Tour price includes:

• 7 nights lodging on the boat
• Breakfast and dinner on board for 7 days and packed lunches
• Entry fees for activities included in the program
• English-speaking tour guide
• Rental bicycles

Not included:

• Airfare
• Travel and health insurance
• Expenses and activities not identified as included in the tour (e.g. shopping, personal expenses, alcoholic beverages)

• The boat is a motorized passenger barge (it is not a cruise ship). It accommodates 24-28 people. The cabins are small, cozy. There is a salon with audio equipment and tv and plenty of room on deck.
• Each cabin has its own private bathroom with shower and heating. The cabins do not have irons or hair dryers. The boat is non-smoking.
• Cabins are double occupancy.
  There are two styles:
  • Twin beds, stacked (bunk beds)
  • Double bed
• Boat does not have an internet connection. (This is your chance to take a real vacation!) Boat does not have laundry machines.
• Crew speaks English.

We bicycle an average of 25-30 miles per day. (For comparison: Maryland’s NCR trail from Ashland MD to Pennsylvania border & back is 40 miles roundtrip.) The country is completely flat – no hills!

The cycling pace is moderate; trips include breaks & sightseeing stops. The group bicycles together, so the pace is determined by the abilities of all the participants. We’ll be a fairly small group — 20-28 people. If some people want to split off and bike at a different pace, that is also an option.

Bicycles will be supplied to you for use on the tour. We do not recommend participants bring their own bicycles because of the logistics and cost involved.

The bikes are Dutch-made, 24-speed, with handbrakes, pannier bags, lock, and water bottle. It is a European-style “utility bike” designed for city commuting, made by the renown Gazelle company, the oldest bicycle company in the Netherlands. Tandem bikes are also available upon request.

Specialized cycle clothing may be handy to bring just if you happen to own some, but is not really necessary.

What if I am not sure I can bike 25-30 miles a day?

Here are some alternative options to consider:

• Take a break on one or more days and stay on the boat – you will see very nice scenery along the way.
• Get a tandem bike from us, so that your companion and you can join forces and bike together!
• Take a train during the day and meet up with the group at stop(s) along the way. Look at museums and shops while you wait for the cyclists to arrive in the town. The train system in the Netherlands is excellent and is used by everyone to get around. Bikes can be taken on the train.
• Do some practice riding before you leave for the trip - if you start two months before the trip you should be in a good position. Baltimore Spokes website has a list of bike trails. For example, try the NCR trail or Baltimore-Annapolis trail. Or do several loops of the in-city trails.

The Netherlands is a very diverse country – quaint towns, pastoral countryside, modern metropolises, museums, and waterways, with a rich, long history – so no day on this tour is the same.

Breakfast is at 8am on the boat. We bicycle during the day, with sightseeing stops along the way and we take a packed lunch along. An experienced English-speaking tour guide accompanies the cyclists each day. In many cases, there are several sightseeing options possible, so the day’s itinerary can be tailored to your interests.

Your luggage stays stored in your cabin on the boat. The boat travels during the day and meets you at the evening’s stop for a 3-course dinner meal. Coffee and tea is included. Soft drinks and alcoholic drinks are available at a charge.

The boat docks in picturesque towns, so you can choose to explore the local sights and cafés in the evening after dinner. The sun sets late, around 9:15pm. Boat stays moored at night while you are asleep.

The Netherlands is an easy country to travel in! The infrastructure is well designed, the bicycle paths are safe and comfortable, and most people speak English. It is cosmopolitan, multi-cultural, and very vibrant and modern.

This tour is not suited for people seeking a quiet private vacation, people who want to speed through each day of their vacation, nor for people looking for a serious biking challenge. Instead, we’ll have a good mix of selected tourist highlights, off-the-beaten-track activities, and plenty of rest stops!

The group is expected to include (among others) residents of Maryland. It might also include some people who are interested in promoting bicycling in USA. The trip is a unique opportunity to meet and network with people from the Maryland region and with Dutch people. The trip is organized by Baltimore-Rotterdam Sister City Committee (BRSCC). Even though we are based in Baltimore, you do not need to be a Baltimore or Maryland resident to go on this trip.