6 Days / 5 Nights | Rating: Intermediate | Start / End: Burlington, VT
- E-bikes Available
Our award-winning tour of the Lake Champlain Valley features Vermont’s prized country roads and picture book landscapes. Ride through historic covered bridges and explore quaint villages in one of the most beautiful states in the US. Enjoy stays in charming country inns and a classic turn-of-the-century lakeside resort. Cruise across Lake Champlain to ride fabulous routes on the opposite shore. Sample delicious treats at a local chocolatier and visit a gorgeous horse farm. History buffs will enjoy important sites including those of famous maritime battles and the Underground Railroad. Spectacular Lake Champlain is nestled between Vermont’s rolling Green Mountains and the high peaks of New York’s Adirondacks.
Gentle valley farmland offers miles of fabulous cycling, and mountain foothills are close enough to provide challenging options for those who want them. This is a true inn-to-inn tour—there are no vehicle transfers except for short trips to and from Burlington at the start and end of the tour. The most cosmopolitan city in Vermont, Burlington, is frequently listed as one of the top places to live in the US and is host to our pre- and post-tour lodging. Located just steps from Lake Champlain and Burlington’s pedestrian marketplace, our adjacent sister properties are the perfect base from which to explore this easily walkable city. We’ll pick you up there for the short trip to the start of the tour, at our office just south of town. Frommer’s named this one of the top 10 bike tours in the world and we’re pretty sure that you will agree!
Travel the Sojourn Style
EXPERIENCES, NOT BIKE TOURS
While we love our cycling, it makes up only one facet of what a true Sojourn trip entails. We believe in immersing ourselves in local cultures and discovering the hidden gems of the world.
REGIONAL PLANNING SPECIALISTS
From Vietnam to France to Glacier National Park, we are committed to offering exceptional trips in regions with which we are deeply familiar. We personally design and operate each of our trips.
PREMIER ACCOMMODATIONS
We carefully select from some of World’s renowned hotels. From highly reviewed and acclaimed Hotel de Londres in San Sebastian, Spain or the Reverie Saigon, Vietnam, one of the leading hotels in the World.
UNWAVERING ATTENTION TO SERVICE
Our commitment to provide you with unwavering service starts from the moment you first interact with the Sojourn team. We believe the little details matter and make the Sojourn vacation a life-list worthy experience for our guests.
PROFESSIONAL TRIP LEADERS
Gracious, engaging, and intelligent, our expert team of tour leaders consist of professionals from all walks of life and make exceptional travel companions. Always a step ahead, they are adept at everything from spinning wrenches to whipping up fabulous picnic lunches.
YOUR VACATION, YOUR PACE
We believe that at the end of the day, you are at the helm of your own vacation. We offer an array of day-to-day options to enable you to approach each day at your own pace.
Day 1
Maple Farm Views – Meet your tour leaders at the Hotel Vermont for the short transfer to the Sojourn office. Ride south along a lightly traveled route through farmland to the charming town of Vergennes. Stop to view the waterfalls cascading into a basin that was the site of an important shipbuilding center during the French and Indian War. Chat with your fellow travelers during a picnic lunch on the town green. The afternoon ride features beautiful views extending over the valley to the Adirondack Mountains in New York.
GOOD TO KNOW
Every Sojourn trip is different in their own unique ways. We want you to be aware of them so that you can only have the best experiences possible. Please know, whichever trip you choose we are committed to make it the trip of a lifetime!
Ride through Vermont’s only two-lane covered bridge – one of only six remaining in the entire US. In Middlebury, visit Danforth Pewter to watch family patriarch, Fred Danforth shape beautiful pewter crafts as his ancestors have done since 1755. Continue through town to the Waybury Inn, a truly classic Vermont country inn, surrounded by huge maple trees. Relax on the patio, in the gardens, or wander over to the Middlebury River. he Waybury Inn holds the distinction of being featured for years in the opening scene of the 1980s TV sitcom Newhart. Enjoy dinner this evening in the inn’s dining room then visit their pub for a nightcap.
LODGING:
The Waybury Inn, East Middlebury, VT
802-338-4015
www.wayburyinn.com
CYCLING OPTIONS:
16 Miles
36 Miles
Day 2
Lake Dunmore and the Falls of Lana – This morning’s ride leads through rural valley farmland and one of Vermont’s longest covered bridges. Continue along lightly traveled roads offering stunning views of the Green Mountains as you make your way to Brandon. History buffs will enjoy a visit to the Brandon Museum located in the house where Stephen A. Douglas was born. Here, you can learn more about this 19th century statesman and how the Civil War affected this small Vermont town. You might also enjoy a visit to the artist’s cooperative which features a variety of local works. Your tour leaders will host a delicious picnic lunch on the shores of Lake
KEEPING YOU POSTED
We’re constantly looking for ways to enhance our trips. We’ll do our best to notify you of any changes in this itinerary. Other changes may be communicated to you on the trip by your leaders.
Dunmore situated at the edge of the Green Mountains. The “Greens” as they are known locally, are part of the northern section of the Appalachian Mountains and the icons after which Vermont – the Green Mountain state – is named. Enjoy the short walk to the Falls of Lana or continue the climb to Silver Lake for expansive views over Lake Dunmore. Those up for a challenge can tackle the climb up Middlebury Gap before returning to the Waybury where you can enjoy a refreshing microbrew in the inn’s pub. Join your fellow travelers by the fire on the patio before dinner this evening in the inn’s dining room.
LODGING:
The Waybury Inn, East
Middlebury, VT
802-338-4015
www.wayburyinn.com
CYCLING OPTIONS:
23 Miles
36 Miles
53 Miles
HIKING OPTIONS:
1 to 3 miles round-trip
Day 3
A Classic Town Green and Mountain Village – Following a delightful Vermont country breakfast, wind your way north through open farmland to Bristol and its classic town green. Bristol retains its small-town charm and features a variety of unique shops, including that of a family run beeswax candle maker. Follow the New Haven River toward its headwaters near the tiny hamlet of Lincoln, a picturesque village nestled along the river below imposing Mount Abraham. The route provides numerous photo opportunities of river, its waterfalls, and boulder-strewn riverbed. For strong cyclists, an option to climb Lincoln Gap will burn the quads of the best of them. Following lunch on your own in Bristol, follow the river downstream as it meanders west toward Middlebury. Stop to visit Otter Creek Brewery, Woodchuck Cider, or Vermont’s all-natural soap company, Vermont
Soapworks. The downtown area is lined with interesting shops as well as a variety of restaurants. This evening, your accommodations are at the lovely Middlebury Inn, a historic establishment just steps from the heart of downtown. Dinner is on your own in this classic New England college town.
LODGING:
The MIddlebury Inn, Middlebury, VT
802-388-4961
www.middleburyinn.com
CYCLING OPTIONS:
15 Miles
29 Miles
43 miles
Day 4
Justin Morgan Had a Horse – Begin the day with a ride to the University of Vermont Morgan Horse Farm. This architecturally stunning property was built in the late 1800s by Colonel Joseph Battell who began breeding Morgans on the farm to preserve the pedigree of America’s first, and many argue finest, breed of horse. Meet some of the breed’s exemplary lineage during a private guided tour of the property. Cross a bridge over a lovely section Vermont’s longest river—the Otter Creek—and continue past orchards and farms. Stop into the kitchen shop of a fabulous local chocolatier and sample delicious gourmet chocolate.
Visit the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum or opt for an extended ride through rolling countryside. Your afternoon destination is the Basin Harbor Club, a classic turn-of-the-century resort that has hosted generations of vacationers in its peaceful lakeside setting. The Harbor, as it is known locally, offers swimming (lake and pool), non-motorized watercraft, tennis, golf, formal dining room, and pub-style restaurant. Evenings on the lakeshore are blissfully quiet and the sunsets are stunning
LODGING:
The Basin Harbor Club, Vergennes, VT
802-338-4015
www.basinharbor.com
CYCLING OPTIONS:
19 Miles
35 Miles
47 Miles
Day 5
Historic Sites of the Lake Champlain Basin – Today’s ride features lightly traveled roads winding through farms, apple orchards and open fields that offer expansive views. Vistas along much of the gently rolling route extend east to the Green Mountains and west across Lake Champlain to the Adirondack Mountains. Cross the beautiful new bridge spanning Lake Champlain to visit to the Crown Point Historic Site in New York. During the early 19th century, the strategic peninsula overlooking the narrowest section of Lake Champlain was occupied first by the French, then by Vermont’s Green Mountain Boys, and ultimately by the British in the ongoing battle for control of north-south travel on the lake. In addition to the stone barracks and earthen embankments of the former fort, there is an unusual stone lighthouse nearby that was constructed in 1912 to honor French explorer Samuel de Champlain, the first European to discover the lake.
MULTIPLE ROUTE OPTIONS
Itching for that EPIC (Extra Pedal if Crazy) ride? No problem, we’ll show you our favorite hills. Looking for more downtime? Your trip leaders will tell you the best days to take a break. All Sojourn tours have multiple route options to accommodate your riding skill or desires!
Later in the day, enjoy a visit to the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum, take a boat out on the lake, play a game of tennis or round of golf, or simply relax at the resort. This charming lakeside oasis is just perfect for unwinding in comfortable Adirondack chairs on the lawn overlooking Lake Champlain and the Adirondack Mountains to the west. Join your fellow travelers for a final dinner together this evening in the inn’s dining room.
LODGING:
The Basin Harbor Club, Vergennes, VT
802-338-4015
www.basinharbor.com
CYCLING OPTIONS:
18 Miles
33 Miles
46 Miles
Day 6
Cruise Across Lake Champlain and Visit Historic Essex – Begin the day with a private cruise across Lake Champlain to the New York side of the lake. Today’s routes wind through sections of New York’s Adirondack Park and surrounding pastoral farmland. The route culminates in a spectacular setting high above Lake Champlain where sweeping views extend to the ridgeline of the Green Mountains in Vermont. Descend into the charming town of Essex; the entire town of which is listed on the National Historic Register as the most intact ensemble of pre-Civil War architecture in the country. Enjoy walking the towns charming lanes or visiting antique shops in the village. Board a ferry to return across Lake Champlain for a scenic ride along the lakeshore and through yet another historic covered bridge.
Enjoy a delicious picnic lunch in a beautiful lakeside setting. Visit Fiddlehead Brewing, Shelburne Winery, the eclectic Shelburne Country Store, or stop for an espresso at the coffee shop in town. Sojourn will transport you to the airport in Burlington or to Hotel Vermont/Courtyard Burlington Harbor at the conclusion of your trip.
CYCLING OPTIONS:
15 Miles
24 Miles
33 Miles
Tour Accommodations
Waybury Inn, East Middlebury
This quintessential Vermont country inn sits at the base of the Green Mountains across from a beautiful stream. For years, the Bob Newhart show featured the inn. Restaurant and cozy pub on site. (2 nights)
457 East Main Street
East Middlebury, VT 05740
www.wayburyinn.com | 800.348.1810
The Middlebury Inn, Middlebury
This historic establishment is a lovely country inn just steps from shops and restaurants in town. (1 night)
14 Court Square
Middlebury, VT 05753
www.middleburyinn.com | 802.388.4961
Basin Harbor Resort and Boat Club, Vergennes
Historic hotel and small, classic lakeside resort in a stunning setting. Restaurant, pub, watersports, golf, and tennis. (2 nights)
4800 Basin Harbor Road
Vergennes, VT 05491
www.basinharbor.com | 800.622.4000
Travel & Tour Quick Facts
| TOUR START | 8:30am – Meet at Hotel Vermont for transfer to tour start at Sojourn. Those driving to tour should meet at Sojourn at 9:00am. |
| TOUR CONCLUSION | 4:00pm – Group return to Burlington airport or Hotel Vermont. Departure flights should not be scheduled prior to 5:30pm. |
| TRAVEL TO/FROM TOUR | Fly into Burlington International Airport (BTV). Parking spots available at Sojourn HQ (Free of charge, needs to be reserved in advance) |
| DAYS/NIGHTS | 6 Days/5 Nights |
| INCLUDED MEALS | All breakfasts, 3 lunches, and 4 dinners. |
| ACTIVITIES | Cycling, hiking, options for boating, swimming, golf. |
| RATING | Intermediate - This tour is perfect for cyclists who do not mind a few gently rolling hills with some longer grades. Routes average 15-55 miles a day over rolling terrain with longer options available. |
What’s Included?
| EQUIPMENT | Road or hybrid bike, helmet, rear light, seat bag for road bike or rack bag for hybrid, map case, water bottle, and jersey. Bring clipless pedals, seat, or helmet for a more personalized fit. |
| VAN SUPPORT | Rides supported by a Sojourn van as well as a tour leader on a bicycle. |
| TOUR LEADERS | Two experienced tour leaders guide each trip from start to finish. |
| RIDE NOURISHMENT | A selection of snacks and refreshments are supplied throughout all rides. |
| RIDE INFORMATION | Detailed route directions, maps, downloadable GPS routes, and a daily briefing are provided. |
| OFFICE SUPPORT | At your service 9:00am – 6:00pm EST, Monday – Friday. 802-425-4771 |
| DETAILED INFORMATION | A full complement of detailed trip and travel information will be provided upon confirmation of reservation. |
| E-BIKES & TANDEMS | Limited Electric Assist Bikes are available on all tours. Tandems are also available on on our US and Canada tours for an additional fee. Call us at 1-802-425-4771 for details |
Weather
| Burlington, VT | Jun | Jul | Aug |
|---|---|---|---|
| High °F | 77° | 82° | 78° |
| Low °F | 54° | 58° | 56° |
| Precip. Inches | 3.1 | 3.2 | 3.2 |
WE’RE HAPPY TO CHAT!
Call: 802.425.4771
Write: info@gosojourn.com
Visit: GoSojourn.com
PRICES & SCHEDULE
All prices and schedules are subject to change at any time.
Click HERE to view the latest departure dates & prices.
