Best of Vermont Bike Tour
per person
Best of Vermont Bike Tour
We’ve put our 38 years of Vermont bike touring experience to work to create an itinerary that is remarkable in its scenic diversity. In a mere six days, guests experience pastoral farmland with classic red barns, green or multi-colored forests, covered bridges, bustling towns, sleepy hamlets, panoramic mountain vistas, trickling streams, thundering waterfalls, fields of wildflowers, maple sugar shacks and much more. Wildlife abounds throughout and you may see eagles, moose, fox, deer, turkeys and more.
Vibrant Vermont Towns, Top Inns and Superb Meals
Overnights are spent in four of Vermont’s most beautiful, historic and fun towns – Burlington, Waitsfield, Norwich and Woodstock. At each of these locales, we’ve selected fine inns that provide a true sense of place and top restaurants that feature locally sourced foods prepared by talented chefs. All along the tour, your guides will tempt you with more of these delicious Vermont foods.
Vermont’s Brilliant Fall Foliage and Deep Green Forests
Our Vermont expertise has allowed us to craft routes that showcase the Green Mountain State’s most beautiful scenery. During the fall foliage season, guests travel quiet country roads we’ve specifically selected to afford pedaling beneath a radiant, multi-colored canopy. Lush green forests provide shaded summer riding. We’ve chosen routes that will provide the most spectacular mountain vistas in any season, and highlight favorite places like hidden swimming holes where the locals swim. Experience the tremendous beauty of Vermont on the Best of Vermont Bike Tour.
Tour Highlights:
- Bicycle quiet routes chosen for their beauty and scenic variety
- Explore Burlington, Waitsfield, Norwich and Woodstock with their wealth of fine shops, galleries and dining
- Visit the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park
- See where Coolidge was sworn in as president at the Calvin Coolidge Homestead
- Explore Billings Farm, an operating dairy farm and museum of Vermont’s rural past
- Stop at classic country stores and taste Ben & Jerry’s ice cream
- Pedal through covered bridges
- View sugar bushes
- Taste excellent craft beers at local breweries
- View dramatic Quechee Gorge
- See master glassblowers at work at Simon Pearce and shop for hand-blown glassware
- Visit award-winning King Arthur Baking School and Store
- Sample cheeses at one of the oldest cheesemaking factories in the US
- Hike to panoramic hilltop views
6 Days/5 Nights
From Our Gallery
1
Day 1
Welcome to Burlington – Vermont’s largest town and mecca for outdoor fun! Meet in the early afternoon at the Willard Street Inn for welcome refreshments and bike fitting. Then, set out on an easy ride down to the Lake Champlain waterfront and follow the scenic bike path along 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.2
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 magnificent waterfall displays - and major bragging rights. Finish the day in the charming town of Waitsfield, a destination for skiing in winter and biking and hiking in summer. Enjoy a delicious, well-earned dinner.3
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 lunch at a terrific café to fuel you for the day’s last climb. Then, spin easily on a long, gentle downhill along a quiet river. Stop at a quintessential country store for an afternoon coffee and all the Vermont products you could ask for – from maple syrup to handmade furniture. 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.4
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 luxurious Woodstock Inn and Resort, a Conde Nast Traveler Gold Club member. Enjoy a swim in the pool, a massage in the spa or cocktails in the tavern. 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 excellent restaurants to enjoy dinner on your own.5
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 at the Woodstock Inn.6
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. For a more detailed itinerary, including daily mileage options and arrival and departure details, please contact us. Our Gallery
Norwich Inn, Norwich, VT - This Vermont country inn has been welcoming weary travelers since 1797. Great Freedom Adventures guests stay in spacious and beautifully appointed new rooms featuring gas fireplaces. Inn amenities include an alehouse, dining room, a wine cellar housing one of Vermont's largest selections of wines, a microbrewery and a fitness center. 
Willard Street Inn, Burlington, VT - The Willard Street Inn is a handsome Victorian mansion in theprestigious hill section of Burlington. Beautifully appointed rooms afford views of Lake Champlain and the Adirondack Mountains. Chef-prepared breakfasts are served the sunny solarium and feature foods fresh from the inn gardens. Relax in an Adirondack chair on the wide lawn or walk to the Church Street Marketplace, restaurants or to the waterfront. 
Woodstock Inn & Resort, Woodstock, VT - The Woodstock Inn epitomizes New England country elegance. A Conde Nast Traveler Gold Club member, the stately inn and beautiful grounds are ideally located adjacent to the town green, in the heart of Woodstock village. Beautiful sitting spaces and fine dining rooms are enhanced by excellent service. Luxurious rooms feature furnishings handmade by talented local artisans. Additional resort amenities include a tavern, game room, pool, spa, gift shop and afternoon tea & cookies. In addition, GFA guests may use the Athletic Club (indoor pool, hot tub, sauna, steam room, racquet sports, etc.) and participate in classes.2019 Dates
July 14-19 | August 11-16 | September 29 - October 4
2019 Prices
Coming soon
Trip Length
6 days, 5 nights
Start/Finish
Woodstock, VT
Cycling Level
Moderate (Moderate to Challenging with longer mileage options)
Daily Mileage
26-42 (Longer options: 26-55)
Terrain
Some short and long hills every day along with flat stretches. Occasional sections of dirt road.
Bikes: You may bring your own bike or use one of ours. GFA bikes are high quality, lightweight, available with either drop or straight handlebars and are equipped with computer, mirror, waterbottle, handlebar bag, map case and seat pack with essentials. What's Included:
- 6 days of bicycling and hiking
- Free bicycle and helmet rental
- 5 nights lodging
- 5 breakfasts
- 4 dinners
- 1 lunch
- Admission to
- Billings Farm and Museum
- Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historic Site
- Calvin Coolidge State Park and Coolidge Homestead
- Brewery visit
- Cheese factory visit
- Wine cocktail Woodstock nights
- Working farm visits
- 2 dedicated guides
- Van support
- Luggage transport
- Daily maps and cue sheets
- Daily snacks and cold drinks
- Tax and gratuities for meals and side excursions
- Featherweight, high visibility, reflective mesh vest
- Waterbottle
