8 Days / 7 Nights | Rating: Easy | Start / End: Amsterdam
- E-bikes Available
Get ready for a wonderful bike and barge trip starting and ending in Amsterdam, where you’ll witness the beauty of South and North Holland during the blooming of spring flowers. Immerse yourself in the rich history of cities
like Haarlem, Leiden, Gouda, and Alkmaar while also learning about the impressive water management systems that keep these lowlands thriving in the North Sea.
A highlight of this trip is the world-famous Keukenhof Gardens, and the feeling of being surrounded by hundreds of thousands of vibrant tulips, hyacinths, daffodils, and other stunning bulb flowers. Experience the bustling energy of the Aalsmeer flower auction, where an astonishing volume of exquisite flowers are traded daily and shipped worldwide.
Explore the open-air museum known as ‘the Zaanse Schans,’ – visit picturesque windmills, a charming cheese farm, and traditional wooden houses. Throughout your journey, you’ll be amazed by Holland’s diverse and breathtaking scenery, all while enjoying the convenience of excellent cycling paths. Join us on this remarkable bike and boat vacation and discover the beauty and wonders of Holland with the locals.
Travel the Sojourn Style
EXPERIENCES, NOT BIKE TOURS
While we love our cycling, it makes up only one facet of what a true Sojourn trip entails. We believe in immersing ourselves in local cultures and discovering the hidden gems of the world.
REGIONAL PLANNING SPECIALISTS
From Vietnam to France to Glacier National Park, we are committed to offering exceptional trips in regions with which we are deeply familiar. We personally design and operate each of our trips.
PREMIER ACCOMMODATIONS
We carefully select from some of World’s renowned hotels. From highly reviewed and acclaimed Hotel de Londres in San Sebastian, Spain or the Reverie Saigon, Vietnam, one of the leading hotels in the World.
UNWAVERING ATTENTION TO SERVICE
Our commitment to provide you with unwavering service starts from the moment you first interact with the Sojourn team. We believe the little details matter and make the Sojourn vacation a life-list worthy experience for our guests.
PROFESSIONAL TRIP LEADERS
Gracious, engaging, and intelligent, our expert team of tour leaders consist of professionals from all walks of life and make exceptional travel companions. Always a step ahead, they are adept at everything from spinning wrenches to whipping up fabulous picnic lunches.
YOUR VACATION, YOUR PACE
We believe that at the end of the day, you are at the helm of your own vacation. We offer an array of day-to-day options to enable you to approach each day at your own pace.
Day 1
Today you board and check in between 1PM and 2PM local time. Late afternoon, the barge leaves the harbor towards Haarlem. Today’s ride will be in Spaarndam. After dinner on board, we will take you on a town walk through the beautiful city center of Haarlem. Haarlem has a rich history dating back to pre-medieval times, as it lies on a thin strip of land above sea level known as the strandwal (beach ridge), which connects Leiden to Alkmaar. The people on this narrow strip of land struggled against the waters of the North Sea from the west, and the waters of the IJ and the Haarlem Lake from the east. Haarlem became wealthy with toll revenues that it collected from ships and travellers moving on this busy north–south route.
GOOD TO KNOW
Every Sojourn trip is different in their own unique ways. We want you to be aware of them so that you can only have the best experiences possible. Please know, whichever trip you choose we are committed to make it the trip of a lifetime!
LODGING:
Barge
CYCLING OPTIONS:
3 Miles
8 Miles
Day 2
After breakfast, get on a trip through the oldest tulip fields of Holland, including a visit to the Keukenhof Gardens. Keukenhof, also known as the “Garden of Europe,” is one of the most famous and spectacular flower gardens in the world. Located in Lisse, Netherlands, Keukenhof is renowned for its vast display of tulips and other spring flowers. This is the most beautiful bulb park in the world, with an outstanding blaze of colors; seven million flowering tulips in a magnificent 80-acres background of traditional and modern gardening architecture. In addition to the tulip gardens, Keukenhof features a variety of other gardens. The walled area of the historical
KEEPING YOU POSTED
We’re constantly looking for ways to enhance our trips. We’ll do our best to notify you of any changes in this itinerary. Other changes may be communicated to you on the trip by your leaders.
features archival varieties. In the Nature Garden shrubs and perennials are combined with bulb plants. The Japanese Country Garden is a non-traditional garden in a natural environment.] Four pavilions house rotating displays and flower exhibits. In the afternoon, you ride to the city of Leiden. A university city since 1575, Leiden has been one of Europe’s most prominent scientific centres for more than four centuries. Dinner will be on board tonight. Post-dinner, we can all go on a walk through the town.
LODGING:
Barge
CYCLING OPTIONS:
23 Miles
Day 3
After breakfast today, we will ride out of Leiden and travel through Holland’s ‘green heart.’ Visit a cheese farm near Zoeterwoude to taste and learn about cheese-making. Exploring Gouda, the renowned cheese town, is a treat for cheese enthusiasts and history lovers alike. The town’s market square is likely to be bustling with activity, and you can indulge in local delicacies and perhaps even purchase some Gouda cheese to take home as a souvenir. The Gothic town hall in Gouda is an architectural gem that showcases the town’s rich history. Its impressive design and historical significance make it a must-visit landmark. Additionally, the main church of Gouda, dedicated to Saint John, is famous for its exquisite stained glass windows. Post dinner, we can once again walk through the town.
LODGING:
Barge
CYCLING OPTIONS:
22 Miles
26 Miles
Day 4
We will staying in Gouda this morning. Take advantage of some shopping for local memorabilia. Visit the market square with its cheese weigh house or explore the St. Johns church. We sail around noon and have lunch on board. From Alphen aan den Rijn, you cycle through South Holland via river Drecht and Amstel-Drecht channel to Kudelstaart.
LODGING:
Barge
CYCLING OPTIONS:
12 Miles
27 Miles
Day 5
This morning, cycle to the flower auction of Aalsmeer, the largest in Europe. Here, vast quantities of flowers are trucked in, sold daily, and distributed all over Europe. The Aalsmeer Flower Auction building is the fourth largest building by footprint in the world, covering 518,000 square metres (5,580,000 sq ft; 128 acres). Flowers from all over the world — Europe, Israel, Ecuador, Colombia, Ethiopia, Kenya, and other countries — are traded every day in this gigantic building. Return on board for a late breakfast while the barge sails to Amsterdam. You will enjoy a lovely cruise through the city of Amsterdam. Ride from Amsterdam to Zaanse Schans, a unique hamlet where people live and work, with original houses and windmills. The oldest windmill was built in 1673 to grind mustard, spices, paint, and oil and saw wood into planks. Walking through the village, you will visit a clock museum, an old-fashioned grocery store, a house with period furniture, a clog maker, and a cheese farm. We will bike to Purmerend after the visit, where we spend the night on the barge.
LODGING:
Barge
CYCLING OPTIONS:
5 Miles
21 Miles
Day 6
We ride to the Hortus Bulborum this morning, a unique garden museum dedicated to preserving rare and historic bulbs. In addition to functioning as a gene bank, the garden has a seasonal display of thousands of heirloom bulbs, some of which are no longer in commercial production. Certain tulips originated in the 16th century. The Fritillaria persica on display was already in cultivation as early as 1577, while the oldest narcissus is several centuries older yet. The garden, therefore, provides a fascinating overview of these immensely popular spring bloomers grown through the centuries. Thanks to headmaster Pieter Boschman who started the collection in 1924, the visiting public has the pleasure of enjoying such legendary tulips as the ‘Duc van Tol Red and Yellow ‘(1595), ‘Zomerschoon’ (1620) and very popular during the Tulipmania (1635-1637) period or the exotic parrot tulip ‘Perfecta” (1750) and many other fascinating examples. We continue biking to Egmond at the Northsea through the dunes to Alkmaar, a Dutch cheese city. As you wander the streets, you’ll be amazed by Alkmaar’s Old Town’s beauty, well-preserved 17th-century buildings, and narrow, winding canals. Dinner is on your own today.
LODGING:
Barge
CYCLING OPTIONS:
18 Miles
24 Miles
Day 7
After breakfast, we ride to the former windmill complex of the Schermer Polder. Here we visit the Schermerhorn Windmill Museum before heading to the beautiful town of De Rijp. Centuries of history remain evident in De Rijp’s wooden facades, church, lock, and town hall. From here, we ride back to Amsterdam for a canal tour through the city’s famous canals.
LODGING:
Barge
CYCLING OPTIONS:
22 Miles
33 Miles
Day 8
After breakfast , we bid goodbye to the fellow travelers and the tour guides and disembark in Amsterdam around 9:30 AM.
Tour Accommodations
Barge - Sleek Cabins and Private Bathrooms
The ship has ten comfortable cabins. Each cabin has a private shower, toilet and basin. Windows can be opened and the cabins have central heating. Furthermore, you will find a mini safe and hair dryer in each cabin. The corridor is air-conditioned, thus also cooling the cabins.
Travel & Tour Quick Facts
| TOUR START | 1:00pm Friday (Day 1) – Board and check in at the Barge in Amsterdam. |
| TOUR CONCLUSION | 9:30am disembarkation in Amsterdam |
| TRAVEL TO/FROM TOUR | Fly into Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS) |
| DAYS/NIGHTS | 8 Days/7 Nights |
| INCLUDED MEALS | All breakfasts, 6 lunches, and 6 dinners. |
| ACTIVITIES | Cycling, local attractions in the Netherlands. |
| RATING | Easy - this tour offers more natural options for someone who is active but doesn’t cycle often. Daily rides average around 10-30 miles over mostly level terrain. |
IMPORTANT ENTRY REQUIREMENT FOR EUROPE
Much of Europe is open to Americans, including more than two dozen countries without any restrictions at all. However, it’s important to double-check before traveling in case requirements change. Starting in 2024, American passport holders traveling to 30 European countries will need authorization via the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS). Please check the prevailing travel requirements for entry into Europe.
What’s Included?
| EQUIPMENT | Road or hybrid bike, helmet, rear light, seat bag for road bike or rack bag for hybrid, map case, water bottle, and jersey. Bring clipless pedals, seat, or helmet for a more personalized fit. |
| VAN SUPPORT | Rides supported by a Sojourn van as well as a tour leader on a bicycle. |
| TOUR LEADERS | Two experienced tour leaders guide each trip from start to finish. |
| RIDE NOURISHMENT | A selection of snacks and refreshments are supplied throughout all rides. |
| RIDE INFORMATION | Detailed route directions, maps, downloadable GPS routes, and a daily briefing are provided. |
| OFFICE SUPPORT | At your service 9:00am – 6:00pm EST, Monday – Friday. 802-425-4771 |
| DETAILED INFORMATION | A full complement of detailed trip and travel information will be provided upon confirmation of reservation. |
| E-BIKES & TANDEMS | Limited Electric Assist Bikes are available on all tours. Tandems are also available on on our US and Canada tours for an additional fee. Call us at 1-802-425-4771 for details |
Weather
| Amsterdam, The Netherlands | Apr |
|---|---|
| High °F | 60/50° |
| Low °F | 45/40° |
WE’RE HAPPY TO CHAT!
Call: 802.425.4771
Write: info@gosojourn.com
Visit: GoSojourn.com
PRICES & SCHEDULE
All prices and schedules are subject to change at any time.
Click HERE to view the latest departure dates & prices.
