Amsterdam to Bruges Deluxe Bike & Barge

8 day tour from $4,520 per person

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

• Exploring Amsterdam and walking the cobble stoned streets of Bruges and Ghent

• Cycling along the river Schelde and seeing the famous windmills of Kinderdijk

• Sampling local specialties including Belgian waffles, beer and mussels

• Soaking up the hospitality on board the comfortable barge

Apr-Oct departures from $4,520 per person share twin.  Trip available in reverse. Single supplement applies.

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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 1.30 - 1.50pm. Your crew for the week will be waiting to welcome you on board. At 2pm the barge will cruise to Vianen, a small, fortified village on the Lek River. After settling into 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.

  Includes Dinner

• Day 2 | Cycle to Schoonhoven & Kinderdijk, fast ferry to Dordrecht (32km or 56km)

  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 you cycle through the Alblasserwaard region you 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 you will take the “Waterbus” (fast ferry, 10 minutes) to Dordrecht, one of the oldest towns in Holland.

  Includes Breakfast, lunch & dinner

• Day 3 | Cruise to Willemstad, cycle from Tholen to Bergen Op Zoom (42km or 50km)

  During breakfast on board, you 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 you 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 you will 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.

  Includes Breakfast, lunch & dinner

• Day 4 | Cycle Bergen op Zoom surrounds, cruise to Antwerp (21km or 35km)

  In the morning a short ride takes you through the beautiful “Wouwse Plantage” area surrounding Bergen op Zoom. In the early afternoon you 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).

  Includes Breakfast & lunch

• Day 5 | Cycle to St Amands (34km or 49km)

  This morning, you will cycle out of Antwerp alongside a picturesque section of the Schelde River to St Amands, your base for the night. This stage is one of the natural highlights of the tour.

  Includes Breakfast, lunch & dinner

• Day 6 | Follow the river Schelde to Dendermonde and on to Ghent (52km)

  Today you 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.

  Includes Breakfast, lunch & dinner

• Day 7 | Cycle through Flemish countryside to Bruges (22km or 45km)

  Today you 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.

  Includes Breakfast, lunch & dinner

• Day 8 | Trip concludes after breakfast

  The trip concludes after breakfast in Bruges, with check out and disembarkation by 9:30am.

  Includes breakfast

Inclusions

• 7 x Continental style breakfasts, 6 packed lunches, 6 dinners (does not include drinks).  At breakfast you will prepare your packed lunch for the day.

• 7 nights in a twin share cabin with ensuite facilities

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

• Rental bike insurance (limitation of liability ‑ damage)

• Welcome drink and briefing on the first evening

• Two multilingual tour guides for fully guided cycling tours (group size of 22 passengers or more, except Clair d’Etoile which is one tour guide only), daily briefings

• Several short walking tours

• 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

• Wi‑fi

• Fees for ferries

• Emergency hotline

Items not included in your trip include travel to Amsterdam and from Bruges, meals not listed as included: dinner in Antwerp, drinks (available for purchase on board) except as noted, travel insurance – mandatory, a supplement will apply if you are booking a single cabin, entrance fees and excursions not listed as included, transfers not listed as included, tips ‑ while tipping is not obligatory, it is customary to offer a tip if the guide and crew have done a good job. As a guide we would recommend EUR30‑60 per person (to be distributed between the guide/s, captain and crew). Catering for special diets (except Vegetarian). A supplement is payable for lactose or gluten free diets ‑ EUR70pp (subject to change) paid locally on board. Vegan meals can only be provided aboard Magnifique IV and the surcharge is €102 per week (payable on board). Items of a personal nature.

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