Bruges to Paris by Bike and Boat (and reverse)

Day 1: Bruges
11 miles/18km

At 2:00 pm, you'll be welcomed aboard the boat in beautiful Bruges. There'll be an opportunity to test your bike on a ride into the surrounding countryside, and to enjoy a guided walk around town in the evening. Bruges, the 'Pearl of the Flanders', is an exceptional city well worth the visit.

Overnight in Bruges.

Day 2: Bruges – Ghent
37 or 25 miles/60 or 40km

Today's ride into the typical Flanders countryside will see you discovering small villages, atmospheric patches of forest, and rich fields and pastures before you approach the thriving city of Ghent. Ghent boasts a fascinating history, visible in the layout and buildings in the center, which is home to such highlights as St. Bavo's Cathedral (containing the famous painting The Adoration of the Mystic Lamb by the van Eyck brothers), a castle, the Museum of Fine Arts, and more. In the evening, sparkling lights and the warm glow emanating from bustling restaurants give Ghent a cozy, intimate feel. Today, you'll have the option to cover the first leg of the tour aboard the ship and join the group by bike a little later.

Overnight in Ghent.

Day 3: Ghent – Oudenaarde
28 miles/45km

Today features another lovely ride through the Flanders countryside, partially following the River Schelde. Today's goal is Oudenaarde, famous for its town hall, church, beer breweries, and the Tour of Flanders Center (by bike). You'll enjoy a walk in town after your arrival.

Overnight in Oudenaarde.

Day 4: Oudenaarde – Tournai
28 or 34 miles/45 or 55km

There's the option to visit the center this morning whilst the museums are open. The tour continues onwards through the Schelde River Valley. After crossing the Flemish/French language border, this river is called the Escaut! To the left, grand hills dominate a beautiful horizon. The ancient cobblestone roads snaking around these are famous for being part of the Tour of Flanders speed cycling race. Diehard fans can try one or two themselves!

Stop for lunch in a charming little village. The afternoon goal is to reach Tournai, where you can watch large ships sailing through the medieval watergate. The town center is on the UNESCO World Heritage Site list, dominated by an immense cathedral with 5 towers!

Overnight in Tournai.

Day 5: Tournai – Arleux
50km

Today's tour begins with an early sail - the ship has to cover quite a distance today due to a large loop in the river. Lovely riding will follow as you venture into atmospheric forests and visit St. Amand-Les-Eaux, home to a grand abbey tower.

You'll explore the relatively narrow belt of land between the English Channel and the German Ruhr area next, an area that once supported major coal mining in the 19th and early 20th centuries, with relics of the industry still visible in the landscape, including in the vibrant red brick buildings.

Overnight in Arleux.

Day 6: Arleux – Moislains
31 miles/50km

Arleux is at the beginning of the Canal du Nord, and the sail today may be a little longer depending on shipping traffic and how easily the many locks can be navigated. The plan will be to moor near the village of Moslains, where a night in the quiet French countryside boasts a charm of its own.

Today you'll enter the agricultural landscapes of Northern France, and you may encounter a few slopes along the way. The town of Cambrai (once a part of the Netherlands during the 16th century) is nearby, and you may have time to visit depending on the today's cycling start time.

Overnight in Moislains.

Day 7: Moislains – Peronne
12 or 28 miles/20 or 45km

Enjoy a short ride today into the town of Péronne, following the canal, and with at least one serious slope. In the afternoon, you'll have the option for another ride with a lovely halfway point.

Overnight in Péronne.

Day 8: Péronne

In Péronne, the Historial - the war museum in the castle - is well worth visiting. There is another local museum in the center, and guests who are interested in the history of the Great War of 1914-18 can use their day off to explore one or more places connected with World War I. To the west, for example, in the direction of Amiens, you'll find the Australian sector. Your guide can give you more information at the beginning of your journey, which you'll set out on independently via taxi, for example (not included in tour price).

Overnight in Péronne.

Day 9: Péronne – Pont l'Eveque
31 or 40 miles/50 or 65km

An early sail or an afternoon sail will be part of the itinerary today. Between Péronne and Compiegne there will be a few hills to conquer. This is a landscape typical of Northern France, featuring undulating fields and quaint little villages. Noyon has a very old, intriguing cathedral to discover, around 3 km away from the mooring point near Pont l’Eveque.

Overnight in Pont l'Eveque.

Day 10: Pont l'Eveque – Compiegne
25 or 31 miles/40 or 50km

Enjoy an atmospheric ride through the forest, one serious slope, and a glide through the verdant valley of St. Crépinaux-Bois. You'll pay a visit to the forested Clairiere de l’Armistice (armistice site, 1918/1940) before continuing along the rivers of Aisne and Oise into Compiegne. After your arrival in Compiegne, you'll have time to spend in the historic town, where you can discover the Palace Museum and the town's links to Joan of Arc.

Overnight in Compiegne.

Day 11: Compiegne – Creil
25 or 31 miles/40 or 50km

Today's ride begins with a fun venture into the immense forest east of town, including a visit to the castle of Pierrefonds, restored and rebuilt in the 19th century by the famous architect Violet le Duc. Between the trees, you'll discover the village of St. Jean-aux-Bois and the Roman ruins just to the south, whilst a short ride along a new bike path next to the river brings you to Béthisy-St. Pierre. From here, you'll cycle to the ship for the sail to the mooring place on the Oise river in Creil.

Overnight in Creil.

Day 12: Creil – Cergy-Pontoise
31 miles/50km

Today's ride ventures into a wooded area with lovely bike paths. There are a few options for sites to visit: the town of Senlis, the Chantilley Castle, and Royaumont Abbey. Part of the distance today will be covered by the sail between mooring places.

En route to Pontoise, you'll make a stop near the little town of Auvers, connected with the famous Dutch painter Vincent Van Gogh, who spent some of his last months here producing a number of paintings. Enjoy a guided walk to hear about the history of this sweet town.

Overnight in Cergy-Pontoise.

Day 13: Cergy-Pontoise – Bougival
12 or 28 miles/20 or 45km

Sailing downstream along the River Oise and then upstream along the Seine is one of the highlights of this tour! As you cycle today, you'll find many interesting things to visit in a short distance. The bike ride can begin in Pontoise or Conflans-St. Honorine, an old river port where the Seine and Oise meet. Between Conflans and Bougival, the distance is less than 30 km.

Discover a center for horse riding in Maisons Lafitte. In the next town, St. Germain-en-Laye, discover a museum with an impressive collection of human artifacts from the early days of man until the early Middle Ages. Just 4 km away from Bougival, mainly following bike paths, you'll find the Chateau Museum of Malmaison with its beautiful park, once the dwelling place of Napoleon and his first wife, Joséphine. It's an intimate alternative to a visit to the grand but crowded chateau at Versailles.

Overnight in Bougival.

Day 14: Bougival – Paris
25 or 28 miles/40 or 45km

Today you'll find yourself in the suburbs of Paris, surrounded by some of its lovely, greener areas. Some serious hills are involved in part of this day trip. The first appear as you approach the world-famous Palace of Versailles, an unmissable icon of the City of Light. You can visit the park, but a visit to the chateau itself is quite time-consuming, and deserves a whole or half day reserved for exploration (take a look at our cycling day tours catering to this exact purpose). Today, though, you will be able to explore the exquisite gardens before taking in the highlights of Paris. The traffic will be more intense than you've previously experienced on the tour, but there is also the option to stay on board the boat and see Paris from the river.

Day 15: Paris, departure

Departure from the boat in Paris after breakfast.

Don't want the adventure to end? Take a look at our cycling day tours in Paris.