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Route:
Technical Characteristics:
Tour Profile: Easy. The bicycle tours are individual self-guided, at your own pace, without a tour guide, but with detailed bicycle maps and directions. When a guest does not want to cycle one day, she/he can skip the bike tour and relax on board while cruising to the next harbour.
Distance: 205 - 279 km
Travel Season: Saturday departures Season A: March 23; March 30 and October 5, 2024
Season B: April 6; April 13; September 21 and September 28, 2024
Season C: April 20; April 27; September 7 and September 14, 2024
Season D: May 4; May 11; May 18; May 25; June 1; June 8; June 15; June 22; June 29; July 6; July 13; July 20; July 27; August 3; August 10; August 17; August 24 and August 31, 2024
A comfortable river boat with restaurant and bar (air-conditioned). There is a partly roofed sundeck with seats and store place for the bicycles. On the whole MS Serena comprises 33 cabins on the Main Deck and 18 cabins on the Promenade Deck with two bed cabins (approx. 8-9 square meters) with two single beds. The two Junior Suites (approx. 12 square meters) on the Main Deck have a grand lit (lying surface 1.40 x 2.00 m). There are in total 3 single cabins (2 on the Main Deck and 1 on the Promenade Deck, 6 square meters). All cabins have windows that can be opened on both decks, shower/WC, colour TV and ventilation.
Flat countryside up to the horizon, windmills, canals (Grachten) and cycling that are the Netherlands. And there is so much more. Discover the Netherlands in a unique way on an eight day journey by bike and boat. Well-built cycle paths as well as wide and extensive waterways guarantee an unforgettable holiday. Throughout the day you are cycling on your own through the beautiful landscapes in Rembrandt’s and Van Gogh’s country and in the late afternoon your swimming hotel MS Serena will be at your disposal. And if you don’t like to cycle every day, you can stay on board and enjoy the passing countryside. The province of the Northern Netherlands: The Dutch province of the Northern Netherlands is situated on a peninsula of the North Sea and the Ijsselmeer (Ijssel Sea). The Northern Netherlands was founded due to the separation of the north and south of the Netherlands in 1840. Its capital is Haarlem, the biggest city is Amsterdam. Discover the folklore and tradition in the flat Polderland, on the North Sea and in romantic ports. You travel through a former lake and marsh region that has been drained by the help of windmills since the 17th century. Experience varying, typically Dutch Polder countryside, dunes and the North Sea beaches, the North Sea island Texel and many picturesque harbour villages on the coast of the Ijsselmeer.
Itineraries
Day 1
Individual arrival at Enkhuizen
Check-in on board in the afternoon. Perhaps you take a first short walk through the pretty harbour town with its charming old town.
Day 2
Cycling from Enkhuizen and back, cycle tour 29 - 36 km
Today you will discover the pretty harbor town on the banks of the IJsselmeer and its beautiful surroundings. The rich history of the city can still be felt during a walk through the old town with its numerous villas, canals, churches, city walls and ports. Tip: You should visit the Zuiderzee museum. If you would like to make a day trip to Amsterdam: The Enkhuizen train station is within walking distance of the berth. There are train connections to Amsterdam and back every 30 minutes. Journey time approx. 1 h (ticket not incl.)
Day 3
Sailing from Enkhuizen to Lemmer – Cycling from Lemmer and back 33 - 41 km
Today you sail from IJsselmeer to Lemmer. You start your roundtrip by bike: over the Oosterzee Buren to the Tjeukemeer, further to Munnekeburen, then around the Rottige Meente, over Scherpenzel and Schoterzijl and back to Lemmer, with its historical old part of town and beautiful gable houses. Tip: optional visit of the largest still functioning steam pumping station in the world, “Woudagemaal”.
Day 4
Cycling from Lemmer to Stavoren 32 - 41 km – Sailing from Stavoren to Oudeschild (Island of Texel)
You are going by bike to Sondeler Leien Lake, from there through the woods of Rijsterbos, passing the Mokkebank (a birds’ reservation) to the Roode Klif at Stavoren. From there you travel to Oudeschild on the Island of Texel.
Day 5
Island of Texel - Cycle tour from Oudeschild and back up to 29 - 49 km, sailing from Oudeschild to Den Helder
You are going on a round trip by bike on the biggest North Sea Island of the Netherlands – Texel. There are numerous alternative routes (29/32/47/70 km). Tip: We also recommend you to visit the beer brewery of Texel (optional). About 5:00 pm sailing back to Den Helder.
Day 6
Cycling from Den Helder via Sint Maartensvlotbrug to Alkmaar 27 - 57 km
In the morning you cycle through the dunes to Alkmaar. It is possible for you to go on board the MS Serena in St. Maartensvlotburg and boat the rest of the way to Alkmaar. As an alternative, you can also start your cycling tour in St. Maartensvlotburg.
Day 7
Sailing from Alkmaar to Wormerveer – cycling from Wormerveer - Hoorn, cycle tour 55 km
In the morning you start from Wormerveer to the open-air museum Zaanse Schans (windmills, ancient Dutch village, cheese factory, etc). After your visit you will continue in the direction of Volendam. On the way you have the opportunity to visit a cheese dairy in Katwoude. Here you can see how Gouda cheese and the traditional Dutch wooden shoes are made. Via Volendam, known as a traditional fishing village with typical authentic cottages, you cycle to Hoorn. For a short visit of the historic old town with its many buildings from the 17th century (e.g. the harbour tower as well as the storage houses at the old quai) you should take some time.
Day 8
Sailing to Enkhuizen
Early in the morning shipping to Enkhuizen. Checkout until 9:00 am and we are saying goodbye – have a safe journey.
Prices
Included:
- Seven nights in outside cabins with shower/WC in the booked cabin category
- Programme according to the routing to/from Enkhuizen
- Welcome drink
- Room cleaning every day
- Changing of towels and bed sheets if wanted
- Full board consisting of 7x breakfast buffet, 6x lunch snack on board (non-cyclists) or lunch package for cycle tours, 6x coffee or tea in the afternoon, 7x 3 course dinner
- All charges for harbours, bridges and locks
- Daily meeting for the cycling tours
- Printed instructions and detailed maps for daily individual bike tours (1 per cabin)
- Tour guide on board
- GPS tracks
Not Included:
- Journey to/from Enkhuizen
- Shuttles
- Bike rental
- Entrance fees and excursions
- Ferry tickets
- Drinks on board
- Gratuities (at your discretion) and own expenses
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