Sanctuary Ski Club Boat and Bike Trip
Holland meets Belgium: Bruges – Amsterdam
September 6-13, 2008
€649
or approximately $922 (based on $1=1.42 Euro)
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16 spots
“This tour shows you the
Belgian pearls of Antwerp, Ghent, and, on top of that, Bruges!
You cross the border to
Holland and discover old Dutch towns like Gouda and
Willemstad and head for lovely Amsterdam.”
·
Stay on board 8 days/7 nights in a two person cabin with
shower/toilet
·
All meals (breakfasts, lunches/packed lunches, 3 course
dinners)
·
Tour guidance
·
Use of bike
·
Compensation for bike damage
·
Several city walks
·
Information booklet and map
·
Entrance fee Windmill Kinderdijk
·
Train ride Ghent - Bruges – Ghent
·
Bus transfer Amsterdam Airport – Ghent
Tijdgeest
Since 1897 the TIJDGEEST has sailed with tourists as a passenger ship on
the Rhine in Germany. In 1998, the ship was completely renovated and rebuilt
into a luxurious hotel ship. The lower deck has cabins, all with private
facilities. The upper deck has a very spacious living/dining room with a
panoramic view.
Probable Itinerary:
Saturday, September 6:
Transfer
by bus from Amsterdam Airport to Ghent in Belgium. Embarkation
and checking in aboard the hotel barge. The tour leader will invite you
for a walk across the wonderful town centre.
Sunday, September 7: cycling ± 15 km
By train
you go to Bruges and your tour leader will make you acquainted with this unique
town. Till halfway the afternoon you are free to discover Bruges. By train you
go to Dendermonde where the barge will stay for the
night. In the evening there’s a short test ride in and around Dendermonde.
Monday, September 8: cycling ± 30 km
From Dendermonde you ride through the pretty Flemish countryside
alongside the river Schelde to Antwerp. In the
afternoon your guide invites you for a short city walk and afterwards you have
free time to explore the town centre. In the evening you may wish to visit some
bars and have a good taste of Belgian beers.
Tuesday, September 9: cycling ± 40 km
First
there’s a sailing trip over the Belgian-Dutch border to the peninsula of Tholen. From here the parents of the American president
Roosevelt left for the USA. The cycle ride crosses the flat countryside to the
beautiful walled town of Willemstad.
Wednesday, September 10: cycling ± 45 km
The barge
will drop you at the edge of natural reserve Biesbosch
and you start today’s cycle ride. You visit the windmills of Kinderdijk and will certainly enjoy the rural sceneries
that continue to cheese town Gouda. In the evening you may wish to join your
tour leader for a short city walk.
Thursday, September 11: cycling ± 40 km
You enjoy
an easy bike ride right through some real Dutch meadowlands and end your trip
in a small village called Oude Wetering. You may
enjoy the quietness of the rural Dutch countryside before you arrive in busy
Amsterdam tomorrow.
Friday, September 12: cycling ± 25 km
On the
banks of the river Amstel you cycle in the direction
of and then across the Amsterdam town centre to the mooring place of your
barge. In the afternoon there’s time to explore the lively Dutch capital and do
some shopping. In the evening there’s a city walk and you may wish to make a
roundtrip of the famous Amsterdam canals.
Saturday, September 13:
End of your bike and barge tour and check out.
Deposit:
$200 to Sanctuary Ski Club. Remaining fee due 6 weeks prior
to departure.
Contact:
Georgia Lange at: galange@yahoo.com, or 630-627-0668