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.

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Highlights

• Exciting Amsterdam
• Leiden, the birthplace of Rembrandt
• Historic Haarlem
• Keukenhof
• Holland's glorious flower fields
• Hortus Bulborum
• Gouda and cheese
• Zaanse Schans, historic windmills and village

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.

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.

Boats

• Iris

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.

Dates

Prices

Included services

• 7 x nights on board the Iris
• 7 x breakfast, 6 x packed lunches, and 6 x dinners
• Welcome meeting and complimentary beverage
• Coffee and tea
• Daily cabin cleaning
• Route information
• Cycling tour guide (a second guide will be added with more than 18 guests
• Admission to Castle de Haar, Cheese farm, Keukenhof and Hortus Bulborum
• Wifi on board

Bike rentals

Available for rent:

• 8-speed city touring bike 
• 9-speed electric bike

Accessories included with bike rental:

• Helmet
• Panniers
• Water bottle
• Safety lock

Bike Protection:
Bike protection can be purchased at the time of booking. You can read more about that HERE.

Tour Company