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FROM HOLLAND TO PARIS: Route Maastricht
Bike / Barge Tour from Maastricht (15 days)
Route: Maastricht > Namur > Pont de Loup > Charleroi > Strepy > Mons > Antoine > Vallancienne > Arleux > Noyon > Compiegne > Creil > Sainte Honorine > Bougival > Paris > Versailles > Paris
Price: $2190.00 USD per person based on double occupancy.
(Fuel tax of 98 Euro is not included and should be paid onboard directly to the Captain)
Please note this price may fluctuate based on the current exchange rate.
Payment in full at time of booking will protect against any future currency fluctuation.
Ask Margie about discounts that may apply when payment in full is made at time of booking. Discounts may vary depending upon the tour date as well the current exchange rate.
Single Supplement: Please ask about single supplement.
Dates: September 25th - Maastricht to Paris
October 15th - Paris to Maastricht
This delightful river cruise and Boat and Bike Holiday is the ideal way to discover the gorgeous Old landscapes between Maastricht in Holland and Paris France , whether it's by ship, bike or walking. It's all entirely up to you! There is ample time to relax and wonder at delightful old cities we will dock at along our route. Resign yourself to the care of the crew, enjoy the luxury and fun on board and take pleasure in an unforgettable sailing adventure through three countries.
Day by Day Itinerary
Day 1
Maastricht - Liege: 12.00 will see you embarking the boat and enjoying a chilled glass of Champagne, meeting the cast and crew and having your bike adjusted to meet your own personal preferences. There will also be time for a short test "drive", so that you can get used to the feel of your bike. We're delighted to serve you a delicious welcome dinner on board, before you embark upon a lovely Boat tour to Liege .On the way, you'll pass the Maas's highest Locks whereby the boat will ascend 18 meters - an impressive experience. that evening. During the walk a guide will show you all the hidden delights of this wondrous city: you'll follow In the footsteps of legendary writer George Simenon and his equally famous Commissary Maigret .The guide will be please to tell you all about the city of Liege, including the rich history of this important southern town. And he'll also be more than happy to join you for a beer on the very famous Cafe Chantant Le Jardin des Ollivette
Day 2:
Maastricht - Namur ca 34 km . At 8.00 you'll be enjoying a sumptuous breakfast , and we visit the renowned Sunday market La Batte. This is the largest market in all of Belgium, and it is literally a treasure trove of everything you could possibly imagine. The Bike tour (34 km) will bring you to Namur, where the Miro will dock in the very heart of the city. which is also the capital of the Wallonia State. From where we'll be docked you'll have a beautiful view of the fairytale castle high above the city and the city ramparts, built centuries ago to protect against marauders. Namur has an enchanting city centre. We will be pleased to serve you dinner at around 18.00, leaving more than enough time for you to spend you evening hours discovering Namur's enchanting secrets, romantic streets and cozy bars for yourself.
Day 3
Namur - Pont de Loup - Charleroi ca 32 km. Today We Cruise while you enjoy breakfast, and enjoy the vistas of all that we pass as we make our way. Once in Floreffe , we will have ample time to visit the imposing Cathedral and the impressive abbey , and to have a look around this lovely town all by yourself. Floreffe is also the starting point of the Bike route to Pont de Loup (32 km), which will take you along gorgeous country panoramas with a number of unforgettable spots.
Day 4
Charleroi - Strépy . 35 km
As you enjoy another sumptuous breakfast, the Miro will already be progressing on to Strépy and you'll see in the landscape the vestiges of the once-booming mining and steel industry for which the region was famous for centuries. Today's tour will take us to Strépy Thieu (35 km) to the new ship elevator in the Canal du Centre. This gigantic ship lift is as big as a football field and bridges a span of 73 meter. The fantastic engine room and adjoining museum are open to visitors so that you can learn more about this marvelous feat of engineering. Dinner will be served on board and afterwards you can enjoy the beautiful nature and the wonderful panoramic views.
Day 5
Strépy - Mons .ca 37 km . Today we'll breakfast at 8.00 to fortify you for the tour planned. This one is 37 kilometers long and takes you from the Canal Historique du Centre, where you can visit three smaller antiek ship elevators, one of which has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage site. From there, the route will take you to Mons and you'll cross the French border. After dinner you're welcome to take a break, and recover from your active day of biking or walking.
Day 6
Mons - Antoine . 34 km A new bike tour 34 Km awaits you after a delicious breakfast, and this one takes you to Antoine a Beautiful tour along the Old Canals.
Day 7
Antoine - Vallancienne ca 34 km The ship will follow on its course along the upper Schelde
Day 8
Vallancienne - Denain - Arleux : ca 27 km. From here, we'll sail in a convoy, in typical French fashion: with wine and delicious food. Because what we don't finish today, we can always do tomorrow or the day after, right? At any rate, there's more than enough time to catch up on relaxing and taking walks, and simply enjoying the delights of the unique countryside.
Day 9
Arleux - Noyon ca 35 km. We will dock at Souterrain du De Ruyaulcourt. Here you'll come back on board to continue through the dark shipping tunnels These tunnels are 4.354 meters long and cross right through the hilly countryside. You'll sail through the Canal du Nord that ends in the Souterrain du Pannetrie, a total of 1.601 meters of tunnels!
The bike tour scheduled for today takes you all the way to Noyon It's not a short one - between 35 / 40 kilometers - but since you'll be tracking the boat anyway you can jump on at every sluice to take a break. The trip takes you through storybook French countryside and past picturesque villages that are primarily rural in nature. Noyon is an old city, dating to the period 600 BC. The town offers many worthy sight-seeing highlights and monuments that have survived the impact that both WWI and WWII had on the region. In the evening you'll once more enjoy a sumptuous dinner and with a crisp wine on the aft deck, you'll realize that life just doesn't get any better.
Day 10
Noyon - Compiegne . ca 31 km. Following a Fine breakfast you'll proceed to Compiegne (31 km), while the ship keeps it's lazy river pace alongside you. You can jump on again at any of the delightful riverbanks that you'll pass. Compiegne is known as a regal village because every French king of old had a summer dwelling here, and once you see it you'll know why. It's also the city where Jeanne 'd Arc was captured. In short, a delightful city of rich history that you'll love discovering for yourself, dotted with many museums to while away your day in. We're happy to let you wander around to your heart's content for the rest of the afternoon.
Day 11
Compiegne - Creil ca 35 km. After breakfast Port off Compiegne
(There you'll begin your bike trip to Creil )and a Beautiful Tour along the River Oise
, the Miro will sail on to Creil. The tour will take you along tiny villages to 'l Isle - Adam. This is where Parisian's come to Sport and play,
Day 12
Creil - Sainte Honorine. The influence of such a big city Paris is obvious. We sail on to Conflance - Sainte , Honorine. This is the main city of French inland sailing, and you'll wonder at all the beautiful boats, big and small, docked here peacefully. The town has a lovely ambiance and you won't be surprised to learn that many skippers retire here to enjoy their twilight years. You'll spend the night in Sainte Honorine or Bougival
Day 13
Sainte Honorine - Bougival - Paris. Today in the Afternoon you'll make your entry into Paris! Biking and walking are a little difficult today but the Seine offers the perfect foreground for the wondrous city of Paris. You'll love seeing the approaching skyline of Paris while you slowly make your way into the City of Lights. In Paris we'll look to dock at Grenelle Directly under the Tour Eiffel This Evening you can take a walk to the romantic Eiffel Tower. You'll fall sleep in it's incredible shadow.
Day 14
Paris - Versailles - Paris. After breakfast, the city of Paris awaits you! If you'd like to know more about this world-renowned city, our guide will be happy to accompany you on your travels. He'll take you to see all the highlights by bike or by public transport, if you so wish. And a twilight boat ride on the Seine is yours for the asking. What an unforgettable way to end your holiday!
Day 15
You'll enjoy one last breakfast on board before saying goodbye to your newfound friends. We'll be sad to see you go and hope that you'll leave with only the fondest memories!
Return trip by TGV or Airplane. You're free to bike or walk during your vacation but nothing is obligatory, and shorter or longer bike or walking tours are also very much a possibility. We're here to tailor-make your vacation in accordance with your wishes!
(subject to changes)
Included in tour:
- Champagne Welcome
- Full size accommodations, double bed cabin.
- Breakfast, lunch, dinner
- Towels, bed linens, maid service, every day room cleaning
- Coffee and afternoon tea and fruit
- First Class Bike rental
- Maps tour info
- Welcoming Family Atmosphere
- Harbor duties & tourist tax
- Sailing duties & energy tax.
Not included in tour:
- Airfare
- Transfers
- Drinks
- Own purchases
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