How it works Bike and barge tours

25 tours see all tours

IN BRIEF

In the daytime by bike, in the evening on the boat

Holidays along rivers, canals and coastal routes, with cycling by day and overnight stays in a floating hotel that follows cyclists stage by stage. The cabin will be yours for the whole week, and breakfasts and dinners are served on board, where you’ll be welcomed by the captain and crew. You can also enjoy leisure time on the boat in the salon or on the sun deck, and if one day you don’t feel like cycling, you can relax on the boat all day!

TO KNOW

Once upon a time in the Netherlands...

“Bike and barge” holidays are a Dutch invention that soon proliferated on many of Europe’s rivers, canals and bike paths. Other bike and boat routes can now be enjoyed in Belgium, France, Austria, Germany and Italy. Traditionally, these trips have been run on rivers and canals, but they are now also a popular way to travel in coastal areas, such as on the Adriatic Sea in Croatia, no longer aboard river barges, but on yachts or motorsailers.

Tours

Italy (1 tour)

Our original itinerary among the lakes of Mantua and along the canals parallel to the Po River, to the Venetian Lagoon. Our boats offer privileged access to the Po Delta Park, to small, unspoiled rural towns of the Po Valley, and to art cities such as Venice, Mantua, and Ferrara. The food on board features local traditional dishes, both simple and refined, so good that they alone are worth the trip! Learn more about bike and barge tours in Italy.

France (2 tours)

An ever more bicycle-friendly country with a long tradition of river navigation. In the south of France, we offer a tour in the footsteps of Van Gogh: pedal among the villages of Provence and through the wild natural beauty of the Camargue. If you’re fond of wine and good food, you cannot miss the canals of Burgundy or Champagne. Bike and barge tours also reach the canals of the Seine, all the way to the heart of Paris! Read more about bike and barge tours in France.

The Netherlands (9 tours)

So many possibilities for boating and cycling. If you dream of visiting the country’s most famous and historical cities, choose the Southern Tour: you’ll discover Amsterdam with its thousands of bicycle routes; Haarlem, the city of merchants; Rotterdam, a port city with colorful and modern architecture; and Delft and its ceramics. If you prefer unspoiled nature, the Northern Tour is for you: from Amsterdam to small seaside villages, past lakes and countryside dotted with traditional windmills, to the dunes of Texel Island.

And finally, the Tulip Tour is a must-see in the spring, when Holland is tinged with a thousand colors.

Belgium (2 tours)

Discover Belgium’s most beloved region: Flanders! Explore its landscapes and the historic cities of the Flemish painters: Brussels, romantic Bruges, wealthy Antwerp and Ghent. To accompany your days, delicious beer and the best fries in the world!

Germany and Austria (3 tours)

Rhine, Moselle, Danube: three great rivers and three great cycling routes, among the best-loved in Europe for itineraries of historical and natural interest, and an abundance of services dedicated to bicycle tourists. Vineyards and green landscapes line these rivers, and their banks are dotted with castles and abbeys that invite a visit. Wineries and wine tastings will also offer temptations along your rides!

Themes

For families (2 tours)

Little captains, we wait for you on board for a fun-filled holiday: lots of cycling and other activities to enjoy during the day, and at night you sleep in a floating hotel that follows you stage by stage. Learn more about our family tours.

Assistance

The tour leader, captain and crew lead the way and is ready to solve any mishaps, but you will also have our office number, which is available 7 days a week.

You will receive briefing materials with all the practical information, details on how to reach the meeting point, and answers to any questions you may have before you leave.

Our tips

When to book?

Bike-and-barge holidays have a limited number of places, varying according to the size of the boat. This is why we recommend that you book these trips at least 2-3 months in advance. But never despair, we will try to find a spot for you even at the last minute!

Discover more
River and sea barges

Boats, barges, motorsailers, all with comfortable cabins, dining room, outdoor deck: we like to call them floating hotels!

Learn more
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