Bike & Sail the Tulips

Day 1: Amsterdam - Zaandam
Day 2: Zaandam - Alkmaar, 29 mi. (47 km)
Day 3: Alkmaar - Den Helder, 21 to 31 mi. (33 km to 50 km)
Day 4: Den Helder - Texel Island Roundtrip, 27 to 31 mi. (43 to 48 km)
Day 5: Texel - Enkhuizen | Relaxing Sailing Day on the IJsselmeer
Day 6: Enkhuizen - Hoorn - Volendam 20 mi. (28 km)
Day 7: Volendam - Keukenhof - Amsterdam | Tulip Garden Bus Excursion
Day 8: Disembarkation in Amsterdam

Day 1: Arrival in Amsterdam – Cruise to Zaandam
Begin your bike and sail tulip tour in the heart of the Netherlands. Check-in is open from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. in Amsterdam, where your friendly crew will welcome you aboard with coffee and tea.  At 2:30 p.m., the ship sets sail for Zaandam. While cruising, your tour leader will provide an overview of the upcoming cycling adventure, along with important safety instructions. In the late afternoon, enjoy an optional test ride to get familiar with your bike. After a delicious onboard dinner, take a guided walking tour through the charming historic center of Zaandam.

Day 2: Zaandam - Alkmaar, 29 mi. (47 km)
After breakfast, cycle to the iconic Zaanse Schans, a living Dutch heritage village known for its working windmills, traditional wooden houses, and artisanal workshops. Explore the clog maker’s shop, cheese farm, old-style grocery store, and more. Your ride continues through the scenic villages of Limmen and Egmond-Binnen, passing vibrant tulip fields (in bloom during spring). Visit the Hortus Bulborum, a one-of-a-kind botanical garden preserving over 4,000 historical flower bulbs. End your ride in the historic city of Alkmaar, famous for its cheese markets and beautifully preserved 17th-century architecture.

Day 3: Alkmaar - Den Helder, 21 or 31 mi. (33 km or 50 km)
Today’s cycling route leads north of Alkmaar through the heart of the Dutch tulip region. Enjoy stunning views of endless blooming fields as you ride toward the North Sea coast, stopping at the artsy village of Bergen. Continue through the protected landscapes of the North Holland Dune Reserve before reaching Den Helder, home to the world’s largest single blooming bulb field — a true springtime spectacle!

Day 4: Den Helder - Texel Island, 27 to 31 mi. (43 to 48 km)
While you enjoy breakfast, your barge sails to Texel, the largest of the Dutch Wadden Islands. Choose between a shorter or longer cycling loop around this scenic island. Discover peaceful nature parks, charming villages, and blooming flower fields. Don’t miss a visit to Ecomare, a seal sanctuary and marine life center. End the day with a stop at a local brewery in Oudeschild for a refreshing Texel-brewed beer.

Day 5: Texel - Enkhuizen | Relaxing Sailing Day on the IJsselmeer
Enjoy a relaxing sailing experience today as the ship crosses the IJsselmeer to Enkhuizen. Participate in hoisting the sails or simply unwind on deck while taking in the views. A generous lunch will be served on board. In the afternoon, explore Enkhuizen, a historic port town known for its maritime heritage, picturesque harbor, and centuries-old architecture. Dinner is on your own tonight giving you the opportunity to dine at one of the town’s excellent local restaurants.

Day 6: Enkhuizen - Hoorn - Volendam, 20 mi. (28 km)
This morning, cruise to Hoorn, a 17th-century powerhouse of the Dutch East India Company. In the afternoon, cycle to Volendam, a postcard-perfect fishing village on Lake IJsselmeer. En route, stop in Edam, internationally renowned for its cheese. Once a vital shipbuilding town, Edam is now famous for its red or yellow waxed wheels of cheese that once accompanied sailors around the globe.

Day 7: Volendam - Keukenhof - Amsterdam | Tulip Garden Bus Excursion
Today features a scenic bus excursion to the world-famous Keukenhof Gardens, the most iconic tulip garden in the Netherlands. Stroll through 80 acres filled with over 7 million blooming tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, and other vibrant spring flowers. Enjoy traditional and modern landscaping at its finest. In the afternoon, return to Amsterdam, where you’ll spend your final night aboard the ship.

Day 8: Disembarkation in Amsterdam
Enjoy your last breakfast on board before disembarking by 9:30 a.m. Depart with unforgettable memories of your tulip season bike and barge tour through the most beautiful parts of the Netherlands.

Day 1: Amsterdam - Volendam
Day 2: Volendam - Hoorn, 15 mi. (24 km) | Hoorn - Enkhuizen
Day 3: Enkhuizen - Oudeschild | Sailing day
Day 4: Wadden Island of Texel Roundtrip, 29 mi. (43 km) or 26 mi. (48 km) | Oudeschild – Den Helder
Day 5: Den Helder - St. Maartensvlotbrug | St. Maartensvlotbrug - Alkmaar, 19 mi. (32 km) or 32 mi. (53 km) 
Day 6: Alkmaar - Zaandam, 29 mi. (47 km)
Day 7: Zaandam - Keukenhof - Amsterdam | Tulip Garden Bus Excursion
Day 8: Disembarkation in Amsterdam

Day 1: Arrival in Amsterdam - Cruise to Volendam
Your tulip season bike and boat adventure begins in Amsterdam, where check-in aboard your ship is open from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. You’ll be warmly welcomed with coffee and tea by the crew. At 2:30 p.m., the barge departs for the traditional fishing village of Volendam. While cruising, your tour leader will introduce the itinerary and review essential cycling and safety information. Upon arrival in Volendam, enjoy a short optional test ride to get comfortable on your bike. After a hearty dinner on board, join your guide for a pleasant walk through the scenic harbor town, known for its colorful houses and historic charm along Lake IJsselmeer.

Day 2: Volendam - Hoorn, 14 mi. (24 km) | Cruise to Enkhuizen
Today’s cycling route begins with a ride through the picturesque countryside to Edam, famous for its namesake cheese and maritime past. Once a bustling port and shipbuilding center, Edam became known for its cheese wheels that accompanied sailors around the world. Continue to Hoorn, a prominent 17th-century trading city of the Dutch East India Company. In the afternoon, rejoin the ship and cruise to Enkhuizen. Take time to explore this historic “herring city,” filled with maritime heritage, a charming harbor, and beautifully preserved architecture.

Day 3: Enkhuizen - Oudeschild | Sailing day
Enjoy a full day of leisurely sailing across the IJsselmeer toward the island of Texel. Join the crew in hoisting sails or simply relax on deck and take in the views. A generous lunch will be served while underway. In the afternoon, arrive at Oudeschild, the harbor town on Texel, the largest of the Dutch Wadden Islands. This evening, dinner is on your own, offering a chance to explore Oudeschild and sample local cuisine at one of its restaurants.

Day 4: Texel Island Loop, 26-29 mi. (43-48 km) | Oudeschild - Den Helder
Choose between a shorter or longer cycling route as you explore Texel. Pedal past flowering fields, through nature reserves, and along scenic bike paths. Stop by the Ecomare seal sanctuary, visit quaint island villages, and enjoy a tasting at a local brewery near Oudeschild. In the late afternoon, return to the ship and sail back to the mainland, docking in Den Helder for the night.

Day 5: Den Helder - St. Maartensvlotbrug | St. Maartensvlotbrug - Alkmaar, 19 or 32 mi. (32 or 53 km)
Cycle through the northernmost region of North Holland, where the world’s largest single bulb flower field bursts into color in spring. Enjoy peaceful coastal landscapes and stroll along the sandy shores near the North Sea. Pass through the artistic village of Bergen before reaching Alkmaar, renowned for its cheese markets and historic town center. The ship awaits in this charming city, where narrow canals and 17th-century buildings create a truly Dutch atmosphere.

Day 6: Alkmaar - Zaandam, 29 mi. (47 km)
Today’s scenic ride winds through the flower-lined villages of Egmond and Limmen, with a stop at the Hortus Bulborum, a unique garden preserving thousands of historical flower bulb varieties. Continue on to Zaanse Schans, a living museum featuring authentic windmills, traditional crafts, and Dutch heritage. Tour the clog workshop, cheese farm, and historical buildings before boarding your ship in Zaandam.

Day 7: Zaandam - Keukenhof - Amsterdam | Tulip Garden Bus Excursion
Board a comfortable coach this morning for a full-day excursion to the spectacular Keukenhof Gardens. Wander through 80 acres of floral splendor, featuring over 7 million blooming tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, and more. Admire both traditional and innovative floral displays in one of the most iconic spring gardens in the world. In the afternoon, return to Amsterdam to enjoy your final night aboard the ship.

Day 8: Disembarkation in Amsterdam
After your final breakfast on board, disembark by 9:30 a.m. with wonderful memories of your cycling and sailing journey through Holland’s most breathtaking spring landscapes.