Bike/Barge Tour from Bruges to Amsterdam (8 days)
Barge: Standard Plus
Route: (by coach form Amsterdam Airport to Ghent/Bruges - Antwerp - Dordrecht - Gouda -Oude Wetering – Amsterdam. or reverse
Price: $1350/person, (double occupancy) standard plus barge, $1450/person comfort barge. Prices are for land only.
Fuel surcharge might have to be paid on board.
We can often find room mates for single travelers. Just let us know you would like to share a room -same sex only.
Bruges to Amsterdam on Saturday April 11, 25 and May 2,9, 2009. (Reverse Amsterdam to Bruges April 4,18, May 2, 2009). ***2009
Tour Itinerary:
Day 1, Saturday:
Arrival at Amsterdam Airport, after your overnight flight from the USA or travel from elsewhere. Meet your escort at 1 PM, departure to Ghent by private coach. Arrival around 5 PM. Embarkation and checking in aboard the hotel barge. Welcome drink and dinner. After dinner join the walking guide for a walk through Ghent or go to bed early after your long trip. Overnight Ghent.
Day 2, Sunday:
After breakfast there is a train ride to Bruges. You start with a horse and carriage ride through Bruges and then you have free time to explore the medieval center of Bruges around the Town Square to view the Belfry Tower with its Carillon, the Halle (the trading center of Bruges in the 13th century), the Town Hall and the many museums and churches. Back to Ghent by train in the late afternoon. Dinner on board, then time to explore more of Ghent on your own.
Day 3, Monday: Bicycle ride approx. 35 km
The barge leaves Ghent for a sailing trip of approx.. 7 hours to Antwerp. Cyclists hit the road and enjoy the flat Flemish countryside. In Terneuzen they join the rest of the group and sail on the barge to Antwerp. Arrival at approx. 3 PM. And free time in the lively Antwerp town center.
Day 4, Tuesday: Bicycle ride approx. 20 km
You cross by barge the impressive waterways of Zeeland, the barge sails to Willemstad, a beautiful walled town. Time for a short stop and look around. The cyclists disembark in Moerdijk, pass the nature reserve Biesbosch and arrive in the town of Dordrecht, where the barge has already moored for the night. There’s a short evening walk with your tour leader in Dordrecht.
Day 5, Wednesday: Bicycle ride approx. 30 km
The barge takes you to the world famous windmills of Kinderdijk. One of the mills will be visited. The walkers get aboard and the cyclists head for cheese town Gouda. You have free time in Gouda in the late afternoon and after dinner.
Day 6, Thursday: Bicycle ride approx. 25 km
Early departure for Oude Wetering. From here the cyclists pedal through the reclaimed land of the Haarlemmer Meer to the annual Flower exhibition Keukenhof. Walkers go by bus (public transport) to the Keukenhof. After having seen the magnificent splendor of the Spring flowers everyone returns to the barge.
Day 7, Friday: Bicycle ride approx. 40 km
Cyclists depart for Amsterdam, following the river Amstel all the way to the port. After arrival everyone has free time to explore Amsterdam. In the evening there’s a city walk and some spare time to do a canal tour by boat (not included) if you want to do this.
Day 8, Saturday:
After breakfast end of tour. If you have a flight planned for Saturday, that is not a problem. Trains to the airport run from the Central Railway Station every 15 minutes and start at 5 AM
Included in tour:
- 7 nights accommodations aboard barge Tijdgeest 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 Schiphol Amsterdam airport and barge in Bruges (departure approx.1 pm)
- Entrance fee to Keukenhof annual flower exhibition
- Entrance fee to windmill in Kinderdijk
- Several city walks
- 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 between airport and barge in Amsterdam (direct train from airport to Amsterdam leaves every ten minutes, barge is walking distance from train station.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 double beds and single beds, a few have only single beds (in a 90 degree angle). We offer upgraded meals, warm dish with breakfast, warm dish if everybody is on board with lunch (otherwise packed lunch), 4-course dinner with glass of wine.
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
* Included in tour:
- 7 nights accommodations aboard standard plus barge in double occupancy cabin
- All meals, 7 dinners (3-course) and breakfasts on board, (6 packed lunches from the breakfast table)
- Coffee and Tea on board (cookies in the afternoon)
- Transfer by coach between Bruges and Schiphol airport (arrival 1 pm) or the reverse.
- Entrance fee to Keukenhof annual flower exhibition
- Entrance to windmill in Kinderdijk
- Horse and carriage ride in Bruges
- When not biking Public transportation as mentioned in itinerary
- Services of bicycle guide and walking guide
* Not included in tour:
- Airfare
- Excursions not in program
- Drinks (other than coffee & tea)
- Transfer between airport and barge in Amsterdam
Also see tour packages in:
Europe
Netherlands
Belgium
Cultural Journey
Bicycle Touring
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