Bike/Barge and barge Tour from Amsterdam (8 days)
Route: Amsterdam - Oude Wetering - Dordrecht - Willemstad - Antwerp - Ghent - Bruges -Amsterdam airport.
***Price Pending: $1380/person (est.) (double occupancy), on Standard Plus barge.
***Price Pending: $1480/person (est.)(double occupancy), on comfort class barge.
Two Dates:Saturday April 4, 18, May 2, 2009. (Reverse Bruges to Amsterdam April 11, 25 and May 9, 2009). Supplemental fee for single if cabin available is $350.00 (price pending) unless agreeing to share with another same sex passenger.
The Spring Flower Tour offers the best of two countries and has been our best selling tour for the past sic years. This route shows you many major highlights in Belgium and Holland. We include the favorites: the flower fields and the visit to the annual flower exhibition the Keukenhof. Furthermore this tour shows you some lovely Old Dutch towns like Dordrecht and Gouda. Crossing the border to Belgium takes you to the Belgian pearls of Antwerp, Ghent and the best of all: Bruges!
This 8 day tour is a more compact version of our previous 11-day Spring Flower Amsterdam Bruges tours, but we noticed people prefered shorter tours. These tours include several entrance fees, see below, choice every day between our two guides, transportation by private coach between Amsterdam airport and Bruges. Transfers between Amsterdam and Amsterdam airport is not provided, since the barge is only less then a short walk from the Amsterdam Central train station and there is a direct connection by train (train runs every 15 minutes) between Amsterdam Central Station and the airport.
These tours are designed to be suitable for bicyclists as well as non-bicyclists. There is most days some barging with nice views of the countryside from the deck or the picture windows of the dining/sitting room. The barge Tijdgeest is a double decker, with air conditioning in the dining/recreation area, most cabins have a (full) double bed and a single bed, a few have only single beds (one bed in a 90 degree angle over the foot end of the other bed). We offer three meals a day, breakfast, lunch and 3-course dinner.
Tour Itinerary:
Saturday Arrival at Amsterdam Airport, after your flight from the USA. Short train ride to the center of Amsterdam. (not included). Check-in time barge: 1.30 PM. (barge Tijdgeest will be located very close to Central Railway Station). Meet your crew and guides. Time for relaxation and unpacking
Later that afternoon the barge crosses Amsterdam and heads for the village of Oude Wetering.
Day 1, Sunday: Bicycling approx. 25 km.
Early in the morning the cyclists pedal through the reclaimed land (Polders) of the Haarlemmermeer to flower park Keukenhof. Walkers go by bus (public transport) to the Keukenhof. After having enjoying the magnificent display of all the spring flowers, everyone returns to the barge. Approx. 2 PM the ship will depart for cheese town Gouda. Time at leisure in Gouda late afternoon and after dinner.
Day 2, Monday: Bicycling approx. 40 km
The cyclists ride to the world famous windmills of Kinderdijk. The walkers will arrive by ship. One of the mills will be visited. After the visit the cyclists head for Dordrecht, where the ship will be moored already, the walkers have time to explore the city before dinner. In the evening there is a walk with your tour leader in Dordrecht.
Day 3, Tuesday: Bicycling approx. 20 km
Today the cyclists will bike the nature reserve Biesbosch and will be picked up at Moerdijk. The people who stay aboard will have some extra time in Dordrecht before leaving. For all a short walk is planned in Willemstad, a beautiful walled town.
Day 4, Wednesday:
Sailing via the wide and impressive waterways of Zeeland the ship will take you to the lively town of Antwerp in Belgium. After arrival free time to explore this port town.Antwerp is the center of the Diamond industry and the birthplace of the famous painter Rubens (Rubens House Museum). We will be docked close to the center, so people can also explore more of Antwerp in the evening.
Day 5, Thursday: Bicycling approx. 35 km
today we have an early departure, the ship needs approx. 7 hours to reach Ghent. The cyclists get off in Terneuzen, hit the road and enjoy the flat Flemish countryside. In the old city of Ghent we all join the tour leader for a walk around the wonderful town center.
Day 6, Friday: Bicycling approx. 25 km
Halfway the cyclists disembark and start pedaling to Bruges. In the afternoon there is a horse carriage ride and a guided walk past the many historic monuments in the center of Bruges. In the evening time for visiting Bruges.
Day 7, Saturday
Check out after breakfast and transfer by bus to the Amsterdam airport, arrival time approx. 12.30 PM.
Included in tour:
- 7 nights accommodations aboard barge in double cabin
- All meals, 7 breakfasts, 6 packed lunches and 7x3-course dinners are included
- Coffee and Tea on board (cookies in the afternoon)
- Transfer by coach between Bruges and Schiphol airport (arrival approx. 12.30 pm)
- Entrance fee to Keukenhof annual flower exhibition
- Entrance fee to windmill in Kinderdijk
- Several city walksk
- Use of 7-speed bicycles
- Compensation bike damage
- Services of bicycle guide and walking guide
- information booklet.
Not included in tour:
- Airfare
- Excursions not in program
- Drinks (other than coffee & tea)
- Transfer and train tikcet between airport and barge in Amsterdam (walk to and take train from Central Station).
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
* Included in tour:
- 7 nights accommodations on board of barge in double cabin
- Transfer by coach between Bruges and Schiphol airport
- Use of 7-speed bicycles
- Public transportation as mentioned in itinerary
- Services of bicycle guide and walking guide
- Canal tour in Amsterdam
- Entrance fee to Keukenhof annual flower exhibition, Panorama Mesdag Museum, Mauritshuis Museum, windmill in Kinderdijk, Fort in Ghent, Delft Blue pottery, Mansion Notelaer
- All upgraded meals when on board, extra will be one warm dish with breakfast, warm dish when lunch is on board (otherwise packed lunch from the breakfast table), 4-course dinner with wine, all meals from dinner first day till breakfast last day are included
Also see tour packages in:
Europe
Belgium
Netherlands
Bicycle Touring
Cultural Journey
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