Stephanie Ventures Dutch Cities, Countryside & Canals Barge and Bike Tour of Holland July 8-15, 2017
Top 10 Reasons to BIKE & BARGE in HOLLAND 1. UNPACK ONCE - visit 10 cities! 2. AUTHENTIC TRAVEL EXPERIENCE meet the locals, travel like they do 3. IF YOU DON T WANNA RIDE, YOU DON T HAVE TO = Better sightseeing options 4. SMALL GROUP SIZE - max guests 22 5. COMFY TOURING BIKES new and well maintained 6. THE NETHERLANDS = BIKE FRIENDLIEST COUNTRY on earth! 7.FLAT TERRAIN, TRAFFIC-FREE BIKE PATH NETWORK 8. VARIETY OF WORLD CLASS MUSEUMS - Fodor's calls Rijksmuseum one of "11 Museums You Should See in Your Lifetime"... 9. UNESCO World Heritage site and an American Society of Mechanical Engineers site - showcase the marvels of Dutch genius! 10.AALSMEER FLOWER AUCTION experience the largest in the world
Our home on tour Former cargo freighter, converted into modern and spacious floating hotel Classified as Comfort Plus overnight passenger barge Air-conditioned cabins with private bathroom/shower Wi-Fi onboard 148 ft. long X 22 ft. wide upper deck - indoor lounge, outdoor sundeck, and shaded aft deck Lower deck - dining room and sleeping cabins Sleeps 22 guests in 10 double cabins, 2 single cabins Crew to guest ratio 1:3 - Captain, Mate, Chef, Hostess, Tour Director, 1-2 bilingual tour guides
INDOOR & OUTDOOR DECKS comfortable space to gather Daily bike route briefings Snacks, drinks, or complimentary coffee and tea Lively conversation/storytelling after the day s ride On Board Amenities
On Board Amenities Enjoy a restful night of sleep in-room thermostat to control air-conditioning Windows open in bedroom and bathroom Private bathroom includes shower and towel warmer!
On Board Amenities You will not starve on this trip! Breakfast buffet daily at 8 AM Pack your own Box Lunch Tasting events await your return to the ship 3-course dinner - prepared by the ship s culinary staff
You ll ride comfy touring bikes = ideal for the terrain Gudereit Fantasy 8-speed Hybrid Bicycles Platform pedals Rear panniers Bike lock Helmets available to borrow
Where we ll go on the tour Dutch Cities, Countryside, & Canals Day 1: Amsterdam Day 2: Amsterdam Zaandam Haarlem Day 3: Haarlem Leiden Day 4: Leiden - The Hague - Delft Day 5: Delft Kinderdijk - Gouda Day 6: Gouda Kudelstaart Day 7: Kudelstaart Amsterdam Day 8: Amsterdam
Guests give the Dutch Cities Tour thumbs up! We saw windmill after windmill and even toured the inside of a windmill home! The ride continued with lots of amazing views - just breathtaking!! Wildlife, flowers, windmills in nearly all directions! Thank you for all your hard work and the extras you included. I will always have many good memories of this trip. Jessica P. - Chicago, IL Diana Z. Aurora, CO The tour had the perfect mix of riding for my husband, and cultural sightseeing stops for me. We can t wait to do this again! Lisa F. Jackson, NJ
Itinerary Highlights Check in begins at 2 PM Saturday, July 8 Amsterdam Unpack, get some fresh air and exercise! Bike fitting before our short warm up ride. Welcome Reception followed by dinner. Walking tour of Amsterdam.
Itinerary Highlights Sunday, July 9 Amsterdam Zaandam - Haarlem Ride from Amsterdam thru Twiske Park to historic village of Zaanse Schans. Free time to explore: windmills in action cheeses, pastries, genever shops wooden shoe factory Ride to the historic center of Haarlem. Dinner on board, followed by a walk.
Itinerary Highlights Monday, July 10 Haarlem - Leiden Ride to Cruquius Pumping Museum for tour & talk on water management. Continue ride through polderland. After picnic lunch, ride to Leiden. Guides will lead a walking tour. Party-Like-A-Pilgrim Dinner onboard.
Itinerary Highlights Tuesday, July 11 Leiden - Delft Today ride through scenic dunes along the North Sea coast. Sightseeing highlights: seaside resort of Scheveningen Binnenhof, seat of Dutch parliament Mauritshuis, home of Vermeer s Girl with a Pearl Earring Proceed to Delft, birthplace of Vermeer. Tour Royal Delft factory, watch a Master Painter at work, and shop for Delft Blue souvenirs. Dinner on your own.
We never miss a chance to engage in wacky hi-jinx Windmill climbing workshop leads to a group photo like no other! OK, Everyone, now pretend you re following Willem I into battle! Selfie and Coffee Break!
Itinerary Highlights Wednesday, July 12 Delft - Gouda During breakfast cruise thru Rotterdam to Kinderdijk. Ride to UNESCO World Heritage Site, visit splendid windmills. Ride along the River Hollandse Ijssel to a cheese farm to tour and sample the delicious Gouda, on the way to the famous cheese town.
Rain or Shine we ride on! BUT, you can stay on board and cruise to the next city if you d prefer to spend your time warm and dry!
Itinerary Highlights Thursday, July 13 Gouda - Kudelstaart Morning visit to the weekly market for some hot-out-of-the-iron Stroopwafels and cheese auction. Free time to visit City Hall or St. Janskirk with its stunning multi-story stained glass windows. Sail at noon and enjoy a light lunch on board. From Gouwslius we bike through the green heart of South Holland via River Drecht and the Amstel-Drecht Channel to Kudelstaart.
Itinerary Highlights Friday, July 14 Kudelstaart - Amsterdam Rise early! Short ride to Aalsmeer - magnificent flower auction. Self-guided tour observe Dutch countdown clock, and flowers trucked in, and sold in record time. Return to the barge for a late breakfast. Ride to Amsterdam via River Amstel. Arrive back in Amsterdam early afternoon. Free time to sightsee before Farewell Dinner.
Itinerary Highlights Saturday, July 15 Amsterdam Enjoy breakfast on board at 8 am before departing the barge at 9 am. If you are departing from Amsterdam today, your Tour Director will arrange for your transfer to Schiphol Airport.
What s Included 7 nights accommodations on air-conditioned barge Meet & Greet, Schiphol Airport Transfer for guests arriving July 7 or 8 7 Breakfasts, 6 Box Lunches, and 6 Dinners, Onboard Tasting Events 1 Glass of Wine or Beer with Dinners Onboard Welcome Gift Service of 1 Tour Director and 1-2 Bilingual Cycling Tour Guide(s) Gudereit Fantasy 8-speed touring bicycle, helmet, pannier Dutch Cities Traveler s Guide proprietary guide containing points of interest Netherlands MuseumKaart for admission to museums & attractions Sightseeing Activities Admission & Tours: Delftware Pottery, Kinderdijk Windmills, Cruquius Pumping Museum Aalsmeer Flower Auction
How to Register for the Tour E-mail or call to let me know how you d like to join the tour We accept personal checks and all major credit cards Credit card payments can be made via a secure link to Square Review the itinerary and our General Terms & Conditions Payment schedule $350 deposit due at registration Installment payment of $600pp due December 8, 2016 Balance due April 8, 2017, 90 days before departure
I look forward to welcoming you aboard in Amsterdam and riding around Holland with you next summer! Stephanie Scott Stephanie Ventures Principal & Tour Director certified by International Tour Management Institute ~~~ Stephanie Ventures, LLC Fairfield, CA StephanieVentures@Gmail.com