Trip Overview

Ride the infamous Gaps!! Enjoy Spectacular Fall Colors!!

With a recent demand for more challenging tours, Classic Adventures proudly presents Extreme Vermont. Nestled in the heart of the Green Mountains, passes called “the gaps” rival the best climbs found in the Western U.S. From Brandon Gap to Appalachian Gap, you will find great roads, low traffic volume, luxurious accommodations, and warm Vermont hospitality.

The terrain is varied from start to finish. On most days you will experience flat sections and two to three serious climbs, ranging from 500 to 2000 feet. Bear in mind “Extreme” applies to both the challenging rides, as well as extreme exhilaration and exuberance one may experience. Climbs take riders to a new level of beauty with majestic vistas. The rustic beauty and rugged terrain offers a unique appreciation for unspoiled regions.

There is ample time to relax and absorb all that your surroundings offer. Lodging includes both the luxurious Middlebury Inn and The Basin Harbor Club. This tour is perfectly suited to the rider who wants a full day of riding, finished off with equally comfortable and relaxing accommodations. Hope you will join us.

What's Included

• Use of a Classic Adventures bicycle (Trek hybrid or road bike)
• A non-regimented, “cycle at your own pace itinerary” with an average of 35-45 miles per day with the option of additional or fewer miles. (Coast to Coast averages 75 mi. per day)
• Lodging in select country inns & hotels/motels.
• Daily breakfast & most dinners
• Full van support.
• Detailed maps, route descriptions, and cultural information on a daily basis.
• Most commercial transportation within the country of most tours. (See daily itineraries for specific transfer information).
• Friendly and experienced multi-lingual guides.
• Expert bicycle mechanics.
• Guided tours of selected historical destinations visited.
• Pre-departure information packet includes: tour specific info., reading list, packing list, training suggestions, riding tips, etc.
• All bicycles come equipped with trunk bag; rear rack; water bottles; lock; pump; spare tube; odometer/computer.

Daily Itinerary

Vermont: Extreme Vermont

Day 1. Arrive in Burlington, VT. Meet your guides, and transfer to the luxurious Basin Harbor Club. Bike fitting and warm-up ride followed by orientation and dinner at the Basin Harbor Club. (12 miles)

Day 2. Today we get a taste of things to come as we ride through the foothills of the Green Mountains through the towns of Ferrisburg, Hinesburg and Charlotte. We stop for lunch in the historic village of Shelburne. After lunch we head south on rolling roads, with a stop to shock our legs into action by climbing Mt Philo – a challenging climb that rewards riders with a breathtaking lake view from the top. (58 miles)

Day 3. For today's ride we will circle the city of Vergennes, the smallest and oldest city in Vermont, enjoying mountain and lake vistas. After a leisurely lunch in the village we transition south via a visit to the UVM Morgan Horse Farm. Our day ends with our first night at the historic Middlebury Inn. (40 miles)

Day 4. Take a 2-3 hour hike up Snake Mountain which rewards you with Lake and Adirondack views.We return for a optional 25 mile bicycle ride to the top of the Middlebury Gap, passing through Ripton, home of the Robert Frost Farm - a national historic site.

Day 5. Today we head north to Bristol and Lincoln. Our destination, Bristol, is known as the “gateway to the Green Mountains.” From Bristol we'll enjoy a leisurely climb to the village of Lincoln, a local artists and writers community.We will then head north to tackle the lower and upper sections of the Appalachian Gap, crossing Vermont's famous Long Trail.We'll return to Middlebury along rolling country roads, perhaps stopping at the Lincoln Peak Winery or Otter Creek Brewery for some well deserved refreshment. (55 miles)

Day 6. Depart for Burlington Airport after breakfast.

Dates & Prices 2012

Vermont: Extreme Vermont

6 days / 5 nights

(Includes 4 dinners, all breakfasts, transfers to and from Burlington, wine reception)

Tour Map

Vermont: Extreme Vermont