Cycling Holidays - Bike & Boat: Dutch Island Hopping

Bike & Boat: Dutch Island Hopping

Netherlands

From £755 P/P

Sail and bike tours are something very special. Feel the freedom, the wind and salt on your skin! It’s a little bit like discovering the seas and new areas as a modern-day explorer.

Aboard one of the most comfortable sailing ships, the Mare fan Fryslân, the Wapen fan Fryslân, and the Leafde fan Fryslân, you will experience pure nature while enjoying water, sun and a stiff breeze on the big inland lake IJsselmeer and the so-called “Wadden Sea”, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage biosphere reserve. During this Sail & Bike tour you can explore the beautiful and unique Frisian Sea and some of its islands.

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Itinerary
Itinerary

Day 1: Embarkation: Enkhuizen (Saturday)

Embarkation and check-in where the crew will welcome you on board is from 2 p.m. near the beautiful center of Enkhuizen and close to the railway station. After unpacking your luggage the skipper will join you for an aperitif before giving you a rundown of what to expect on the journey, details about the ship and also about safety measures to be taken on board. In the evening take a stroll through the historical center of Enkhuizen, a quaint town that was the home of the Dutch merchant fleet during the Golden Age of The Netherlands. Enjoy your first night on board in Enkhuizen on the western bank of the lake IJsselmeer.

Day 2: Enkhuizen – Medemblik | sailing Medemblik – Den Oever – Texel (24 km/14 mi or 37 km/22 mi.)

Today you can cycle the first leg of the trip along the IJsselmeer coast through the beautiful polder landscape to Medemblik. After the cycling tour the ship will sail further to Den Oever. Depending on the weather in the evening the ship will take the lock and sail across the Wadden Sea (part of the North Sea) to the island of Texel.

Day 3: Texel, roundtrip from/to Oudeschild (40 km/24 mi. or 46km/28 Mi

The island of Texel is a cyclist’s dream destination with its varied scenery, well signposted cycle tracks and picturesque villages. Our suggestion is to complete a round trip cycling tour of the largest of the Dutch North Sea islands on the easy-to follow Thijsse-route (40 km/24 mi.) that takes you via a number of villages, the seal sanctuary station “Ecomare” and a traditional beer brewery near the harbor of Oudeschild.

Day 4: Texel - Terschelling (Sailing approx 5 hours)

Today you will enjoy sailing on your ship, when the tide and the weather are right, to the island of Terschelling. As you sail your way through the sandbanks of the Wadden Sea, keep a lookout for seals on the sandbars. In the afternoon the ship will arrive on Terschelling island, which features a number of picturesque villages situated between the polder and sand dunes along its 30 km expanse. While sailing you will enjoy an extensive lunch on board. No dinner will be served tonight, to enable you to explore
the island, but you can make yourself a picnic meal or try one of the nice restaurants at Terschelling (not incl.).

Day 5: Terschelling

While the previous day was all about sailing, today is all about cycling. Terschelling has plenty to offer cycle tourists: nature and culture, 70 km of cycling tracks and 4 beautiful villages. West Terschelling is the largest village on the island and features a number of nice shops and pubs. The standout landmark on the island is the 400 year old lighthouse “Brandaris” that can be seen from well off in the distance.

Also worth visiting is the heath land of “Boschplaat” which will captivate you with its mud, beaches and dunes. You might even spot ducks, black-winged stilts, large colonies of spoonbills and great black-backed gulls. After a day of cycling, you can relax in comfort once you have arrived on board. In the late afternoon the ship will cross the Wadden Sea sail to Harlingen, the most important harbor city of the province of Friesland.

Day 6: Harlingen – Franeker – Makkum (48 km/29 mi. or 58 km/36 Mi

Via Franeker, with the famous planetarium of Eise Eisinga, you cycle through the beautiful wide Frisian countryside along several rural villages to the small harbor of Makkum on the eastern bank of the lake IJsselmeer. If you take the long cycling trip, you will also visit Bolsward, one of the Eleven Frisian Cities.

Day 7: Makkum – Stavoren | sailing to Enkhuizen (32 km/19 mi. or 49KM/30 Mi)

From Makkum you will cycle to Stavoren. The short tour leads you via the old trading town of Hindeloopen. This local art of painting – a type of traditional decorative painting – is quite famous. Apart from this you’ll find the First Frisian Museum of Ice
Skating in Hindeloopen. The long tour runs along several Frisian lakes and shows you a different type of landscape. From Stavoren the ship will set sail to cross the IJsselmeer to Enkhuizen in the late afternoon.

Day 8: Disembarkation: Enkhuizen

Disembark the boat after breakfast until 9.30am.
Route Overview

Route Overview

Route Map (For guidance only):

As with most of our boat and bike cycling holiday routes may be subject to change or alteration. All route notes, maps and information will be given to you upon arrival at the first hotel or at the welcome meeting. GPS/GPX files are available for most our the cycling holidays in Holland we offer. Please ask us for details.

Total distance cycled: 184 km

Starting point of the cycling holiday: Enkhuizen
Getting There

Getting There

We recommend flying to Amsterdam Schiphol airport, the biggest airport in Holland, to reach the starting point of this Frisian Island cycling holiday.

Flights are available with a number of airlines to your required airport, or you can travel to the start using alternative methods such as rail or road.

We recommend using Skyscanner to find the best flight prices by date or Rail Europe for European rail travel. There is customer car parking available at most hotels for a supplement. Please contact us for more details.

Please use local transport to arrive at the starting point or call us on 0161 703 8161 for more specific travel advice.

You do not need to go back to the starting point of the Frisian sailing and island hopping cycling holiday as all hire bikes are left at the final hotel.

Important: Please book your flights only after the Frisian Island cycling holiday has been confirmed by invoice or email. Flights and transfers are not included in the advertised holiday price.
What’s Included?
What’s Included?

The Bike & Barge: Island Hopping cycling holiday includes the daily transfer of luggage to the next hotel and local support if required.

Included Services (Subject to confirmation)
- Tour and accommodation on board 8 days/7 nights (Saturday-Saturday) from/to Enkhuizen
- Full board (7x breakfast, 5 x packed lunch and 1 x lunch on board, 6x three course dinner and 1 x packed dinner)
- Use of bed linen and towels (change of towels on request) and daily cabin cleaning
- Bike hire and waterproof pannier bag
- Welcoming drink and speech on the first evening
- Board tour guide by the crew(multilingual)
- daily briefings of the bike tours
- detailed maps/directions for individual bike tours (1 per cabin)
- Daily complimentary coffee and tea till 4 PM
- GPS tracks
- Wi-fi
Not Included
- Flights to/from the start and finish
- Evening meals (unless stated)
- Local daily taxes (Payable at the hotel)
- Helmets
- Water Bottles
- Travel Insurance
- Bike Insurance (unless stated)
- Welcome Meetings (unless stated)
- Transfers (unless included)
Bike Hire

Bike Hire

This cycling holiday uses hybrid bikes with gearing suitable for the local terrain. All bikes are regularly maintained and offer comfort along with good quality components. You will receive an accessories package including a bicycle pannier bag with a good capacity, repair kit, lock, key, and air pump. When you make a booking with us, we take your height(s) and the appropriate bike size is matched up accordingly.

Helmets are not provided and you will need to bring your own to use. We always recommend wearing a helmet when on your cycling holiday.

E-Bike Upgrades:

Why not upgrade your cycling experience to an E-Bike (Electric Bike)? Using a power assisted bike is a great way to go on a cycling holiday and will help you smooth out inclines or longer days in the saddle.

Each E-Bike features an LCD display, removable batteries for easy charging and assistance up to 25 km/h with a range of around 120 km for each full charge depending on usage.

E-Bike upgrade prices vary per tour, but if you require any more information about bike hire and electric bikes, please get in-touch with us on 0161 703 8161.
Hotels

Hotels

Wapen fan Fryslân

With its 55 metres of length, the Wapen fan Fryslân is the largest two-master schooner on the Dutch waterways. In 1965 the sailing ship was launched as a cargo ship, transporting all kinds of freight throughout the Netherlands, Germany and Belgium. In 2003 the ship was completely transformed into a sailing passenger ship. On board of this marvellous ship you will immediately notice its warm and luxurious atmosphere. The Wapen fan Fryslân takes maximum 36 passengers in 12 comfortable cabins.

The team

The Wapen fan Fryslân sails with a crew of four: a captain, a mate, a chef and a hostess. The crew all speak Dutch, English and German. Any question you may have about cycling, food, times, phone numbers, internet, the ship, waterways or anything else; the crew is pleased to be at your service. The captain and his crew wish you a pleasant time on board!

The cabins

After arrival on board, the crew will show you to your cabin. A cabin is almost like a bedroom at home. You will find a few things to pay attention to in the information map in your cabin. Please read this map carefully.
All 12 spacious cabins have two separate beds that can easily be transformed into a double bed and a folding bed as a third bed which can be used if needed. Each cabin has its own shower, toilet and washbasin. All cabins have ventilation, central heating and two portholes of which one can be opened. Furthermore, you will find a mini safe and 230-Volt-electric sockets in each cabin.

Leafde fan Fryslân

The sailing ship Leafde fan Fryslân, an imposing, three-mast baltic trader, will made its maiden voyage in 2018. The interior of this luxury ship can best be described as refined. The Leafde fan Fryslân will be sailing the Frisian Sea Tour (unguided) and the IJsselmeer tour (guided).

The team

The Leafde fan Fryslân sails with a crew of five: a captain, a mate, a chef, a hostess and a tour leader (only on guided tours). The crew all speak Dutch, English and German. Any question you may have about cycling, food, times, phone numbers, internet, the ship, waterways or anything else; the crew is pleased to be at your service. The captain and his crew wish you a pleasant time on board!

The cabins

After arrival on board, the crew will show you to your cabin. A cabin is almost like a bedroom at home. You will find a few things to pay attention to in the information map in your cabin. Please read this map carefully.
The ship sleeps 25 people in 13 well-appointed twin cabins. with two single beds, which can be set together in most cabins. Two cabins can be booked as a three-bed cabin (the third bed as bunk). Each cabin has an en-suite bathroom with shower, toilet and basin. All cabins have ventilation and heating, portholes and a hatch that can be opened. Furthermore, in each cabin you will find a hairdryer, a mini safe and a 230-Volt socket.

Mare fan Fryslân

The sailing ship Mare fan Fryslân was built in 1960 as a freight ship. It was completely renovated in 2006 and since 2007 it has been used as a very comfortable, beautiful, almost extravagant, three-mast schooner on Dutch waters. The sail can be operated either by hand or electrically. The Mare fan Fryslân is owned by Joris and Rinske de Wit, who also own as well as operate the sailing vessel Leafde fan Fryslân. The Mare fan Fryslân takes maximum 41 passengers in 14 comfortable cabins.

The team

The Mare fan Fryslân sails with a crew of four: a captain, a mate, a chef and a hostess. The crew all speak Dutch, English and German. Any question you may have about cycling, food, times, phone numbers, internet, the ship, waterways or anything else; the crew is pleased to be at your service. The captain and his crew wish you a pleasant time on board!

The cabins

After arrival on board, the crew will show you to your cabin. A cabin is almost like a bedroom at home. You will find a few things to pay attention to in the information map in your cabin. Please read this map carefully.
On the lower deck there are fourteen comfortable cabins. Twelve twin cabins, one junior suite and one single cabin. In some cabins a fold-down bed can be arranged. Each cabin has an en-suite bathroom with shower, toilet and basin. All cabins have ventilation, central heating and portholes that can be opened. Furthermore, each cabin has a mini safe and a hairdryer.

Meals and drinks

The meals on board are substantial and healthy. Breakfast will be served as a buffet and during breakfast you may make your own packed picnic lunch for your bike tour. In the evening the chef serves a three course dinner.
Special meals are available for vegetarians and guests with other moderate diet wishes, but only on prior notification (at least 7 days prior to arrival on board). In case you eat according a strict diet, such as gluten free or lactose free, there is an additional charge of € 50,- per week to be paid on board.

During breakfast and after the cycling tour, coffee and tea are available. Complimentary till 4.00 PM.
Other drinks such as various non-alcoholic drinks, beer, red and white wine and various kind of liquors are available at a charge.
Please note: it is only possible to pay in cash on board (no credit cards, no ATM).
In case you want to consume a bottle of wine that you bought during your bike tour, we charge a corkage of € 6 per bottle. It is not permitted to consume other drinks brought on board by yourself, in the lounge or on the sundeck.

Date & Prices

You can find out more about this cycling holiday by completing a Contact Form or call 0161 703 8161 to speak to one of the team.

You can now book this cycling holiday online using our secure booking engine. Book online here >>

2021 Cycling Holiday Prices:

Mare fan Fryslan | Wapen fan Fryslan | Leafde fan Fryslan

Mare fan Fryslan:

Departures
Season 1	29-05-2021 \| 05-06-2021 \| 12-06-2021 \| 26-06-2021 \| 03-07-2021 \| 10-07-2021 \| 17-07-2021 \| 24-07-2021 \| 07-08-2021 \| 14-08-2021 \| 21-08-2021 \| 28-08-2021 \| 04-09-2021 \| 11-09-2021	Saturdays

Category A Information:

Season	Prices per person
Twin lower Deck	£1020.00
Single Lower Deck	£1305.00
Junior Suite Lower Deck	£1210.00
Triple Lower Deck	£1020.00

Wapen Fan Fryslan:

Departures
Season 1:	01-05-2021 \| 08-05-2021	Saturdays
Season 2:	15-05-2021 \| 22-05-2021 \| 05-06-2021 \| 12-06-2021 \| 19-06-2021 \| 26-06-2021 \| 14-08-2021 \| 04-09-2021 \| 11-09-2021	Saturdays

Category A Information:

Season	Twin Lower Deck	Triple Lower Deck
Season 1	£945.00	£945.00
Season 2	£1020.00	£1020.00

Leafde fan Fryslan:

Departures
Season 1	09-05-2021 \| 19-09-2021	Sunday
Season 2	16-05-2021 \| 23-05-2021 \| 30-05-2021 \| 20-06-2021 \| 27-06-2021 \| 04-07-2021 \| 11-07-2021 \| 18-07-2021 \| 25-07-2021 \| 01-08-2021 \| 15-08-2021 \| 22-08-2021 \| 29-08-2021 \| 05-09-2021 \| 12-09-2021	Sunday

Category A Information:

Season	Small Twin Lower Deck	Twin Lower Deck	Single Lower Deck	Triple Lower Deck	Junior Suite Lower Deck
Season 1	£755.00	£945.00	£1230.00	£945.00	£1135.00
Season 2	£830.00	£1020.00	£1305.00	£1020.00	£1210.00

Touring Bike:	£80
E-Bike Upgrade:	£175
Helmet	£10
Parking Enkhuizen: Parking behind the NS-train station in Enkhuizen is free	but can be very crowded:

Hotel Category Descriptions:

Category Type	Accommodation Overview
Category A:	3 * Family run charming Hotels

Extra Nights (on request)

Date From	Date To
01 May 2021	19 September 2021

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