Great Trips... Made Better With Beer!
The Great Beers of Belgium
October 5 - 15, 2023
Departs every year in October
Belgium makes a strong case for being "beer heaven". From your first beer in Brussels until the last Antwerp, you will experience a wide variety of classic breweries and their great beers in optimum condition. Multi-night stays in Brussels, Brugge, and Antwerp; and an overnight pilgrimage to visit a couple of Trappist Breweries in southern Belgium, offer a variety of great beer and cultural experiences. There is plenty of time to explore on your own and take in Belgium's rich history and culture as well. Many great meals, visits to unique and historic breweries, transportation by rail, private coach and public means, fine hotels in great locations and more are built in to this trip. People have loved our past Belgium trips... this might be the best yet.
Space is limited to 15 travelers.
Trip Price (Land-only, Based on double occupancy)
$3495 per person | Single Room add extra $785
Beer Highlights & Brewery Visits*
Belgian Beer & Breweries: in endless variety | Breweries and Tasting Room Visits to: Cantillon, 3 Fonteinen**, Rochefort, Orval, Chimay, Dupont, Rodenbach, and DeKoninck! | Great Beer Meals | The Beer Bus - a traveling tasting room of local products of all types | Good folks to travel with and share the adventure!
Overnight Stays*
Brussels: The Grand Place, where streets of fine restaurants, beer bars, cafes, and shops pour into the gothic, gabled splendor of Brussels' central square.
Brugge: Perhaps the best preserved medieval city in Europe and a favorite weekend retreat. Canals, clock towers, cathedrals and cobble stone lend Brugge the feel of a city that time forgot.
Antwerp: With its grand cathedral, central squares, history of Rubens and great beer bars, including Kulminator!
Included Tours
City Tours in Brussels, Brugge, Antwerp. | Castle visit in Bouillon
Include Meals
9 Breakfasts | 4 Lunches | 4 Dinners
Arrival & Departure
Trip Begins in Brussels, Belgium & Ends in Antwerp, Belgium. Both cities are served by Brussels International. Tranfers by rail or direct airport shuttle are easy and convenient.
Daily Itinerary*
Day 1 - Thursday
Travel Day
Your trip begins as you fly to Brussels, Belgium. Meals and overnight aloft.
Day 2 - Friday
Walking Tour/Pub Crawl, Welcome Dinner
Upon arrival in Brussels, transfer to our hotel just steps from the Grand Place in the heart of Brussels. After time to settle we will meet in the hotel lobby for a walking/orientation tour of Brussels. Before our dinner this evening we will visit a couple famous cafes and bars to drink some great beer. Our dinner takes place at In t' Spinnekopke which is known for their cuisine a la biere. Overnight in Brussels. (Dinner)
Day 3 - Saturday
Lambic Day, 2 Breweries, & Lunch
Today is Lambic Day! This morning we travel to Beersel, home of 3 Fonteinen a traditional family owned restaurant, brewery, and gueuze blender. We will take a great tour of the small brewery, before eating a traditional Belgian meal at their fine restaurant. Their fare emphasizes beer of course. After lunch we tour the historic lambic brewery at Cantillon, where they still brew using spontaneous fermentation in with open air fermentors. It is sight to see. You will also have a chance, of course, to taste the various beers they produce after the tour. This evening is free. Overnight in Brussels. (B, L)
Day 4 - Sunday
Free Day in Brussels
Today is toatally free to enjoy and explore ecclectic Brussels. (B, L)
Day 5 - Monday
To the Ardennes, Rochefort, & Beer Dinner in Bouillon
Today we journey south to the Ardennes, to begin our pilgrimage to Trappist Breweries. The first stop is Abbey de Notre Dame de St. Remy** in Rochefort, home of some of the world's finest ales. After some tasting, and a tour of the brewery and a bit of the abbey, we will be treated to a traditional Ardennes meal to be accompanied by Rochefort 6, 8, and 10. After lunch we continue to the lovely city of Bouillon with its impressive fortified chateau. There will be time explore the castle before dinner in our hotel. Overnight in Bouillon. (B, L, D)
Day 6 - Tuesday
Orval, Chimay, Dupont -- Oh My!
After breakfast this morning, we load up the beer bus and travel west to Orval to enjoy their distinctive atmosphere and wonderfully bitter golden ale. We will tour the abbey and the brewery and make a stop at the brewery-tap just down the road to see the monks enjoying their craft and taste Orval's beer and cheese. Next we travel to Chimay for a late lunch in Chimay's restaurant. Our last stop is a visit to Les Caves dupont -- the brewery bar of the quintessential farmhouse brewery - Brasserie Dupont. After some time with the locals and a tasting of their many region products, we travel to Brugge where we spend the next three nights. Overnight in Brugge. (B, L)
Day 7 - Wednesday
Walking Tour in Brugge, Free Time in Brugge
This morning we'll enjoy a locally guided tour of beautiful Brugge. The remainder of the day is free to explore beautiful medieval Brugge. Take a city tour, by canal boat, horse drawn carriage, local tour bus, or foot. There are dozens of great bars in close proximity to museums, cathedrals, parks and public squares. There are also a couple of local breweries and a brewing museum if you want more beer related activities. Tonight or tomorrow we will indulge in a gourmet beer meal at Erasmus, a restaurant offering courses paired with fine beers. Overnight in Brugge. (B)
Day 8 - Thursday
Rodenbach Lunch
Today we visit a brewery that represents the turbulent and prestigious history of Belgian brewing: Rodenbach and Liefman's. Each brewery features museum-like historical aspects which add to the distinct character that can also be seen in their beers. The evening is free to enjoy our final night in Brugge. Overnight in Brugge. (B, D)
Day 9 - Friday
Free Morning in Brugge, Antwerp Walking Tour/Pub Crawl
The day is free untill our 1:00 PM transfer to Antwerp for the final 2 nights of our trip. Brugge, Antwerp and Gent are all in close proximity and offer attractions, beer or otherwise, that are worth visits. This evening we will explore some of Antwerp's notable and historic bars. Overnight in Antwerp. (B)
Day 10 - Saturday
Visit De Koninck, PM Free, Farewell Beer Seminar
This morning we will tour the De Koninck brewery. The afternoon is free. This evening we will have a farewell beer dinner. Overnight in Antwerp. (B, D)
Day 11 - Sunday
Alas, time to go home.
Alas, we must leave beer heaven. Antwerp and Brussels are served by the same international airport, so a variety of transfer options will be available. (B)
Trip Deposit (per person)
$400.00
Number of person:
* The deposit is refundable less a $50 cancellation fee up to 60 days prior to departure. For cancellations made less than 60 days prior to departure, the full deposit will be forfeited. For cancellations made after final payment, refunds will be made (where possible) according to service contracts and supplier guidelines; these refunds will be based on recoverable expenses. See the full Terms and Conditions here.
TRAVEL DETAILS:
Air Travel is not included. Travelers are encouraged to use mileage awards, travel outside group dates, or visit other European cities while abroad to make the most out of the trip. Please confirm the trip's operation before purchasing air tickets.
Most Trips officially begin in the lobby of the first hotel. Meeting times, information about getting from the airport or train station to the hotel, the detailed itinerary, hotel addresses, and a trip roster will be included with your Final Trip Documents, which you'll receive 2 - 3 weeks before the trip.
How we travel on tour: All included excursions and visits include transportation. Within the cities, we rely on walking and private or public transportation (uber, taxis, busses, trams, etc.). Travel between cities is by private motor coach, luxury van, ferry, and/or rail.
REGARDING INCLUDED MEALS AND BEER:
We don't mess around when it comes to food and beer. Restaurants -- tried and true -- have been carefully selected, based on quality, local knowledge, and insider tips. On a Beer Trip, included meals mean you may order as you please - including beer, appetizers, dessert, etc. We are not stingy -- a lot of food and beer is included on every Beer Trip.
PLEASE NOTE:
A BeerTrips beer tour is best suited for somewhat adventurous, beer-loving travelers who want the camaraderie and structure of a tour, as well as the opportunity to explore independently. Planned events, brewery visits, locally guided tours, and some excursions are, of course, formally "guided". Travel days, on trains, public means, or the beer bus, as well some group walks, are blissfully unstructured, though travelers can always rely on the support and assistance of the trip leader.
THIS ITINERARY IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE:
In rare cases, it may be necessary to alter the itinerary based on brewery or hotel availability, force majeur, acts of dieties, common sense, or bad weather, etc. Smaller breweries, as well as the Trappists, are often unable to commit to hosting groups until a couple of weeks before we arrive. Substitutions, when necessary, will be as good as what we replaced. And, don't worry, the beer is always good!