• 8-nights hotel and B&B accommodation. Typically 3 stars, and when possible near or at the brewery/winery we visit that day. All rooms include a private bathroom.
• Daily breakfast and lunch, and lots of snacks each day.
• All tours are led by either Evan or Henk, Beercycling’s veteran guides. A 2nd guide is available typically only for groups of eight or more.
• Daily route planning, including daily itineraries and suggestions about where to eat / what to do in each town / maps / etc.
• A multi-speed touring-compatible bicycle, helmet, and lock. (More about the bikes in the section below)
• Vehicle support provided for groups of 8 or more. For smaller groups, you will receive two rear panniers to carry your personal belongings.
• Entrance fees to all brewery/winery visits, including lots of free beer tastings!
• A welcome package that includes a T-shirt plus other goodies.
• Email / phone contact with your guides prior to the trip. You get to ask as many questions as you like, talking directly to your tour guides.

• Airfare to and from the trip.
• Transportation to the trip meet-up location. (Although we can assist with an airport pickup service)
• Lodging before and after the trip.
• Gratuities for Beercycling tour guides.
• Personal items purchased during the trip.
• Alcoholic Beverages. (Although lots of beer is included at each brewery and sometimes during lunch)
• Dinner is not included which allows you the opportunity to explore regional cuisine on your own, or with the group as you see fit. There will be options for both. Your guides are happy to give you recommendations.

Our #1 question… what is it “typically” like each summer?

Unfortunately, the weather and weather forecasts in Northern France are unpredictable. In the summer it can be pleasant, it can be wet, it can be very hot. In the Spring and Fall it can get very cold. So riders need to plan for any situation. The number one thing that will ensure you have a comfortable tour is a good rain jacket that you have tested is fully waterproof. We will be riding each day rain or shine.

Wind is normal in this region. We can occasionally get a strong headwind which will make the cycling more challenging.

On our Belgium and French tours we use lightweight Belgium-made hybrid bikes. They have 21 gears and include a cushioned saddle. The bikes do not have clip-in pedals, nor do they require special footwear. However, you are welcome to bring your own pedals.

The landscape in this region of France includes many small rolling hills. The terrain is roughly 50% flat and 50% hills. Most of the roads we will cycle on are paved but dirt paths account for 5%. 

The daily riding mileage averages out to be 30 miles (48 km) per day; the longest day is 38 miles. Expect about 4-5 hours a day on the bikes (not including stops). Our cycling pace greatly depends on the condition of the group but in general we will be cycling at a leisurely pace. For tours with two guides we can always split into two groups if necessary during the tour. We will stop for taking photos and/or a break every 45-60 minutes.

Our longest day on the bikes will be about 38 miles. To properly train for this trip, you should be able to ride your bike at least this distance, although we strongly encourage everyone to train beyond this point. Also, there will be hills during this tour so please include that in your training plan, if possible. It’s also a good idea to practice being on your bicycle multiple days in a row, to build your “saddle strength.” Please keep in mind that we cannot control the elements. A possible windy, wet day will make for much harder riding, so please take that into account with your training plan.

In order to keep the trip organized and give every rider individual attention, most trips will be limited to 14-16 people (including guides). The minimum for most tours is 5. We will notify you when the minimum has been met for your tour.

We will email the group once we confirm departure, and then again when we have enough to confirm the support vehicle. If we are not able to provide a support vehicle you will have the option to join us on a self-supported tour, or a full refund. We try to make these decisions at least 2 months prior to the start of a tour.

Simply follow the link below to our registration page. You’ll need to fill in all of your information, including your 300 USD deposit per person now. We will send you a link to pay the remaining balance, which we must receive no later than 6 weeks before the start of the tour.

We can issue a partial refund if necessary as follows:

90 days or more before departure date = 100% refund minus bank / credit card feeds.
60 to 89 days before departure date = You will incur a 50 USD cancellation fee plus bank / credit card feeds.
45 to 59 days before departure date = Will will incur a 100 USD cancellation fee minus bank / credit card feeds.
Shorter than 45 days notice = We cannot issue a refund after this time due to lodging, bicycle, and tour reservations already being placed..

If you are traveling with another person, we will place you together in a room. (there are 2 people and 2 beds per room). If you are traveling by yourself (or with an odd number of people) then we will do our best to match you up with another rider on our tour of the same gender.

If you are in a room by yourself you will need to pay a single supplement fee.

We cannot currently offer a triple room discount as not all hotels offer triples.

21 and over.

Yes, it is illegal to ride a bike intoxicated. And because Belgian beer can include a lot more alcohol then an average beer, the follow items are put in place for this tour:

When possible, our beer / brewery / biercafe visits will be at the end of the day.

There are several days where the brewery visit is mid-day. Riders will be expected to use moderation when drinking beers during the daily rides. There will be several occasions where we will stop for lunch and have a beer, however, this does not mean we will accept or tolerate over-drinking when additional riding is necessary.

On most occasions our riders tend to share beers with each other. This helps everyone a sample a larger variety of beers, limit their intake, and also save money. We encourage this method when possible.

All riders are required to sign a waiver at the beginning of the tour removing us from liability if over drinking cases any damage of any kind. This is non-negotiable.

Due to each rider’s size / weight / body type, we cannot easily put a hard limit on the amount of drinks one consumes before becoming intoxicated. Since we’re all adults everyone will need to make these decisions on their own. (Although our guides won’t hesitate to let you know if we think you’ve had too much)

Yes, you are more than welcome to bring your own bike with the following conditions:

In must be in good enough condition to support you and your equipment for the length of the tour.

If the tour is self supported it must have a rear-rack that can hold panniers, which you we can loan you, or you can bring your own.

You also bring your own lock.

You bring your own spare tubes.

We have plenty of extra helmets if you need to borrow one.

Beercycling will not be liable for damages made to your personal bike on the trip, although we will help when possible with mechanical issues or questions.

French is the main language of this region, although German is widely spoken as well (as we are very close to the German border). English is understood in most cases and we will have translators in the group available for moments where they are not..

Bottle of beer = 4 to 5 Euros at a cafe (rare and specialty beers will be more)

Dinner = Expect about 20 to 35 Euros for a good-sized quality meal.

Tipping is not obligatory as this is service is included in VAT (Value Added Tax) at all restaurants. That said, a small tip 5% or leaving behind extra change is appreciated.

We recommend packing light. (More room to take beer and wine home!) For self supported tours, the bags on the bikes are fairly large and should accommodate all necessary clothing for the entire tour. If you run out of room in your bags we can either help you mount another bag on the top of your rear rack, or place some equipment on one of the guides bikes if available. Please keep in mind that you will have use of a storage facility at the bike shop on Day #1 you can use and reclaim your items once the tour is over. A typical packlist for this trip is as follows:

Lightweight shirts = 3 or 4

Underwear = 3 or 4 pairs

Socks = 3 or 4 pairs

Pants = 1 pair

Shorts = 1 pair (Padded cycling shorts are recommended if you haven’t spent much time on a bike seat)

Waterproof lightweight rain shell

Lightweight jacket

1 pair of shoes for on the bike (cycling shoes or running/gym shoes is fine)

1 pair of shoes for off the bike (hiking sandals or flip flops, or just skip this and use your on-bike shoes)

Sunglasses

Gloves (for cycling, should be lightweight)

Water bottles are included with bicycle rental (or you can bring a camelbak which can double for extra storage)

Camera + batteries + charger

Personal documents (passport, credit cards)

Hygiene products / Sunscreen / Chapstick

A couple zip lock bags (helps on rainy days to extra waterproof your phone or other items)

Depending on the country you are traveling from, please consult your embassy for visa information prior to arrival. In general, one does not need a special visa to enter/exit France. Please remember to bring a passport to show identification when necessary along the trip. Sometimes hotels will ask for copies of your passport when we check in.

No special vaccinations are necessary for travel to this part of Europe.

It is not required, but it is recommended. This can be used for lost luggage, medical expenses, etc. Each person is on their own for this, we do not offer an insurance policy. Also check with your credit card company, sometimes they offer included travel insurance.

In the very unlikely event that we need to cancel a trip each person will be issued a 100% refund. We cannot, unfortunately, provide a refund for your other expenses like airfare. In all cases Beercycling has backup tour guides waiting should something happen to your primary guide.

Nope. But tipping is very much appreciated and helps ensure the ability of our guides to run more and more tours each year!