• Home
  • Belgium
  • Bruges to Amsterdam Bike & Barge - Deluxe

Bruges to Amsterdam Bike & Barge - Deluxe

Bruges to Amsterdam Bike & Barge - Deluxe

34 Views
8 Days From

$2088

Bruges to Amsterdam Bike & Barge - Deluxe

8 Days Starting in Bruges and ending in Amsterdam

Visiting: Belgium

Tour operator:

UTracks

Tour code:

BRA

Guide Type:

Fully Guided

Group size:

25 - 35

Physical rating:

introductory

From: $2088

NB: Prices correct on 30-Jun-2024 but subject to change.

This tour is no longer available, please see similar tours below or send an enquiry

Tour Overview

Experience the great cities of the Netherlands and western Belgium on this classic barge and bike trip between Bruges and Amsterdam. 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 from Belgium through the 'delta' province of Zeeland. 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

  • Walking the cobble stoned streets of Bruges and Ghent

  • Cycling past a variety of landscapes including windmills of Kinderdijk and the river Schelde

  • Sampling local specialties including Belgian waffles, beer and mussels

  • Soaking up the hospitality onboard your comfortable barge

Itinerary

Expand All

Day 1 : Join Barge In Bruges, Afternoon Warm Up Cycle And Evening To Explore (15Km/9Mi)

Embarkation in Bruges is between 1-2pm. After a welcome meeting with the crew at 2pm, there will be a bicycle fitting and a short warm-up cycle through the surrounding countryside. After dinner you can join the guide for a short walk through the centre of town. A UNESCO World Heritage site, Bruges is perhaps the most beautiful of all Flemish cities, with its Old Town almost completely intact. During the Middle Ages, the city was a metropolis and centre of commerce and art, evident in its many beautiful facades. It is a nice town for shopping and exploring. We suggest sampling a waffle, coffee or traditional Belgian beer around the Grote Markt (big market place).
Tip: There is so much to see in Bruges - we recommend having a night or two here pre tour.

Day 2 : Cycle The Flemish Countryside To Ghent (35 Or 57Km/21 Or 36Mi)

We start our first day of cycling by pedaling towards Ghent through the beautiful Flemish landscape along the Ghent canal. Ghent is a lively university city with a rich past, and in the afternoon you can discover more of its beauty on foot. The city was founded in Roman times, where the rivers Leie and Schelde converge. During the Middle Ages, Ghent was Europe's second largest city after Paris. Its convenient location has brought much prosperity over time, culminating in the late 13th and early 14th century. The textile industry brought great wealth, with the Cloth Hall established in 1425 bringing many merchants together, and many aristocrats remain today. St Bavo Cathedral reflects different periods in history and building styles and houses some masterpieces of medieval art, the most famous of which is "Adoration of the Mystic Lamb" by Jan van Eyck (in the visitors' centre). The barge will dock at the lock in Merelbeke, a suburb of Ghent approx. 30 minutes by bike from the city centre. Before dinner a small canal boat will take you for a guided tour through the historic city.

Day 3 : Cycle To Dendermonde / St Amands (40 Or 53Km/24 Or 32Mi)

After breakfast in Ghent we will cycle downstream through a diverse landscape along the tidal Schelde River to Dendermonde, located at the confluence of the Dender and Schelde rivers. The boat's departure time will be set by the skipper, dependent on the tides. The River Schelde stretches over 400km through northern France, western Belgium and the southwestern part of the Netherlands and is connected by several canals to the basins of the Rhine, Meuse and Seine Rivers. It has had considerable commercial and strategic importance over the years. We will continue by bike or barge from Dendermonde to St Amands, depending on the tides. Overnight at St Amands.

Day 4 : Cycle To Antwerp, Evening At Leisure (32 Or 49Km/19 Or 31Mi)

Today we follow the Schelde further downstream through the Temse region to the lively port town of Antwerp. This part of the route is along a beautiful and winding section of the river which over the centuries held strategic importance for the Romans, Vikings, Spanish and Napoleon. Our destination is Antwerp, famous for handling most of the world’s rough diamonds and as the birthplace of the painter Rubens. You will find some of his paintings in the “Onze Lieve Vrouwe” (Our Lady) Cathedral. Other attractions include the City Hall, one of many majestic buildings constructed during the Renaissance period, the historical square 'Grote Market' and the medieval Steen Castle. If dinner is not included tonight, recommendations are available from the crew.

Day 5 : Cruise To Kreekrak, Cycle To Tholen, By Bike Or Barge To Dordrecht (20 Or 36Km/13 Or 23Mi)

In the morning we cruise through the Schelde-Rhine Canal and the imposing Kreekraksluis (Kreekrak lock). Here our cycle tour starts through the beautiful ‘Wouwse Plantage’ forest to Tholen, a former fishing village amidst the large streams of the province of Zeeland. From Tholen we join the barge again for an enjoyable afternoon cruise to Dordrecht, en route passing through the impressive Volkerak lock system. Today, the guide will discuss with you which part of the tour will be covered by bicycle. After dinner you can join the guide for an evening walk through the town centre of Dordrecht, one of the oldest cities in the Netherlands.

Day 6 : To Kinderdijk, Cycle To Schoonhoven And Vianen (32 Or 57Km/19 Or 36Mi)

Today we take the 'Waterbus' (fast ferry, 10 minutes) to Alblasserdam, from where it is a short cycle to the famous UNESCO listed windmills of Kinderdijk. The windmills were constructed in the 18th century to pump water from the low Alblasserwaard polder (a low-lying tract of land enclosed by embankments). We will continue by bike to Schoonhoven, renowned for its talented silversmiths, and Vianen, a small fortified town on the river Lek (Lower Rhine), where we will stay for the night and which you can explore at leisure after dinner.

Day 7 : Cruise To Breukelen, Cycle To Nigtevecht And On To Amsterdam (36 Or 46Km/23 Or 28Mi)

During breakfast we will cruise to Breukelen then disembark for our last day of cycling. Following the winding river Vecht, the area is known for its sprawling mansions, small castles and beautiful houses with large gardens and parks. We'll pass through the small villages of Nieuwersluis, Loenen and Vreeland en route to Nigtevecht, where we can visit a traditional cheese farm. We will continue cycling through the historical town of Muiden and on to Amsterdam and the barge in the harbour. This evening you're at leisure to explore the lively Dutch capital.

Day 8 : Trip Concludes In Amsterdam After Breakfast

After breakfast the journey comes to an end as you say farewell to the guide and crew. Check out and disembark by 9:30am.

What's Included

  • 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

  • 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

  • Bike rental with handbrakes, 7 speed (Magnifiques), waterproof pannier, helmet and water bottle (electric bike available on request - supplement applies)

  • Cycling Map (1 per cabin) plus navigational App with GPS tracks

  • Welcome drink and briefing on the first evening

  • Two multilingual tour guides for fully guided cycling tours (group sizes of 22 passengers or more, except LaMar which is only one tour guide), daily briefings

  • Several short city walks

  • Linen and change of towels as required

  • Daily cabin cleaning

  • Entrance to Red Star Line Museum in Antwerp, Tasting of Belgian products, Canal trip through Ghent

show more

What's Not Included

  • Dinner in Antwerp (Zwaantje) / Antwerp or Bruges (Magnifiques)

  • 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.

Grading

INTRODUCTORY - GRADE 1
The cycling is introductory (1) grade with daily cycling distances from 11 to 57km (6 to 36mi). 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.

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.

Reviews from travellers on this tour

D. Kuzoff(Thornhill, Canada)  

Bruges to Amsterdam Bike & Barge - Deluxe

21 May 2024

Enjoyed my biking experience from beginning to end. Great guides, comfortable accommodation, fabulous food.

P. Carr(Collingwood, Canada)  

Bruges to Amsterdam Bike & Barge - Deluxe

16 May 2024

Amazing crew, amazing guides, amazing barge and fantastic food. Couldn’t have asked for more!

D & N Harvey(Benalla, VIC)  

Bruges to Amsterdam Bike & Barge - Deluxe

06 Sep 2018

The Cycle and Barge tour on the Zwaantje from Bruges to Amsterdam was a wonderful experience in every way. The Captain, guide and crew were so professional and nothing was a bother to them when assistance was required. The meals were great and especially the evening meal which was something to really look forward too after a full day of riding. We loved the concept of this particular tour as it was a small group it was easy to socialise and get to know each other. New friendships were formed as a result. Although the cabins were small they were comfortable. We loved this particular Cycle and Barge Tour (on the Zwaantje) so much that we plan to go on another in the future. Thank you so much for a wonderful experience.

C. Gadsen(Gordon, Australia)  

Bruges to Amsterdam Bike & Barge - Deluxe

15 Oct 2018

We had a very enjoyable trip. The barge, the cabin, and the shared ares were all comfortable and well-maintained. The meals were excellent. The staff were all very engaging, friendly and helpful and the two guides (Anneke and Iris) were first class: very knowledgeable, calm, easy-going and efficient but also firm when they needed to be, particularly regarding the safety of the group.

M. Wilson(Collingwood, Canada)  

Bruges to Amsterdam Bike & Barge - Deluxe

21 May 2024

Trip was wonderful. Guides were great, food was great. I had a good time!

J. Miller(Collingwood, Canada)  

Bruges to Amsterdam Bike & Barge - Deluxe

14 May 2024

The barge was very comfortable, the food was fantastic and our cycling guides were great

J. Sette(NY, USA)  

Bruges to Amsterdam Bike & Barge - Deluxe

13 Sep 2018

My wife and I had a great time on this trip. We got to see wonderful cities and explore the countryside via cycling.

S. Parkes(Port Lambton, Canada)  

Bruges to Amsterdam Bike & Barge - Deluxe

28 May 2024

Very fun great holiday!

I. Brown(Surfers Paradise)  

Bruges to Amsterdam Bike & Barge - Deluxe

14 Aug 2018

The bike from Amsterdam to Bruges was excellent - very good maps and daily instructions. Great camaraderie amongst riders from different countries. We had a lot of fun along the way.

J. Hamilton(Australia)  

Bruges to Amsterdam Bike & Barge - Deluxe

20 Jun 2023

The actual trip was excellent: the Magnifique 2 Barge crew were incredibly friendly and every aspect of the bike riding and daily activities was meticulously organised. The accommodation on board was comfortable and it was a real pleasure to sit down at night to a lovely table and fine dining.

Read all 15 reviews

1 Select your preferred date

Thursday - Thursday

Jul 11, 2024 - Jul 18, 2024
$2088
Sold Out
Instant Booking Available

Tuesday - Tuesday

Jul 16, 2024 - Jul 23, 2024
$2088

Thursday - Thursday

Jul 18, 2024 - Jul 25, 2024
$2088
Sold Out

Thursday - Thursday

Jul 25, 2024 - Aug 01, 2024
$2088
Sold Out

Tuesday - Tuesday

Jul 30, 2024 - Aug 06, 2024
$2088
Sold Out
Instant Booking Available

Thursday - Thursday

Aug 01, 2024 - Aug 08, 2024
$2088
Instant Booking Available

Thursday - Thursday

Aug 08, 2024 - Aug 15, 2024
$2088

Tuesday - Tuesday

Aug 13, 2024 - Aug 20, 2024
$2088
Sold Out

Thursday - Thursday

Aug 22, 2024 - Aug 29, 2024
$2088
Sold Out

Thursday - Thursday

Aug 29, 2024 - Sep 05, 2024
$2328
Sold Out

Thursday - Thursday

Sep 05, 2024 - Sep 12, 2024
$2328

Thursday - Thursday

Sep 12, 2024 - Sep 19, 2024
$2328
Sold Out

Thursday - Thursday

Sep 19, 2024 - Sep 26, 2024
$2328
Sold Out

Thursday - Thursday

Sep 26, 2024 - Oct 03, 2024
$2328
Sold Out

Thursday - Thursday

Oct 03, 2024 - Oct 10, 2024
$2088
Sold Out
Instant Booking Available

Thursday - Thursday

Oct 10, 2024 - Oct 17, 2024
$2088
Instant Booking Available

Saturday - Saturday

Oct 12, 2024 - Oct 19, 2024
$2088
Instant Booking Available

Thursday - Thursday

Oct 17, 2024 - Oct 24, 2024
$2088
Instant Booking Available

Thursday - Thursday

May 01, 2025 - May 08, 2025
$2455
Instant Booking Available

Tuesday - Tuesday

May 13, 2025 - May 20, 2025
$2455

Thursday - Thursday

May 15, 2025 - May 22, 2025
$2455
Sold Out

Tuesday - Tuesday

May 20, 2025 - May 27, 2025
$2455
Sold Out

Tuesday - Tuesday

May 27, 2025 - Jun 03, 2025
$2455
Sold Out
Instant Booking Available

Thursday - Thursday

May 29, 2025 - Jun 05, 2025
$2455
Instant Booking Available

Tuesday - Tuesday

Jun 03, 2025 - Jun 10, 2025
$2455
Instant Booking Available

Thursday - Thursday

Jun 05, 2025 - Jun 12, 2025
$2455
Instant Booking Available

Tuesday - Tuesday

Jun 17, 2025 - Jun 24, 2025
$2455
Instant Booking Available

Thursday - Thursday

Jun 19, 2025 - Jun 26, 2025
$2455
Instant Booking Available

Thursday - Thursday

Jun 26, 2025 - Jul 03, 2025
$2455
Instant Booking Available

Friday - Friday

Jun 27, 2025 - Jul 04, 2025
$2455
Instant Booking Available

Tuesday - Tuesday

Jul 01, 2025 - Jul 08, 2025
$2455
Instant Booking Available

Thursday - Thursday

Jul 10, 2025 - Jul 17, 2025
$2214
Instant Booking Available

Tuesday - Tuesday

Jul 15, 2025 - Jul 22, 2025
$2214
Instant Booking Available

Thursday - Thursday

Jul 17, 2025 - Jul 24, 2025
$2214
Instant Booking Available

Thursday - Thursday

Jul 24, 2025 - Jul 31, 2025
$2214
Instant Booking Available

Tuesday - Tuesday

Jul 29, 2025 - Aug 05, 2025
$2214
Instant Booking Available

Thursday - Thursday

Aug 07, 2025 - Aug 14, 2025
$2214
Instant Booking Available

Tuesday - Tuesday

Aug 12, 2025 - Aug 19, 2025
$2214
Instant Booking Available

Thursday - Thursday

Aug 21, 2025 - Aug 28, 2025
$2214
Instant Booking Available

Thursday - Thursday

Aug 28, 2025 - Sep 04, 2025
$2455
Instant Booking Available

Thursday - Thursday

Sep 04, 2025 - Sep 11, 2025
$2455
Instant Booking Available

Thursday - Thursday

Sep 11, 2025 - Sep 18, 2025
$2455
Instant Booking Available

Thursday - Thursday

Sep 25, 2025 - Oct 02, 2025
$2455
Instant Booking Available

Thursday - Thursday

Oct 02, 2025 - Oct 09, 2025
$2214
Instant Booking Available

Friday - Friday

Oct 03, 2025 - Oct 10, 2025
$2214
Instant Booking Available

Thursday - Thursday

Oct 09, 2025 - Oct 16, 2025
$2214
Instant Booking Available

Thursday - Thursday

Oct 16, 2025 - Oct 23, 2025
$2214

Book with Confidence

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

Similar Tours