Bike/Barge Tour from Amsterdam (8 days)
Route: Amsterdam - Uithoorn (Oude Wetering) - Leiden - Haarlem - Alkmaar - Alkmaar - Schermerhorn – Amsterdam.
Price: $1095/person (double occupancy), on Standard/Standard Plus barge or $1285/person (double occupancy), on comfort barge.
Standard barges have bunk beds or similar arrangements. Comfort barges have two twin beds. All barges have private bathrooms.
Dates: Saturdays, May 10, June 28, August 16,30, 2008 on standard or standard plus barge. June 14, July 5, 12, 19, 26, August 2, 9, 23 and September 6, 13, 2008 on comfort barge.
More than 400 years ago the most famous Dutch painter Rembrandt van Rijn was born. His 'Nightwatch' is the most visited painting in all of the Netherlands. This special Cycling Holiday shows you the still existing 17th century Dutch landscapes that Rembrandt painted. You experience the traditional Dutch atmosphere in the historical centers of Haarlem or Leiden. Furthermore the cycle ride leads along beaches and dune areas, scenic North-Holland and ports like Hoorn where you’ll find the spirit of the Dutch Golden Age.
HIGHLIGHTS: Flower park Keukenhof (only May 10). Amsterdam: visit museum The Rembrandt House, cycle tour along the river Amstel, Zaanse Schans: open air museum including several windmills. Hoorn: port town dating from the 17th century. Schermerhorn: visit museum mill.
Day-by-Day Itinerary:
Saturday: cycling 20 km
After your embarkment in Amsterdam, you’ll be sailing through the center of Amsterdam. There’s a short cycle trip following the banks of the river Amstel ending in Uithoorn / Kudelstaart.
Sunday: cycling 35 km
Today you’ll cross the real Green Heart of Holland: on cycle paths through the lake areas of Langeraarse Plassen and Braassemer Meer. Your trip ends in university town Leiden. A city walk in the historical center of this birth place of Rembrandt with its numerous courtyards is certainly recommendable.
Monday: cycling 45 km
Today’s itinerary leads to the seaside resort Katwijk and then through the dune area to Zandvoort. If weather permits, you may spend some time on the beach. Cycling on the path that was used by the fishermen’s wifes to go to the market, you’ll end up in Haarlem. The small and surveyable centre invites one to do some shopping in this ‘best shopping town of the Netherlands’. Don’t forget to sit down and have a drink on one of the terrasses at the big market place.
Tuesday: cycling 40 km
The first village you arrive in is Spaarndam (the village of Hans Brinker). After the crossing of the North Sea canal by ferry, you continue cycling through rural villages like Nauerna. You visit open air museum the Zaanse Schans and continue following the river Zaan and the Knollendammer canal to cheese town Alkmaar.
Wednesday: cycling 40 km
Today the boatel stays in Alkmaar. There’s a cycle trip to the unique wood and dune area near the villages Bergen and Schoorl and to the Hondsbossche Zeewering, a sea wall. You’ll have plenty of time to have a drink at an outdoor café or to walk on the beach. If you feel like it, you are of course, free to spend a day on your own sightseeing in Alkmaar or relaxing at the seaside.
Thursday: cycling 45 km
After passing Oterleek and Avenhorn, you arrive in Hoorn. After you have got acquainted with this historical port town, you take the road along the coast from where you have a splendid view over the IJssel Lake. Thereafter you take a ride following the canal ‘Beemsterringvaart’ to Purmerend. On the way we visit the museum windmill in Schermerhorn.
Friday: cycling 50 km
First you cycle to and visit the picturesque village of Edam. Then you visit the fishing village of Volendam. Take your time for a break and enjoy the atmosphere and the people in traditional costume. The cycle trip continues along the coastline of the IJssel Lake through Uitdam and Durgerdam. Via the ferry crossing the IJ, you arrive at the start of your tour in the center of Amsterdam. You visit the Rembrandt House, where the painter lived for years with his wife Saskia. In the evening you may wish to join the guide for a walk though the center or you may want to do a canal boat tour (not included).
Saturday
After breakfast, your guide and the crew will say good-bye, as your stay aboard has come to an end.
Included in tour:
• 7 nights accommodations aboard barge
• Full board (breakfast + packed lunch + 3-courses dinner)
• Coffee and Tea on board
• Services of tour leader
• Route description with map
• Use of 7-speed bicycles with panniers
• Compensation bicycle damage
• Visit and entrance fee museum mill Schermerhorn
• Visit and entrance fee to Rembrandthuis
• visit annual flower exhibition Keukenhof (only on May 12)
• several city walks(guided)
• Credit card fee
• Booking fee
Not included in tour:
• Airfare
• Excursions not in program
• Drinks (other than coffee & tea)
• Transfer between airport and barge in Amsterdam
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
* Price is for standard or standard plus barge $1095. For departure on comfort barge cost $1285 p.p. in double.
* Departure of USA one day earlier (barge leaves Amsterdam 1.30 PM Saturday), air fare not included. Flight back can be booked same day tour ends. For your own group of 14 to 20 you can rent your own barge.
* Included in tour: 7 nights accommodations aboard barge, full board (breakfast packed lunch 3-courses dinner), coffee and Tea on board, services of tour leader, route description with map, use of 7-speed bicycles with panniers, compensation bicycle damage, visit to museums with special Rembrandt exhibition (Lakenhal Leiden or Mauritshuis The Hague), visit to Rembrandthuis, several city walks(guided), credit card fee, booking fee
Also see tour packages in:
Europe
Netherlands
Bicycle Touring
Cultural Journey
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