Imagine a floating hotel sailing to the next stage, while you are calmly pedalling along. No dragging of your luggage: that is exactly what our bike and barge tours are all about. In the relaxed atmosphere on board you can have a chat, reflect on the day with your fellow passengers and enjoy the freshly prepared meals. In the evenings, unwind with a drink in the salon or watch the sunset from the deck.
Do not expect a cruise ship with its passive luxury. Our bike & barge tours are for people who really enjoy the physical activity of cycling and who value sociability over wholesale luxury. Can you already imagine yourself travelling this way?
Our bike and barge tours in short:
With our bike and barge tours, you discover some of Europe’s most beautiful places, from two different perspectives: from both your (bike) saddle and the water. During the day you will cycle along the most scenic routes with your travel group, accompanied by a tour guide. And while you are on the road, the barge sails ahead and meets you at the next overnight stop.
Once you arrive on board, the evening is all about relaxation. Enjoy a freshly prepared meal, catch up with your travel companions and unwind in the lounge or out on the sun deck. After a rewarding day, you retreat to your private cabin with an en-suite bathroom, where your luggage is already waiting for you. Good to know: you don’t have to pack and unpack your things every day, as your accommodation travels with you along the water whilst you explore beautiful cycle routes on land.
And do you fancy a day of rest? Feel free to stay on board. You can shape your holiday entirely to your liking.
Which European country would you like to discover? You can choose from more than 10 countries, including the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, France, Austria, Croatia, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Scotland, and Slovakia. All routes feature excellent cycle paths close to the water (rivers, canals and harbours), so you can easily return to your boat in the evening. You can choose from a wide variety of boat and bike tours, including the famous tulip tours in the Netherlands. Or how about cycling and cruising along the Danube? Or maybe island hopping in Greece? The choice is yours!
Find your ideal cycling holiday →
Our ships are comfortably furnished and designed to make you feel at home throughout your journey. On board, you will find a spacious dining room, a sun deck and, on most ships, a cosy lounge with a bar where you can relax after a day of cycling. Most barges also offer limited Wi-Fi access, and many are equipped with air conditioning. Feel free to help yourself to unlimited coffee and tea throughout the day, and there is usually no shortage of snacks on board either. Whether you prefer to socialise with your fellow travellers or simply enjoy the passing scenery: there is always a comfortable place to unwind.
You will have your own cabin on board. Most cabins are twin or double cabins, although some ships also offer single and triple cabins. Every cabin features a porthole or window, ensuring plenty of natural daylight. Good to know: storage space is limited, so we recommend bringing one suitcase or backpack per person. In most cabins, luggage can be stored conveniently underneath the bed. All cabins are provided with:
The exact layout and facilities may vary from ship to ship. You can find detailed information about your ship on the relevant tour page.
The cabins are small and compact but well laid out, so storage was no problem. Good ventilation and the beds were very comfortable.
The international atmosphere on board is one of the most attractive aspects of our bike and barge holidays. It is a great opportunity to meet people from different cultures and backgrounds. Our guests mainly come from the United States and Canada, followed by travellers from the United Kingdom, Germany, France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Australia, and New Zealand. Therefore, the language spoken on board and during the holidays is English.
Our guests include all ages, solo travellers, couples, and families with children (during school holidays). Most groups consist of 12 to 26 people. You cycle together every day with a tour guide, but you are of course free to set your own pace. Prefer to cycle independently? Then you can book a self-guided bike and barge holiday.
Our crew will give you a warm welcome on board! The team usually consists of the captain, a chef, a deckhand, a host, and a housekeeper who cleans your cabin daily. And of course: the tour guides are an essential part of your journey. They lead the cycling tours and provide explanations about the regions, bike rides, and highlights along the way. On top of that, they provide help in case a bike breaks down. The guide is multi-lingual and speaks at least English.
Do you prefer to cycle independently? In that case, you will receive detailed travel information, a cycling guide and/or GPS tracks from us. The tour lead can also, in consultation with you, suggest an alternative or customised route. Whatever suits you best!
I felt incredibly cared for and attented to by all crew members. We are not very experienced cyclist and the crew helped us and were very patient. No shame in being a beginner. They are fabulous representatives of Cycle Tours.
Booking a bike for your tour is easy. You can choose from a range of rental bikes, including a standard touring bike, an e-bike or a children's bike. Whichever option you choose: your bike will be fully equipped with gears, hand brakes, a pannier bag, a sturdy lock, a water bottle, and a helmet. Travelling with children? You can also rent additional equipment such as a trailer bike or a child’s seat.
We ensure that your bike (and any extras) are ready for you at the departure point. We take your height into account so that you fit comfortably on the bike. You will also receive proper instructions on how to use the bike. Prefer to bring your own (e-)bike? That is also possible. All bicycles are placed on the boat every evening so that they travel safely with you.
Meals on board vary slightly per barge, but your chef knows exactly what hungry cyclists need after a day on the saddle. The day starts with an extensive breakfast buffet, followed by followed by a moment where you can pack your own lunch for the day. It includes a selection of bread, fillings, juice, a snack, and fruit. Perfect to take along on your ride!
When you return on board after the day’s cycling, a cup of tea or coffee with a snack will be waiting for you. And what about dinner? Every night a freshly prepared three-course dinner awaits you, with a different menu each day. All meals are included in the price, as well as coffee and tea. Soft drinks and alcoholic beverages are available at a reasonable charge.
If you have allergies, food intolerances (such as lactose or gluten) or specific dietary requirements (vegetarian or pescatarian), please let us know when booking. We will do our best to accommodate your needs, although options may be limited due to the logistical constraints of a barge kitchen.
For some tours, a small surcharge applies for gluten-free or lactose-free meals. Unfortunately, we are unable to offer vegan meals. The space in the kitchens on our ships is limited (for storage and preparation) and therefore we cannot guarantee that the meals are completely vegan.
The size of the group depends on the barge scheduled on the tour. The capacity of the barges varies between 10 and 170 participants, but on most barges the capacity is between 10 and 24 people.
However, on the larger barges a guided cycling group never consists of more than 26 people.
The average daily distance on our Bike & Barge tours in the Netherlands is 50 kilometers (32 miles). But don’t forget that Dutch countryside is very flat and the stages, taken at a leisurely pace, take seven to eight hours including a number of breaks and visits.The time spent on your bicycle is about 4 hours per day.
You find the average daily distance on the tour page under 'Summary'.
The cycling levels of the tours are listed on the tour page under 'Characteristics'.
An explanation of the different levels and information about the required skills and fitness can be found on the page ' Biking levels and safety'.
However, for each of our holidays you must have at least basic cycling skills and good physical condition.
The main countries represented by our cycling guests are: United States and Canada. We also receive guests from United Kingdom, Germany, France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Australia and New Zealand. The common language on board is English.
In Amsterdam and Bruges you can park your car in various car parks. E.g. in Amsterdam the nearest parking is Parking Oosterdok, about € 375,- for 7 days (7 x 24 hrs).
More information about parking your car at the beginning of your tour is included in your travel documents, which you will receive by email prior to your trip.
Yes, free WiFi is limited available in lounge and on deck.
We recommond to wear a bike helmet on all tours. On our own tours (barges Anna Antal; Liza Marleen; Anna van Aemstel; Sailing Home and Clair de Lune) we provide a safety helmet with all our own rental bikes.
In some countries a helmet is mandatory, if so this is stated on the tour page.