Flemish Beer Route Cycling Tour

Your tour begins in Genk, where you’ll find your charming accommodation in the beautiful Molenvijver Park. After settling in, head out to explore the park’s sprawling grounds and enjoy a low-key evening here in preparation for your first ride to Heeze tomorrow.

This morning after a hearty breakfast, you’ll set out on your first ride to Heeze, first stopping at Bocholt, Europe’s most extensive beer brewery Museum. Bocholt provides the perfect contextual introduction to the world of Belgian Beer, and you’ll enjoy a fascinating look at the brewing process from start to finish, followed by a perfectly poured pint.

Continue the route through the Beverbeekse Heide nature reserve, where you’ll enjoy a patchwork of beautiful wetlands, woods, and heath. Next, you’ll want to hop off your bike at the Achelse Kluis Abbey, where you’ll find a brewery and gallery ripe for exploring.

Savour a well-earned Tripel here before continuing through the Leenderbossen woods to your accommodations in Heeze.

A scenic route unfolds this morning as you navigate the beautiful Brabant Campine and Kempen regions. Fields of heather flank the route with several opportunities to hop off your bike in small, charming Brabant towns like Valkenswaard and Bergeijk.

Continue the route past the Postel Abbey—where beer has been brewed since 1611—then take a break in Arendonk before pressing on to today’s destination, Turnhout.

Turnhout is said to be the birthplace of playing cards, and the town boasts an excellent museum documenting this.

Set out this morning bound for Antwerp, stopping in Merksplas for an interesting look at a former corrective institution known as Merksplas-Kolonie, where vagrants were taught farming skills and made to work the fields.

Continue through Oostmalle and Malle, then hop off your bike in Westmalle to savour a well-deserved Trappist from a sunny spot on the café patio overlooking the town abbey. Continue to Antwerp, where you’ll find tonight’s accommodation in this cosmopolitan city.

Swap out the lively buzz of Antwerp this morning as you ride to Leuven, enjoying a peaceful green route. Pause in Mortsel to visit Fort No. 4 for a dose of military history before continuing to lovely Leuven.

Leuven is a charismatic university town known for its stunning architecture and unique districts, such as the Groot Begijnhof.

Today’s exciting route takes you to Diest via Tielt-Winge, where you can take in the wonders of the bizarre Vlooybergtoren stairs.

Continue the route to the impressive Haksberg Castle, where you’ll find a fairy-tale scene of a fortress encased by sprawling vineyards. Change things up with a wine tasting here before continuing the route to Belgium’s most significant pilgrimage site, Scherpenheuvel.

The final stretch will take you to Diest, a delightful town with said ties to the Royal House of Orange. Take in the country beguinage and peruse the scenic banks of the River Demer, complete with a bike path and boardwalk for your enjoyment.

The final ride of the tour is sure to leave you awe-struck as you navigate some of the most beautiful natural landscapes in Belgium. First up is the gorgeous Schulermeer Lake, then it's off to the land of 1001 ponds known as De Weijers.

The route continues through Bokrijk, where you can visit an open-air museum, and then you're in for a surprise. The final leg of the day takes you via a remarkable 200-meter cycle path right through a natural lake, with the surface of the lake's waters at eye level. Enjoy the wonders of this final ride back to Genk, where you'll enjoy your final evening of the tour.

This morning, your cycling tour comes to an end. With a week’s worth of epic memories made on the Flemish beer route, check out to depart.