Amsterdam to Paris 10-Day Boat & Bike Tour

Day 1: Amsterdam
You will land at Schiphol, where a representative of the operator will meet you in the arrival hall and take you by private minivan to your hotel, a restored historic building in the city's old harbour district. Your tour leader will be there to welcome you and help with check-in. In the afternoon you will gather in the lobby with your fellow travellers for the first highlight of the journey: a private canal boat cruise and a welcome reception. The rest of the evening is yours, to walk the canals at your own pace.

Day 2: Amsterdam – Utrecht (43 km)
After breakfast and check-out you will be fitted to your bike, then ride out through Amsterdam's parks and leafy neighbourhoods, past tree-lined canals and wide green spaces, while you get comfortable on two wheels. Your luggage travels separately and will be waiting in your cabin. In the afternoon you will arrive by bike at your floating hotel, the luxurious Magnifique X, and settle into your suite as the ship casts off towards Vreeswijk on the edge of Utrecht. Your first evening on board includes a short lecture on Dutch history and geography.

Day 3: Utrecht – Willemstad (38 km or 56 km)
The day begins with a ride around Schoonhoven, a small town known for centuries of silversmithing, where the quiet streets and workshops are worth a pause. You will then cross the Alblasserwaard, a thoroughly Dutch landscape of dikes, green pastures and wide open skies, stopping along the way for a Taste of Holland lunch of regional specialities in a picturesque setting. Your next destination is Kinderdijk, the UNESCO World Heritage site where nineteen historic windmills tell the story of the country's long battle with water. From there you will reach Dordrecht, one of the oldest cities in Holland, where the ship is waiting; later in the afternoon it cruises on to the fortified town of Willemstad.

Day 4: Willemstad – Antwerp (56 km)
The morning starts on board with a talk introducing the Belgian region ahead, and the ship passes through the impressive Volkerak locks, a piece of modern Dutch water engineering. Your ride leads through peaceful forest and open farmland to the historic town of Bergen op Zoom, whose old centre invites a slow stroll. From there the route continues south and you will cross the border into Belgium by bike. The evening in Antwerp is yours: the Grote Markt, the Cathedral of Our Lady, the medieval Steen Castle on the river. Tonight's dinner is not included, and your tour leaders will gladly recommend a good table in town.

Day 5: Antwerp – St. Amands (34 km or 49 km)
The morning is free to enjoy Antwerp at your own pace, with an included visit to the Red Star Line Museum and its account of emigration from Europe to North America. Later you will cycle along the calm banks of the Schelde, one of the most peaceful and most beautiful stretches of the whole tour, pausing for a countryside picnic before you reach the riverside village of St. Amands, where the ship is moored for the night.

Day 6: St. Amands – Ghent (52 km)
You will keep following the river to Ghent, a lively university city of Gothic towers, wide squares and medieval streets. After time in the historic centre you will be taken on a private canal cruise through the city's waterways. Among the highlights are St Bavo's Cathedral and the Van Eyck brothers' world-famous altarpiece. A short ride at the end of the day brings you back to the ship, which has moved closer to Bruges.

Day 7: Ghent – Bruges (22 km or 45 km)
A quiet ride through the Flemish countryside takes you to Bruges, often called the Venice of the North, with a tasting of Belgian specialities along the way. The UNESCO-listed centre has kept its cobbled streets and gabled houses intact, and the afternoon is free for museums, handmade chocolate or a canal-side cafe. Your tour leader can help you choose among the many good places to eat.

Day 8: Bruges – North Sea – Bruges (38 km or 51 km)
On your last day in the saddle you will head west through open pastures and sand dunes to the North Sea, for a swim or a drink at a beach cafe, then ride back to Bruges along tranquil canals. The evening on board is a celebration with your fellow travellers.

Day 9: Bruges – Paris
After breakfast you will say goodbye to the crew and board a comfortable coach to Paris, watching the landscape change from countryside to capital. You will check in at your centrally located hotel, in the quiet 6th arrondissement, and in the afternoon meet your group one last time for the Seine farewell cruise, a private boat tour on the river. The evening is yours in the City of Light, with your tour leader on hand for directions and recommendations.

Day 10: Paris
After breakfast your tour leader will see you off on the transfer from the hotel to Charles de Gaulle Airport. If you would rather not leave yet, an optional two-night extension in Paris is available.