Tulip Tour - Bike & Boat Holland's Famous Tulip Fields
7 nights from €2290
5
Explore Amsterdam, Castles, Cheese and Tulips!
Biking in Holland is one thing, boating another, but both are fabulous!
Holland is the land of bicycles and the land of water, after all. Include tulips in the mix, and you have something even more fabulous: a bike and boat tour during peak Tulip season. Pure joy!
You head south from Amsterdam to Utrecht and then head west. Once in Gouda, the route again leads north, encountering the best bulb fields. In Lisse, you will visit the Keukenhof, the world's garden. Continuing north, your bike and boat itinerary continues to showcase the very best of Holland during Tulip season! You cycle behind the dunes of the North Sea and pedal through the wide-open, color-infused flower fields. You then follow the paths to the private gardens of Hortus Bulborum, a historical garden dedicated to preserving the old varieties of tulips.
Enjoy loads of extras, including a visit to the open-air historical museum, Zaanse Schans, where the 18th and 19th centuries are brought to life.
Travel by bike and boat and enjoy a wonderful cycling vacation during peak tulip season.
Daily Program
Day 1: Amsterdam - Utrecht
Hop aboard the Iris around 1 pm, where the friendly crew will be there to welcome you. As the boat takes off from Amsterdam, you'll settle into your room and get a briefing about the ship and today's cycling adventure. You can choose to pedal from Breukelen to Utrecht or simply enjoy the boat ride over the Lek, a branch of the Rhine.
Day 2: Utrecht - Gouda
Today kicks off with a ride to the impressive Castle De Haar, guided by the locals. Afterward, you'll pedal to Oudewater, a medieval town with its quirky "Heksenwaag" witch scales. No witch convictions here thanks to a unique history! Your final stop is Gouda, a picturesque historic city where old meets new, and where that famous Dutch cheese hails from.
Day 3: Gouda - Leiden
Get ready for a scenic ride through the green heart of Holland. Despite being close to big cities, this area remains a peaceful green oasis. Your first stop? A cheese farm for a tasty and educational tour.
Day 4: Leiden - Haarlem
Today's star is the Keukenhof – 79 acres of flower heaven with millions of blooms, including tulips, hyacinths, and more. Don't worry; your ride also takes you through flower fields before and after your Keukenhof visit. Later, you'll dock in Haarlem, often called "Little Amsterdam."
Day 5: Haarlem to Alkmaar
Cycle through nature reserves along the North Sea dunes, enjoy lunch by the beach, and visit Hortus Bulborum, the ultimate heirloom bulb garden. It's a place of incredible diversity, and the local volunteers are super proud of it.
Day 6: Alkmaar to Zaanse Schans
Start with historic windmills in Schermer, a land reclamation success story. Lunch in De Rijp, another charming village, and then head to Zaanse Schans. It's an open-air museum offering a peek into the past, and it's even more magical once the crowds have left.
Day 7: Zaanse Schans to Amsterdam
You can choose a shorter or longer ride today. Opt for the shorter one, and you'll be in Amsterdam by lunchtime, with the afternoon to explore or visit museums.
Day 8: Farewell Amsterdam
After a hearty breakfast, it's time to say goodbye to your fellow adventurers, guides, and the fantastic crew who made this journey unforgettable.
Daily distances are approx. 28 mi./45 km.
Boats
Iris
12 cabins, 2 decks, 6 tours The Iris navigates on rivers and canals in the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Luxembourg, and Germany.
Bikes
Standard touring bike - Sensa
A sporty, performance-oriented touring bike designed for more experienced cyclists. With a derailleur system and a wide gear range, it’s perfect for riders looking for more control and speed variation on various terrains.
- Derailleur gear system
- 27 speeds
- Standard touring tires
- Gel saddle for comfort
- Platform pedals
- Rear rack
Standard touring bike - Giant (LIV series)
Lightweight, low-maintenance, and equipped with a belt drive, this touring bike is ideal for both daily and recreational use. Combining a synthetic belt and internal gearing with a stainless steel chainring and cog, this bike offers an exceptionally durable system requiring almost no maintenance in relation to chain drives.
- Aluxx grade aluminum step through frame
- Belt driven with internal gear hub
- 8 speeds
- Hydraulic disc brakes
- Selle royal Nuvola gel saddle
- Platform pedals
- Giant 700x 45 multi-surface tires
- Rear rack
- 14.6 kg
Electric bike - Gazelle Ultimate C8
- Stable and rigid step-through frame
- Integrated 500 Wh battery
- Bosch Active Line Plus motor
- Nexus hub and Gates belt drive
- Hydraulic disc brakes
- Front fork with integrated suspension
- Schwalbe Energizer Plus tires
- Selle Royal Loire saddle
More about electrically-assisted bikes
Accessories
All rental bikes are equipped with:
- Panniers
- Water bottle
- Helmet
Bike Protection:
Bike protection is included with your booking. You can read more about that HERE.
Surface and terrain
You will cycle a flat terrain on well developed bike paths and country roads.
The daily cycling distances vary from of approximately 25 miles/40 km to 38 miles/60 km. One certain days, there is an option to only cycle part of the route and spend the rest of the day on board.
How to get there
Tour start and end:
Nearest airport: Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS)
From AMS airport, it is just a short train ride to Amsterdam Central Train Station, close to the center where the ship are moored.
Reviews
- ★★★★★ Nellie
Unbelievable
Our trip is ending in the am, sad to see it end! It was beyond our expectations! Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!
We will be back!- What was the date of your tour?
- May 1
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- First-time bike tourists
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
- ★★★★★ Harry Payton
Excellent well organized trip. Fun
The experience overall was great. The barge was very comfortable. Food was excellent. Bikes were very good and well maintained. Guides were knowledgeable and fun
- What was the date of your tour?
- 4/10/25
- How many tours have you completed?
- 2
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- First-time bike tourists, Solo travelers, Families with teens, Families with young kids
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
- ★★★★★ David S.
Biking through the Tulip country
We had an excellent bike and barge trip through Holland. Thomas and Alice were great guides and they even prevented rain storms ;)
- ★★★★★ Donna F.
Wonderful way to tour Holland?
Beautiful countryside and quaint towns all along the way. Ride had good pacing. Our guides, Thomas and Alice, were superb. Staying on the Iris was a pleasure all the way. The accommodations were very comfortable, the crew was terrific, and the food was really fabulous. Would recommend this to my friends.
- What was the date of your tour?
- April 2025
- How many tours have you completed?
- 10
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- First-time bike tourists, Solo travelers, Families with teens
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
More About This Tour
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