Amsterdam to Bruges Bike & Barge - Deluxe
Amsterdam to Bruges Bike & Barge - Deluxe
$2087
Amsterdam to Bruges Bike & Barge - Deluxe
8 Days Starting in Amsterdam and ending in Bruges
Visiting: Belgium
Tour Overview
Experience the great cities of The Netherlands and western Belgium on this classic barge and bike trip between Amsterdam and Bruges. En route visit Antwerp and Ghent whose historic centres will enchant you with their history and refined culture. Wind your way by bike along the Vecht river with its impressive mansions and country houses, visit a cheese farm and the 19 windmills in Kinderdijk. Via Dordrecht and the Kreekrak lock, the barge cruises through the 'delta' province of Zeeland to Belgium. Cycling with the group and guide or on your own with a set of maps and directions - the choice is yours. In the evenings, relax on board your comfortable barge or explore the towns on foot.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1 : Join Barge In Amsterdam, Cruise To Vianen
Make your own way to the boat in Amsterdam for embarkation and check-in at 1.30pm. Your crew for the week will be waiting to welcome you on board and at 2pm the barge will cruise to Vianen, a small fortified village on the Lek River. After settling in to your cabin, you’ll have plenty of time to get to know the boat and your fellow travellers. Later there'll be dinner on board and afterwards you can enjoy a short first ride in the surrounding area.
Day 2 : Cycle To Schoonhoven And Kinderdijk, Fast Ferry To Dordrecht (32 Or 56Km/19 Or 34Mi)
A great first day of cycling starting with a ride along a beautiful route to Schoonhoven, renowned for its talented silversmiths since the 17th century. Later in the day as we cycle through the Alblasserwaard region we will reach Kinderdijk, famous for its impressive row of windmills. All have a UNESCO cultural heritage listing and are a definite highlight. From nearby Alblasserdam we will take the “Waterbus” (fast ferry, 10 minutes) to Dordrecht, one of the oldest towns in Holland.
Day 3 : Cruise To Willemstad, Cycle From Tholen To Bergen Op Zoom (42 Or 50Km / 26 Or 31Mi)
During breakfast on board, we will cruise to Willemstad, from where the day's cycling begins. Willemstad is a beautiful old fortified town on the Haringvliet waterway. The ride takes us to Tholen, which was once an island in the middle of the large Zeeland streams, where many people fished for their living. Today, it is connected to the mainland. After visiting Tholen we continue to Bergen op Zoom, an historic fortified town that once lay on the open waters of the Oosterschelde. After dinner you can take a walk through the narrow street of the old town, with church squares and idiosyncratic monumental buildings that show its rich history that goes back more than eight hundred years.
Day 4 : Cycle Bergen Op Zoom Surrounds, Cruise To Antwerp (21 Or 35Km/13 Or 21Mi)
In the morning a short ride takes us through the beautiful “Wouwse Plantage” area surrounding Bergen op Zoom. In the early afternoon we will board the boat and cruise to the port city of Antwerp, situated on the river Schelde. Antwerp is famous for handling most of the world’s rough diamonds and is a city with a long list of attractions including the City Hall, one of several majestic buildings constructed during the Renaissance period, the historical City Square Grote Market, the Onze-Lieve-Vrouwe Cathedral and the medieval Steen Castle. Dinner is not included tonight (recommendations are available from the crew).
Day 5 : Cycle To St Amands (34 Or 49Km/21 Or 31Mi)
This morning we will cycle out of Antwerp alongside a picturesque section of the Schelde River to St Amands, our base for the night. This stage is one of the natural highlights of the tour.
Day 6 : Follow The River Schelde To Dendermonde And On To Ghent (52Km/32Mi)
Today we will cruise to Dendermonde then cycle, following the river Schelde, to Ghent. The barge will moor for the night at a lock in the suburb of Merelbeke, approx 30min by bike from the centre. Ghent is a lively university city boasting a rich history. Since Roman times its position at the junction of the Leie and Schelde rivers has ensured the town's prosperity as a trading port. In total the city features an Opera House, 18 museums, more than 100 churches and over 400 historical buildings. Major attractions are St Bavo Cathedral, where a number of masterpieces of medieval art including Jan Van Eyck's ‘Adoration of the Mystic Lamb’ can be viewed in the visitors' centre, and the 91m belfry of Ghent, one of three medieval towers that overlook the old city centre. Before dinner a small canal boat will take you for a guided tour through the historic city.
Day 7 : Cycle The Flemish Countryside To Bruges (22 Or 45Km/13 Or 28Mi)
Today we will cycle from Ghent through the beautiful Flemish countryside of western Flanders to Bruges, widely described as the ‘Venice of the North’ and arguably the most beautiful of all the Flemish cities. UNESCO World Heritage listed, it has a picturesque medieval town centre and a long list of historic attractions. An outstanding example of a medieval historic settlement, Bruges has managed to maintain its historic fabric as it has evolved over the centuries, with the result that today the original Gothic buildings form an integral part of the town’s identity. You can visit one of its many museums or simply take in the stunning beauty and culture from the comfort of a local café or bar.
Day 8 : Trip Concludes After Breakfast
The trip concludes after breakfast in Bruges, with check out and disembarkation by 9:30am.
What's Included
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Accommodation
7 nights in a twin share cabin -
7 breakfasts, 6 packed lunches, 6 dinners (does not include drinks). Continental breakfasts are served and will usually consist of breads, cheese, ham, tea, coffee & juices. At breakfast you will prepare your packed lunch for the day which will be sandwic
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7 nights in a twin share cabin with ensuite facilities on a Deluxe category* barge (cabins are configured with two lower beds - supplement applies for premium twin or upper deck suite on select departures, or single cabin. A discount applies for LaMar cab
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Bike rental with handbrakes, 7 speed (Magnifiques), waterproof pannier, helmet and water bottle (electric bike available on request - supplement applies)
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Cycling Map (1 per cabin) plus navigational App with GPS tracks
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Welcome drink and briefing on the first evening
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Two multilingual tour guides for fully guided cycling tours (group size of 22 passengers or more, except Zwaantje which is one tour guide only), daily briefings
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Several short walking tours
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Linen and change of towels as required
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Daily cabin cleaning
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Entrance to Red Star Line Museum in Antwerp, Tasting of Belgian products, Canal trip through Ghent
What's Not Included
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Catering for special diets (except Vegetarian). A supplement is payable for lactose or gluten free diets - EUR50pp (subject to change) paid locally on board. See below for further details regarding catering for dietary requirements.
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Fee to bring your own bike (note this is not possible on Zwaantje due to space limitations)
What You Carry
During the cycle day you will carry your daily requirements in the panniers provided with the bike. This may include your lunch, wet weather gear, water and camera.
Grading
INTRODUCTORY - GRADE 1
The cycling is introductory (1) grade with daily cycling distances from 15 to 56km (9 to 34mi). As with all of our cycling programs, wind and poor weather could make the trip grade change. The accent is on keeping a relaxed pace to take in all of the attractions, with time to stop and take photos, visit a museum or enjoy the market places in many of the interesting towns visited. It is considered suitable for children, as long as they have road sense, are familiar with the workings of a bike (gear change etc) and are comfortable cycling alongside moving vehicles at times. Should you not wish to cycle it's possible to stay on board on board and relax while the boat cruises to the next landing place. *For safety reasons, we highly recommend that cycle helmets be worn during cycle sections.
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Transfer as credit to Future Tours
UTracks allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform utracks, 70 days before departure.
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Low Deposit
UTracks requires a minimum deposit of 150 GBP per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 70 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of utracks charges.
Up to 70 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 69 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.
At 35 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.