Holland’s Medieval Towns & Scenic Rivers | Bike & Boat

The Hanseatic League was a powerful commercial and defensive confederation of merchant guilds and market towns that dominated trade in Northern Europe during the Middle Ages. Cities along the IJssel River (like Kampen, Deventer, and Zutphen) grew incredibly wealthy during this time. Today, cycling through these towns allows you to step back in time and marvel at their exceptionally preserved 14th-century merchant mansions, grand weighing houses, and towering city gates.

On a semi-guided tour, you have the ultimate freedom to ride independently at your own pace. Every evening, the onboard tour leader briefs you on the next day's routes. In the morning, you navigate yourself using our highly accurate Ride With GPS smartphone app and printed maps. The tour leader also cycles the route that day, meaning they are always nearby and reachable by a quick phone call in case you need assistance, directions, or have an emergency.

Yes, the Hansa Highlights tour is rated Level 1 (Easy). The 125-kilometer IJssel valley and the surrounding Bordering Lakes feature impeccably flat, well-maintained, and mostly car-free cycle paths. It is the perfect terrain for a leisurely, relaxing cycling holiday, making it ideal for international travelers who want to see Europe by bike without tackling strenuous hills.

Absolutely. On almost every day of the itinerary (Days 3, 4, 5, and 6), you are given the choice between a shorter route or a longer route. If you ever feel like taking a complete rest day, you can simply leave your bike parked and stay on board the barge as it cruises to the next historic harbor.

The Bordering Lakes are a unique chain of lakes created during the massive 20th-century Dutch land reclamation projects. They act as a watery divide between the "old" historic mainland of the Netherlands (featuring ancient fishing villages like Harderwijk and Spakenburg) and the "new" province of Flevoland, which was entirely reclaimed from the bottom of the sea.

No need to find a supermarket! Every morning during breakfast on the ship, a buffet of fresh breads, meats, cheeses, and fruits is provided so you can prepare your own custom packed lunch for your ride. We also provide a complimentary waterproof pannier bag to easily carry your lunch, camera, and snacks on your bike.

Yes. Because you are traveling on a premium bike and barge cruise, you only have to unpack your suitcase once. Your luggage stays safely in your cabin while you cycle during the day, and your floating hotel meets you at your destination harbor every afternoon.

We bike! Most participants simply put on their rain gear and enjoy the beautiful Dutch countryside, so packing a good, breathable rain jacket is highly recommended. If the weather becomes so severe that cycling is truly impossible, you are always welcome to stay comfortable on board your floating hotel. Alternatively, your tour leader may help arrange alternative cultural excursions or city tours for the day.

While the daily cycling stages average about 50 kilometers (32 miles), the time spent actively pedaling on your bicycle is only about 4 hours per day. Because the Dutch river valleys are exceptionally flat, these stages are taken at a very leisurely pace. A typical cycling day spans seven to eight hours total, leaving you plenty of time for leisurely breaks, enjoying your packed lunch, and exploring the towering gates of these medieval merchant cities.

You do not need to pack a hair dryer, as they are readily available on all of our barges. In fact, it is highly recommended that travelers from North America or Australasia do not bring their own hair dryers. Due to voltage differences, foreign hair dryers can easily short circuit the ship's electrical system, even when plugged into a standard travel adapter.

To ensure a welcoming and inclusive atmosphere, the common language spoken on board our international barges is English. You will be sharing your historic castle and river cruise with like-minded travelers primarily from the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom. The average age of our cycling guests typically ranges from 50 to 80, though younger and older participants with basic cycling skills are always warmly welcomed.

Yes, free Wi-Fi is available on board, though it is generally limited to the communal lounge and upper deck areas. Because the barge is a moving vessel navigating rural waterways, you should not expect a perfect, high-speed internet connection for the entire trip. During peak evening hours when many guests log on to share their daily photos, connection speeds can slow down.

While you are welcome to bring your own standard bicycle or e-bike (provided you pay the weekly parking fee and reserve space in advance), custom-made bicycles, tricycles, and recumbent bikes cannot be accommodated on board due to strict space limitations. If you want to ride in personalized comfort without the hassle of flying with heavy gear, you can actually bring your own bicycle seat from home! Our premium rental bikes are stable, upright unisex models, and most standard personal seats will fit directly onto our rental posts.