Lake Champlain Bike Tour
Scenic Lake Champlain Bike Tours with Iconic Woodstock
This tour showcases the scenic diversity that makes the Green Mountain State magical. Our Lake Champlain bike tour winds through Burlington, Vermont’s most prominent and liveliest city, the shores of the lake, the fertile Champlain Valley, and the pristine Green Mountain National Forest. Our decades of experience trekking through this region give us the unique ability to craft a route that showcases the very best of Vermont. Absorb spectacular mountain vistas in any season and discover hidden treasures like local swimming holes and secluded fields of wildflowers. Guests experience pastoral farmland with classic red barns, covered bridges, bustling towns, sleepy hamlets, panoramic mountain vistas, trickling streams, thundering waterfalls, maple sugar shacks, and much more.
Explore Great Freedom Adventure’s Signature Lake Champlain Bike Tour
This tour showcases the scenic diversity that makes the Green Mountain State magical. Our tour winds through Burlington, Vermont’s most prominent and liveliest city, the shores of Lake Champlain, the fertile Champlain Valley, and the pristine Green Mountain National Forest. Our decades of experience trekking through this region give us the unique ability to craft a route that showcases the very best of Vermont. Absorb spectacular mountain vistas in any season and discover hidden treasures like local swimming holes and secluded fields of wildflowers. Guests experience pastoral farmland with classic red barns, covered bridges, bustling towns, sleepy hamlets, panoramic mountain vistas, trickling streams, thundering waterfalls, maple sugar shacks, and much more.
- 6 Day Adventure
- October 8th – 13th – $3,595
- October 15th – 20th – (SOLD OUT)
Inclusions
- 6 days of bicycling and hiking
- Free bicycle and helmet rental (Additional charge for E-Bike)
- 5 nights lodging
- Billings Farm and Museum
- Calvin Coolidge State Park and Coolidge Homestead
- Brewery visit
- Cheese factory visit
- 2 dedicated guides
- Van support
- Luggage transport
- 5 breakfasts
- 2 dinners
- 2 lunches
- Daily maps and cue sheets
- Daily snacks and cold drinks
- Tax and gratuities for meals and side excursions
- High-quality bike jersey
- Use of featherweight, high visibility, reflective mesh vest
- Waterbottle
Disclosure
Inclusions and Amenities
All Inclusions and amenities are subject to change, should we change our stay or dinner options, comparable options will be provided.
Packing List
- 2 pairs of bike shorts so you can alternate every day
- 1 pair of quick dry pants for cycling
- 2-3 pairs of biking socks + 1 pair of waterproof socks
- Bike shoes
- 2 quick dry cycling jerseys + one long-sleeved jersey if the weather is colder
- Arm warmers, leg warmers
- Rain gear, including a helmet cover, shoe covers, pants, and jacket
- Cycling gloves
- Sunglasses
- Bandana
- Bike: You may bring your bike or use one of ours. GFA bikes are high quality, lightweight, available with a drop or straight handlebars, and equipped with a computer, mirror, water bottle, handlebar bag, map case, and seat pack with essentials.
Rider Level
Intermediate
Expert
Lodging Options
Standard Room at Various Hotels and Inns
Max Occupancy: 2 Guests
Single supliment available
Throughout the tour, guests will stay in a selection of upscale Inns and Hotels along the way. As many are Historic Inns, rooms may vary in design, aesthetics, and layout. We’ve provided some sample images to give you a sense of what your accommodations may look like. Please note in the room selection process; we ask that you choose between a shared or double occupancy room and a private room for individual guests.
Amenities
Wi-Fi
Meals Included
Private Rooms
Itinerary
ARRIVAL INSTRUCTIONS :
Meet your guides in Burlington, VT at 1:30 pm on Day 1. The tour concludes at approximately noon on Day 6 at the Blue Horse Inn, Woodstock, VT.
DEPARTURE INSTRUCTIONS :
Guides will transport guests back to Burlington at the conclusion of the tour.
Day 1:
Welcome to Burlington – Vermont’s largest town and a mecca for outdoor fun! Meet in the early afternoon at the
Hotel Vermont for welcome refreshments and bike fitting.
Then, set out on an easy ride along the Lake Champlain waterfront and follow the scenic bike path on the shoreline. The 107-mile-long lake lies in a broad valley between the Adirondack and Green Mountains, separating the states of New York and Vermont. The lake extends into Canada, where it flows north into Canada’s Richelieu River and eventually into the Saint Lawrence Seaway. Today’s bike ride offers views of the lake, distant mountains, and the vibrant streets of Burlington. Return to the inn to relax before dinner at one of Burlington’s top restaurants.
Biking Mileage: 11 or 20
Day 2:
Pedal south, traveling through small hamlets and pastoral farmland in the fertile Champlain Valley. Enjoy spectacular ridgeline views of the lake and the Adirondack Mountains in the distance. Eat lunch in a charming café or quaint gastropub. Pedal to a small gorge with a wide waterfall that tumbles down to a sparkling pool below – the perfect Vermont swimming hole. Riders choosing the long-distance option will tackle one of the Green Mountain’s infamous gaps – the Appalachian Gap. Your cycling efforts will be rewarded with waterfall displays, sparkling ponds – and major bragging rights. Finish the day in the Mad River Valley, a destination for skiing in winter and biking and hiking in summer. Enjoy a delicious, well-earned dinner.
Biking Mileage: 42, 45 or 55
Day 3:
Travel past dairy farms and hay fields, enjoying the smell of freshly cut hay. Bike through lush, colorful forests, past tumbling streams, and watch for moose along the way. Enjoy a locally prepared lunch to fuel you for the day’s last climb. Then, spin easily on a long, gentle downhill along a quiet river. Riders choosing the long option will love the fast cruise along a wide river. A climb away from the river valley brings you to the historic town of Norwich and the Norwich Inn. Quench your thirst with a beer brewed on-site, then enjoy a delicious dinner prepared by the inn’s excellent chef.
Biking Mileage: 35, 46 or 65
Day 4:
Depart Norwich and stop at King Arthur Flour School and Store. Enjoy the delicious smells of freshly baked breads and pastries while watching the bakers at work. Peruse the award-winning building and store, then continue to the lovely town of Quechee. View the impressive Quechee Gorge, where the Ottaquechee River has cut a narrow gorge 165’ deep. Visit Simon Pearce glassblowing workshop and store to watch master artisans create fine glassware sold in shops around the world. Continue along quiet country roads, past handsome estates, and covered bridges to finish the day in Woodstock, dubbed “the prettiest small town in America.” Head to the classic Blue Horse Inn, uniquely situated in the very heart of Woodstock Village. Today’s itinerary leaves time in the afternoon to explore Woodstock. Visit Billings Farm and Museum, the Rockefeller Mansion, or the many fine shops and galleries in town. Tonight, walk to one of Woodstock’s award-winning restaurants to enjoy dinner on your own.
Biking Mileage: 24
Day 5:
Bike a remarkably diverse route encompassing historic towns, vibrant country stores, manicured horse farms, handsome brick mansions and pristine lakes. Pedal beneath a colorful foliage canopy alongside gurgling streams and tranquil bogs. Watch for moose prints and maybe spot one of these big creatures that manage to hide surprisingly well by standing stock-still. Enjoy long-range views on fun downhills then climb to the village of Plymouth Notch, listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Enjoy a delicious picnic lunch under the maples, then explore the village and the Calvin Coolidge Homestead, a place largely unchanged from Coolidge’s boyhood days. View the place where Coolidge was sworn in by his father as the 30th US president. Sample the artisan cheese at the Plymouth Cheese Factory, one of the country’s oldest cheesemaking operations. After, coast
down the hill to the Long Trail Brewery to sample some of the award-winning beers at this Vermont craft brewer. Return to the inn and relax before a superb dinner in charming Woodstock.
Biking Mileage: 36 or 45
Day 6:
After breakfast, take a hike on scenic trails to a hilltop with panoramic views of Woodstock, the meandering Ottaquechee River and a patchwork of green or golden fields. The summit views are quite spectacular. Walk down, through the covered bridge, and back to town to complete a remarkable six-day journey discovering some of the very best that Vermont has to offer.
Booking Information
FINAL BOOKING DEADLINE
7 days prior to the adventure departure.
DEPOSITS
A deposit is due upon booking – $750 per person for five to eight day tours and $500 per person for three to four day tours. Payments may be made by check or credit card. Our receipt of the deposit, registration form, and signed Release form will secure your reservation.
An invoice for the balance will be emailed and final payment is due no later than 30 days (exceptions made for last minute booking) before the tour departure date. Payment may be made by check or online with a credit card. If final payment is not received by the due date, Great Freedom Adventures reserves the right to cancel the reservation.
CANCELLATION POLICIES
All cancellations must be submitted in writing; refunds will be based on the day we receive written notice. Please purchase trip cancellation/travel insurance because exceptions to our cancellation policy cannot be made for any reason, including personal emergencies, illness or injury, canceled or delayed flights or ground travel to the tour departure point, or weather. Refunds will not be made for a participant arriving late or departing early from a tour, or for a participant not using accommodations, meals, or other services offered as part of a tour.
Cancellation Fees Are as Follows (Per Person):
Cancel 30 days or less from booking date – No charge (Does not apply to custom or private tours or to US tours booked within 60 days of departure or overseas tours booked within 90 days of departure.)
91 or more days before trip – $150
61-90 days before trip – $750 or $500 (loss of deposit)
31-60 days before trip – 50% of trip price
30 or less days before trip – 100% of trip price (20% of your payment may be applied to another of our tours departing within one year of original tour start date.)
TRAVEL AND MEDICAL INSURANCE
Travel insurance is available from a number of insurers or their representatives, such as CSA Travel Protection or Travel Guard. You may compare prices and policies at Insure My Trip. We do not sell insurance or recommend any particular insurer or policy, but we highly recommend that you obtain travel insurance.