Belgium Beer Bike Trail Tour (2018) Individual Self-guided 8 days / 7 nights When people talk about Belgium, they of course talk in the first place about good food, but also about beer! In Belgium, there are about 400 kinds of beer, an enormous variety for such a small country. Therefore, we could no longer wait to create a tour with our great Belgian beer as central theme. Enjoy the cycling tours through authentic Flanders, but especially the breaks in cosy cafés, with a refreshing beer!
Itinerary Day to Day Day 1: Arrival in Mechelen The first night you will stay in Mechelen. A walk in Mechelen, city at the river Dijle, will show you all the most important historical buildings, which were erected in the time of the Burgunds. Mechelen was the political centre of the Low Countries during the 16th century. There are over 300 historic and protected buildings as a witness of the glorious past of Mechelen! You certainly have to visit the St. Rombouts cathedral, from where you have a superb view of the region, the palaces of Margarete of York and Margarete of Austria and the market square. The most famous beers in Mechelen are the Maneblusser and the Gouden Carolus. These beers are produced in the brewery Het Anker, certainly worth a visit! Day 2: Mechelen Antwerp 53 km We leave Mechelen along the green borders of the wiggling river Nete to the town of Lier. Lier is known in Belgium as the Pallieterstad. Pallieter is the key person in the Flemish novel Pallieter from the writer Felix Timmermans, born in Lier. He is a person who enjoys life as no other, and that is exactly what you can do in Lier: take a rest in a local pub and enjoy the local beers like de Strooien Hoed or the famous cake Liers Vlaaike. There are also enough of sights: the Zimmertoren and the market square. After Lier, we cycle further to the famous town of Antwerp, also named koekenstad (biscuit town). Along the tour to Antwerp you will see some fortifications from the First World War. Day 3: Circular ride to Westmalle 62 km Today we will discover the Trappist beer! The tour brings us through the green landscape of the Kempen region to the Westmalle abbey, a name that is in the limelight! The abbey was founded in 1794 by French monks. They were refugees because of the difficult circumstances for religious people in France in that era. The Bishop from Antwerp gave them a farm so that they could earn a living. They started brewing the Westmalle beer around 1850. The abbey itself cannot be visited but there is a pub near the abbey where you can taste the superb Trappist Westmalle and the traditionally produced cheese. Day 4: Circular ride in Antwerp 23 or 30 km Today we will discover the historic town centre of the art city Antwerp and also its surroundings. You can visit the famous brewery De Koninck and the beer museum (included in the price!). Enjoy the beer tasting at the brewery! Antwerp has one of the biggest harbours in Europe, and is also the home town of the painter Rubens, fashion houses and jewellery shops. As you can read, Antwerp is a multi-faceted city where tradition and modernity go hand in hand! Most buildings in the historic town centre date back to the 16th and 17th century. There are many museums (like the MAS, museum aan de stroom) and monuments to be visited. The town hall and the central station are perfect examples of the beautiful architecture of Antwerp. What you should certainly not forget, is visiting the cathedral and the other churches in Antwerp. If you want to go shopping, you can go shopping in the Nationalestraat and in the Meir!
Day 5: Antwerp - Bornem 56 km From Antwerp, we go along the Schelde River to Bornem. When you have left the centre of Antwerp, you can admire the landscape of the Hobokense Polder. Enjoy the surprisingly silent nature, so close to the centre of a big city! On the road to Bornem you can visit the abbey of Hemiksem. You will also pass the brewery Bosteels where they brew Karmeliet, the Kwak and Malheur. Day 6: Bornem - Mechelen 46 km Today we go back to Mechelen, where we started the tour. On the tour through the authentic flat Flemish landscape, you will pass the Palm brewery in Steenhuffel and the brewery of the very famous beer Duvel in Puurs. When you want to learn more about the different kinds of beer, or about the brewing techniques, or if you want to learn how you exactly have to serve a good Duvel beer, you certainly have to visit the visitor centre of the Duvel brewery! You can also have a break in café den Triest in Kapelle op den Bos! After another wonderful day, you can take a rest in the town centre of the art city Mechelen. Day 7: Circular ride to Leuven 66 km Today we will visit another art city, and also the beer capital of Belgium: Leuven. Around this city, there are 5 breweries who produce a huge number of beers. The Stella Artois brewery for example is the biggest brewery in Europe! It is said that the biggest bars in the world can be found in Leuven, probably because it is a city with a lot of students. Leuven has the oldest university in the Low Countries, established in 1425. Leuven is as you could already read not only known because of the beer, it is also a city with many sights, like the really beautiful gothic town hall and the university library. After this splendid tour, we are back in Mechelen for the last night of our tour. Day 8 : Departure after breakfast
Route Technical Characteristics: Tour Profile: Easy and flat, suitable for all cyclists and families with children. Silent roads and cycling paths along a signposted cycling network. Distance: 313 km Travel Season: Saturday departures from April 28 until September 15, 2018 Except July 21 and July 28 are replaced by Sunday July 22 and July 29 due to the international Dance festival Tomorrowland
Price per Person: Double Occupancy B&B June 30 until August 25 499.00 Double Occupancy B&B All other dates 565.00 Single Room Surcharge 240.00 Half Board 165.00 Bike Rental 7/21 gear with hand brakes, pannier bag, pump, lock and repair kit 65.00 E-bike (must be booked in advance) 135.00 Child Bike, Trailer and 3 rd Wheel 50.00 Child Seat 15.00 Bicycle Insurance for Hybrid Bikes 18.00 Bicycle Insurance for Electric Bikes 30.00 Extra Nights in Mechelin or Leuven Available on request Reduction for children 0-2 years when sharing with two adults in one room -100% Reduction for children 3-6 years when sharing with two adults in one room -50% Reduction for children 7-11 years when sharing with two adults in one room -25% Reduction for third person 11 years or older when sharing with two adults in one room -10% Services Included: 8 days 7 nights in 3 and mostly 4* hotels Room with bath/shower and toilet Room and breakfast Possibility to book half board Swimming pool, sauna and steam bath in Antwerp Ticket beer museum brewery De Koninck Antwerp Map, tourist information and road book in English, German, French, Spanish and Dutch Luggage transport (1 piece per person, up to 20 kg) Service-Hotline (also on weekends) Not Included: Journey to Brussels and from Bruges Personal expenses
Bikes Assisting people in realizing their touring dreams worldwide is our passion. www.okcycletours.com THIS IS A PARTNER TOUR FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT OK Cycle & Adventure Tours Inc. 666 Kirkwood Ave - Suite B102 Ottawa, Ontario Canada K1Z 5X9 Toll Free 1-888-621-6818 Local 613-702-5350 TICO Ontario Registration No: 50022848