Belgium: Flanders Biking Adventure

Please note: the biking routes for this tour are being confirmed. We have mostly listed the medium route distances below for your reference. We will provide updated information as soon as we have it!

DAY 1

Welcome to Belgium! We meet you just after lunch at our hotel in the charming small town of Tournai, about 1 hour outside of Brussels by direct train, and near the French border. With more than 2,000 years of history, Tournai began as a market town near the crossroads of a Roman road. After some group introductions, we'll get fitted for our bikes and head out on our first ride of the trip along the river Scheldt and end in a very Belgian fashion - with a stop at a local brewery! Brasserie de Brunehaut offers traditional Belgian-style beer as well as organic and gluten-free options. We'll head back to the hotel to freshen up and take a leisurely walking tour through the city center before enjoying a delicious welcome dinner. Biking Distance: 30 kilometers

DAY 2

DAY 3

Today we head back to Belgium and split our time between cycling and history. We will first enjoy a scenic ride along the Canal de Roubaix and the Deule River, towards the village of Ploegsteert. Once there, we'll take a break and visit the impressive Plugstreet 1418 Experience Interpretation Center, a WWI memorial museum where you can learn about the lives of the soldiers and civilians that lived there during the war. After, we'll hop back on our bikes and head for the hills! The area of Heuvelland is known as the "land of the hills" where we can reward our hard work with a stop at another fun local brewery or continue on to our picturesque country getaway, Hollemeersch. Biking Distance: 55 kilometers

DAY 4

This morning we leave the hills for hops fields and once again cycle long the French border, towards the quaint village of Poperinge. With ideal, fertile conditions, Poperinge is well-known for growing hops - in fact, 18 of the 23 total Belgian hops growers are located in the greater Poperinge region. We'll breathe in that earthy, hoppy aroma as we glide through the fields, stopping at a local farm to learn about their livelihood and perhaps take a taste of the finished product. We'll continue on to one of the beer meccas of Belgium - Westvletern at Sint Sixtus Abbey. Westvleteren is a Trappist Brewery where the monks brew traditional beers and sell them only to support their abbey and their charitable works. Some call their Westvleteren 12 the best beer in the world! You can grab lunch and perhaps a beer on your own at the brewery's restaurant, In de Vrede before continuing on our route to the beautiful city of Ypres. After being destroyed in WWI, many important buildings were carefully reconstructed, including the impressive Gothic-style St. Martin's Cathedral and its soaring spire located in the city center. You'll have the option of visiting the In Flanders Fields Museum or the De Kazematten Brewery built directly into the ancient city walls. Biking Distance: 50 kilometers

DAY 5

After another hearty breakfast, we head out on the trail, leaving one historic town en route for another.  Along the way, we'll enjoy cycling through West Flander's largest nature preserve, Palingbeek, and along the delightful Lys River. We end our day in the picturesque city of Kortrijk, with its mix of unique and historic architecture and bustling vibe. We'll enjoy a hearty and delicious dinner at a local restaurant and turn in for some good sleep before the tour's longest rides tomorrow.   Biking Distance: 50 kilometers

DAY 6

Today we'll take on another one of Belgium's famous cycling routes - this time through the Flemish Ardennes, famous for the hills of the Ronde van Vlaanderen (Tour of Flanders)! You'll be able to choose just how much of those hills you want to tackle as you'll have the option to jump in our vans and shuttle to a flatter portion of the trail. We'll hop off the trail for a bit to visit the Centrum Ronde van Vlaanderen, a cool, interactive exhibit all about the Ronde van Vlaanderen. After, we'll continue on to the lively city of Ghent, biking along the Scheldt River. Tonight, we'll enjoy a wonderful farewell dinner, celebrating our accomplishments and reliving the memories we've made along the way. Biking Distance: 50 - 70 kilometers

DAY 7

After breakfast, we'll enjoy a short loop ride, taking in the beauty of the Belgian countryside one last time before heading back to the hotel to shower and pack. We'll then send you off on your own to catch a train back to Brussels or perhaps to another one of Belgium or France's incredible cities! Biking Distance: 20 - 30 kilometers