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One-Stop Resource for Bike Tours Worldwide
Representing Local Bike Tour Companies
More than 400 Tours in 70 Countries
Get our newsletter | Contact Us
Call (877) 462-2423 or (423) 756-8907
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| Type of tour: | Guided |
| Level: | Leisurely |
| Duration: | 7 Nights |
| Distance: | 21 Miles/day average |
| Dates: | Saturdays: Jul 6, 13, 20, 27; Aug 3, 2013 |
| Tour price: | €735 |
| Start city: | Amsterdam, Holland |
| End city: | Amsterdam, Holland |
The Dutch Shallows, the largest nature reserve in Holland. The ever changing domain of land, sea, fishermen, seals and birds. What could be more enjoyable than sailing over the Wadden Sea and cycling on the West Frisian islands? Come and find out yourself.
Our boat will bring you to two of the most beautiful West Frisian islands, Texel and Terschelling, as well as the former island Wieringen. Breathe in the fresh air on the windswept beaches, cycle through forest and dunes, visit the old villages and harbours, and enjoy the exceptional beauty of this part of The Netherlands. The interaction of the light on the sea, the land and the air makes a tour through this part of The Netherlands an unforgettable experience. Every island has its own history, atmosphere and culinary challenges. You do one or two cycling trips on each island. Short and long bike trips are always possible, but of course you can also decide to visit the beach or go for a walk.
The guide rides along with you every day, choosing the long or the short route depending on the wishes of the group. However, you can fill in the day yourself using the route descriptions.
Learn more about guided tours.
The Dutch Shallows, the largest nature reserve in Holland. The ever changing domain of land, sea, fishermen, seals and birds. What could be more enjoyable than sailing over the Wadden Sea and cycling on the West Frisian islands? Come and find out yourself.
Our boat will bring you to two of the most beautiful West Frisian islands, Texel and Terschelling, as well as the former island Wieringen. Breathe in the fresh air on the windswept beaches, cycle through forest and dunes, visit the old villages and harbours, and enjoy the exceptional beauty of this part of The Netherlands. The interaction of the light on the sea, the land and the air makes a tour through this part of The Netherlands an unforgettable experience. Every island has its own history, atmosphere and culinary challenges. You do one or two cycling trips on each island. Short and long bike trips are always possible, but of course you can also decide to visit the beach or go for a walk.
The guide rides along with you every day, choosing the long or the short route depending on the wishes of the group. However, you can fill in the day yourself using the route descriptions.
Learn more about guided tours.
Day 1: Amsterdam - Enkhuizen
Saturday: Amsterdam, boarding at 2 pm, sailing to EnkhuizenYou can put your luggage away in your cabin and then enjoy a cup of coffee or tea. It is also a good moment to become acquainted with the guide, skipper and crew and of course your fellow passengers.
The barge sails to Enkhuizen, a town which came into existence when two adjoining villages amalgamated. In the past Enkhuizen was one of the main VOC cities, which is still visible by its many old façades. The centre surrounding the old defence tower called Dromedaris (Dromedary) still breathes the atmosphere of the famous old days. Nowadays Enkhuizen is the home port of part of the 'brown fleet', former cargo sailing ships that now carry passengers. In the evening you dine on board, after which the plan for the next day and the routine for the rest of the week are explained. The bicycles are distributed and you can make a round tour from Enkhuizen.
Overnight in Enkhuizen.
Day 2: Enkuizen – sailing to Stavoren, biking to Makkum (24 miles/40km)
In the morning you sail to Stavoren. Stavoren was once a famous and prosperous Hanseatic town. It was a member town of the German Hanseatic League. This was a powerful association of trading towns that negotiated with the kings of Norway, Sweden and Denmark on behalf of the different member towns and tried to ensure that these nobles kept their promises. Currently Stavoren is the busiest water sport area in Friesland thanks to its good location on the IJsselmeer and a good water connection with the Frisian lakes that are so well-visited, especially in the summer. From Stavoren you cycle to Makkum.
On your way you pass two compact old towns with rich trade histories, Hindeloopen and Workum. Both places offer several interesting museums and attractions and in the summer it is pleasantly busy here. Take the time to have a good look around. Hindeloopen is situated on a peninsula in the former Zuiderzee and is very well-known for its woodcutting and painting crafts, its beautiful captains’ homes and traditional costume. Hindeloopen is great to visit on foot. You cross narrow bridges and walk through small passageways. You continue to Workum used to be a thriving harbour town. The two canals in the centre of town have been filled in and now form a lovely marketplace. There is a earthenware factory here too, that still supplies the real Frisian farm earthenware in green and brown. You continue over narrow paths and roads right through the Frisian country 'De Greidhoek' (the meadow area): large expanses of pasture land with cows, birds and hay-making farmers and here and there a lonely farmhouse.
Today’s destination is Makkum, well known for its oldest earthenware factory in The Netherlands, the 'Koninklijke Tichelaar Makkum', known worldwide for its earthenware and tiles.
Overnight in Makkum.
Day 3: Makkum – sailing to Terschelling, round trip (12-25 miles/20-40km)
You arrive late in the morning at Terschelling. This is the second largest Wadden island and has a lot to offer in the way of beach, natural beauty, landscape, attractions, museums and cycle paths; it is certainly worthwhile spending two days here to ride around. On both days you ride a route that shows you all sides of the island: the wide dunes area with access to the beaches, the sheltered area behind the dunes, the cheerful villages with various attractions, the quiet, expansive polders and the Waddendijkpad (Wadden dike path) with fantastic views of the Wadden.
The valuable nature reserve the Bosplaat or Boschplaat sits on the eastern part of Terschelling and is nearly ten kilometres in length. The reserve originated after a 'stuifdijjk' ('drifting dike') was made here between 1932 and 1936, thus permanently connecting a formerly separate sandbank with Terschelling. A rich mudflat vegetation grew up on the sand bar, with wide stretches of sea lavender (Limonium Vulgare), 'zeealsem' (Seriphidium Maritimum, a plant similar to sagebrush), Atriplex Pedunculatus and many other salt-loving plants. Many birds nest on the Boschplaat, such as the spoonbill, great tern, northern tern, common tern, little tern, the lesser black-blacked gull, great black-blacked gull, herring gull, common gull, great cormorant and other types of birds. The Boschplaat has been given the status of European Nature Reserve.
Overnight in Terschelling.
Day 4: Terschelling, round trip, sailing to Texel (24 miles/40 km)
You arrive on the isle of Texel in the afternoon. Texel is one municipality, is the largest of the Dutch Waddeneilanden (Wadden islands). The average length of Texel is twenty kilometers and the average width eight kilometers.
Texel is highly appreciated by bird-watchers. In springtime about 80 different types of birds breed here, mainly in the dune areas, and all in all about 300 different species have been found on Texel. As early as in the 16th and 17th centuries the Texel sheep's cheese was well-known abroad. This was not only the usual white cheese but in particular a special, green cheese. The cheese was green as a result of the juice of boiled sheep droppings, which was stirred through the milk. However, because of hygienic reasons this was forbidden by the Dutch Food Inspection Department in 1930.
Texel is the most northerly place in Europe where spoonbills breed. These elegant white birds feel at home on the island due to the absence of their greatest enemy; the fox. The largest spoonbill colony in the Netherlands is located in the nature reserve De Geul. These beautiful birds can be watched from nearby here, from the early spring onwards
Overnight in Texel.
Day 5: Texel (24-37 miles/40-60km)
A tour around this island with its numerous cycle tracks is well worth the effort. The largest village on the island is Den Burg, which has a rural character with its circles of roads around the old church. You will find most of the shops on the island in this village. The local museum gives a good impression of island life and is housed in a building dating from 1599.
De Koog, one of the oldest villages, is the principal bathing resort and is only a stone's throw from the widest beach on the island. The nature centre nearby is a rescue centre for seals and gives a lot of information about the flora and fauna to be found on Texel. De Cocksdorp, the northernmost village, is entered through a tunnel of interlocking tree branches, which gives it a unique character. If you cycle to the most extreme northerly tip of the island you may be able to see Vlieland, the next island making up the chain of Wadden islands.
On the way up north you can pay a visit to the Slufter, a nature reserve open to the sea and the rhythm of the tides. The villages of Den Hoorn, Oosterend and De Waal have escaped modern architectural influences and are all officially protected. In Den Hoorn some of the old 'Commandeurs' dwellings have been preserved. These were the houses belonging to the captains of the whaling ships that sailed from Texel. Texel's oldest church is situated in Oosterend. In an old barn in De Waal there is a farm museum called the Wagenmuseum (cart museum). De Waal already existed in the 12th century and was on the coastline until 1613. Then the Waalenburg Polder was drained and since then De Waal has been in the centre of the island. Oudeschild used to be the main port of entry for Texel, but in 1962 a ferry connection was established between the mainland and the southernmost tip of the island ('t Horntje).
Nowadays only fishing boats, sailing boats and boats working on marine engineering projects use the picturesque harbor of Oudeschild. Here too, the maritime museum is housed in two old granaries and next to this museum you can find the Juttersmuseum (Beachcombers' Museum) in a shed originally used for storing sea ware.If the weather is fine you might like to combine a cycling tour of the island with a nice rest on one of the wide, clean and very peaceful beaches.
Overnight in Texel.
Day 6: Texel, sailing to Enkhuizen, cycling to Hoorn (17 miles/27km)
You start cycling in Enkhuizen. You follow the dike towards Hoorn. The attractive city of Hoorn was given a municipal charter in 1357. In addition to Amsterdam, Edam, Monnickendam, Enkhuizen and Medemblik Hoorn was a major harbor in the 17th century. From here ships sailed for the Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia), America, Scandinavia and the Mediterranean.
Overnight in Hoorn.
Day 7: Hoorn – Amsterdam (31 miles/50km)
The last day takes you back to Amsterdam. You follow the dike in southerly direction. You cycle alongside the Beemsterringvaart. Water from the polder on your left is pumped into this canal. You pass through Edam, famous for its little 'Edamers', the round cheese balls (coated with red wax for export). Together with the Gouda equivalent they are probably the best-known types of cheese in the world. Here you can sample the atmosphere of a well-maintained old-Dutch town, though now lacking its former activity.
The route then takes you to Volendam. Originally Volendam was a small fishing community, founded by shipwrecked sailors from a beaten Spanish fleet. Continue along the Gouwzee dike to historical Monnickendam, a flourishing town in the 16th and 17th centuries. This can easily be seen by its many old façades, stone tablets, churches and spires. Then the former isle of Marken is visited. Marken is a peninsula in the IJsselmeer. You cycle through the rural area of Waterland. Finally a ferry takes takes you to the Amsterdam centre again where the barge will be waiting for you.
Overnight in Amsterdam.
Day 8: Amsterdam
End of the trip, after breakfast.
Saturdays: Jul 6, 13, 20, 27; Aug 3, 2013
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Anna Antal
The Anna Antal is a former barge which was converted into a luxury motor passenger ship in the winter of 1994-95. The sailing area of the Anna Antal includes all Dutch, German and Belgian waterways, in so far as a ship of this size can sail there. She also sails on the Waddenzee, IJsselmeer and Zeeland. As far as safety is concerned, the Anna Antal is built according to the rules of Maritime laws and holds a valid certificate for the Rhine.
The Anna Antal has 9 cabins each with their own shower, washbasin, toilet, 220 voltage and central heating. There are 4 cabins with bunk beds, and 5 cabins with twin beds. The maximum capacity on the boat is 22 passengers. The Anna Antal also has a cozy bar. There is limited storage space in the cabin. We recommend one suitcase per person. You can slide the suitcase under the bed.
Anna Antal
The Anna Antal is a former barge which was converted into a luxury motor passenger ship in the winter of 1994-95. The sailing area of the Anna Antal includes all Dutch, German and Belgian waterways, in so far as a ship of this size can sail there. She also sails on the Waddenzee, IJsselmeer and Zeeland. As far as safety is concerned, the Anna Antal is built according to the rules of Maritime laws and holds a valid certificate for the Rhine.
The Anna Antal has 9 cabins each with their own shower, washbasin, toilet, 220 voltage and central heating. There are 4 cabins with bunk beds, and 5 cabins with twin beds. The maximum capacity on the boat is 22 passengers. The Anna Antal also has a cozy bar. There is limited storage space in the cabin. We recommend one suitcase per person. You can slide the suitcase under the bed.
The tour follows a flat terrain route. This tour is rated leisurely, meaning it has relaxed cycling.
The tour follows a flat terrain route. This tour is rated leisurely, meaning it has relaxed cycling.
Tour start and end
Nearest Airport:
Nearest train station:
Tips on getting to and from your tour
Tour start and end
Nearest Airport:
Nearest train station:
Tips on getting to and from your tour
Weather Underground offers information on average and record temperatures at many destinations throughout the globe. Type a destination in the search box and enter a travel date range to learn about seasonal weather patterns.
Get weather information.
Weather Underground offers information on average and record temperatures at many destinations throughout the globe. Type a destination in the search box and enter a travel date range to learn about seasonal weather patterns.
Get weather information.
From the famed canals and impressive art collections of Amsterdam and attractions of Rotterdam to the tulip fields carpeting the lush countryside, Holland packs a considerable punch for such a small country. Outside of the large cities, visitors can revisit the Middle Ages through its remaining castles and grand estates. Other highlights of the Dutch countryside include the marshlands, wetlands, and beaches. The walled towns of Holland’s trade and commerce routes are delightful to explore, and the maritime tradition of this coastal land is still seen in its quaint harbor towns.
Dutch tulips are iconic – a symbol of Holland. Mid-March through mid-May transforms the already beautiful countryside into a sea of reds, pinks, purples, and yellows. Another charming symbol of the country, Holland's many windmills are scattered across the landscape and make for postcard-perfect scenery.
From the famed canals and impressive art collections of Amsterdam and attractions of Rotterdam to the tulip fields carpeting the lush countryside, Holland packs a considerable punch for such a small country. Outside of the large cities, visitors can revisit the Middle Ages through its remaining castles and grand estates. Other highlights of the Dutch countryside include the marshlands, wetlands, and beaches. The walled towns of Holland’s trade and commerce routes are delightful to explore, and the maritime tradition of this coastal land is still seen in its quaint harbor towns.
Dutch tulips are iconic – a symbol of Holland. Mid-March through mid-May transforms the already beautiful countryside into a sea of reds, pinks, purples, and yellows. Another charming symbol of the country, Holland's many windmills are scattered across the landscape and make for postcard-perfect scenery.
Cycletours Holidays originated in 1987 as a seperate division, specializing in Bike & Barge Holidays, especially designed for the overseas tourist wanting to discover Holland. Cycletours Holidays was the first company to offer trips such as these, combining regular cycling tours with overnight stays on a ship, serving as hotel and luggage transport all-in-one!
Cycletours Holiday's strengths are excellent service, we have staff with more then 15 year's experience with Bike and Barge Holidays, good quality for a reasonable price
We hope to welcome you soon on one of our Bike & Barge or Bed & Bike Holidays!
Cycletours Holidays originated in 1987 as a seperate division, specializing in Bike & Barge Holidays, especially designed for the overseas tourist wanting to discover Holland. Cycletours Holidays was the first company to offer trips such as these, combining regular cycling tours with overnight stays on a ship, serving as hotel and luggage transport all-in-one!
Cycletours Holiday's strengths are excellent service, we have staff with more then 15 year's experience with Bike and Barge Holidays, good quality for a reasonable price
We hope to welcome you soon on one of our Bike & Barge or Bed & Bike Holidays!
Charge for Changes
If after booking a trip, you wish to make changes, bear in mind that you can be billed a surcharge to cover the costs of changes, This amounts to € 14,-. According to the ANVR terms and conditions, changes can generally be made up to 28 days prior to the departure date.
Cancellation conditions according to BikeToursDirect
The conditions of all tours act on the Dutch jurisdiction. Any liability of the tour operator (the transporter) is limited to the amounts of the concerned insurance-company(s) of the tour operator / the transporter is (are) willing to pay, taken into account the maximum overages. The parties agree that the Dutch law applies to this agreement. Any conflicts arising out of this contract will be brought solely before a competent judge in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Cycle Tours Holland Travel Agreement
A travel agreement is reached with the traveler's acceptance of our offer. Acceptance can take place either directly through us or via the intermediary service of a booking office. As soon as you make a reservation, your accommodations will be arranged. When these arrangements have been settled, you'll receive word from us and thereupon, the invoice will be sent.
A confirmation of your booking together with the invoice will be sent within 72 hours. Travel documents will be sent via e-mail 3 weeks prior to departure. When booking more than 2 months before departure, payment in terms is possible. Deposit is 15% of the total amount. Second payment needs to be done at least 6 weeks prior to departure.
Travel Conditions
Cycletours is a member of the General Dutch Association of Tour operators (ANVR). This association publishes the ANVR-travel condition that includes the rights and duties of both the tour operator and the participant. These conditions are available upon request.
Travel Conditions
Cycletours is a member of the General Dutch Association of Tour operators (ANVR). This association publishes the ANVR-travel condition that includes the rights and duties of both the tour operator and the participant. These conditions are available upon request.
Cancellation of the tour
Cycletours Holland reserves the right to cancel tours with fewer than 12 participants up to 21 days prior to the date of departure. Cycletours Holidays will offer an adequate alternative in case of such cancellation.
Charge for Changes
If after booking a trip, you wish to make changes, bear in mind that you can be billed a surcharge to cover the costs of changes, This amounts to € 14,-. According to the ANVR terms and conditions, changes can generally be made up to 28 days prior to the departure date.
Cancellation conditions according to BikeToursDirect
The conditions of all tours act on the Dutch jurisdiction. Any liability of the tour operator (the transporter) is limited to the amounts of the concerned insurance-company(s) of the tour operator / the transporter is (are) willing to pay, taken into account the maximum overages. The parties agree that the Dutch law applies to this agreement. Any conflicts arising out of this contract will be brought solely before a competent judge in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Cycle Tours Holland Travel Agreement
A travel agreement is reached with the traveler's acceptance of our offer. Acceptance can take place either directly through us or via the intermediary service of a booking office. As soon as you make a reservation, your accommodations will be arranged. When these arrangements have been settled, you'll receive word from us and thereupon, the invoice will be sent.
A confirmation of your booking together with the invoice will be sent within 72 hours. Travel documents will be sent via e-mail 3 weeks prior to departure. When booking more than 2 months before departure, payment in terms is possible. Deposit is 15% of the total amount. Second payment needs to be done at least 6 weeks prior to departure.
Travel Conditions
Cycletours is a member of the General Dutch Association of Tour operators (ANVR). This association publishes the ANVR-travel condition that includes the rights and duties of both the tour operator and the participant. These conditions are available upon request.
Travel Conditions
Cycletours is a member of the General Dutch Association of Tour operators (ANVR). This association publishes the ANVR-travel condition that includes the rights and duties of both the tour operator and the participant. These conditions are available upon request.
Cancellation of the tour
Cycletours Holland reserves the right to cancel tours with fewer than 12 participants up to 21 days prior to the date of departure. Cycletours Holidays will offer an adequate alternative in case of such cancellation.
