Your Next Adventure
Your Next Adventure
Quebec Eastern Townships Bike Tour
Trip Overview
Bring your passport! This bike tour begins in northern Vermont, but you soon are cycling through the beautiful French-speaking Eastern Townships of Quebec where you are treated to gorgeous vistas, pretty villages, spectacular easy-to-intermediate biking and excellent inns. You begin your tour cycling past farms and covered bridges before crossing the border into Canada. Here you begin to immerse yourself in the culture and beauty of this unique area with visits to the village of Frelighsburg and to Standbridge East’s Musée Missisquoi. And we include a delicious lunch and wine tasting at Domaine du Ridge Vineyard.
In fact, much of this tour is along Quebec’s “Route des Vins” allowing you several opportunities to visit some of Canada’s most celebrated vineyards, including L’Orpailleur and Domaine Les Brome. You ride along Chemin Gaspé, passing the beautiful equestrian facilities of the 1976 Olympics, and later ride along the dedicated bike paths of Quebec’s famous Route Verte, paralleling the shores of Lac Boivin and the majestic Choinière in Parc Yamaska, and visit historic Bromont with its many shops and famous Musée du Chocolat.
Your tour includes stays at superb properties, including small boutique inns. You also get a chance to explore the celebrated resort towns of Knowlton and Sutton whose main thoroughfares are lined with bistros, specialty shops, and galleries. You end your tour by riding through the tiny mountain community of Abercorn before re-entering the United States in Richford and cycling the last few miles back into Montgomery Center along a bike path and winding country road.
Surfaces for this tour: 85% Paved and 15% Gravel.
Itinerary
From start to finish, check out the route.
We offer a free shuttle from the Burlington Airport to the start. When you arrive, settle in at the Phineas Swann in Montgomery Center, Vermont. This beautifully restored 1880s farmhouse is now considered one of the most romantic inns in America (Trip Advisor). If you arrive early, stroll this small town or kick back at the inn and enjoy their homey atmosphere — or buy a drink and sample the free snacks in the living room. Meet your leaders and group for a 6 p.m. dinner.
Cycle north into Canada, passing some of Montgomery’s famous covered bridges before arriving in French-speaking Frelighsburg. From here, you ride to Pigeon Hill, have a special lunch and wine tasting at Domaine du Ridge, visit the fascinating Musee Missisquoi and then begin to follow Quebec’s famous “Route des Vins.” You have several opportunities to stop and sample the wines and ciders at some of Quebec’s most famous vineyards, including Opailleur, Union Libre Cidre & Vin, and Domaine des Côtes D’Ardoise — where you enjoy and enjoy a tasting. You will be a welcome guest tonight at the beautiful Auberge & Spa West Brome. Access to the sauna, gym and indoor heated pool are also included with your visit.
Start the day with farmland cycling, passing a round barn and skirting the town of Cowansville to visit some covered bridges on your way north. Then take a scenic route along Chemin Gaspé with spectacular views of the area as you pass the equestrian facilities that were home to the 1976 Olympics. Your destination is the pretty village of Bromont, where you can explore its many shops and bakeries — and experience the delicious Musée de Chocolat before arriving as guests at the elegant Chateau Bromont and Spa. The hotel, with its four slope-side hot tubs, offers a commanding view over the ski mountain. Dinner is together tonight.
This is a special cycling treat! 35 miles of today’s ride is on a section of the province’s Route Verte, a sprawling cycling network ranked as one of the “10 best cycling routes in the world.” Your ride includes 25 miles of pristine, paved bike path along with 10 miles of hard-packed gravel rail trail. The path takes you past many sculptural displays, lake shores, and a beautiful provincial park. Lunch can be enjoyed in the bicycle-hub town of Granby. After your ride, enjoy soaking in the hot tub back at the Chateau with a view of the mountain. Dinner is on your own, with options and shuttles available to local restaurants.
You start out cycling toward Lac Brome and then along the lakeshore road with an option to add a 5-mile extension along a quiet bike path, before entering the charming Victorian town of Knowlton. The downtown section of this historic town has a number of lunch options plus antique stores, all housed in some fabulous 19th century buildings. Mystery book buffs know this as the home to famous mystery writer Louise Penny, who has used various locations in Knowlton (and along our route) in her novels. Your cycle route continues past a unique duck farm company store and a beautiful boutique winery before entering the town of Sutton, your destination for the afternoon. This town has a vibrant main street of sidewalk cafes, galleries, craft stores, and specialty shops. A celebratory dinner is with the group at a lovely craft brewery within walking distance of your hotel.
Your final ride takes you south through the tiny mountain community of Abercorn, where you might indulge yourself at the great little bakery, Boulangerie Abercorn, before re-entering the United States at Richford. Cycling options include a possible gravel bike path for a number of miles or a challenging roller coaster “short cut” into the town of Montgomery. The standard route is gentle, with your last few winding miles passing by covered bridges before arriving back at the Phineas Swann Inn in Montgomery Center between noon and 1 p.m. with showers available before we say "Au revoir!"
Map
Dates & Pricing
Prices are per person based on double occupancy (2 people in one room). Single supplement for private room is listed at the top of this page. A deposit of $500 holds your reservation for most tours. For weekend tours, the deposit is $300.
What’s Included
5 nights' lodging, 5 breakfasts and 4 dinners, wine tasting. All entry fees to parks, museums, and free transfer at one time provided from/to Burlington. We also include detailed maps and itineraries, experienced guides, full van support — plus use of a bike and helmet. Airfare is not included.
Dates & Pricing
Prices are per person based on double occupancy (2 people in one room). Single supplement for private room is listed at the top of this page. A deposit of $500 holds your reservation for most tours. For weekend tours, the deposit is $300.
What’s Included
5 nights' lodging, 5 breakfasts and 4 dinners, wine tasting. All entry fees to parks, museums, and free transfer at one time provided from/to Burlington. We also include detailed maps and itineraries, experienced guides, full van support — plus use of a bike and helmet. Airfare is not included.
Inns
Where you stay along the way.
Guests say …
Quotes from guests about this tour:
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Patty and Peter M.
Gallery
Images from this tour. Click each to see it larger.
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