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Self-Guided Cycling In Holland

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 Trip Length
8 Days
 Trip Starts
Amsterdam
 Trip Finishes
Amsterdam
8 Day Self-Guided Cycling In Holland Itinerary (Explore)
Countries Explored: Holland
Trip Style
Cycling
Accommodation
Comfortable
Pace
Easy
Trip Code
CSNL

Overview

Book online and enjoy exclusive savings on Explore's 8 Day Self-Guided Cycling In Holland. Explore the green heart of Holland - countryside of polders, windmills, villages and meadows Historic towns including Haarlem, Gouda on this self-guided cycling holiday.

Itinerary

Our cycling trips starts in Amsterdam today. Your bike will be delivered either today or tomorrow morning.

There are public transport options easily available to make your way from Amsterdam Airport (AMS) or from the Eurostar terminal.

With so much to do in this bustling city, you may like to consider arriving before the start of your holiday. If you get here early you may opt to wander around the gorgeous and surprisingly peaceful seventeenth century canal ring area (UNESCO World Heritage Site). If you like bustle, make your way to the city's famous squares: Dam, Rembrandtplein and Leidseplein. Should you prefer to roam off the beaten track, saunter up Brouwersgracht or hire a canal bike and find out what the city looks like from the water. Stay: Westcord Art Hotel (Comfortable)

You may choose to get an early start and beat the queues at the Van Gogh or Anne Frank museum. Alternatively you wish to move on first thing after breakfast, say 'tot ziens!' to amazing Amsterdam and mount your bike to journey through Kennemerland where a great variety of lovely countryside awaits: vast polders, wild(life) gardens, country estates, woods and beautiful peatland. You will stay the night in the elegant city of Haarlem. The attractive city centre offers a wealth of possibilities for shopping, delving into art and culture, or relaxing in cafes and restaurants.

Your total cycling distance today is approximately 21 kilometres. Stay: Golden Tulip Lion d'Or (Comfortable) (B)

Downtown Haarlem deserves to be thoroughly explored. We recommend a city walk to discover the city's hidden 'hofjes'. A hofje is a square of old tiny almshouses set around an idyllic courtyard, often built by the church or by private charity to house older people. Also dating back to the Dutch Golden Age, the works of Haarlem painter Frans Hals (group portraiture) and his townsmen including Jacob Ruysdael (land- and seascapes) and Pieter Saenredam (church interiors) are on display at the Frans Hals museum. In the afternoon get set for a colourful bike trip through the dune and bulb region. Perhaps visit between April and mid-May to capture the flower bulb fields in their full splendour! Tulips, crocuses, daffodils and hyacinths are grown here commercially (for bulb export) and temporarily transform the landscape into one of the country's best-loved tourist attractions. Leiden is Holland's oldest university town, with a very busy cultural events calendar and a friendly city centre with canals, monuments, windmills and museums. The historical botanical gardens get special mention.

Your total cycling distance today is approximately 38 kilometres. Stay: Best Western City Hotel Leiden (Comfortable) (B)

After taking your leave of lively Leiden, peace and quiet will reign once more in today's typically Dutch scenery. Note all the orderly rectangles in this man-made polder landscape (mostly peatland reclamations). Let shining lakes and green pastures, old windmills and farmhouses pass you by whilst pedalling on to the famous city of Delft. The quiet charm of historical Delft is breathtaking. Most will associate Delft with its blue and white hand-painted pottery: Delftware. But did you know that painter Johannes Vermeer (1632-1675) lived in Delft all his life? The Vermeer Centre gives illuminating insights into his life, works and city (no original paintings on show here).

Your total cycling distance today is approximately 24 kilometres. Stay: Best Western City Hotel Leiden (Comfortable) (B)

This stretch of the cycle route takes you through the 'Groene Hart' area; a protected green belt adjacent to the urban sprawl of the 'Randstad conurbation', made up of Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague and Utrecht. Balancing atop polder dikes, delight in characteristic villages, far horizons and pleasingly strict rectangles cut in fields of vibrant green. As you wander around the city of Gouda at the end of the day, don't miss the gothic town hall (1450); the Weighing House (1667); the romantic inner city canals and the stained glass windows in St. John's Church. Gouda is also famous for making syrup waffles (try one hot!) and candles. If you're travelling in summer, you may like to plan your trip so that you can witness the traditional Thursday morning cheese market at the start of Day 6 (last Thursday in May till last Thursday in August - please check!).

Your total cycling distance today is approximately 34 kilometres. Stay: Best Western Plus Gouda (Comfortable) (B)

After a hearty breakfast at your hotel, get back on your bike and set off on the longest leg of this bike tour. Still in the 'green heart', the scenery is punctuated by rivers, small villages, meadows, polders and lakes (bird lovers, bring your binoculars). You may be tempted to stop for a sample of Dutch style apple tart! Thus fortified, continue on your way to Woerden.

Your total cycling distance today is approximately 38 kilometres. Stay: Best Western Hotel Woerden (Comfortable) (B)

Today is a short day so you have time to spend the afternoon in Amsterdam. From Mijdrecht you cycle towards the beautiful River Amstel. Amsterdam took its name from this river and also Amstel beer is named after the river. The Amstel brewery, as a lot of other breweries, was situated close to the Amstel river because clean river water was used to produce the beer. With the river as your guide you will cycle back to Amsterdam.

Your total cycling distance today is approximately 47 kilometres. Stay: Westcord Art Hotel (Comfortable) (B)

After breakfast, the organised part of your cycling holiday comes to an end. Enjoy a big hearty breakfast one last time - don't forget to try chocolate sprinkles!

Public transport is easy to arrange to get back to Amsterdam Airport (AMS) or the Eurostar terminal. (B)

Trip Inclusions

  • Amsterdam - Discover this vibrant historic Capital city
  • Green heart of Holland - a countryside of polders, windmills, villages and meadows
  • Historic towns - Haarlem, Gouda and Delft
  • Art - The opportunity throughout the trip to see beautiful works by the Dutch grandmasters

  • Suitable for anyone who enjoys easy and relatively short rides on flat or gently undulating terrain. Ideal if you simply want to Explore a region by bike at a relaxed pace.

  • Accommodation, itinerary and inclusions subject to change.
  • Price is for land, cruise and internal flights as specified. Flights not specified are not included
Group Cycling Holidays
Group Cycling Holidays

On a group cycling trip you can enjoy getting to know others & enjoy experiences together but you can still retain your independence. Read more

Explore Leaders
Explore Leaders

Explore's tour leaders, who will speak the local language and know the area, will look after you throughout your cycling holiday. Read more

Where do we Stay?
Where do we Stay?

The places Explore stay are every bit as important as the sights they visit and the things you do. Read more

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Small Group Adventures

Explore Small Group Adventures (2023-24)

From big wows to hidden gems, our tours leave you feeling that you’ve really explored. We’ll take you closer to the country, its culture and people, often in spontaneous, impossible-to-replicate ways. You’ll come home having seen and experienced the destination in a way that others might never have. We’ve been leading tours to extraordinary destinations...more all over the world for more than 40 years. There’s a reason why 98% of customers say they’d book with us again.

Prices & Dates

There are currently no departures available on this trip. Either it's the end of the season and new departures will be released shortly, or this itinerary has been changed and will no longer continue. Feel free to contact us for information about when next seasons dates will be released or click here to view the general release dates for all destinations.

Note
Tour & cruises prices are per person. Prices shown have savings applied, are subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time without notice. Prices and trip information are correct at the time at this point in time, however are subject to confirmation at the time of booking and are subject to change by Explore. For cruise itineraries, cabin images are sourced from Explore. These should be treated as indicative only. Cabin inclusions, upholsteries and room layout may differ to the image(s) shown depending on the ship selected and your sailing dates.

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