Luxury Rotterdam to Paris

Cruise routes are subject to change without notice.  Some waterways may be subject to occasional closures due to drought, storms, floods, canal or lock repairs, or other unforeseen circumstances that make navigation unsafe or impossible. The captain reserves the right to make changes deemed necessary.

Rotterdam to Paris

Day 1: Rotterdam
Day 2: Rotterdam - Willemstad, 22 mi. (35 km)
Day 3: Willemstad - Antwerp, 31 mi. (50 km)
Day 4: Antwerpen - Ghent, 25 mi. (40 km)
Day 5: Ghent - Bruges (road transport)
Day 6: Ghent - Oudenaarde, 23 mi. (37 km) 
Day 7: Oudenaarde - Tournai, 25 mi. (40 km)
Day 8: Tournai - Arleux, 31 mi. (49 km)
Day 9: Arleux - Peronne, 34 mi. (54 km)
Day 10:  Peronne - Noyon, 33 mi. (52 km)
Day 11: Noyon - Compiegne, 19 mi. (30 km)
Day 12: Compiegne - L'Isle Adam, 31 mi. (50 km)
Day 13: L'Isle Adam - Conflans, 16 mi. (26 km)
Day 14: Conflans - Paris, 14 mi. (23 km)
Day 15: Paris

Day 1: Rotterdam
An early afternoon arrival (from the airport or respective hotel) to Schiedam (outskirts of Rotterdam) is advised. After an introduction to the ship and the crew, you can settle in and enjoy champagne and a petit fours/canape reception. Take a short test ride on your rental bike around Schiedam to see the old center and the tallest windmills in the world. An afternoon visit to Rotterdam is on the agenda featuring the most significant highlights of the city. Dinner onboard. Hip and trendy Rotterdam, known for its architecture, will not disappoint.

Day 2: Rotterdam - Willemstad, 22 mi. (35 km)
The ship will depart from Schiedam after breakfast with a cruise through the busy port of Rotterdam towards the Kinderdijk where you will disembark and start cycling. Kinderdijk (Unesco World Heritage Site) is a unique and renowned outdoor museum where Holland’s largest number of historical windmills is found.  The cycling route leads through Alblasserdam /Alblasserwaardpolder, Papendrecht, and into Dordrecht where you will have a chance to spend some time and view the oldest city in The Netherlands. As you cycle, the Aurora cruises past Dordrecht and carries on across the Hollandse Diep, part of the Dutch estuaries to Moerdijk. Here you will board the vessel again to sail peacefully to the west to the charming old fortress town of Willemstad for the evening. Dinner on board.

Day 3: Willemstad - Antwerp, 31 mi. (50 km) or 35 mi. (56 km)
Today, you will leave the old fortified town of Willemstad near the Volkeraksluizen (locks) at the Haringvliet and choose between two cycle routes: 

Either

A) Bike in the direction of the town of Tholen, through the polder landscape and woodlands around Bergen op Zoom towards Brabantse Wal) finishing the ride by Kreekrak lock. This is a lovely picturesque ride in an area of outstanding beauty.

Or

B) Via the open spaces and forest of “Wouwse Plantage” and Brabantse Wal, you cycle until reaching another attraction, the impressive Kreekrak lock. This is where you will board the Aurora again for a delicious lunch. While you enjoy your meal, the Aurora cruises, leaving Holland and crossing the border into Belgium, to the bustling port of Antwerp, the city of Rubens. On the outskirts of Antwerp, you will be transferred to the city center and tour Rubens’ home. You can stroll in the old quarter of this beautiful Flemish city with the possibility to visit the Onze Lieve Vrouwenkerk cathedral, city hall, the main market square, and the medieval Steen Castle. 
Dinner on board.

Day 4: Antwerp - Ghent, 25 mi. (40 km)
After an early breakfast, you will start cycling from Antwerp, under the Schelde river via the St. Anna tunnel, towards the beautiful village of Bazel, followed by the freshwater marshes with unique flora and fauna, through the nature reserves and mudflats of Durme and Schausselbroek. Near Temse, you reach the polder of Sint Amands and then, Dendermonde. You will drop your bicycles on Aurora and be transferred to Ghent, the mooring place for today.  The Aurora will catch the flood tide up the winding “Sea Schelde” all the way from Antwerp, downstream to the gorgeous town of Ghent. You can visit the magnificent cathedral which houses “The Adoration of the Mystic Lamb”, the fabulous and famous painting by the Van Eyck brothers, or, take a walk through this wonderful town at your leisure and explore the local boutiques. The city of Ghent is proud of its rich past and its position at the junction of the Leie and Schelde rivers has ensured the town’s success as a trading port. Ghent is much more than just a museum town. This lively city with its numerous squares and cozy pubs is an excellent mixture of medieval edifices, stylish shopping streets, splendid mansions, working-class quarters from the beginning of the 20th century, and busy little squares where people eat out till the wee hours on a sultry summer night. Dinner on board.  

Day 5: Ghent - Bruges (by transfer)
You will not cruise today as the barge will spend another day moored in Ghent. Guests will be transferred and visit the beautiful little town of Bruges, known as the “Venice of the North”. You’ll have ample time to explore many museums, and magnificent squares, and perhaps buy some handmade lace, of which Bruges is famous.  You can take a boat trip on the small canals which meander through this picturesque town for a unique view of Flemish architecture.

Possible excursions in Bruges:

• Market Square
• Boat rides on the canals
• Quay of the rosary
• Belfry of Bruges
• Historium Museum
• Burg Square
• St. Boniface Bridge
• Church of Our Lady (houses Michelangelo's sculpture Madonna and Child)

Day 6: Ghent - Oudenaarde, 23 mi. (37 km)
Beautiful peaceful sailing on the Scheldt River will be your highlight, into the Flemish Ardennes and the popular town of Oudenaarde, world-renown for its high-quality tapestries. After lunch, you have the opportunity to visit the spectacular center of the town full of patrician houses with the 16th cent. Gothic town hall (Stadhuis), one of the most beautiful in Flanders, with its UNESCO inscribed belfry. Oudenaarde was situated on the border between French and German empires in the old days and thus it was constantly exposed to conflicts. Someone had to keep watching out for the enemy approaching! Cycling for the day is pretty straightforward and mainly follows the Schelde River from Ghent to Oudenaarde. Before reaching Oudenaarde you can visit an interesting archaeological site, Ename, located on the east side of the Schelde river.

Day 7: Oudenaarde - Tournai, 25 mi. (40 km)
There is plenty of time to relax this morning as you cruise gently up the Schelde River past sleepy hamlets and beautiful rolling landscapes to Tournai (also known as Doornik in Flemish), an ancient Belgian town. You are crossing the linguistic boundary between the Flemish and French region and henceforth, while in the Wallonia region, French is the main language. Not to be missed in Tournai is the aged and fascinating clock tower/ belfry on the wonderful square of the Grand Place (one of 56 belfries in France and Belgium that have earned a single UNESCO World Heritage listing). Tournai’s belfry dates from around 1188, making it the oldest belfry in Belgium. You can observe the big ships navigate through the gate of the old Watergate and also not to be missed is the famous “ Pont des Trous” (Bridge with holes) used to collect tolls on the rivers in the old times. In 1940 the entire town was destroyed in a German air raid but restoration has been very successful. Dinner on board.

Day 8: Tournai - Arleux, 31 mi. (49 km)
Today you start with an early sailing. Traveling further into France, the Aurora navigates the Schelde River, through the town of Valenciennes, to the junction with the Canal du Nord. You will start cycling from the Belgian-French border by Bleharies and enjoy a very nice ride through the forests, with a visit to St. Amand-les-Eaux and its abbey tower. The cycling tour goes through open farmland via small mining towns to Lewarde where a mining museum can be visited. The Aurora will pick you up in Bouchain where Escaut meets Canal de la Sensee and together sail to Arleux. Many barges pass through the little French village of Arleux on their way to the south of France and this will be the mooring spot for the night. Dinner on board.

Day 9: Arleux - Peronne, 34 mi. (54 km)
A day of contrasts awaits!
This morning your captain will pilot the Aurora over the Vermandois Hills of Picardy through many deep locks and several tunnels on the Canal du Nord. This canal was constructed to replace the neighboring and smaller Canal St.Quentin built to transport coal from the mines strewn around the Picardy region. This is no mean feat, and the scenery is spectacular too!  The well-maintained towpath invites you to walk or cycle through the rural landscape. Onboard the Aurora, you will go through one or two big locks typical for Canal du Nord and can begin to cycle by the lock of Marquion. From here, heading east you can take some time out to visit the town of Cambrai, home to the famous confectionary, the Betise de Cambrai.  Betise means nonsense or mistake and legend goes that these sweets (mint candies) were invented by accident by the son of a confectioner. They make a good gift!  From Cambrai, you cycle down to Peronne through the sparsely populated Somme River valley. The Aurora will moor here for the night. Today's cycle will entail some inclines but your tour guide will always keep you well informed so that you can decide if you want to cycle or enjoy some time on board. 
Dinner on board.

Day 10:  Peronne - Noyon, 33 mi. (52 km)
Yesterday was all about climbing but today, you drop down towards the Somme River valley, revealing landscapes not normally seen by tourists.  There are great opportunities for cycling today. In the morning you will visit the war museum, Musee Historical, in Peronne dedicated to First World War history and set on the premises of the medieval castle (museum opens at 9.30 am). If there is a group interested in the history of the First World War (1914-1918) an extensive visit to the places connected to the era can be arranged. If the group wishes to cycle once again, be aware that there are hills to be conquered. You cycle via the art-deco town of Ham on the river into Noyon (by Canal du Nord) with a very old interesting cathedral. Dinner on board.

Day 11: Noyon - Compiegne, 19 mi. (30 km)
The cruise today features the Oise River valley. A typical hilly landscape characterizes the area, with many undulating fields and small towns and villages. Cycling will start in the morning from the mooring spot in Noyon via Pont l’Eveque along the L’Oise River, with a little detour to Abbaye d’Ourscamp, St.Leger aux Bois through the famous Forest of Compiegne and also via the Clairiere de l’Armistice (small museum to be visited). The last 7 km straight stretch continues along the Aisne River to the center of Compiegne, the mooring location for the evening.  Lunch will be served on board. Then, there is much to see here including the Royal Palace, a neoclassical chateau, and a royal residence lavishly redecorated at Napoleon’s request. The town features a large square and the train carriage where the WWI Armistice was signed to end the First World War. There will be the possibility to hike in the woods or bike through the gorgeous forest surrounding Compiegne.

Day 12: Compiegne - L'Isle Adam, 31 mi. (50 km)
After breakfast, you continue your cruise through the beautiful Oise Valley until you reach Pont Ste-Maxence. Here cyclists will disembark by the lock of Sarron and bike via a dedicated bike bath, through a  wooded area toward the medieval town of Senlis, then on to the Chateau of Chantilly, and later the Royaumont Abbey. This day is packed with many impressive sights during the cycling tour! Dinner on board.

Day 13: L'Isle Adam - Conflans, 16 mi. (26 km)
You will pass by Auvers sur Oise to reach Auvers, where Van Gogh took his inspiration to produce many of his last and most important paintings.  He stayed in a small room above the local café.  A walking tour through the town may inspire you too and will include all the highlights such as the Van Gogh house, the Absinthe museum,  the Atelier of Daubigny, and more. You finish the tour at the cemetery where both Vincent Van Gogh and his brother Theo are buried. Back on the bike, the route leads to Pontoise,  perched on a plateau, offering a superb panorama of the river. The Camille Pissarro Museum is located here. Then following the river, you pass through several some small villages, to arrive finally to Conflans-Ste-Honorine. Lunch will be served and then you can enjoy free time to stroll around this old river port. If you were inspired by the morning’s tour you can continue the artsy theme with an afternoon excursion to Giverny, to visit the home and gardens of Claude Monet, the most famous of the Impressionist painters.  The Aurora will be moored at Conflans this evening, at the junction of the Seine and the Oise Rivers.  Many bargees retire here, and you will see numerous house barges alongside the quays.  Dinner on board.

Day 14: Conflans - Paris, 14 mi. (23 km)
You enjoy an early morning cruising on the Aurora along the mighty Seine River to Bouvigal. Here you disembark to visit the home of Napoleon at Malmaison, lavishly decorated by Josephine. Once back on board, lunch will be served as the boat continues navigating the looping river to Paris. You will be moored in the very heart of the city of lights, just before the Eiffel tower. This romantic setting provides the perfect time to look back over your time on board Aurora.

Day 15: Paris
You will enjoy a special hearty breakfast before bidding farewell to Aurora, her Captain, and the crew. Luggage is loaded after breakfast to transfer you to your drop-off point in Paris.

Please note: This is a sample itinerary that may be subject to change depending on local conditions. The cruise is run in reverse towards the end of the season in October, ending in Rotterdam.

Paris to Rotterdam

Day 1: Paris
Day 2: Paris - Conflans-Sainte-Honorine
Day 3: Conflans - L'Isle Adam
Day 4: L'Isle Adam - Compiegne
Day 5: Compiegne - Nyon
Day 6: Nyon - Peronne
Day 7: Peronne - Arleaux
Day 8: Arleaux - Tournai
Day 9: Tournai - Oudenaarde
Day 10: Oudenaarde - Ghent
Day 11: Transfer to Bruges, day in Bruges.
Day 12: Ghent - Antwerp
Day 13: Antwerp - Willemstad
Day 14: Willemstad - Rotterdam
Day 15: Rotterdam

Take a look at all our tours including biking, boating, hiking, and multi-adventure.

• Aurora

  Deluxe

  ?

  5 out of 5 (5 Reviews)

  View Boat

  Deluxe Class Motor Yacht

  Onboard the Aurora, an ultra-deluxe vessel, you can enjoy a unique bike and boat or luxury river cruise in style. Peppered with various activities, you will enjoy professionally prepared quality food, personalized service, and itineraries as unique as you are. Read More