Architecture, culture & history
On some days you will be cycling through a windy area; with distances to 50 kilometers per day.
This bike and barge tour starts in the heart of Paris and offers you a two-week bike and boat trip in two (or three!) countries. History is abundant on this tour. Several historical towns, museums,castles, a varied landscape.
The first week you will experience riding in forests and lower hills, in the second week you’re in flatland. The ship follows the river Seine downstream for a while. From Conflans it goes upstream the Oise river. After Compiegne the ship follows a canal with many locks towards the Belgian border. The river Escaut (Schelde) is the next waterway, until Gent. The last stretch, to Bruges, is in a canal again
Our carefully selected routes will lead you along the most beautiful spots of the country. The average daily distance is around 45 kilometers. Most participants prefer riding in a group with the cycling guide, but you can also ride individually. A road book is included (1x per cabin). Gps-tracks can be provided by e-mail.
You are expected at the barge on Monday afternoon, between 11.00 AM and 14.00 PM. You can bring your luggage earlier to the barge, but not before 10.30 AM. We are busy cleaning the barge, but we can provide you with suggestions to have a nice walk into town. The mooring place of the barge Feniks in Paris, Port de l'Arsenal.
The nearest airport to the embarkation point of the barge is Paris Charles de Gaulle By train it is about 30 minutes from the airport to the railway station Gare du Nord A taxi from the airport to the mooring place will take about 60 minutes and costs about € 80,-
From Gare du Nord by Metro you need to go to the metro station Bastille. From the metro you can walk to the barge, walking distance is about 10 minutes. The tour ends two weeks later in Bruges, so another possibility is to fly to Brussels Airport From Bruges you can take the train to the airport. Travel time is about 1.5 hours.
Should you arrive by car, we strongly advise to arrive earlier to unload your luggage. More information on parkings in Paris can be found at the following site www.Parisinfo.com
The tour ends two weeks later in Bruges on Monday morning after breakfast at 10 AM. You will spend the night from Sunday to Monday on board in Bruges. The mooring place of the barge in Bruges: ‘Buiten Katelijnevest’ near the Bargeweg (nearly 1 km/ 0.6 miles from the train station). There is a good train connection to Paris .Travel time is about 2.45 hours and a one-way ticket (2nd class) costs about € 85,-.
On this tour the following barges are scheduled
By this tours you can rent the following bikes:
Imagine a floating hotel sailing to the next stage, while you are calmly pedalling along. No lugging of luggage: that is exactly what Bike & Barge is all about! In the pleasant atmosphere on board you can have a chat, go through the day with the others, and enjoy the meals prepared specially for cyclists. In the evenings you can enjoy a drink in the salon or admire the setting sun on deck. Do not expect a cruise ship with its passive luxury. The Bike & Barge Holidays are for people who really enjoy the physical activity of cycling and who value sociability more than wholesale luxury.
Free WiFi is (limited) available in lounge and on deck.
The cabins have central heating and a porthole or window; they are provided with running water (hot and cold), private shower/toilet and 220 voltage. There is limited storage space in the cabin. We recommend 1 suitcase per person. You can slide the suitcase under the bed.
The captain/skipper, the chef and your tour guide all welcome you warmly. They are prepared specifically for these trips and will provide good and safe passage, good meals, and a friendly, pleasant atmosphere. They will, of course, also give you a great deal of interesting information during and after the cycling and sailing. The skipper is responsible for the smooth running of things on board; the cook is in charge of the catering. A tour leader accompanies you during the bike ride and can assist in case of breakdowns. He/She will be your guide to point out the things of interest along the way and is multi-lingual (Dutch/English, some speak German and/or French).
Your chef is used to cook delicious meals for hungry cyclists. Besides an extensive breakfast, you will also be offered a packed lunch for on the road. It consists of different types of bread and sandwich fillings, juice, a snack and a piece of fruit. Lunch package needs to be prepared by yourself after breakfast. Dinner is different every day. There is a first course, main course and dessert The meals on board are included in the price, as are coffee and tea. Soft drinks and alcoholic drinks can be obtained at a reasonable charge. When you return on board after the day’s cycling, a cup of tea or coffee with a biscuit will be waiting for you.
If you have special meal requirements we ask you to mention this when booking, but at the latest until 14 days before arrival. Diets which need a special preparation or special ingredients can only be offered in limited form. We will do our best to meet your needs, but we also ask for your understanding as due to limited logistic possibilities on a barge we are not able to prepare complete specialized menus. In case of Celiac; gluten free diet; lactose free diet; vegan meals there is an additional charge.
One of the most attractive aspects of the Bike & Barge holidays is that you encounter an international company on board, including people from e.g. USA, Canada, Australia, Germany and United Kingdom. It’s a great opportunity for you to get to know various cultures at the same time! We have people of all ages, solo travelers, couples and also families with children (during the school holidays). Most groups are made up of 12 to 26 people.
