Route's highlights include: Amsterdam Hoorn Lemmer Ossenzijl - Giethoorn Kampen Harderwijk Amsterdam. The route leads to fishing villages and ports, like Spakenburg and Elburg.
You will be cycling through the beautiful landscape of North-Holland, the unique natural reserve the Weerribben and through the forests and heather in the Veluwe area. Some parts of the route will be done by barge. You will visit Kampen and Lemmer in Friesland.
2008 Dates: Saturdays, June, July, August, on standard or standard plus barge.
Tour Itinerary 2008:
Saturday
Cycle trip ca. 15 km. After your embarkation in Amsterdam, your barge sails the IJ and through the locks to the IJssel Lake. The sailing trip to Hoorn takes about 4 hours. In the evening we test the bicycles in and around Hoorn.
Sunday:
Cycle trip ca. 30 km. Today's cycle trip leads through the Noordholland scenery and shows villages with names like Nibbixwoud and Hoogkarspel. In Enkhuizen we embark and make the crossing over the IJssel lake to Lemmer in the province of Friesland. In the evening your guide invites you for a walk through this characteristic port.
Monday
Cycle trip ca. 40 km. The province of Friesland is well-known for its numerous lakes and other waterways. That's why today you'll be passing some canals and the lake called `Tjeukemeer'. Your cycle trip ends in the tiny village of Ossenzijl, close to national park the Weerribben. We certainly recommend to visit to the visitor's center of this natural reserve which is unique in Europe. Following the Kalenberger canal, today's cycle trip ends in Blokzijl
Tuesday
Cycle trip ca. 35 km. The barge stays in Blokzijl and the cyclists pedal via Steenwijk to Giethoorn, called `the Venice of the North'. One of the possibilities here is renting a `punter', the local boat, for a trip. After leaving Giethoorn, we'll pass the lake Beulaker Wijde and via Dwarsgracht we return to Blokzijl. As an alternative you could spend the day on your own and do a canoe trip or bike the natural reserve the Weerribben.
Wednesday
Cycle trip ca. 40 km. Via the village of Vollenhove, we'll pass the lakes Belter Wijde & Schutsloter Wijde on our way to Zwartsluis. In this lively town, situated on a crossing of waterways, you'll find nice places to have a drink and spend some time. We'll reach Genemuiden by ferry and cycle the Kamper Zeedijk, an old dike, to the hanseatic town of Kampen. The ship will be moored at the river IJssel.
Thursday
Cycle trip ca. 55 km. Our first stop, a `must', is the splendidly preserved fortified town Elburg. After having passed Nunspeet, we enter the moorlands of Elspeet and the forestry around country estate `Huis te Leuvenum'. Finally we reach Harderwijk, a cozy port that is known for its Large Sea-Aquarium.
Friday
Cycle trip ca. 45 km. We start with a short sailing trip to Nijkerk. We disembark and cycle along the borders of the Veluwe Lake to Spakenburg. This former fishing village has a pretty harbor and many inhabitants still wear their traditional costumes. Next we'll pass Blaricum and cross the wood- and moorlands of the Tafelberg. After a short visit to 14th century Naarden-Vesting, a fortified town, our cycle trip ends in Almere-Haven. Here you embark for the sailing trip to the start of this tour in Amsterdam. In the evening you may wish to join the guide for a walk though the center or you may (by yourself, not included in price or itinerary) do a canal trip.
Saturday
After breakfast, your guide and the crew will say good-bye, as your stay aboard has come to an end.
Route: Amsterdam > Nieuwegein > Gorinchem > Heusden > Dordrecht > Gouda > Uithoorn > Amsterdam
Another option is the Riverland Tour: Price: $995/person (double occupancy), on Standard Class/Standard Plus barge.
Dates: Saturdays, July 19, August 2, 16, 2008.
This route presents the relatively unknown center of the Netherlands. We follow rivers like the Linge, Bergse Maas and Lek. You will be passing the mediaeval castles Loevestein and Ammershoyen and staying overnight in fortified towns like Gorinchem and Heusden. You will also have a chance to visit the famous natural reserve Biesbosch. By bike and by ship you will be able to enjoy both this unique scenery and the rivers that run through it. Some stretches of the route will be done by barge.
Included in Ijssel Lake tour:
7 nights accommodations on board of barge in double cabin
Full board (breakfast + packed lunch + 3-courses dinner)
Coffee and Tea on board
Services of tour leader
Information package and Map with marked route
Use of 7-speed bicycles
Booking fee
Visit Mill/Cheesefarm
Several citywalks
Credit card fee
Compensation Bicycle dammage
Not included in tour:
Airfare
Excursions not in program
Drinks (other than coffee & tea)
Transfer between airport and barge in Amsterdam
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
* $1095.00 per person price is for standard or standard plus barge, double occupancy.
* Leave US one or more days before departure date of barge, barge leaves 1.30 PM from Amsterdam. You can fly back last day of tour.
* Included in tour
- 7 nights accommodations on board of barge in double cabin with private bathroom
- All meals while on board of barge from dinner first day to breakfast last day, packed lunches from breakfast table
- Coffee and Tea on board
- Services of local guide
- Route description
- Use of 7-speed bicycles
Also see tour packages in:
Europe
Netherlands
Bicycle Touring
Barging
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