Touring Bike
£84 for 7 days
Cycle from the Dutch capital to the heart of Flanders on this unique bike and barge adventure through Holland and Belgium.
This relaxed 8-day journey combines daily cycling through flat, scenic landscapes with the comfort of life aboard a cosy river barge. Travel at your own pace using detailed route maps and GPS guidance, or choose a guided group option. Along the way, you'll explore iconic cities like Amsterdam, Utrecht, Antwerp, Ghent and Bruges, and ride through picturesque countryside dotted with windmills, cheese farms and centuries-old towns.
Cruise gently between destinations while enjoying full-board hospitality on your floating hotel. Choose between longer or shorter rides each day, and enjoy the flexibility of staying onboard if you want a break from the saddle. Perfect for culture seekers, cycling lovers, and anyone who enjoys a mix of activity and relaxation.
Highlights
Select the tour you are interested in to view the itinerary.
Board your barge in Amsterdam between 1:00–1:50 pm. At 2:00 pm, cruise the River Lek to Vianen, a charming fortified town. After arrival, stretch your legs with a short warm-up ride.
Cruise + short optional ride.
Cycle to silver-working Schoonhoven and through the rural Alblasserwaard region to the iconic 19 windmills of Kinderdijk, a UNESCO site. From nearby Alblasserdam, board a waterbus to Dordrecht - one of Holland’s oldest cities.
Cruise to Tholen during breakfast. Ride through a peaceful forest near the Wouwse Plantage, and pass the Kreekrak lock before boarding again to sail into Antwerp - famous for diamonds, Flemish art and vibrant streets.
Pedal alongside the scenic tidal River Schelde to Dendermonde. The riverside route offers ever-changing views and a peaceful atmosphere - one of the tour’s most beautiful segments.
Continue following the Schelde to the lively university city of Ghent. Explore its canals, medieval architecture, and visit St. Bavo’s Cathedral to see Van Eyck’s Adoration of the Mystic Lamb.
Ride west through Flanders’ quiet countryside to magical Bruges. With its Gothic buildings, winding canals and cobbled lanes, it’s a living medieval masterpiece. Dinner is not included tonight—explore local restaurants.
Cycle past canals, poplar trees and polders to the North Sea. Relax on the sandy beach, visit a seaside café, or dip your toes in the water before returning to Bruges by a scenic canal route.
Disembark after breakfast by 9:30 a.m. Travel onward - or stay to soak up more of Bruges’ charm.
We recommend flying to Amsterdam (AMS) and returning from Brussels (BRU).
The Fluvius is a comfortable river cruiser for up to 44 guests, featuring 22 well-equipped cabins with private bathrooms and air conditioning. Guests can relax in the upper-deck lounge or enjoy meals and views from the restaurant and spacious sun deck. The De Holland is a modern, fully refurbished river cruiser accommodating 66 guests in 32 comfortable cabins. Its bright panoramic lounge, bar, and sun deck provide the perfect spaces to unwind after a day’s cycling.
3-star barge
£84 for 7 days
£210 for 7 days
£14 for 7 days
Holland, The Netherlands • Amsterdam, The Netherlands • Bruges, Belgium • Brussels, Belgium
Getting to the start (Amsterdam)
By plane: Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS) is one of Europe’s largest airports, with frequent direct flights from virtually every UK and Irish airport. Schiphol has its own train station underneath the terminal, with trains to Amsterdam Centraal every 10 minutes (17 minutes journey).
By train: The Eurostar runs direct from London St Pancras to Amsterdam Centraal in around 3 hours 55 minutes, with several departures daily. A great city-centre to city-centre option.
By car: Amsterdam is around 450km from Calais, taking approximately 4.5 hours via the E40 and E19.
Getting home from the tour (Brussels)
By plane: Brussels Airport (BRU) at Zaventem has direct flights to most UK airports with British Airways, easyJet and Ryanair. The Airport Express train runs every 15 minutes from the airport to Brussels-Midi station in around 17 minutes.
By train: The Eurostar from Brussels-Midi to London St Pancras takes around 2 hours, making it one of the easiest return journeys in Europe. Several departures daily. This is a genuinely excellent end point — fly into Amsterdam, cycle to Bruges, and take the Eurostar home.
By car: If you drove to Amsterdam, a one-way car hire is worth considering to avoid retracing your route. Brussels is around 210km from Amsterdam, taking around 2 hours via the E19 motorway.
Bikes are not included. You are welcome to bring your own bike or hire one. Please see our bike hire section for details.
Flights are not included. Please refer to the what's included section for full details.
We will confirm your booking within 48 hours of receiving your enquiry. Please wait for confirmation before booking flights or making other travel arrangements.
Most itineraries include cycling on most days, with some rest or shorter days built in. Please check the itinerary for day-by-day details.
The latest you can book is 9 days before departure. This gives us enough time to confirm arrangements and accommodation.
You will receive full travel details, including accommodation, meeting points and local contacts, 3 to 5 weeks before departure.
Self Guided • 7 nights
Easy
From £755
Only 11 dates left
Guided • 7 nights
Easy
From £1,174
Only 2 dates left
