Bike/Barge Tour from Amsterdam (8 days)
Route: Amsterdam - Zaandam - Alkmaar - Den Helder (Texel) - Den Oever - Enkhuizen - Volendam - Amsterdam
Price: On ship Angela Esmee $1,275/person (double occupancy twin beds), $1225.00/person triple cabin, $1185/person quadruple cabin, $385/single supplment, $110/upper deck supplement.
Price reduction in low season: $100/person. Price reduction no bicycle wanted: $90/person
This medium- sized river cruiser has 32 cabins, 22 cabins on main deck and 10 on upper deck, approx. 55- 65 passengers, Dutch flag & management, completely refurbished 2004, mainly twin cabins with 2 single beds, window and climate control), cabins are 9 square meters with private bathroom, combined Salon/Restaurant, bar, partially roofed sun deck with seats and storage for the bicycles.
Dates: Low season: April 26, May 3 and September 13, 2008.
Dates: High season: May 10, 17, 24, 31, June 7, 14, 21, 28, July 5, 12, 19, 26 August 2, 9, 16, 23, 30, September 6, 2008.
Route's highlights include: Amsterdam - Zaandam - Alkmaar - Den Helder (Texel) - Den Oever - Enkhuizen - Volendam - Amsterdam.
This is self-guided (individual) tour in rural areas and romantic fishing villages. Cycling across a distinctly rural environment. Visiting the island of Texel, with its windswept wide sandy beaches, forest and dune area.
Biking over the dikes around and through the polders, which were dried with the help of windmills in the 17th Century, this former marsh land area was recovered from the sea. Enjoy the island of Texel and the beautiful shores and historic harbor towns of the IJssel Lake. Like Volendam with its traditional costumes and houses.
Tour Itinerary:
Day 1, Saturday:
Afternoon: Arrival in Amsterdam. Evening: Amsterdam - Zaandam by boat. Afternoon, after embarkation in the center of Amsterdam (not far from Central Railway Station), time to discover Amsterdam on your own. You can make a canal tour, tickets can be ordered in advance for euro 7.00 or you can visit a museum, go shopping. At 7.30 PM the boat leaves for a short dinner cruise to Zaandam. overnight in Zaandam.
(D)
Day 2:
Zaandam - Zaanse Schans - Alkmaar, Bike tour 35 km/22 miles. En route: visit the museum village "Zaanse Schans" incl. windmills, cheese farm & wooden shoe factory.
(B) (L) (D)
Day 3:
Alkmaar - Den Helder, Bike tour 35-55 km/22-34 miles, along the North Sea beaches and through the dunes and the flat “polder land” to the city and Dutch Navy port of Den Helder. Cross the Marsdiep by boat to the harbor town Oudeschild on the island of Texel, or depending on weather by ferry on Tuesday (ferry not included).
(B) (L) (D)
Day 4:
Island of Texel, Roundtrip by bike 25-65 km/16-41 miles, the largest of the Dutch North Sea islands. Through scenic areas of pine forest, dunes and polders and along beautiful beaches. Recommended biking is the Thijsse route (a signposted route) on the Southern part of the island (approx. 40km/25 miles). Return to your ship and (depending on weather) “dinner cruise” or on Wednesday "breakfast cruise" over the salty Waddenzee to Den Oever, where the over 30 km long “Afsluitdijk” protects and separates the IJssel lake from the Wadden sea.
(B) (L) (D)
Day 5:
Den Oever - Medenblik - Enkhuizen Bike tour 30-50 km/19-31 miles. From Den Oever over the dike, along the Ijssel lake (former Zuiderzee) coast to Medemblik - you can also start your bike tour here - to Enkhuizen: beautiful harbor, historical town and you can Visit (optional) the very interesting “Zuiderzeemuseum”.
(B) (L) (D)
Day 6:
Enkhuizen - Hoorn - Volendam, Bicycle tour 50 km/31 miles. From Enkhuizen via Hoorn (a short stopover to see this historic town is recommended) and the cheese town of Edam to the old fishing harbor of Volendam. In one of the fishing harbors, you will have the opportunity to taste local specialties like salted herring or smoked eel (“paling”).
(B) (L) (D)
Day 7:
Volendam - Amsterdam, Bike tour 35-50 km/22-31 miles, from Volendam through the "Waterland"-area with its countless small canals and lakes. You can take a detour to the former island of Marken (very remarkable and scenic old town), Continue through the northern part of the "Garden of Amsterdam" to end late afternoon in Amsterdam. Spend rest of day in Amsterdam
(B) (L) (D)
Day 8, Saturday:
After breakfast, end of tour and disembarkation in Amsterdam.
(B)
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
* Tour description, route and program with reserve of changes which are a result of nautical, technical or meteorological circumstances.
* Included in tour:
- 7 nights accommodations aboard barge
- Full board (7 breakfast 6 packed lunches 7 x 3-courses dinner)
- Use of 7-speed bicycles with suspension hand breaks and back-pedal brake and panniers
- tour manager on board gives maps & tourist information for daily bike tour
- printed instructions and detailed maps, scale 1:50.000 for daily bike tours (handed out and to be returned on board).
- Credit card fee
- Booking fee
* Not included in tour:
- Airfare
- Entrance fees and excursions
- Fees for ferries
- Drinks (other than coffee & tea)
- Transfer between airport and barge in Amsterdam and other transfers
- gratuities at your discretion.
Also see tour packages in:
Europe
Netherlands
Barging
Bicycle Touring
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