Route from Amsterdam / to Amsterdam Duration 8 days / 7 nights Distance approx. 210 km Level 1 - 2 Level 1 Easy cycling tours suitable for islandhoppers who are confident on their bikes but prefer riding on flatter terrain (15-30km and 200 elevation meters per day). Level 1 - 2 Easy to moderate cycling tours through hilly terrain suitable for islandhoppers who have a good basic level of fitness (20-35km and up to 200-400 elevation meters per day). Level 2 Moderate cycling tours through hilly terrain suitable for islandhoppers who cycle regularly and feel comfortable with longer climbs (25-40km and 300-500 elevation meters per day). Level 2 -3 Moderate to demanding cycling tours through hilly to mountainous terrain suitable for islandhoppers who like a challenge (30-50km and 400-700 elevation meters per day). Level 3 Demanding cycling tours through hilly and mountainous terrain suitable for islandhoppers who can take on steeper climbs (30-60km and 400-800 elevation meter per day). Share via ... E-Mail Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Copy Link
Self-guided sail and bike experience on the Ijsselmeer Sail & Bike along the coast of the Ijsselmeer: Once part of the salty sea, this impressive body of water is now the largest freshwater lake in Holland! Discover this unique area of the Netherlands on two-wheels along wonderful cycling paths and on board a magnificent and comfortably furnished sailing ship. Along the banks, picturesque harbour and trading towns, centuries-old polders (fields of reclaimed land below sea level) and beautiful inland villages are still witness to the regions rich seafaring past. The fresh-water Ijsselmeer is now home to a vast variety of birds, plants, and fish. On this Sail & Bike tour, you visit many of these historical towns and polders on both the western and eastern banks of the Ijsselmeer as well as a number of Dutch national parks, traveling as far as the province of Overijssel. No sailing experience is required, just a desire to give it a go. Operated by a partner Book Now Highlights Nature: Broek in the Waterland region - a settlement developed on bog land Culture: Visit one of the museums, where the works of the great Dutch masters are exhibited Activity: Free as the wind! Sailing between Enkhuizen and Urk Culinary: Poffertjes and Stroopwafel are "lekker" Dutch specialities Souvenir: Dutch cheese and Appelstroop
Itinerary Accommodation Dates & Prices Journey Things to note Itinerary image/svg+xml Texel Vlıeland Ostvaarder-splassen Noordoostpolder Blocq van Kuffeler Broek in Waterland Weer-ribben- Wieden MARKERMEER IJSSELMEER WADDENZEE Noord - Holland Flevoland Friesland Den Oever Medemblik Enkhuizen Lelystad Amsterdam Hoorn Monnickendam Volendam Urk Ostvaardersdiep Edam Purmerend Vollenhove Giethoorn Schokland LelystadAirport (LEY) AmsterdamAirport (AMS) United Kingdom France Germany Belgium Luxembourg Netherlands LelystadAirport (LEY) AmsterdamAirport (AMS) UnitedKingdom France Germany Belgium Luxembourg Nether-lands 1st Day Amsterdam (Embarkation) – Monnickendam/Volendam (aprx. 6 mi./10 km) Individual arrival in Amsterdam. The crew welcomes you on board at 2 pm. Once all guests have checked in, the ship sails (by motor) to Volendam. Once on land again in one of the former fishing villages, you can enjoy a short warm-up cycle through the rural nature reserve of Waterland with its many villages. 2nd Day Monnickendam - Volendam (aprx. 20 or 32 mi./32 or 51 km) / Volendam – Hoorn A very Dutch start to the day: you cycle to a nearby, family-run cheese and clog shop for a short demonstration on cheese and clog making and, of course, a cheese tasting. You then continue on along the dikes to Purmerend, located in the heart of the polder De Beemster, 11 ½ ft. (3.5 m) below sea level. This sunken tract of land was created more than 400 years ago, when the Dutch transformed an inland lake into pasture. Divided into a tight geometric pattern of squares and rectangles, it has been recognized by UNESCO as “a creative masterpiece”. The next destination of the day is the lovely town of Edam, whose lanes and canals are the perfect place for a stroll. Edam is known worldwide for its cheese covered in red or yellow wax. This practical solution keeps the cheese fresh for a long time and allowed 17th century sailors to take it with them on their voyages or to trade it for spices and other treasures in the East. After the break in Edam, you head along the main Ijsselmeer dike to the ship which awaits you on the Volendam promenade. Here, there will be enough time to visit the souvenir shops. In the evening, the ship sails to Hoorn. 3rd Day Hoorn – Enkhuizen (aprx. 17 or 24 mi./28 or 39 km) / Enkhuizen - Urk Today’s ride leads through small rural hamlets and villages to Enkhuizen. Along the way, you pass by the De Krijgsman windmill (The Warrior), the tallest windmill in the province of North-Holland and one of a handful of old Dutch windmills still used to produce flour commercially. The area is also known for its many greenhouses, in which various vegetables are grown. In the 17th century, Enkhuizen was one of the wealthiest cities in Holland, thanks to its harbour that shipped then-costly spices from Asia. Here you are sure to be impressed by the stately mansions, canals, churches, and city walls that to this day reflect the city’s history and wealth. Weather permitting, we sail across the Ijsselmeer to the port of Urk in the afternoon. Feel free to help the captain sail the ship or simply sit back on deck and enjoy the crossing, keeping watch for marine bird life. In the evening there is plenty of time for a stroll through the narrow streets and alleyways in the town of Urk. The houses in the picturesque fishing village where built close to one another on elevated ground to protect them from flooding, an engineering feat that is still visible today. 4th Day (Tue) Urk – Vollenhove (aprx. 23 mi./37 km) After breakfast, you cycle along the lake on a tarmac cycle path to the former island of Schokland. Schokland, like Urk, lost its status as an island in 1942 when the Northeast polder (Noordoostpolder) was reclaimed from the sea. Surrounded by the reclaimed land, Schokland is now just a slightly higher part of the polder and became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995. From Schokland, you cycle on across the polder to the city of Vollenhove, which also once lay on the coast of the Zuiderzee before the creation of the Noordoostpolder. 5th Day Vollenhove - Giethoorn (aprx. 23 or 31 mi./37 or 49 km) Today’s bike tour leads along cycle paths through open countryside to the small town of Blokzijl. From here you enter the Weerribben-Wieden National Park, the largest freshwater wetland in northwestern Europe and a peaceful oasis for plants, animals, and humans. A bicycle path through the center of the park takes you far away from roads, immersing you in the tranquility of the region. Keep your eyes peeled for a fleeting kingfisher or - if you’re really lucky - an otter, the symbol of the park. Cycling on, you pass through Kalenberg, a village that until the 1950’s could only be reached by boat. A twisting route through agricultural landscape of narrow strip fields surrounded by dikes leads you to the lovely town of Giethoorn, known as “small Venice of the North”. 6th Day Giethoorn - Lelystad (Sailing day) Today there is a full day of sailing and relaxing on board to look forward to. Once again, you are welcome to help the captain sail the ship. Otherwise feel free to simply sit back on deck and relax. In the early afternoon, the ship arrives in Lelystad, the capital of the province of Flevoland, a region almost entirely reclaimed from the sea. Here you can stretch your legs and visit the Batavia Wharf, an extraordinary shipyard where ships with an important maritime history are returned to their former glory. There is also time to go shopping at Batavia Stad, an outlet center with a number of the famous brands. 7th Day Lelystad – Blocq van Kuffeler (aprx. 12 or 18 mi./20 or 29 km) / Blocq van Kuffeler – Amsterdam In the morning, you disembark for the last half day of cycling. Today’s tour leads through the Oostvaardersplassen – a wonderful nature reserve that truly mixes new with old: Created on new polder land it has been left to find its own natural balance with the hope that a self-sustaining ecosystem with almost pre-human biodiversity will result. Sections of the tour lead through forested areas, while others open out to panoramic views of expansive reed beds and marshes. The area is a birdwatchers’ paradise! After the tour, the ship awaits you in the small harbour of Oostvaardersdiep for the return voyage to Amsterdam. The weeklong Ijsselmeer adventure comes to an end with a celebrative farewell dinner onboard. 8th Day Amsterdam (Disembarkation) The tour ends with a delicious breakfast on board. Disembarkation afterwards until 9.30 am. Individual trip home or extended stay in Amsterdam. Accommodation Elizabeth (Tall Ships) The majestic three-mast tall ship, Elizabeth, was formerly a river vessel used for the transport of basalt rocks and sugar beets. The transformation into a passenger boat was executed with great care. The focus was to keep as much of the original characteristics of the flat-bottomed ship as possible as this enables Elizabeth to sail in extremely shallow waters. With all sails set, the total sail surface comes in at a staggering 445 m². The renovations to a passenger ship insured a sophisticated interior. The large saloon is inviting and provides its guests a great atmosphere, with a… Read More Dates, Prices & Services This tour is operates on the following departure dates. Click on "load more dates" to display all tour departures for this tour. If your preferred departure date is already fully booked, you can send us a request to be added to the waiting list, or take a look at our full tour schedule for an alternative tour. Time Period Tour Country Accommodation Route Availability Price from The final price is dependent on the type of cabin, the number of guests staying in the cabin and any additional services booked. June 2022 11.06. Have faith to make the booking! The minimum number of participants is almost reached. 11.06. – 18.06. Sail & Bike Ijsselmeer (self-guided) Holland Elizabeth Amsterdam bis Amsterdam available 1039,00 € To Booking 18.06. Have faith to make the booking! The minimum number of participants is almost reached. 18.06. – 25.06. Sail & Bike Ijsselmeer (self-guided) Holland Elizabeth Amsterdam bis Amsterdam available 1039,00 € To Booking 25.06. Have faith to make the booking! The minimum number of participants is almost reached. 25.06. – 02.07. Sail & Bike Ijsselmeer (self-guided) Holland Elizabeth Amsterdam bis Amsterdam available 1039,00 € To Booking July 2022 09.07. Have faith to make the booking! The minimum number of participants is almost reached. 09.07. – 16.07. Sail & Bike Ijsselmeer (self-guided) Holland Elizabeth Amsterdam bis Amsterdam available 1039,00 € To Booking 16.07. The minimum number of participants is reached. 16.07. – 23.07. Sail & Bike Ijsselmeer (self-guided) Holland Elizabeth Amsterdam bis Amsterdam fully booked 1039,00 € on waiting list 23.07. Have faith to make the booking! The minimum number of participants is almost reached. 23.07. – 30.07. Sail & Bike Ijsselmeer (self-guided) Holland Elizabeth Amsterdam bis Amsterdam available 1039,00 € To Booking 30.07. Have faith to make the booking! The minimum number of participants is almost reached. 30.07. – 06.08. Sail & Bike Ijsselmeer (self-guided) Holland Elizabeth Amsterdam bis Amsterdam available 1039,00 € To Booking 02.07. Have faith to make the booking! The minimum number of participants is almost reached. 02.07. – 09.07. Sail & Bike Ijsselmeer (self-guided) Holland Elizabeth Amsterdam bis Amsterdam available 1039,00 € To Booking August 2022 27.08. Have faith to make the booking! The minimum number of participants is almost reached. 27.08. – 03.09. Sail & Bike Ijsselmeer (self-guided) Holland Elizabeth Amsterdam bis Amsterdam available 1039,00 € To Booking 06.08. Have faith to make the booking! The minimum number of participants is almost reached. 06.08. – 13.08. Sail & Bike Ijsselmeer (self-guided) Holland Elizabeth Amsterdam bis Amsterdam available 1039,00 € To Booking 13.08. Have faith to make the booking! The minimum number of participants is almost reached. 13.08. – 20.08. Sail & Bike Ijsselmeer (self-guided) Holland Elizabeth Amsterdam bis Amsterdam available 1039,00 € To Booking 20.08. Have faith to make the booking! The minimum number of participants is almost reached. 20.08. – 27.08. Sail & Bike Ijsselmeer (self-guided) Holland Elizabeth Amsterdam bis Amsterdam available 1039,00 € To Booking September 2022 03.09. Have faith to make the booking! The minimum number of participants is almost reached. 03.09. – 10.09. Sail & Bike Ijsselmeer (self-guided) Holland Elizabeth Amsterdam bis Amsterdam available 939,00 € To Booking 10.09. Have faith to make the booking! The minimum number of participants is almost reached. 10.09. – 17.09. Sail & Bike Ijsselmeer (self-guided) Holland Elizabeth Amsterdam bis Amsterdam available 939,00 € To Booking
