Brussels to Bruges
Belgium Bike + Barge Tours
Bike and barge Belgium along the Schelde River
- Tour Type
- Skill Level
- Length8 days
- Prices from€1145 Rates
- Book This Trip
Overview
Bike and Barge in Belgium, the heart of Europe! With three official languages (Flemish, French, and German), Belgium is a culturally diverse country with a rich and varied history and an understated sophistication which makes it a charming country to visit and the perfect place for a bike and boat tour.
It boasts a wealth of spectacular architecture, with many of its oldest buildings listed as UNESCO world heritage sites. The renowned grand squares of Brussels and Bruges, with hundreds of museums, parks, restaurants, and bars will not fail to impress you.
Belgium also has a proud tradition of fine art and the works of many well-known artists, from medieval masters such as Van Eyck to modern surrealists like Magritte. For lovers of the outdoors, Belgium's beautiful countryside offers a range of things to do. Most of all, Belgians know how to enjoy life to the full - their world-famous beers, chocolates, waffles, mussels, fries, and fine cuisine are a testament to this. It's never difficult to find a great place to eat or drink in any Belgian town or city.
Highlights
- Enjoy Halle, a suburb of Brussels
- Medieval cities of Oudenaarde and Tournai
- The impressive monument of Le Grand Hornu
- Understated Ghent
- UNESCO world heritage listed Bruges
Be sure to check out all of our Bike and Barge tours in Belgium.
Itinerary
Day 1: Brussels (Halle), leaving at 2pm - Seneffe
Day 2: Seneffe - Strépy-Thieu - Mons
Day 3: Mons round trip
Day 4: Mons - Antoing
Day 5: Antoing - Tournai - Oudenaarde
Day 6: Oudenaarde - Ghent
Day 7: Ghent - Bruges
Day 8: Departure from BrugesDaily distances average 40 - 45 km per day. All distances are approximate. The above-planned itinerary is subject to change, even on very short notice, due to changing wind and weather conditions and other unforeseen circumstances having to do with mooring requirements, docking location changes, lock repairs, etc.
Day 1: Brussels (Halle), departing at 2pm - Seneffe
The tour starts in Halle (a little town south of Brussels). At 2 pm, you'll leave Halle following the Canal Bruxelles-Charleroi until Seneffe. In order to have the full experience, you'll board the boat again just before the Sloping Lock of Ronquières. You'll continue to Feluy and bike on the RAVeL, Beglum's huge network of paths, to Seneffe. You'll spend the night in Seneffe, home to its 18th-century château.Day 2: Seneffe - Strépy-Thieu - Mons
You'll begin pedaling to the boat lift at Strépy-Thieu. Here, the Feniks will welcome you aboard again to go down the same 70 meters you came up the day before. After the descent, you get off the barge again to follow the bike path Canal du Centre and then Ancien Canal du Centre. From there, you'll continue on to Mons, where you'll spend the night.Day 3: Mons round trip
Today you explore the Ardennes by bike. This region hit its economic peak at the end of the 19th century until the 60s of the 20th century. Once the reliance on coal declined, the steel that was produced could no longer compete with the competition of the other suppliers of the world.The Borinage, as this region is called, shows many remnants of its economic heyday. One of them is the Grand Hornu, classified by UNESCO as a World Heritage site since July 2012.
Day 4: Mons - Antoing
Crossing into northern France, by the Belgian border, Scarpe-Escaut Park welcomes you. The park was established in 1968 and is the first of the regional nature parks in France. You'll cross the French border twice today, to reach the little village of Antoing.Day 5: Antoing – Tournai – Oudenaarde
Along the river Scheldt, you'll pedal into Tournai after a few kilometers. In the Middle Ages, Tournai was a famous town for embroidered tapestry. You'll visit the famous cathedral with 5 towers. You'll meander further along the river to reach Oudenaarde. Oudenaarde is an old town, also known for its tapestry. Those who wish to continue biking can go to the Museum of the Ronde van Vlaanderen (the tour of Flanders)Day 6: Oudenaarde - Ghent
From one medieval town to another, today's destination is Ghent. The first part of your ride is along the river, with a visit to the former location of the abbey and castle of Ename. Quiet roads, patches of forest, a few villages, and well-maintained bike paths lead you to Merelbeke (lunch). You'll soon arrive in the lively university town of Ghent. The St. Baafs cathedral with the Adoration of the Mystic Lamb (1432) by brothers Van Eijk is not to be missed.Day 7: Ghent - Bruges
Between Ghent and Bruges you will experience the typical landscape of Flanders. Fields with all kind of crops, winding country roads, small towns, some forest. After Nevele (coffee stop) Poeke, with its castle and park and two café’s (pubs) on the square near the church is a good place to have lunch. On our further way towards Bruges we will find some villages and patches of forest and of course a café to have a tea stop. Then we will encounter the canal and follow it into Bruges. The mooring is at the very beginning of town, so no ride in busy traffic necessary. At the end of the afternoon or after dinner you can walk from the barge to see the highlights of town.Day 8: Bruges
Looking for more? View all of our featured bike and boat tours, or our full list of bike trips.
Map
Boats & Bikes
Aboard the comfort class boats, the Feniks
- Feniks
Comfort Class Boat
This comfortable little vessel is the pride and joy of its captain/owner, Marius. As is true for many of our boats, the Feniks was originally built as a freighter, but then converted into a hotel passenger ship in 1992. Since then, she has undergone several renovations. Wearing her history well, you will find a welcoming atmosphere on board, a crew ready to serve, and great food showcasing local cuisine featuring fresh fruits and vegetables straight from the market to the table. Read More
Inclusions
What’s Included
- Accommodation for 8 days/7 nights
- Breakfast, packed lunches, and 6 three-course dinners
- Coffee, tea, and biscuits
- Afternoon snacks
- All bed linens and towels
- Daily cleaning of the cabin
- 24-speed city touring bike with rear pannier, water cage and bottle, and frame lock
- Helmets available
- Tour guide
- Laundry service (clothes are returned clean but not dry. Clothes can be hung midship)
- Wifi, signal strength and speed cannot be guaranteed and may not be what you are accustomed to
What’s Not Included
- Beverages other than those mentioned
- Museum entrance fees
- Gratuities
- Bicycle Protection
- Travel Insurance
Dates & Pricing
Dates & Pricing
Comfort Class
Bruges to Brussels: July 22, 2023
Brussels to Bruges: July 29, 2023Cabin type
Luxury twin cabin $ 2627 £ 1389 $ 2,333 € 1570 ₪ 6394 ¥ 240855 NZ$ 2837 NOK 19060 kr 18568 $ 1,715 Regular twin cabin $ 2250 £ 1190 $ 1,998 € 1345 ₪ 5478 ¥ 206337 NZ$ 2430 NOK 16328 kr 15907 $ 1,469 Single cabin $ 2693 £ 1424 $ 2,392 € 1610 ₪ 6557 ¥ 246991 NZ$ 2909 NOK 19545 kr 19041 $ 1,758 Bunk bed cabin for twin use $ 1916 £ 1013 $ 1,701 € 1145 ₪ 4663 ¥ 175655 NZ$ 2069 NOK 13900 kr 13541 $ 1,250 Extra Options
Electric bicycle rental: $ 134 £ 71 $ 119 € 80 ₪ 326 ¥ 12273 NZ$ 145 NOK 971 kr 946 $ 87
Gluten-free or other special dietary requests: surcharge may apply. Please ask
Please Note
- Rates are per person, based on double occupancy
- Tour prices are based on the fuel costs at time prices are set, often months or years in advance. In rare cases, additional fees may apply for fuel cost increases.
- Information to read before you book
- We recommend purchasing trip insurance
- Please see our FAQ
Extra Info
Skill Level — Easy–Moderate
The Ardennes is hilly, not high, but occasionally pretty steep. Differences in height are never more than 70 meters. When leaving the Ardennes, the hilly countryside changes into gently sloping easy riding in very small-scale farming countryside.
Airport Info
Fly to Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS) or Brussels Airport (BRU).
Local Travel
If you fly into Amsterdam, you can access the train station on the lower level of the airport. From there you will take a short train ride to Amsterdam Centraal, the main train station in Amsterdam. A train to Brussels Central is about 2 hours and 40 minutes with one transfer in Rotterdam Centraal. A train to Bruges is close to 4 hours with either one or two transfers. If you fly into Brussels, it is just a short train ride to Brussels Central from the airport and then you can take a taxi to the harbor. If your tour is beginning in Bruges, it is about an hour and a half train ride with one transfer in Brussels Midi.
Climate
Please check local conditions before your arrival. Average high/low temperatures (°F) for Brussels: April 55°/40°, May 63°/47°, June 67°/52°, July 72°/56, August 72°/55°, and September 66°/52°.
Day of Rest
Any day can be designated a day of rest by remaining on board and enjoying the scenery from on deck.
Important to know
Travel Documents
It is each traveler's responsibility to ensure that you are in compliance with the country or countries you plan to visit. This includes and is not limited to passport validity, visa requirements and acquisition, blank passport pages required for your destination (s), etc.
US citizens: A good website to research the requirements of the Schengen Agreement and entry into other countries is travel.state.gov.
Non-EU and EU residents: Please research the requirements of your country of residence for international travel and your destination country or countries.*Important note: Beginning July 1, 2021, additional documentation from the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) will be required to visit any of the 26 Schengen-member countries for tourism, business, medical, or transit. This is an additional check on security rather than a visa.
Covid-19 Info
Country Entry Requirements
Due to the changing requirements for entry, it is imperative that you stay up to date on requirements set by the country/countries that you are visiting. Please visit our Travel Restrictions Tool page and the country/countries government webpage for this information.
Tour Operator
This tour is run by SE Tours and Feniks charter.
We value the strong relationship we have with our local partners and the services we provide.
We are not a broker.
We do not inflate tour prices.
We are simply travelers helping travelers.Would you like to learn more About Us? How about What Makes Us Different than other companies?
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