$1495 land only, $325 single supplement.

Day One, Wed., April 25 • Bruges:  Arrive by mid morning in Belgium at Brussels International Airport (BRU), where we will conveniently board our ground transportation for  the home of Trappist Westvleteren beers, the abbey of St. Sixtus and its brewery tap, “In de Vrede,” (In the Peace) for lunch and to indulge in their famous, exquisite and rare beers.  The abbey and brewery are not open to the general public, however, we will be able to see the exterior and if we are lucky buy some beer to go in their gift shop. Afterward, we’ll continue on to the romantic medieval city of Bruges, where we will spend three nights.  Afternoon is free to explore, then we meet for our welcome dinner at one of my favorite restaurants. (Lunch, dinner)

Day Two, Thur., April 26 • Bruges: This morning, we’ll take a short walking tour on our way to the Halve Maan Brewery & Museum, where we will also have lunch and enjoy their fine beers.  Afterward, we will journey aboard a canal boat to learn more about Bruges and take post-card-like photos at every turn. This afternoon you have plenty free time to take in the many sites of Bruges, rent a bike, take a carriage ride, visit museums, climb the belfry, or just people watch, while savoring a Belgian beer in a sidewalk café. Evening is free to have dinner on your own in one of Bruges many cozy and romantic restaurants.  (Breakfast, lunch)

Day Three, Fri., April 27 • Bruges: This morning, we transfer to historic Ghent for a day trip to this grand university city.  Once there we’ll have a tour, lunch and a tasting at the Gruut Brewery.   This brewery combines ancient brewing techniques with modern ones and uses spices (gruut) instead of hops.  The results are healthy and delicious!

After a short walking tour, the remainder of the afternoon is free to do as you please: Buy some famous Ghent mustard, visit genever bars, or perhaps tour the Gravenstein Castle and Torture Museum.  In late afternoon, we have an early dinner at one of my favorite restaurants, before we catch our coach to Eizeringen, home of the famous Night of the Great Thirst International Gueuze & Kriek Festival, aka, in Flemish De Nacht Van de Grote Dorst.  The beers at this festival will be primarily spontaneously-fermented beers.  For lovers of spontaneously-fermented beers, it is not to be missed. If you are new to these beers, your palette is about to mature to new levels perhaps unimaginable. (Breakfast, lunch & dinner)

Day Four, Sat., April 28 • Leuven: The morning is free to sleep in, shop, have lunch on your own and explore Bruges. Then we pack up our suitcases and it's off to Breendonk for a grand tour of the Duvel Moortgat Brewery and the Duvel Depot hospitality room, where they feature most of the beers made by the company, including Duvel, Maredsous, Achouffe, Vedette, De Koninck and Liefman’s.  Afterwards, we continue on to the historic university town of Leuven, where we will spend the final two nights of our tour.  You’ll have the afternoon free to explore the city.  
(Breakfast)

Day Five, Sun., April 29 • Leuven: The morning is yours free to sleep in, hold up in a coffee shop and people watch and further investigate this intriguing and picturesque city.  We meet late morning in the lobby of our hotel to depart to what this whole week has been building toward, the legendary Zythos Beer Festival, which is being held about 4 km away in a convention center called the Brabanthal. We’ll spend the better part of the day there in this wonderland of Belgian beers.  Afterwards, we will meet up for our farewell dinner at the the oldest brewpub in Belgium.   (Breakfast, dinner)

Day Six, Mon., April 30: Breakfast concludes our grand tour and we say our goodbyes to our new beer friends and figure out how to carefully pack the dozens of bottles of fine Belgian beer you have somehow amassed.  A quick train ride (15 min.) is available to BRU airport for those heading home and those continuing on your own in Europe. (Breakfast)

* Itinerary subject to change.

* Prices based on double occupancy, per person, U.S. dollars, land only. Single room supplements apply (SS).  We can also work with you to pair you with other single travelers to avoid the single supplement. Better yet, recruit a friend to come, too! Unless, of course, like Rick Steves says, you prefer to “snore alone.”

We require a minimum number of guests for each tour to be guaranteed to go, so it’s important to sign up ASAP, as opposed to waiting until the deadline. Also, tours can fill rapidly and suddenly, so signing up early ensures that you will go and not be disappointed. Please spread the word about BBM! tours to fellow Belgian beer enthusiasts, your friends in general, and encourage them to join the fun!