You probably already know our bike and boat trips. But did you know that you can have a bit more of an adventure on our Sail & Bike tours? On these voyages we swap our well-known river cruise ships for beautiful sailing vessels and instead of calm rivers and canals, we travel on open waters. Curious?
In this post you’ll find out what awaits you on our cycling and sailing tours: learn what makes a trip by sailing ship and bicycle so special, get to know our stately sailing ships and discover the individual tours before embarking on your own Sail & Bike adventure!
All our Sail & Bike tours
What makes a sailing tour so special
Is it the connection with nature or the feeling of absolute freedom? However you answer this question: a trip on a sailing ship is definitely a fascinating experience that you will never forget. Still deciding if a sailing adventure is right for you? To help you on your way, we’ve collected a few reasons that, to us, make sailing so unique:
1. Experience unlimited freedom
Let go and immerse yourself in a completely different way of moving and thinking. You can feel incredibly free on a biking and sailing tour, especially when you glide across the water with the wind in your hair. This way of traveling puts you in tune with all four elements: wind, water, earth and the fire in your muscles as you cycle.
2. Become one with the forces of nature
On board a ship propelled by the wind, you’ll feel the power of nature. It’s not up to you whether the wind shakes the sails hard or if there’s only a gentle breeze. There is only one thing you can do: clear your head and trust the power of nature – and of course your own strength when cycling.
3. Become a sailor yourself
On board our sailing ships, you can be as active or as relaxed as you’d like. When the sails are hoisted, our crew is always happy to have a few helping hands, if you’d like to help. It doesn’t matter whether you’re already an experienced sea dog or if it’s your first time on a ship. There’s definitely no better way to learn how a sailing ship works.
4. A real seafaring adventure – but with comfort
Exploring the islands and coastal landscapes of the Netherlands will make you feel like a modern-day explorer. Find out for yourself how seafarers from bygone times lived on their ships. You’ll enjoy all the historical charm, but without the deprivations!
Introducing our sailing ships
The four sailing ships for our cycling and sailing tours are among the most beautiful and elegant ships in our fleet. They’re two-maste or three-masted schooners of between 48 and 55 meters long (157-180 feet) and are named the Elizabeth, the Leafde fan Fryslân, the Mare fan Fryslân, and ‘t Wapen fan Fryslân. The elegant sailing ships all date from the 1960s and were originally built as cargo ships. All have recently been modernized and refurbished to offer you comfortable and stylish accommodations.
Three different sail & bike tours in the Netherlands
On our three different cycling and sailing tours in the Netherlands, you’ll explore different areas and aspects of the Dutch coastal regions.
Sail & Bike Wadden Sea
On our Sail & Bike Tour around the Wadden Sea you’ll experience the natural beauty of the Dutch Wadden Sea area and the charm of the rural IJsselmeer coast. On this 8-day trip you’ll also explore the beautiful Wadden Sea islands of Texel and Terschelling by bike. Then your ship sails across the IJsselmeer. Here you can lend a hand and help hoist the sails. Next you’ll take a bike tour through the unspoiled nature of the province of Friesland, along the Frisian lakes. Your accommodation for the week is on board one of our stately Frisian sailing ships with no more than 26 passengers on board.
Sail and Bike IJsselmeer
The endless space, the water and the impressive spectacle of light and clouds make the landscape around the IJsselmeer so special. On our Sail & Bike Tour IJsselmeer you’ll experience a region with many facets in which nature and culture have been closely intertwined for centuries. Visit the port cities of Hoorn and Enkhuizen, where the splendor of the so-called Golden Age can still be felt. Take a bike ride to the former islands of Urk and Schokland, which are now surrounded by green meadows and no longer by the tides of the North Sea. And discover the unique landscape of the Weerribben-Wieden National Park, the largest flat moor in Northwest Europe. This eight-day voyage aboard the beautiful Elizabeth begins and ends in Amsterdam. There are a maximum of 24 passengers on board.
Sail & Bike Tulip Tour
An unforgettable start to spring: our Sail & Bike Tulip Tour combines the landscape around the IJsselmeer and Wadden Sea with unforgettably beautiful bike tours through the tulip fields of North Holland. On the way, you’ll pass through picturesque harbor towns on the IJsselmeer coast. During your day on the Wadden island of Texel, you’ll cycle through the wild and romantic natural landscape of this North Sea island. And a trip to the world-famous Keukenhof Tulip Park is on the program as well. So it definitely won’t be boring!
Guided or independent sailing tours
Do you prefer to travel on your own? Or do you want to have a clear head and leave the organization to others? With us, you have the choice: on our guided tours, there’s always an experienced tour leader with you who takes care of everything and can tell you a lot about the area. On our unguided tours, you are in control and set the pace yourself. We’ll give you various maps and suggestions to take with you, but you can decide which sights you want to see – and how much time you want to spend there. You can find out more about our guided and unguided tours on our website.
So if you’re looking for an exciting adventure, want to travel back in time or just want to try something different on your next vacation, you’re most welcome aboard one of our magnificent sailing ships! Contact us today to book a trip.
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