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Castles and Walled Towns - 8D/7N
The Netherlands is often called Holland because of the role the two western provinces North and South holland played in its history. This region encompasses Amsterdam, Rotterdam, the Hague, and other well known Dutch cities. During the Golden Age, Holland was the Capital of the World. It is a country of water; ever since the 16th century, many Dutch people have been living on the bottom of former lakes. Part of the country is covered by large rivers, whose estuaries form an immense delta. Ijssel Lake, a large freshwater lake, still covers 296,400 acres. Windmills are used to drain the land and keep it dry. They still form an important element of water management in these low lying lands.
Amsterdam, one of the great cities of Europe has many faces. You may know the romantic canals, the numerous bikes and the exciting night-life, however, Amsterdam offers so much more. It has a wide range of places of interest, historical monuments and more than 40 museums. Arts and antiques are for sale in quaint quarters, fashionable and upscale products in chic shopping streets.
Included: Accommodation, full board (breakfast, packed lunch and dinner), bicycle with gears and pannier, travel guidance, several excursions as visit National Park Hoge Veluwe, Kröller Müller Museum.
Accommodations: Double room cabin.
Departures: On Request.
Itinerary
- Day 1: Saturday: cycling ± 15 km - After the embarkation in Amsterdam you’ll be sailing the Amsterdam-Rijn Kanaal to Wijk bij Duurstede, the stop for the night. In the evening there’s a short ‘warming-up’ cycle trip in the vicinity which passes the castles Zandenburg and Walenburg.
- Day 2: Sunday: cycing ± 50 km - The barge sails the river Nederrijn to the locks near the village Heveadorp, where the cyclists disembark to start their cycle trip. You will cycle to National Park ‘De Hoge Veluwe’ . In this park you will find the museum Kröller-Müller, where you’ll find a fantastic exhibition of Vincent van Gogh paintings. A visit to the famous sculpture garden is also very worthwhile. The cycle trip ends in Arnhem, where the ship is moored in the river Nederrijn.
- Day 3: Monday: cycling ± 50 km - Today you will cycle past castle Rosendael to the ferry near Rheden. The ferry takes you across the river IJssel and the trip continues through the villages Doesburg and Brummen to the hanseatic walled town of Zutphen, situated at the river IJssel.
- Day 4: Tuesday: cycling ± 60 km - While the barge stays in Zutphen, you will make a roundtrip. You pass castle Vorden and the rural communiy of Lochem. After a visit to Mansion Verwolde you follow the Twente Kanaal back to Zutphen. Alternatively you may wish to spend a day shopping and/or go visiting musea in Zutphen. The Stedelijk Museum has an interesting cultural-historical collection that creates a telling image of Zutphen and its surroundings.
- Day 5: Wednesday: cycling ± 60 km - Today you sail by barge to the hanseatic town of Deventer, where the cyclists disembark. Enjoy the picturesque landscapes while following the river IJssel to Diepenveen, castle Oude Rande and the rural estate Hoenderloo. Through the village of Windesheim the trip ends in Kampen, a historic hanseatic town.
- Day 6: Thursday: cycling ± 30 km - Today’s motto is ‘relaxing aboard’ as there’s a 4 hrs sailing trip to Harderwijk, where you’ll stay for the night. In the afternoon there’s a cycle trip through the rural area around Harderwijk.
- Day 7: Friday: cycling ± 60 km - By barge you will sail to Spakenburg today. After the disembarkation you will cycle to Spakenburg, a former fisherman’s village which is still famous for the traditional costumes. Via a lake area called Ankeveense Plassen you cycle to the attractive port town of Muiden. You continue cycling to your hotel barge right in the centre of Amsterdam. In the evening you may wish to join the guide for a walk through the centre or you may (on your own account) go for a round trip of the Amsterdam canals by touring boat.
- Day 8: Saturday - After breakfast you say good bye to your tourleader and the crew say. Your bike & barge holiday has come to an end.
Vantage World Strongly Recommends Insurance for all your Travel Programs
We provide, through TravelSafe Insurance, one of the nation’s largest and most respected providers of travel insurance, a TravelSafe Custom Plan, where you decide the benefits YOU want and the levels of protection YOU desire including access to their 24-hour emergency assistance service from anywhere in the world. Click the link below the Plan Benefits table for plan details.
US Residents - Download Full Plan Details Here
Canadian Residents - Download Full Plan Details Here
Vantage World Strongly Recommends Insurance for all your Travel Programs
We provide, through TravelSafe Insurance, one of the nation's largest and most respected providers of travel insurance, a TravelSafe Custom Plan, where you decide the benefits YOU want and the levels of protection YOU desire including access to their 24-hour emergency assistance service from anywhere in the world. Click the link below the Plan Benefits table for plan details.
