Belgium is a country that takes two things more seriously than anywhere else on earth: cycling and beer. Belgium: Ride the Breweries puts both at the centre of everything.
Over six days you ride from Ypres to Ghent, through the heart of Flanders. The roads are quiet, the countryside is beautiful, and the daily distances are built for enjoyment rather than endurance. This is cycling as a way of seeing a country properly — at the pace it deserves.
But this tour is as much about what’s at the end of each day as what’s on the road. Westvleteren — consistently rated the finest beer in the world, available only at the abbey gate. Sint-Bernardus, Duvel Moortgat, Palm, Het Anker — names that define Belgian brewing, visited one by one on two wheels. Two nights you sleep at the brewery itself.
The tour opens in one of Europe’s most quietly extraordinary cities, with the cemeteries of Flanders Fields as your first ride. It ends in Ghent — medieval, magnificent, and full of great bars. Everything in between is Belgium at its very best.
Rated 2 out of 4 our Intermediate tours are designed for sporty people who are looking to enjoy some more challenging rides. E-bikes are available on all of our tours.
Levelled completely in the First World War and rebuilt brick by brick, Ypres is one of the most remarkable cities in Europe. The Grote Markt is magnificent. And the fields that surround it are studded, every few kilometres, with the cemeteries of the Great War. Today you ride out into them.
44.6 km | 190 m through Flanders Fields, past Tyne Cot Cemetery, the Menin Gate, and the In Flanders Fields Museum. The route loops through Passchendaele and Zonnebeke. Take your time.
Back in Ypres, the Kazematten Brewery waits inside the city’s 17th-century fortifications. Order a Wipers Times — named after the soldiers’ wartime trench newspaper — and raise a glass to the place. Then at 8:00 PM, make your way to the Menin Gate for the Last Post. Every evening since 1928.
> Key stops: In Flanders Fields Museum | Tyne Cot Cemetery | Menin Gate | Kazematten Brewery
>> Brewery of the Day: Kazematten Brewery, Ypres — craft beer inside 17th-century military fortifications. Order the Wipers Times.
One beer stands above all others in the Belgian canon. Today you ride to it. Saint Sixtus Abbey of Westvleteren brews in tiny quantities, sells only from the abbey gate, and is consistently rated among the finest beers on the planet. The only place to drink it on-site is Café In De Vrede, across the road from the abbey gates.
61.3 km | 357 m through the Heuvelland hill country, past poppy fields, hop farms, and the quiet streets of Poperinge — Belgium’s hop capital. The route passes Talbot House, a remarkable WWI soldiers’ rest house that still stands. The hills are gentle. The riding is beautiful.
The day ends at the Sint-Bernardus Brewery in Watou, where tonight you sleep on-site at the brewery guesthouse. St. Bernardus brewed under licence from the Westvleteren monks for decades. The connection between these two breweries runs deep.
> Key stops: Poperinge | Talbot House | Café In De Vrede | Saint Sixtus Abbey | Sint-Bernardus Brewery
>> Brewery of the Day: Sint-Bernardus Brewery, Watou — one of Belgium’s great abbey breweries.
A short transfer brings you to Oudenaarde — keeping things simple so you arrive fresh and ready to ride. From here, everything changes. The Flemish Ardennes open up. The bergs begin.
77.7 km | 871 m on a route that traces the bones of De Ronde. The Oude Kwaremont, the Paterberg, the Koppenberg — these are the climbs that define spring classics cycling. Short, steep, and on cobbles. There is always the option to avoid the hardest sections. Most riders won’t want to.
The route loops back to Oudenaarde through the Valkenberg, Berendries, and Leberg. Tonight, explore the magnificent Gothic town hall on the Grote Markt and the Ronde van Vlaanderen Museum — the finest cycling museum in the world.
> Key climbs: Oude Kwaremont | Paterberg | Koppenberg | Valkenberg | Berendries | Leberg
>> Brewery of the Day: Brewery Kazematten, Ypres has had its moment. Tonight, raise a glass in Oudenaarde — home of cycling and good Flemish beer.
Three of Belgium’s most iconic breweries. One day. This is what the tour is built for.
81.3 km | 390 m from Oudenaarde to Mechelen. An early climb or two give way to quiet Flemish roads connecting the Palm Brewery in Steenhuffel — surrounded by its own hop fields in Londerzeel — and then Duvel Moortgat in Breendonk, home of Belgium’s most famous strong golden ale. The day finishes at Het Anker Brewery in Mechelen, where tonight you eat, drink, and sleep inside the brewery hotel.
Mechelen rewards an evening’s exploration. The Sint-Romboutskathedraal dominates the skyline. The city served as the capital of the Low Countries in the 16th century. It is underrated and genuinely beautiful.
> Key stops: Palm Brewery | Duvel Moortgat | Het Anker Brewery | Mechelen Grote Markt
>> Brewery of the Day: Het Anker Brewery, Mechelen — home of the Gouden Carolus. Tonight you sleep here.
The final day follows Belgium’s great rivers — the Dijle, the Dender, and the Scheldt — on quiet cycle paths through flat Flemish countryside. After four days of history, cobbles, and hops, this is a day to breathe and enjoy the ride.
77.5 km | 80 m into Ghent. The route traces the Scheldt riverbank through Dendermonde and along the river dikes, arriving into one of Europe’s great medieval cities. The three towers of Sint-Baafskathedraal, the Belfry, and Sint-Niklaaskerk rise above the Korenmarkt. The Gravensteen castle looms over the canal. Ghent has Bruges’ beauty without the crowds. Tonight is yours to explore it.
> Key stops: Scheldt River path | Dendermonde | Korenmarkt, Ghent | Gravensteen
>> Brewery of the Day: Ghent has more great beer bars per square metre than almost anywhere in Belgium. Ask Arno for tonight’s recommendation.
Breakfast at the hotel. Time to explore Ghent at your own pace before heading home — or onwards.
Full Support
Enjoy small group sizes and professional, personal support all week from your guides & support vehicle.
We work with an industry leading guide to guest ratio – expect up to 4 guests per guide on the trip with guides leading the way on the road and a support vehicle close by at all times. Note that for groups of 4 riders or less this tour is run as a guided trip without the support vehicle.
The ride support vehicle is stocked with natural ride nutrition, electrolytes and water, as well as a full set of tools to resolve any mechanicals. On selected days the support crew will serve a delicious picnic lunch in a scenic location en route. Enjoy local foods chosen to keep you feeling energized and healthy.
Eat Sleep Cycle guides are experienced riders from all walks of life united by a love of cycling who’ll help to keep the group safe, motivated and savouring the trip of a lifetime.
All guests will receive access to our digital Road Book and routes, giving everyone the flexibility to ride at their own pace.
Hotels shown are examples and are subject to change
Stay at our favorite cyclist-friendly hotel in Ypres. Ariane Hotel is a modern 4* family-run hotel featuring a secure bike shed with e-bike charging, a cozy bar, and a refined restaurant. Enjoy a peaceful stay in their renovated rooms and a beautiful garden. The historic Grote Markt is just a 7-minute walk away
Stay at this charming 4* boutique hotel located in a historic 16th-century building in Oudenaarde. Hotel Steenhuyse offers a peaceful garden, stylish rooms, and a refined restaurant. Cyclists will appreciate the secure bike storage and its perfect location, just a 1-minute walk from the Tour of Flanders Centre.
Bike hire is not included in the tour. Add bike rental to the trip from €60 per day.Bikes shown here are examples and are subject to availabilty at the time of booking. We'll let you know the available options in your size when you book with us.
Our top of the range road e-bike from Wilier. Enjoy a hi-mod lightweight carbon fibre frame, carbon wheelset and Shimano Ultegra Di2 shifting. The Filante Hybrid has a range of 1,000-2,000m of elevation, or constant use 1.5-2hrs. Range extenders are avialable to hire which doubles this range.
The Wilier Garda is the entry level carbon road bike by Wilier, but you will not be disappointed. This is the brand new updated Garda for 2025 with integrated cabling and a comfortable geometry for long days in the saddle if you wish. Carbon frame. Shimano 105 12 speed groupset. Alloy wheels. Crankset 50/34, Cassette 11-34
A proud Fleming with deep Belgian cycling roots, Arno perfectly blends his heritage with a love for Catalan roads. Whether leading you over smooth tarmac or dusty gravel, his experience across Europe’s iconic peaks from the Alps to the Dolomites ensures every ride is professional, safe, and truly unforgettable.
If you love cycling, put a Belgium cycling holiday high on your bucket list. From the cobbled bergs of Flanders to the forests of the Ardennes, Belgium offers some of the most iconic roads in the sport. A destination steeped in cycling history, with monuments, classics and culture at every turn. Best ridden June through August.
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