BELGIAN BEER TOUR ITINERARY NOTE: Most abbey interiors and breweries are closed to visitors. It can be hit or miss as to how much we're permitted to see of the abbeys or the brewing process, but we have insiders on the ground working to provide the most in depth experience possible. We will experience the exteriors of all the monasteries and sample beers produced from each abbey. Be prepared to be flexible and hope for the best! When arranging your transportation, such as flights, please take into consideration the time restrictions below for joining and departing from your group. With these times, we have taken into account travel time to/from the airport in the given destination and required time for check-in or baggage collection/immigration. Your flight must arrive by or before: Arrive any time. Your flight must depart no earlier than: 12:01AM on Day 8 DAY 1 BRUSSELS Arrive any time. There are no activities planned until the evening welcome meeting. Welcome Meeting 1h, 18:00 The adventure begins tonight. Feel free to explore before your welcome meeting, but make sure you re back in time to meet the group. After introductions, your CEO will review the details of your tour. Please note that normal check-in times apply at our start hotels, but you can usually store your luggage for the day if you arrive early. Accommodation: Hotel du Congres (or similar) DAY 2 BRUSSELS Enjoy an orientation walk of the city before a free day to explore. Opt to visit a chocolate factory, the Delirium beer hall, Art Deco Turkish baths, or indulge in a gourmet Belgium tour. Belgium is known for many things, including fantastic cuisine. If the chocolate factory and Delirium beer hall only whet your appetite, opt for a beer walking tour before indulging in waffles, mussels, and 'frites'. Free Time, Brussels Full Day Get out and explore. And eat. Optional Activities Day 2 Delirium Beer Hall Visit, Brussels 1h-2h, 10EUR per person Visit the Delirium Café and sample some of the many, many, many delicious beers on offer. Chocolate Factory Visit, Brussels 10EUR per person Choose from one of many options to visit an authentic Belgian chocolate factory. Learn about the process of making these treats and sample a few bites. Gourmet Belgium Tour, Brussels 60EUR per person Head out on the town to get a taste of the most authentic delicacies Belgium has to offer. Beer Walking Tour, Brussels 1h-3h, 50EUR per person Walk around town trying the famous beers Belgium has to offer. Cheers! Accommodation: Hotel du Congres (or similar)
DAY 3 BRUSSELS / ROCHEFORT See the church at Abbaye Notre Dame de Saint Remy where Rochefort is made with some luck, they'll let us in for a peek. Travel by train and public bus to reach Rochefort in time for lunch. Head to the markets in this beautiful medieval town and collect some cheese, bread, meat, and local delicacies and enjoy a picnic with a Trappist beer. Brush up on your French as you chat with locals. See the church, then enjoy a free afternoon with options like visiting the remains of a 2,000-year-old Gallo- Roman villa in the Archaeopark of Rochefort. Don't miss out on indulging in local Rochefort cheeses produced from a centuries-old recipe or some local cuisine like the giant meatball "gehaktbal", with "frites" and foie gras. Train, Brussels Jemelle 2h Climb aboard, take a seat, and enjoy the ride. Local bus, Jemelle Rochefort 15m Climb aboard, grab a seat, and enjoy the ride. Hands-On: Rochefort Picnic with Trappist Beer Tasting Enjoy a picnic in town with delicacies picked up from the local market and taste the first of many Trappist beers the region is known for. Abbaye Notre Dame de Saint Remy Visit, Rochefort 2h-3h Visit this beautiful abbey, famous both for its spiritual life and for the brewery it houses. Admire the architecture of building from the outside and cross your fingers that we'll be let inside. Free Time, Rochefort Afternoon Explore this town or head further afield. Optional Activities Day 3 Archeopark of Rochefort, Rochefort 2h-3h, 6.50EUR per person Get a glimpse into life in Gallo-Roman times at this villa in Northern Gaul. Take an audio or guided tour around the remains of the archeological site of Malagne, uncovering the sophisticated building techniques used by the ancient Romans. Caves of Han, Rochefort 19EUR per person Take a century-old tram to the entrance of the Cave of Han, and explore its rock formations sculpted by the Lesse River. Opt to explore the surrounding 250 hectare wildlife park. Accommodation: Hotel La Malle Post (or similar), Lunch DAY 4 ROCHEFORT / BRUGES Visit Orval in the late morning for a visit to the abbey's visitor centre. Sample some beer and Trappist cheese here before continuing on to Chimay. Enjoy an included lunch at the brasserie near Chimay to try beer normally reserved for the monks. The abbey and main brewing centre are not open to the public, but there are still plenty of opportunities to sample the local goods. Arrive at Bruges by evening for an orientation walk around the town. Private Vehicle, Rochefort Abbaye d'orval 1h-2h Hands-On: Orval Visit with Beer and Cheese Tasting Visit the abbey's visitors centre, which includes beautiful ruins and some restored buildings where you can learn how the famous beer made here is brewed. Sample some of the delicious beer and Trappist cheese, both produced here.
Private Vehicle, Abbaye d'orval Chimay 1h, 45m-2h, 15m Chimay Visit with Lunch and Tasting, Chimay 1h, 30m Enjoy an included lunch at the brasserie near Chimay and ample excellent cheese and beer produced in the town, including beer normally reserved for the monks. The abbey and main brewing centre are not accessible to the public here as Chimay is a strict Cistercian monastery. There are still plenty of opportunities to sample the local goods though. Private Vehicle, Chimay Bruges 2h-2h, 30m Accommodation: Hotel Jacobs (or similar), Lunch DAY 5 BRUGES Enjoy a free morning in Bruges. In the afternoon, take a day trip from Bruges to the Westvleteren area. A local beer specialist and master brewer will provide lunch near his home and a tasting of the famous and rare Westvleteren beer from his own collection (of roughly 14,000!). Back in Bruges, opt for a horse-drawn carriage ride around town, or choose to rent a bike (complete with guide) and head out around the city and surrounding countryside. Free Time, Bruges Morning Rise and shine, there's exploring to be had. Private Vehicle, Bruges Westvleteren 1h, 30m Hands-On: Lunch with a Local with Beer Tasting A local beer specialist and master brewer will host a lunch near his home, along with a tasting of the famous and rare Westvleteren beer from his own collection (of roughly 14,000!). Private Vehicle, Westvleteren Bruges 1h, 30m Free Time, Bruges Enjoy more of the city. Afternoon Optional Activities Day 5 Horse Drawn Carriage Ride, Bruges 44EUR per group Hop into the cab of a horse drawn carriage for a new perspective on this lovely city. Guided Bike Tour, Bruges 28EUR per person Rent a bike and enjoy a guided tour around the city and surrounding countryside. Bruges Canal Cruise, Bruges 8-10EUR per person Hop in a boat and take in the sights from the waterways. Groeninge Museum, Bruges 30m-1h, 8EUR per person Learn about the history of plastic arts in Belgium, as well as 8th and 19th-century neoclassical pieces, masterpieces from Flemish Expressionism and post-war modern art.
Choco-Story: The Chocolate Museum, Bruges 30m-1h, 8EUR per person Learn about the history of chocolate production from Aztec to modern times, and learn about the transformation process of turning cocoa into chocolate. Delirium Café, Bruges This cafe holds the Guinness World Record for offering the world's largest selection of beer. Have a visit and take your pick! Belfry Tower of Bruges, Bruges 10EUR per person Take a 366-step climb up Bruges' most well-known landmark - a charming medieval tower in the heart of the Market Square - for a panoramic view of the historic part of the city. Bruges Beer Museum, Bruges 9-15EUR per person Take a walk around this interactive exhibit on Belgian beer, then enjoy a tasting from your choice of 16 draft beers while enjoying a view of Bruges' market square. Accommodation: Hotel Jacobs (or similar), Lunch DAY 6 BRUGES / ANTWERP Take a private van to Antwerp, stopping for a visit to Westmalle en route. The abbey here is closed to visitors but we will enjoy a tasting at the Café Trappisten, with the option for lunch including, tastes of Trappist meat and cheese. Continue on to Achel for the last official Trappist tasting of the trip. There is the opportunity to sample some Achel beer, though again, the abbey will be closed to visitors. Arrive in Antwerp in the late afternoon. Opt to wander around the city and get a feel for the place. Private Vehicle, Bruges Antwerp Full Day, 100km Stop along the way in Westmalle and Achel. Hands-On: Westmalle Visit with Beer Tasting Stop at the Westmalle brewery. The actual brewery and dairy are inside the walls of the Trappist monastery, which is off limits to the general public. The tavern, Café Trappisten, on the edge of the abbey is a great place to sample the beer produced here and enjoy a delicious lunch. Hands-On: Achel Visit with Beer Tasting Sample some locally brewed, delicious Achel beer, though again, the abbey will be closed to visitors. Free Time, Antwerp Evening Start exploring this lovely city. Accommodation: Leonardo Hotel Antwerpen (or similar) DAY 7 ANTWERP Enjoy a free day in Antwerp with the option to visit a local brewery by bike, check out some museums, or venture underground on an Antwerp sewer tour. Free Time, Antwerp Full Day Explore the city or head further afield.
Optional Activities Day 7 Bike Tour (with Seef Brewery Visit), Antwerp Take a bike tour around this lovely city that includes a visit to the Seef Brewery for a taste of some delicious Belgian beer, famous the world over. Known as the "Champagne of the poor people", Seef was a popular style of beer in Antwerp prior to the outbreak of WWI. Wet your lips with this Belgian Pale Ale style beer as you learn about its production, and how it vanished from the market. Sewer Tour, Antwerp 245EUR per group For a unique perspective on Antwerp, take a tour of the sewers complete with overalls and wellington boots. Accommodation: Leonardo Hotel Antwerpen (or similar) DAY 8 ANTWERP Depart at any time. Your CEO can help arrange transport back to Brussels airport. Meals included: Breakfast