|
| |
Bike/Barge Tour from Amsterdam (8 days)
Route: Amsterdam > Hoorn > Lemmer > Blokzijll > Giethoorn > Kampen > Harderwijk > Amsterdam
Price: $1095/person (double occupancy), on Standard or standard plus barge.
Single supplement: $220/person (only one single per departure, rest of singles have to share).
Dates: Saturdays, June 7, 14, 28, July 5, 19, 26, August 2, 9, 16, 23, 2008, on standard barge.
A really varied tour that roughly follows the coastline of the former Zuiderzee, the present Ijssel Lake and several border lakes. 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.
Day-by-Day Itinerary:
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.
Included in 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
|
|
|
|
