Netherlands Tulip Tour Premium Bike and Barge - 8 Days
Standard Bike Hire - €105 pp
Hybrid Bike Hire - €140 pp
E-Bike hire - €273 pp - (limited availability)
Single cabin - price on request
Overview
This wonderful bike and barge trip that starts and ends in Amsterdam, takes you through the provinces of South and North Holland while spring flowers are in bloom. You will spend time in the historical cities of Haarlem, Leiden, Gouda and Alkmaar and learn about the water management of these lowlands at the North Sea.
You will also visit the famous Keukenhof gardens, known for the hundreds of thousands of blooming tulips, hyacinths, daffodils and other bulb flowers. The world-famous Aalsmeer flower auction is on the program where an astonishing volume of beautiful flowers are being traded daily and exported all over the world.
One night the barge mooring is at the open air museum ‘the Zaanse Schans’ with its windmills, cheese farm and picturesque wooden houses. You will be surprised by the beautiful, varied scenery and the wonderful cycling paths of Holland.
In between cycling excursions, you cruise on the ship, which travels to a new destination every day. You dine, sleep and eat breakfast on board. You’ll receive a packed lunch every day to take on your ride.
The tour is fully guided and you will be accompanied by an experienced multilingual tour leader who can explain the local history and culture of the sights you encounter along the way. You can often choose between a longer or shorter bike ride. You can also choose to ride individually using our GPS App. It’s also possible to spend a day on board if you want a rest day.
Highlights
Culture: Dutch culture is a dynamic blend of tradition and modernity. Explore its iconic canals, windmills and tulip fields.
Nature: Immerse yourself in Dutch history in the open air museum of Zaanse Schans.
Activity: Visit the Keukenhof gardens, the Aalsmeer flower market, a cheese farm and the historical cities of Amsterdam & Gouda.
Culinary: Poffertjes and Stroopwafel are "lekker" dutch specialities.
Souvenir: Dutch cheese and Appelstroop
Note 1: There are a limited supply of E-Bikes so please request
Note 2: On arrival day, you can leave your luggage on board the ship from 11.00 am.
Tour Gallery
Full Itinerary
Arrival in Amsterdam
Welcome to Amsterdam! Please check in at 2 p.m. The crew will welcome you with coffee and tea. At 2.30 p.m the barge leaves the harbour. As we cruise to Haarlem there will be a tour briefing on the itinerary, the cycling and safety. On arrival, you have the option to do a little test ride to get used to your bike. After dinner on board, we'll take a guided walk through the beautiful city centre of Haarlem.
Cycling Distance: 6 or 14 km
Meals: Dinner
Accommodation: Boat in Haarlem
Haarlem to Keukenhof to Leiden
Today’s trip leads you through some of Holland's oldest tulip fields. We'll visit Keukenhof gardens, where seven million flowering tulips create a magnificent blaze of colours. The garden stretches over 80-acres of traditional and modern horticulture. As well as tulips, there are a variety of hyacinths, daffodils and many other colourful flowers. This afternoon we'll cycle to the city of Leiden. After dinner on board there will be time to explore the town.
Cycling Distance: 38 km
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Boat in Leiden
Leiden to Gouda
After breakfast we'll leave Leiden and cycle through the ‘green heart’ of Holland. We'll visit a cheese farm near Zoeterwoude where you'll learn about the cheese-making process and have the opportunity to taste the results. This afternoon we'll continue on to Gouda, famous for its Gouda cheese. Gouda has an attractive, compact center with a pretty market square and Gothic town hall. The main church of Gouda, devoted to Saint John, is world famous for its stained glass windows. You'll have time to explore the town after dinner on board.
Cycling Distance: 37 or 43 km
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Boat in Gouda
Gouda to Alphen aan den Rijn to Kudelstaart
We'll spend the morning in Gouda where you can do some shopping and visit the cheese weigh house in the market square or St. John's church. We leave by barge around noon and have a light lunch on board on our way to Alphen aan den Rijn. From here we'll continue our cycle through the ‘green heart’ of South Holland to Kudelstaart via the River Drecht and the Amstel-Drecht channel.
Cycling Distance: 20 or 44 km
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Boat in Kudelstaart
Kudelstaart to Aalsmeer to Zaanse Schans
Today is an early start. At 6.30 a.m. you'll have time for a quick cup of coffee before we cycle to the flower auction of Aalsmeer - the largest flower market in Europe. Huge quantities of flowers are trucked in and sold every day. They are then distributed all over Europe. After your visit we'll head back to the boat (around 9 a.m.) for a late breakfast on board as we cruise to Amsterdam. Our journey takes us right through the city.
Later we'll cycle from Amsterdam to Zaanse Schans, a unique hamlet where people live and work, with original houses and windmills from the River Zaan area. The hamlet is dominated by operating windmills, the oldest built in 1673, for grinding mustard, spices, paint and oil and for sawing wood into planks. As you walk through the village you will see a clock museum, an old-fashioned grocery store, a house with period furniture, a clog maker and a cheese farm.
Cycling Distance: 9 and 23 km
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Boat in Zaanse Schans
Zaanse Schans to Alkmaar
This morning we'll cycle to the Hortus Bulborum, a unique garden museum dedicated to the preservation of rare and historic bulbs. More than 4,000 tulips, daffodils, hyacinths and other flowers are planted here. From here we'll continue cycling to Egmond at the North Sea. We'll pass through the dunes to Alkmaar - known as the Cheese Capital of the Netherlands. Tonight you can explore the beautiful Old Town with its well-preserved 17th century buildings and narrow, winding canals. Tonight you can dine in one of the cafes or restaurants in town as there is no dinner on board this evening (own cost).
Cycling Distance: 40 km
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Boat in Alkmaar
Alkmaar to Amsterdam
After breakfast we'll cycle to the former windmill complex of the Schermer Polder. Here we'll visit the Schermerhorn Windmill Museum. Our next stop is the beautiful town of De Rijp. Centuries of history are still evident here in De Rijp’s wooden facades, beautiful church, lock and town hall. From here, we'll continue our ride back to Amsterdam. In the late afternoon or evening there is time for a canal tour through the famous canals of the city.
Cycling Distance: 37 or 54 km
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Boat in Amsterdam
Departure from Amsterdam
After breakfast it's time to say goodbye to your guides and crew. Please disembark by 9.30am for your onward journey or you may choose to extend your stay in Amsterdam.
Cycling Distance: 0 km
Meals: Breakfast
Download the Itinerary PDF here
All distances are approximate. Our tours often go off the beaten track and follow routes that are not always predictable. We cannot always guarantee the weather. For these reasons we may occasionally have to update our itineraries. We will only do this to improve your experience or for safety reasons. Our listed accommodation is always accurate at the time of writing but should we need to change you can rest assured that it will be for similar or better. Display price may differ to what is quoted as this tour is invoiced in the currency stated, and can be dynamic with daily exchange rates.
The Details
- Accommodation: twin cabin (double occupancy) with ensuite and air conditioning
- Welcome drink
- Meals: 7 x breakfasts, packed lunch during bike tours/ 1 x lunch on board, 6 x 3 course dinners
- Tea and coffee on board
- Daily cleaning of the cabin
- Climate-controlled cabin
- Guided bike tours and sightseeing as described in the itinerary
- Short walking tours as discribed in the itinerary
- Use of a helmet and waterproof pannier
- Fees for ferries
- Entrance Keukenhof
- Visit original Dutch cheese farm
- Entrance North Holland Dune reserve
- Entrance flower auction Aalsmeer
- Bed linen and towels (change of towels on request); cabin cleaning
- Wi-Fi available on board
- English speaking cycling guide(s)
- Cycling maps (1 per cabin) + GPS tracks
- Biodergradable drink bottle
- Flights, travel visas, travel insurance
- Single surcharge
- Meals and beverages ashore (if not included in the tour price)
- 1 x dinner (Alkmaar)
- Beverages on board (tally sheet, to be paid to the captain)
- Bike hire (& optional insurance)
- Transfer to and from docking place
- SGR insolvency protection scheme: €5 pp
- Pre and post nights
- Entrance fees for sites not included in the tour price
- Tips for tour guides and crew
Our leisure tours are for the rider who wants to take in the surroundings at a comfortable pace. They include slightly longer riding days than our easy tours.
The terrain on this tour is flat with a maximum distance of 40 km unless you choose a longer ride.
You will need a moderate level of fitness and be confident on your bike.
On some days you can choose between a longer and a shorter cycling route. Please note that on the shorter routes you may not be able to visit all the highlights mentioned.
The rental bikes are unisex bicycles with a low bar and a comfortable upright sitting position. These are stable and dependable bikes, good for miles in the saddle.
There are e-bikes available (limted supply) If you want a more leisurely tour - please enquire. If you prefer not to cycle on a particular day, you’re welcome to stay on board and relax while the ship cruises to the next landing place.
If you're unsure about anything, please see our FAQs page for extra information.
FAQsBooking information
Participants will be asked to complete a booking form after confirmation of their booking.
BOOKING CONDITIONS
If the minimum number of participants required for a trip is not met (18 participants for bike and boat trips, unless otherwise noted), we reserve the right to cancel it. The decision about the trip taking place or not will be made as early as possible; at least three weeks before beginning of the trip.
Upon submitting your booking request, we will provide specifics regarding minimum numbers. Following trip confirmation, you may proceed with flight bookings and other travel arrangements. A ‘Limited’ trip status signifies limited spaces available. For trip status inquiries, kindly email or call our office.
DEPOSITS AND PAYMENTS
A deposit is required to secure your place on your selected tour departure. On receipt of your deposit, Global Cycling Adventures will email you a confirmation to verify your travel arrangements and advise final payment details. The final payment is normally required 60 days before departure date unless otherwise specified.
CANCELLATIONS & AMENDMENTS
All tour cancellations will require notification in writing to Global Cycling Adventures by the person participating on the tour. Please be advised that booking cancellations or amendments will incur relevant fees. Cancellation charges are tour-specific and timing-dependent. For a comprehensive outline of our terms and conditions, including the cancellation policy, please refer to the travel proposal provided by our team.
We recommend that you purchase cancellation insurance on payment of your tour deposit in case unforeseen circumstances force you to cancel your tour.
OVERSEAS JURISDICTION AND TERMS
For all overseas tours, the terms and conditions, laws, and jurisdiction of the destination country will apply. By booking a tour with us, you acknowledge and agree that local regulations, industry practices, and terms specific to the destination country may supersede or modify our standard terms. It is your responsibility to understand and comply with all applicable local laws and regulations while participating in the tour.
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