Level 3: requires a higher level of exertion, medium hilly terrain
Level 4: for experienced cyclists, hilly terrain with climbs
Difficulty level 1
Duration of the tour.
8 days
Guidance
Guided cycling: A tour leader will guide you during the cycling days
Independent cycling: No tour leader, the ships’ crew does daily briefing, independent cycling
Guided cycling
Aboard the only four-masted-schooner in Dutch waters, the Leafde fan Fryslân, you will experience pure nature while enjoying water, sun and a stiff breeze on the big inland lake IJsselmeer and the so-called “Wadden Sea”, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage biosphere reserve. During this tour, the tour guides will take you on an exploration of the beautiful and unique Frisian Sea and some of its islands. It is a world with two faces, where sand and water dominate during the changeover from low to high tide and where islands […]
Aboard the only four-masted-schooner in Dutch waters, the Leafde fan Fryslân, you will experience pure nature while enjoying water, sun and a stiff breeze on the big inland lake IJsselmeer and the so-called “Wadden Sea”, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage biosphere reserve. During this tour, the tour guides will take you on an exploration of the beautiful and unique Frisian Sea and some of its islands.
It is a world with two faces, where sand and water dominate during the changeover from low to high tide and where islands of all sizes line up like pearls on a chain. There are tidal channels, seagrass meadows, mussel beds, sandbanks, mudflats, salt marshes, beaches and dunes. The Frisian Sea is the habitat of marine mammals, such as seals and porpoises, and the breeding ground and wintering area for millions of birds. The area is one of the last remaining large-scale, low-tide ecosystems where natural processes continue to function. Furthermore you will visit the famous (freshwater lake) IJsselmeer and its beautiful coastline with many fishing villages and old trading harbor towns.
Highlights of the tour are the North Sea islands of Texel and Terschelling and their beautiful natural areas, small villages and long sandy beaches that you can explore by bicycle. Highlights on the coasts of the mainland in the provinces of North-Holland and Friesland are a combination of rural areas, small villages and picturesque harbor towns: a true “El Dorado” for cyclists.
The ship – Your hotel
In between cycling excursions, you cruise along with the ship, which travels to a new destination every day. You dine, sleep and eat breakfast on board. You’ll receive a packed lunch every day, and you can usually choose between a longer or shorter bike ride. It’s also possible to spend a day on board if you like. There are rental bikes on board, but you can also bring your own if you mention it when booking.
Fully Guided
Accompanied by a competent, professional and multilingual tour leader, you and the group will visit interesting sights and places on the daily cycling tours. During the bike tour, they will explain the local history and culture behind the things you encounter along the way. You can also choose to ride individually with the help of our Ride with GPS app and our BBT cycling map (available on board).
Parts that are printed in italics parts will be covered by the ship.
All distances are “approximate distances” of recommended bike tours.
The planned itinerary is subject to change due to nautical, technical or meteorological reasons and other unforeseen circumstances. If there is low or high water and a route cannot be shipped, the captain reserves the right to change the route in view of your safety (this cannot be accepted as a reason for free withdrawal).
Day 1: Enkhuizen – Medemblik
Embarkation and check-in where the crew will welcome you on board is at 2 p.m. (4 p.m. on May 4) near the beautiful center of Enkhuizen and close to the railway station. After everyone is checked in the captain will give a introduction to your sailing hotel and the tour leaders give a overview of the week to come. After all the necessary safety instructions are given the ship will depart to your first destination of the week, Medemblik. After dinner your tour leaders will guide you through this historic town now known for its sailing culture.
Day 2: Medemblik, roundtour (28 km/17 mi or 40 km/24.8 mi.) | sailing Medemblik – Den Oever – Texel
In the morning, after a extensive bike fitting, you can head off on your first bikeride. We will ride in two groups where one guide will take a longer route while the other group will take a shorter trail. Highlight for both routes is the picturesque village of Twisk. This former peat mining town never experienced great poverty and is still in pristine historic state.
After the cycling tour the ship will sail further to Texel, the biggest Dutch Island in the North Sea.
Note: If weather doesn’t work with us, an overnight in Den Oever might be necessary.
Day 3: Texel, roundtrip from/to Oudeschild (43 km/26 mi. or 49 km/30 mi.)
The island of Texel is a cyclist’s dream destination with its varied scenery, picturesque villages and dedicated cycling paths. Your guides will take you on a tour around the Island. Included in your program is a visit to the seal sanctuary station “Ecomare”. While the main mission of the foundation is to rescue and cure birds and seals, they also try to educate visitors on the area and wildlife.
Day 4: Texel – Terschelling (sailing about 5 – 6 hrs.)
Today is a full sailing day. The captain and sailor will introduce you to the art of sailing while the impressive ship makes its way to the next Island, Terschelling. The Wadden Sea with all its sandbanks is a UNESCO world heritage. As you sail your way through the sandbanks of the Wadden Sea, keep a lookout for seals in the wild. They like to rest on the sandbars. While sailing you will enjoy an extensive lunch on board.
In the afternoon the ship will arrive on Terschelling island, which features a number of picturesque villages situated between the polder and sand dunes along its 30 km expanse. No dinner will be served tonight, to enable you to explore the island and try one of the nice restaurants on Terschelling (not incl.).
Day 5: Terschelling roundtrip, (42 km /26 mi.) | sailing Terschelling – Harlingen
While the previous day was all about sailing, today is all about cycling. Terschelling has plenty to offer cycle tourists: nature and culture, 70 km of cycling tracks and 4 beautiful villages. West Terschelling is the largest village on the island and features a number of nice shops and pubs. The standout landmark on the island is the 400 year-old lighthouse “Brandaris” that can be seen from well off in the distance. Also worth visiting is the heath land of “Boschplaat” which will captivate you with its mud, beaches and dunes. You might even spot ducks, black-winged stilts, large colonies of spoonbills and great black-backed gulls. After a day of cycling, you can relax in comfort once you have arrived on board. In the late afternoon the ship will cross the Wadden Sea sail to Harlingen, the most important harbor city of the province of Friesland.
Day 6: Harlingen – Franeker – Makkum (48 km/29 mi. or 58 km/36 mi.)
The bike tour of today goes via Franeker, where a visit to the UNESCO World Heritage Planetarium of Eise Eisinga is on the program. After the visit you continue your cycling tour through the beautiful wide Frisian countryside along several rural villages to the small harbor of Makkum on the eastern bank of the lake IJsselmeer. If you take the long cycling trip, you will also visit Bolsward, one of the Eleven Frisian Cities.
Day 7: Makkum – Stavoren (32 km/19 mi. or 49 km/30 mi.) | sailing to Enkhuizen
From Makkum you will cycle to Stavoren. The short tour leads you via the old trading town of Hindeloopen. This local art of painting – a type of traditional decorative painting – is quite famous. Apart from this you’ll find the First Frisian Museum of Ice Skating in Hindeloopen. The long tour runs along several Frisian lakes and shows you a different type of landscape. From Stavoren the ship will set sail to cross the IJsselmeer to Enkhuizen in the late afternoon.
Day 8: Enkhuizen
End of your tour: Disembarkation after breakfast until 9.30 a.m.
Good to know
Cycling route distances in the travel program are approximate.
On some days you can choose between a longer and a shorter cycling route. Please note that on the shorter routes you may not be able to visit all the highlights mentioned.
If you prefer not to cycle on a particular day, you’re welcome to stay on board and relax while the ship cruises to the next landing place.
The tour itinerary and route are subject to possible changes due to nautical, technical or meteorological reasons, or other unforeseen events.
On the arrival day, you can leave your luggage on board the ship from 11.00 am. (not possible on May 4, 2025)
Important observations for the Sail & Bike program: A little bit of adventure is a part of every Sail & Bike tour: the departure and arrival day and the location – Enkhuizen – are a certainty, 100%. For the rest, the planned daily sailing routes are partially dependent on the strength and direction of the winds and – on the Wadden Sea – high and low tide. The skipper decides the best route to be taken day by day, and discusses the options with his guests. The crew does everything in its power to enable the program to run according to plan and to offer you as fascinating, varied and active a week as possible, in which nature and culture play a major part. It is, however, also possible that departure times and the time spent on the water – and even the order of the program itself – may be adjusted. Enjoy the ride and let yourself be led by the elements! Whenever possible, various passages will be undertaken fully rigged and anyone who would like to help the crew to sail and steer the boat is welcome to do so. This is of course absolutely up to you and no sailing experience is necessary.
The bicycles of Boat Bike Tours
Always the best rental bikes
The rental bikes on our ships are unisex bicycles with a low bar and a comfortable upright sitting position. These are stable and dependable bikes, good for miles in the saddle. Decide which kind of bike you want to rent and simply fill in your preference with your reservation. We’ll make sure you get the right bike for you. On most of our tours, the bike rental cost is not included in the tour’s price.
Every Boat Bike Tour rental bike is well equipped. The bikes consist of a lightweight aluminum frame and have highly-responsive handbrakes, at least seven speeds, an adjustable gel seat, normal flat pedals (no clips), an easy-to-use lock attached to the frame, and special puncture-resistant tires. All told, this is a light, stable and reliable bike, very suitable for touring long distances pleasantly.
Our e-bikes also have at least seven speeds and handbrakes. The motor runs on a 400Wh battery and offers three levels of power-assistance. The e-bikes include comfortable gel seats that can be adjusted for height, have a lock attached to the frame, and sport anti-puncture tires. Note that some of the ships have their own bikes on board. They may look a bit different, but qualitatively they are equal to Boat Bike Tours’s e-bikes.
Bicycle helmets
The use of bicycle helmets is not required in the Netherlands, but for safety’s sake they are suggested. If you wish to rent one, you can do so during the booking process. If you book a premium tour and rent a bike or e-bike, then the helmet and a “limit of liability for damage or loss” for your bike or e-bike is included in the rental price.
Other rental items
Other items such as children’s bikes, tandems, family tandems (child & adult), tag-along, trailers to carry toddlers and child seats are available on request.
Taking your own bike or e-bike?
The fee for parking your own bicycle is €10 per week. For an e-bike the fee is €25 to cover parking and charging the battery. For safety reasons it is not always possible to charge your e-bike batteries in your cabin. The crew will tell you where you can charge the battery on board the ship. Neither the crew nor Boat Bike tours is responsible in any way for any damage, loss or theft of a guest’s own bike or e-bike or its accessories. Note: not all the ships are suitable or have enough room for extra bikes, so make sure you check with us well ahead of travel.
Touring bikes
Our bicycles have a lightweight aluminum frame and are furnished with highly-responsive handbrakes, at least seven speeds and a gel seat whose height can be adjusted. Attached to the frame is an easy-to-use lock and the wheels carry puncture-resistant tires.
E-bikes
Our e-bikes also have highly-responsive handbrakes and a minimum of seven speeds. The motor runs on a 400Wh battery and offers three levels of power-assistance. The e-bikes include comfortable gel seats that can be adjusted for height, have a lock attached to the frame and special anti-puncture tires.
Taking your own bicycle
It is possible to take your own bike or e-bike with you, as long as it doesn’t have mirrors or other elements that stick out. There’s only limited space available on board for guests’ bikes. You can reserve a place for your bike for a small fee. Boat Bike tours is not responsible for damage to your bike or for theft.
Prices & availability
To view the availability of this tour and/or book online please click on the button below. A new screen will open.
On the departures of May 4, 11, 18, and 25, 2025, aboard the Leafde fan Fryslân, you can enjoy a €200 discount per person.
The discount is only valid for new bookings and cannot be combined with other discounts. In the calendar, discount dates are highlighted in orange.
Prices & information
Pricing overview - 2025
Cabin typeForSeason A Season B
Small Twin cabin (max. 1)2 pers.€ 1499€ 1399Twin cabin2 pers.€ 1699€ 1599Junior Suite (max. 1)2 pers.€ 1899€ 1799Suite upper deck2 pers.€ 2349€ 2249Single cabin (max. 2)1 pers.€ 1999€ 1899Twin for single use (max 2)1 pers.€ 2548.50€ 2398.50
Included in this tour
8 days/7 nights
7 x breakfast
5 x packed lunches & 1 x lunch on board
6 x 3-course dinner
Coffee and tea on board
Welcome drink
Use of bed linen and towels
Daily cleaning of the cabin
Climate-controlled cabin
Daily briefings
Fully guided cycling tours (2 tour leaders, 2 groups)
BBT-cycling map (1 set per cabin)
GPS tracks
Use of a helmet
Use of a waterproof pannier bag
Biodegradable water bottle
Fees for ferries
City walk Medemblik
Nature museum & seal sanctuary Ecomare
UNESCO World Heritage Planetarium of Eise Eisinga
Wi-Fi
Carbon offset payment to the non-profit organization Justdiggit
Excluded in this tour
1x Dinner on Terschelling
Drinks
Bicycle rental or E-bike rental
Personal insurances
Gratuities (at your discretion)
Entrance fees and excursions (not mentioned under inclusions)
Transfers to/from the docking place
Parking fees
SGR Insolvency protection
SGR Insolvency protection
(mandatory consumer contribution SGR insolvency protection guarantee scheme: € 5 per person - will be specified separately on the booking confirmation)
Bicycles/E-Bikes
The bicycles on board is a unisex city bike with a low-entry and a riding position that is upright and comfortable. The bike is handmade in the Netherlands by Azor, specially designed by Boat Bike Tours. The bike consists of a lightweight aluminum frame and is equipped with responsive roller brakes (handbrake), a Shimano 7 speed nexus drive, Selle-Royal gel saddle (adjustable), an easy to use lock (fixed on frame) and the Schwalbe Marathon anti-puncture tyre. This all results in a lightweight, stable and reliable bike, good for many miles on the saddle.
The E-bike is an Azor Steps with Nexus 7 gears and hand brakes. The crank Shimano motor (400 WH) offers 4 support levels, The E-bikes have a comfortable gel saddle and a lock on the frame (or a comparable brand/model).
Bicycle rent is optional. Guests are also allowed to bring their own bicycles/e-bikes (limited number of parking places available). Guests can book a parking place for a normal bicycle or a parking and charge station for an e-bike for a small additional fee. For safety reasons it is no longer possible to charge the batteries of your own e-bikes in the cabin. The crew will inform you where on deck/ on board you can recharge your battery. However, the crew or tour operators are in no way responsible for any damage, loss or theft of guests own bicycles or e-bikes.
Prices of other bikes (e.g. children’s bikes, “slip streamers”/tag-a-long, tandem bicycles etc. and child’s saddles (rear) are on request.
Additional options & information - 2025
2025:
Rental bicycle Premium: €105 per week
Rental E-Bike Premium: €266 per week (only on request, limited number available)
Parking own bicycle: €14 per week (only a limited number of parking places available: pref. reservation by booking)
Parking + charge station own E-Bike: €28 per week (only a limited number of parking places available: pref. reservation by booking)
Please click on this link for more information about the rental and own bicycles/E-bikes
Parking Enkhuizen: Parking behind the NS-train station or at the Dirck Chinaplein in Enkhuizen is free, but can be very crowded (status: April 2024).
Discounts
On the departures of May 4, 11, 18, and 25, 2025, aboard the Leafde fan Fryslân, you can enjoy a €200 discount per person.
The discount is only valid for new bookings and cannot be combined with other discounts. In the calendar, discount dates are highlighted in orange.
Loyalty discount
Explore our Loyalty Discount!
After your tour, you’ll receive an exclusive discount code:
You get 3% on your second tour with us.
From the third tour onwards, you will receive a 5% discount.
Enjoy savings on any of our upcoming trips in 2025.
Check your post-tour email for details. You can combine this discount with other promotions for additional savings. Join us again for another adventure by boat and bike!
Guided cycling: A tour leader will guide you during the cycling days
Independent cycling: No tour leader, the ships’ crew does daily briefing, independent cycling
Independent cycling
Difficulty
Level 1: easy tours, very flat terrain
Level 2: quite easy tours, mostly flat terrain
Level 3: requires a higher level of exertion, medium hilly terrain
Level 4: for experienced cyclists, hilly terrain with climbs
Difficulty level 1
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