Cycling the Highlights of Holland
Experience Overview
Discover the Highlights of Holland on this mostly gentle circular cycling trip, starting and ending in the delightful city of Amsterdam with its UNESCO World Heritage canal ring area, its bustling squares and cultural hotspots, including the Anne Frank and Van Gogh museums. The varied countryside of Holland beckons with a mix of rectangular polders (low-lying land reclaimed from rivers and protected by dykes), woodland, country estates and wild gardens. Cycle through beautiful traditional villages, past windmills and farmhouses and on to the famous flower fields near Haarlem (visit in April and early May for the full effect of the blooms). As well as Amsterdam and the archetypal countryside of the Netherlands, you get to explore the cities of Zandvoort, The Hague, Rotterdam, Gouda, & Utrecht, all with their own histories and cultural characters. On the North Sea coast, extensive dunes and sandy beaches invite you to sunbathe, or you can simply stroll along the promenades. Art and culture lovers will find exciting museums and shopping fans will get their money's worth in trendy Rotterdam. Don't forget to try the famous delicacies, Gouda cheese and syrup waffles are just two of them. Gouda, as well as being the venue for the famous summer cheese market (Thursday mornings April - August), has a fabulous, gothic town hall in the main square, romantic canals and even more food options with warm syrup waffles - perfect to try after a day of cycling.
Highlights
— Discover the cities of Amsterdam, Zandvoort, The Hague, Rotterdam, Gouda, & Utrecht with easy cycling between — Ride through typical Dutch landscapes passing windmills, canals, drawbridges & through picturesque villages — If travelling in April and early May take in Holland's famous Tulip fields
Trip Details
Product Code: 22712
Tour Type: Small Group
Accommodation: Moderate
Transport:
Guide Language: English
Tour Operator:
Exodus Travel
Supplier Code: C07HH
Starts: Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Finishes: Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Duration: 8 days
Departures: Guaranteed
Physical Rating:
Unknown
Includes
— 7 nights hotel-to-hotel accommodation in a mix of3* & 4* hotels — All breakfasts — Management by your local Headwater-appointed agent — Navigation app — Bike hire included — Luggage transfers between hotelsAccommodation
Westcord Fashion Hotel 4*, AmsterdamLess than 5km from the Old Town, this lovely hotel offers trendy and well-appointed rooms. Guests can enjoy the Wellcome Wellness centre which features an indoor swimming pool, sauna and gym. The Grand Cafe serves all-day dining. You can also visit the restaurant Mme Coco for a delicious culinary evening. The chic SKYY Bar offers panoramic city views and serves a range of wines and exotic cocktails, as well as a 5 course dinner at the chef's table. Should this accommodation not be available, an alternative of the same standard will be used.
Price
Price per person: (Double Occupancy) CAD $2,540 ($318 /day)
Itinerary
Wander around the iconic and surprisingly peaceful 17th century canal ring area of the city (a UNESCO World Heritage Site). For hustle and bustle, make your way to the city's famous squares or head off the beaten track along Brouwersgracht. Alternatively find out what the city looks like from the canals. Overnight Westcord Fashion Hotel 4*, Amsterdam.
Get an early start today and beat the queues at the Van Gogh or Anne Frank museum. Then, say 'farewell' or 'tot ziens!' to Amsterdam and ride through Kennemerland with its lovely variety of countryside, from vast polders and country estates to woods and beautiful peatland. The attractive city centre of Haarlem offers a wealth of shopping, art and culture, or the option to just relax in cafes and restaurants. In this idyllic town, you will also find some of Holland's characteristic windmills, canals and drawbridges. The last stretch will take you to the coast and Zandvoort, where the extensive sandy beaches will tempt you to take a swim. Overnight Amsterdam Beach Hotel 3*, Zandvoort.
Today takes you along the North Sea coast where wonderful beach promenades will once again tempt you to take a dip in the cool water. In spring, a short detour to Keukenhof is worthwhile, where more than 7 million tulips, hyacinths and daffodils can be admired. Today's destination is The Hague where wide sandy beaches, green parks and beautiful dunes characterise the city. Those interested in art and culture will also get their fill thanks to the wide range of museums. Overnight Movenpick Hotel 4*, The Hague.
You will now head inland again, away from the coast. On your way, you will quickly reach Delft. This university town is famous far beyond its borders for Delft porcelain. In the Vermeer Centre, you can admire works by the painter Johannes Vermeer. The numerous cafes and restaurants will tempt you to linger here before moving onto the trendy harbour metropolis of Rotterdam, a paradise for shopping fans. Overnight SS Rotterdam 4*, Rotterdam.
After breakfast, you will still have time for a short stroll through Rotterdam. You will be captivated by the modern architecture. Once on your bike, you will quickly reach the windmills of Kinderdijk. The 19 impressive buildings are among the most popular postcard motifs in the Netherlands. The famous windmills were built as early as 1740 and were declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997. The rest of the tour takes you through the water-rich and picturesque countryside to Gouda. 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, plan your trip so that you can witness the traditional Thursday morning cheese market (early April till last Thursday in August). Overnight Best Western Plus City 4*, Gouda.
The medieval town Gouda is not only famous for its cheese, but also for its syrup waffles. You can convince yourself of their quality at breakfast! Today's stage takes you into the green heart of the Netherlands. You will pass through extensive natural landscapes, picturesque villages and vast polders. In the historic city centre of Utrecht, you can end the cycling stage with a refreshing beer. Numerous restaurants and bars invite you in. Overnight Hotel Mitland 4*, Utrecht.
Picturesque parks, canals, historic buildings and many interesting museums await you in Utrecht. Following the course of the Utrechtse Vecht, your cycle tour continues. The region surrounding this idyllic river offers a lot of culture and history. The beautiful landscape is complemented by a rich gastronomic culture. At the end of the day, you will once again reach the starting point of your cycling tour, the Dutch capital Amsterdam. Overnight Westcord Fashion Hotel 4*, Amsterdam.
After a hearty breakfast, depart Amsterdam.
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Tour Operator
Exodus Travel
It’s all about adventure That is what Exodus was founded upon 50 years ago, and what the company is still all about. Discovering countries, cultures, environments, cities, mountain ranges, deserts, coasts and jungles; exploring this amazing planet we all live on. At Exodus, we know what makes you tick when it comes to holidays. It’s a desire shared by so many others. A yearning to visit new places and come home with a real sense of what they’re all about. This means delving into local traditions, cultures, cuisine, lifestyles – anything that contributes to its unique identity. At the same time, we always remember that we are only guests. So we travel courteously and respectfully, in smaller groups to minimise our impact, to ensure that every Exodus holiday is a beneficial experience for everyone involved. This is a philosophy we take with us around the world, helping you reach some incredible destinations on 500 itineraries across over 90 separate countries. We also strive to provide as much flexibility and choice as we possibly can, making it simple for you to experience a very different holiday. Exodus started life on 4 February 1974 when two friends got together to provide an overland truck to travel to the Minaret of Jam, deep in the heart of the Hindu Kush, the most inaccessible of the world’s great monuments. See our history page for more details about how we began and how we have grown over the past 50 years. Never travelled with Exodus before? Visit our New to Exodus page for some useful, first-timer information.
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