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Bike/Barge Tour Highlights of Holland Route
offered by supplier M19758 (view this supplier profile)
Key Information:
Tour Duration: 8
day(s)
Group Size: 2
- 26
people
Destination(s):
Netherlands
Specialty Categories:
Bicycle Touring
Cultural Journey
Season: May - September
Airfare Included: No
Tour Customizable: Yes
Minimum Per Person Price: 1167 US Dollar (USD)
Maximum Per Person Price: 1350 US Dollar (USD)
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Soon after having left the city behind, it appears that amidst the larger Dutch towns lies a splendid rural area: the Green Heart. One moment you'll be cycling in the middle of quiet lakes, the next you'll experience the old Dutch atmosphere in the historical centre of towns like Haarlem and Leiden.
Furthermore this tour will show you the North Sea beach, dune areas and old port towns like Hoorn which breathe the Dutch Golden Age.
Route: Amsterdam - Uithoorn - Leiden - Katwijk - Haarlem - North Sea -Spaarndam - Alkmaar - Schermerhorn – Amsterdam.
Dates: NOTE: $100.00 discount per person with full payment at time of booking through February 1, 2010.
- Saturdays, May 1, 8 tulip special, May 22, June 19, August 7,14, and September 4, 2010 on standard or standard plus barge ($1,167.00 per person w/double occupancy).
- June 26, July 3, 10, 31 on comfort barge ($1,350.00 per person w/double occupancy).
This tour offers an attractive combination of towns and countryside in Holland. It starts with a sailing trip right across the centre of Amsterdam. Soon after having left the city behind, it appears that amidst the larger Dutch towns lies a splendid rural area: the Green Heart. One moment you'll be cycling in the middle of quiet lakes, the next you'll experience the old Dutch atmosphere in the historical centre of towns like Haarlem and Leiden.
Furthermore this tour will show you the North Sea beach, dune areas and old port towns like Hoorn which breathe the Dutch Golden Age.
Highlights:
Flower Park Keukenhof (only departure May 10)
Amsterdam: visit Museum The Rembrandt House
Zaanse Schans: open air museum including several windmills
Hoorn: port town dating from the 17th century
Schermerhorn: visit museum windmill
Landscapes of Rembrandt (cycle tour along the river Amstel)
Day by Day Itinerary
Saturday
Cycle trip ± 20 km. After your embarkment in Amsterdam, you'll be sailing right through the centre of Amsterdam. There's a short cycle trip following the banks of the river Amstel ending in Uithoorn / Kudelstaart.
Sunday:
Cycle trip ± 55 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 centre of this birth place of Rembrandt with its numerous courtyards is certainly recommendable.
Monday
Cycle trip ± 50 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
Cycle trip ± 50 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
Cycle trip ± 55 km. Today the boatel stays in Alkmaar. Theres a cycle trip to the unique wood and dune area near the villages Bergen and Schoorl and to the Hondsbossche Zeewering, a sea wall. Youll 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
Cycle trip ± 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
Cycle trip ± 50 km. First you cycle to and look round 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 centre 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 centre or you may go for a round trip of the Amsterdam canals.
Saturday
After breakfast your guide and the crew will say good-bye and your stay aboard has come to an end.
(subject to changes)
Included in tour:
Stay on board 8 days/7 nights
All meals (breakfast, lunch/packed lunch, 3 courses diner)
Tour leader
Bicycle with gears and pannier
Bike compensation
Several city walks
Information booklet + map
Entrance fee Museum The Rembrandt House
Entrance fee Museum Windmill Schermerhorn (except May 9)
Visit Flower Park Keukenhof (departure May 10)
Not included in tour:
Airfare
Transfers between airport and barge
Drinks aboard
Excursions out of program
Note: We suggest departure from USA one day earlier (barge leaves Amsterdam 1.30 PM Saturday), air fare not included. Flight back to USA can be booked same day tour ends. For your own group of 14 to 20 you can rent your own barge.
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Prices:
- For standard or standard plus barge $1167 (bunk/racked type beds)
- Comfort barge cost $1350 p.p. twin beds.
Note: Discount price per person $100 when paying in full at time of booking (until February 1, 2010).
Price Includes:
- 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(except departure May 9)
- Visit and entrance fee to Rembrandthuis
- visit annual flower exhibition Keukenhof (only on May 9)
- several city walks(guided)
- Credit card fee
- Booking fee.
Price Excludes:
- Travel Insurance
- Airfare
- Excursions not in program
- Drinks (other than coffee & tea)
- Transfer between airport and barge in Amsterdam.
Also see tour packages in:
Europe
Netherlands
Outdoor: Land Rambler
Bicycle Touring
Cultural Journey
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, ext: 19758
