Bruges to Paris E-Bike & Boat

Paris to Bruges

Day 1: Paris to Bougival
Day 2: Paris (Bougival) to Auvers-sur-Oise, 26 or 28 mi. (42 or 46 km)
Day 3: Auvers-sur-Oise to Beaumont | Beaumont to Pont-Ste-Maxence, 28 mi. (45 km)
Day 4: Pont-Ste-Maxence to Compiègne, 33 mi. (52 km)
Day 5: Compiègne to Pont l’Évêque, 26 or 31 mi. (42 or 51 km)
Day 6: Pont l’Évêque to Haudival | Haudival to Péronne, 28 or 34 mi. (45 or 56 km)
Day 7: Day in Péronne
Day 8: Péronne to Ytres, 24 or 33 mi. (40 or 52 km) | Ytres to Havrincourt
Day 9: Havrincourt to Arleux, 21 or 31 mi. (35 or 50 km) | Arleux to Pont Malin
Day 10: Pont Malin to Denain | Denain to Doornik (Tournai), 29 or 31 mi. (47 or 51 km)
Day 11: Doornik (Tournai) to Oudenaarde, 26 or 27 mi. (41 or 43 km)
Day 12: Oudenaarde to Ghent, 27 or 30 mi. (45 or 49 km)
Day 13: Ghent to Bruges, 32 mi. (52 km)
Day 14: Bruges, 32 or 34 mi. (51 or 54 km) optional cycling
Day 15: Departure from Bruges

Sections in italics are traversed while you are on board the ship. On some days, you can choose between a longer or a shorter cycling route. Please note that on the shorter routes, you may not be able to visit all the highlights mentioned.

Day 1: Paris – Bougival
Embarkation and check-in begin at 2 pm in central Paris. After a welcome from the captain, crew, and tour leader, the barge sails through the heart of the city before mooring in a suburb. After dinner, there is time for a short walk. Arriving one or more days early is recommended to enjoy Paris in depth.

Day 2: Paris (Bougival) – Auvers-sur-Oise, 26 or 28 mi. (42 or 46 km)
Cycle along quiet towpaths beside the Seine toward St. Germain, where the gardens offer a beautiful view across Paris. Continue through forested terrain to Conflans for a scenic picnic, then follow small roads to the church of Auvers, famously painted by Van Gogh. A short evening walk offers the chance to visit his grave.

Day 3: Auvers-sur-Oise – Beaumont | Beaumont – Pont-Ste-Maxence, 28 mi. (45 km)
Enjoy a sailing breakfast to Beaumont, where cycling begins along the Oise River upstream. Visit the Château de Chantilly, known for its equestrian heritage and prestigious art collection. Continue via the historic town of Senlis and through the Halatte Forest to Pont-Ste-Maxence.

Day 4: Pont-Ste-Maxence – Compiègne, 33 mi. (52 km)
Cycle from Pont-Ste-Maxence, once an important medieval river crossing point. Ride through the Compiègne Forest, once a royal hunting ground, stopping in Pierrefonds to see the dramatic castle exterior. Continue to Compiègne, where elegant buildings reflect its royal past. Dinner at leisure.

Day 5: Compiègne – Pont l’Évêque, 26 or 31 mi. (42 or 51 km)
Leave the Oise and continue via the canal network connecting France and Belgium. Visit the Armistice Clearing, where World War I ended, before crossing the Aisne and riding through the Forest of Ourscamp. Continue on to Noyon, home to one of France’s oldest cathedrals, before returning to Pont l’Évêque.

Day 6: Pont l’Évêque – Haudival | Haudival – Péronne, 28 or 34 mi. (45 or 56 km)
Cruise along the Canal du Nord, built to replace Napoleon’s St. Quentin Canal. Begin cycling from Haudival through open countryside and the town of Ham, continuing along the Somme River toward Péronne, known for its square, church, castle, and Grande Guerre Museum.

Day 7: Péronne
The barge remains in Péronne today, allowing time to visit the museum, rest, or spend time in town.

Day 8: Péronne – Ytres, 24 or 33 mi. (40 or 52 km) | Ytres – Havrincourt
Cycle through the Somme Valley, then across open rolling countryside to Ruyaulcourt, once part of the WWI front line. Rejoin the barge to pass through the Ruyalcourt Tunnel, crossing the watershed between the Somme and Scheldt. Overnight at the high point of the canal.

Day 9: Havrincourt – Arleux, 21 or 31 mi. (35 or 50 km) | Arleux – Pont Malin
Cycle toward Cambrai, once a Roman provincial capital and later a pilgrimage destination, with restored fortifications from the era of Charles V. Continue to Arleux, known for smoked garlic, then sail to the lock at Pont Malin.

Day 10: Pont Malin – Denain | Denain – Doornik (Tournai), 29 or 31 mi. (47 or 51 km)
Sail along the Canal du Grand Gabarit through a former industrial region of northern France. Begin cycling in Denain toward the Belgian border, entering the “white land” around Antoing, known for limestone quarrying. Continue to Doornik/Tournai, one of Belgium’s oldest cities, famed for its cathedral and Belfort. Dinner at leisure.

Day 11: Doornik (Tournai) – Oudenaarde, 26 or 27 mi. (41 or 43 km)
Sail downstream on the Scheldt and cross the language boundary into Flanders. Cycle to Oudenaarde, known for its 16th-century sandstone town hall, watchman statue, and tapestry heritage.

Day 12: Oudenaarde – Ghent, 27 or 30 mi. (45 or 49 km)
Follow the Scheldt to Ghent, a vibrant university city with medieval guild houses, the Cloth Hall, and St. Baafs Cathedral, home to Van Eyck’s Adoration of the Mystic Lamb. Optional canal touring or a visit to Gravensteen Castle may be enjoyed.

Day 13: Ghent – Bruges, 32 mi. (52 km)
Cycle through the flat countryside of West Flanders to Bruges, the “Venice of the North,” with an exceptionally preserved medieval center reflecting its past prominence in trade and the arts.

Day 14: Bruges, 32 or 34 mi. (51 or 54 mi.)
The barge remains in Bruges. An optional countryside cycling excursion is offered, or guests can spend the day exploring museums, canals, and local shops.

Day 15: Departure from Bruges
Disembark after breakfast by 9:30 am.

Bruges to Paris

Day 1: Bruges, 13 mi. (22 km)
Day 2: Bruges – Aalterbrug | Aalterbrug – Ghent, 21 or 28 mi. (34 or 44 km)
Day 3: Ghent – Oudenaarde, 28 or 32 mi. (46 or 53 km)
Day 4: Oudenaarde – Doornik (Tournai), 26 mi. (42 km)
Day 5: Doornik (Tournai) – Bleharies | Bleharies – Pont Malin, 26 or 32 mi. (41 or 53 km) | Pont Malin – Arleux
Day 6: Arleux – Havrincourt, 26 or 31 mi. (41 or 51 km)
Day 7: Havrincourt – Péronne, 25 or 33 mi. (40 or 53 km)
Day 8: Péronne
Day 9: Péronne – Épénancourt | Épénancourt – Noyon – Pont l’Évêque, 24 or 29 mi. (39 or 48 km)
Day 10: Pont l’Évêque – Compiègne, 23 or 27 mi. (36 or 45 km)
Day 11: Compiègne – Pont-St-Maxence, 27 or 34 mi. (45 or 55 km)
Day 12: Pont-St-Maxence – Creil | Creil – Beaumont, 27 or 35 mi. (42 or 57 km) | Beaumont – Auvers-sur-Oise
Day 13: Auvers-sur-Oise – Paris (Bougival/Rueil), 26 or 28 mi. (42 or 46 km)
Day 14: Paris (Bougival/Rueil) – Paris
Day 15: Departure from Paris

Sections in italics are traversed while you are on board the ship. On some days you can choose between a longer or a shorter cycling route. Please note that on the shorter routes you may not be able to visit all the highlights mentioned.

Day 1: Bruges, 13 mi. (22 km)
Embarkation and check-in begins at 2 pm in central Bruges. After meeting the crew and bike fitting, enjoy a short test ride before dinner. In the evening, your tour leader leads a walk through the historic center. Bruges, the “Pearl of Flanders,” offers a beautifully preserved medieval core and a rich trading history.

Day 2: Bruges – Aalterbrug | Aalterbrug – Ghent, 21 or 28 mi. (34 or 44 km)
Begin cycling after breakfast through woodland and pastoral scenery to Aalterbrug, where the barge awaits. Sail along the canal toward Ghent, a lively university city featuring medieval guild houses, the Clothmakers’ Hall, and St. Baafs Cathedral with Van Eyck’s Adoration of the Lamb.

Day 3: Ghent – Oudenaarde, 28 or 32 mi. (46 or 53 km)
Cycle back into Ghent for time to explore the historic center, with an optional canal boat tour. Continue riding to Oudenaarde, known for its 16th-century town hall, watchman Hanske de Krijger, and tapestry heritage. Visit the archaeological Abbey site of Ename before arrival.

Day 4: Oudenaarde – Doornik (Tournai), 26 mi. (42 km)
Enjoy a guided visit inside Oudenaarde’s town hall before cycling along the Scheldt into Wallonia. Arrive in Doornik/Tournai, one of Belgium’s oldest towns, known for its cathedral, Belfort tower, and WWII restoration. Dinner is at leisure ashore.

Day 5: Doornik (Tournai) – Bleharies | Bleharies – Pont Malin, 26 or 32 mi. (41 or 53 km) | Pont Malin – Arleux
Cruise during breakfast toward the Belgian-French border, then cycle through farmland and former mining towns toward Lewarde. Rejoin the barge in Pont Malin and sail onward to Arleux for the night.

Day 6: Arleux – Havrincourt, 26 or 31 mi. (41 or 51 km)
Enter the Canal du Nord and cycle to Cambrai, once a Roman provincial capital and pilgrimage site. Continue toward the high point of the canal, where the barge moors beside farmland.

Day 7: Havrincourt – Péronne, 25 or 33 mi. (40 or 53 km)
Sail through the 4,350-meter Ruyalcourt Tunnel, crossing the watershed between the Scheldt and Somme. Then cycle through the Somme Valley’s rolling countryside shaped by World War I history before reaching Péronne.

Day 8: Péronne
The barge remains moored today, allowing time to explore the peaceful town, its square, church, castle, and the Grande Guerre Museum.

Day 9: Péronne – Épénancourt | Épénancourt – Noyon – Pont l’Évêque, 24 or 29 mi. (39 or 48 km)
Cruise to Épénancourt during breakfast, then cycle through farmland, Ham, and riverside villages before reaching Noyon and continuing to Pont l’Évêque.

Day 10: Pont l’Évêque – Compiègne, 23 or 27 mi. (36 or 45 km)
Ride through forested landscapes and visit the Armistice site where World War I ended. Continue to Compiègne, known for royal associations and its elegant Château gardens. Dinner at leisure.

Day 11: Compiègne – Pont-St-Maxence, 27 or 34 mi. (45 or 55 km)
Cycle through forests and along the Oise Valley, stopping in Pierrefonds to view its fairy-tale castle exterior. Continue to Pont-Ste-Maxence, a historic medieval crossing point.

Day 12: Pont-St-Maxence – Creil | Creil – Beaumont, 27 or 35 mi. (42 or 57 km) | Beaumont – Auvers-sur-Oise
Sailing breakfast to Creil, then cycle toward Château de Chantilly and through the forest. Short-route riders rejoin the barge in Beaumont, while long-route riders continue to Auvers-sur-Oise, where Van Gogh spent his final days.

Day 13: Auvers-sur-Oise – Paris (Bougival/Rueil), 26 or 28 mi. (42 or 46 km)
Spend time in Auvers before cycling to Conflans-Sainte-Honorine and onward to the Saint-Germain-en-Laye viewpoint overlooking Paris, then follow the Seine to Bougival.

Day 14: Paris (Bougival/Rueil) – Paris
Sail along the Seine into the center of Paris, passing sweeping river bends and historic districts. Spend the remainder of the day exploring independently.

Day 15: Departure from Paris
Disembark after breakfast by 9:30 am.

All distances are approximate. The planned itinerary is subject to change due to changing wind and weather conditions and other unforeseen circumstances having to do with mooring requirements, etc. ​

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