaurants and sights.

Durbuy: A small Ardennes town that prides itself on gastronomy and cozy streets.

Bouillon: Riverside town in the Semois valley beneath a dramatic hilltop castle.

Brugge: Perhaps the best-preserved medieval city in Europe, with canals, clock towers and cobbles.

Antwerp: A vibrant port city with a grand cathedral, Rubens history and great beer bars (including Kulminator).

Exact hotel names and details will be provided in your Final Trip Documents.

Included Tours

• Guided city walks in Brussels, Brugge and Antwerp.
• Brassigaume Beer Festival visit (or comparable festival/event, timing permitting).
• Castle visit at Château de Bouillon overlooking the Semois River.
• Brewery visits and tastings at several classic Belgian breweries (see highlights).

Included Meals

9 Breakfasts | 4 Lunches | 4 Dinners

Arrival & Departure

Trip begins in Brussels, Belgium and ends in Antwerp, Belgium. Both cities are served by Brussels Airport (BRU) with easy rail or shuttle connections.

About the Cities & Regions We Visit

Brussels — Grand Place & Big Beer Energy

Brussels is both a European capital and a beer capital, where lambic, Trappist and a huge variety of Belgian styles meet. From classic cafés around the Grand Place to specialist bars like Moeder Lambic, it’s a city where you can wander from square to square and still not exhaust the options.

Gaume & Ardennes — Hills, Forests & Trappist Country

The Gaume and Ardennes regions bring rolling hills, forested valleys, castles and quiet villages. Festivals like Brassigaume showcase small producers; abbeys like Orval, Chimay and Rochefort highlight the monastic roots of many Belgian beers.

Durbuy & Bouillon — Small Towns & Castles

Durbuy calls itself “the smallest city in the world” and leans into food, river walks and cozy charm. Bouillon is dominated by its fortified château, a superb place to explore on your own before a hearty beer dinner.

Brugge — Medieval Canals & Café Culture

Brugge feels like a medieval city frozen in time, with canals, towers, church spires and cobbles everywhere you look. It’s also packed with cafés, beer bars and a couple of city breweries — a great place to slow down, sip and wander.

Antwerp — Port City & Kulminator Country

Antwerp combines a serious shipping port, diamond district and fashion scene with grand churches, squares and some of Belgium’s classic beer bars — including legendary Kulminator, where aged and rare bottles share space with everyday favorites.

Daily Itinerary*

(B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner)

Day 0 – Thursday, October 15, 2026 — Travel to Brussels

Your trip begins as you fly to Brussels, Belgium. Many travelers depart from North America this evening on an overnight flight.

Overnight: Plane
Meals: –

Day 1 – Friday, October 16, 2026 — Arrival, Walking Tour & Welcome Beer Dinner (D)

Arrive in Brussels and transfer to our hotel just steps from the Grand Place. After time to settle in and freshen up, we meet in the lobby for an afternoon walking / orientation tour of central Brussels.

We’ll stop by a couple of famous cafés and bars to drink some great beers and get our bearings. Tonight’s Welcome Beer Dinner features cuisine à la bière — dishes cooked with and paired to Belgian beers.

Overnight: Brussels
Meals: D

Day 2 – Saturday, October 17, 2026 — Cantillon & Moeder Lambic (B)

The morning is free to enjoy eclectic, bustling Brussels at your own pace — markets, museums, comics murals, chocolate shops and more. In the afternoon, we start at the beginning (of beer history in Brussels, at least) with a visit to Cantillon, one of the city’s last remaining lambic breweries.

We tour the living museum, learn about spontaneous fermentation and the lambic tradition, and taste several beers. Afterwards, we continue to Moeder Lambic for a curated tasting and snacks, featuring one of the best beer lists anywhere. Evening is free for your own dinner and further exploration.

Overnight: Brussels
Meals: B

Day 3 – Sunday, October 18, 2026 — Brassigaume Festival & On to Durbuy (B, L, D)

This morning we board our private Beer Bus and head to the Gaume region for the Brassigaume Beer Festival in Marbehan (or similar event, subject to confirmation). Sunday at opening time is our favorite moment to attend — local brewers, small producers, rare beers and a friendly crowd.

Festival food (snacks and light plates) provides an informal lunch. Later in the day we travel into the heart of the Ardennes and the small town of Durbuy, a vacation community proud of its gastronomy and charm. Dinner tonight is included in town — local specialties with appropriate beer, of course.

Overnight: Durbuy
Meals: B, L, D

Day 4 – Monday, October 19, 2026 — Local Brewery, Bouillon Castle & Beer Dinner (B, L, D)

After breakfast we visit a nearby brewery for a tour and tasting, getting a sense of how small regional breweries fit into Belgian beer culture. Lunch follows nearby.

We then continue to Bouillon, our home for the night, set along the Semois River beneath the fortified Château de Bouillon. Perched above town, the castle is a fantastic explore-on-your-own site with towers, tunnels and views. This evening we enjoy a multi-course regional beer dinner at our hotel.

Overnight: Bouillon
Meals: B, L, D

Day 5 – Tuesday, October 20, 2026 — Orval, Chimay & Dupont — Oh My! (B, L)

We load up the Beer Bus and travel west to Orval Abbey to soak up the atmosphere and taste their beautifully bitter golden ale. We tour the site, learn about Orval’s history and stop at the nearby abbey café to enjoy beer and cheese.

From Orval we continue to Chimay for a late lunch featuring their beers and products. Our last stop today is Les Caves Dupont — the brewery café for the quintessential farmhouse brewery, Brasserie Dupont. After tastings and time with locals, we carry on to Brugge, our base for the next three nights.

Overnight: Brugge
Meals: B, L

Day 6 – Wednesday, October 21, 2026 — Brugge Walking Tour & Free Time (B)

This morning we enjoy a locally guided walking tour of beautiful Brugge — canals, squares, towers, churches and stories. The rest of the day is free to explore at your own pace.

You might take a canal boat ride, a horse-drawn carriage tour, or simply wander between museums, cathedrals, parks, public squares and the many cafés and beer bars. Dinner is on your own with suggestions provided.

Overnight: Brugge
Meals: B

Day 7 – Thursday, October 22, 2026 — Rodenbach Day & Brugge Gourmet Beer Dinner (B, L, D)

Today we visit breweries that represent the turbulent and prestigious history of Belgian brewing, especially Flemish red and brown ales. A highlight is Rodenbach, where oak foeders, cellars and museum-like spaces tell the story behind their distinctive beers. (When possible, we also touch on the story of Liefmans or related breweries.)

We enjoy lunch built around these beers before returning to Brugge. Tonight we gather for a gourmet beer-paired dinner at a local restaurant, showcasing how Belgian cuisine and beer complement each other at the highest level.

Overnight: Brugge
Meals: B, L, D

Day 8 – Friday, October 23, 2026 — Free Morning in Brugge, Antwerp Pub Walk (B)

The morning is free until our early afternoon transfer to Antwerp. You can squeeze in last-minute Brugge explorations or simply savor a slow breakfast and canal-side stroll.

In the afternoon we travel to Antwerp for the final two nights of our trip. After check-in, we head out for a walking tour / pub crawl to explore some of Antwerp’s notable and historic beer bars.

Overnight: Antwerp
Meals: B

Day 9 – Saturday, October 24, 2026 — Free Day in Antwerp & Farewell Beer Dinner (B, D)

Today is free to explore Antwerp: grand cathedral, Rubens connections, fashion streets, riverside walks and of course more cafés and beer bars (Kulminator is a popular pilgrimage stop).

In the evening we gather for a Farewell Beer Dinner to celebrate our time in Belgium, look back at favorite beers and stories, and raise one last glass together.

Overnight: Antwerp
Meals: B, D

Day 10 – Sunday, October 25, 2026 — Departure Day (B)

Alas, we must leave beer heaven. After breakfast, depart for Brussels Airport or onward travel. Antwerp and Brussels share the same main international airport, and rail transfers are easy to arrange.

Meals: B

Travel Routes, Coach & Rail

We form a satisfying Belgian loop: Brussels → Gaume / Brassigaume → Durbuy → Bouillon → Orval / Chimay / Dupont → Brugge → Rodenbach region → Antwerp. Private Beer Bus segments keep us flexible in the countryside; rail and local transit keep us nimble in and between cities.

Practical Notes

Group Size & Pace

This BeerTrip is best suited for beer-loving travelers who enjoy both group structure and independent wandering. Expect a mix of guided brewery visits, city tours, festival time, scenic drives and free hours for your own explorations. Some days are fuller; others are deliberately lighter to let you follow your curiosity.

What’s Included

• All brewery visits, tastings and guided tours listed in the final itinerary.
• 9 nights of accommodation in well-located hotels / inns.
• 9 breakfasts, 4 lunches and 4 dinners as noted.
• All group ground transport during the trip (Beer Bus, scheduled rail and local transfers on included excursions).
• Services of an experienced BeerTrips trip leader.
• All local taxes on included services.

What’s Not Included

• International airfare to/from Belgium.
• Most dinners and some lunches not specified as included.
• Drinks beyond tastings and specific inclusions.
• Optional activities during free time.
• Travel insurance, personal expenses and tips.

Breweries, Medieval Streets & Mobility

Belgian cities and towns are full of cobblestones, narrow lanes, uneven pavements and stairs. Brewery and castle visits often involve standing for tastings, walking through production areas or climbing steps and towers.

Travelers should be comfortable walking several miles over the course of a day at a relaxed pace, including stairs and uneven surfaces. If you have questions about mobility or whether this itinerary is a good fit, please contact us — we’re happy to talk through details.

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About BeerTrips

For more than 25 years, BeerTrips has crafted small-group cultural adventures woven through beer, food and history. We travel deeply, laugh often and savor every local flavor — from brewery cellars to family tables, from tiny villages to iconic cities.

*Final brewery lineup, festival access and exact timing are subject to confirmation and availability — substitutions, when necessary, will be at least as good as what they replace.