BICYCLE TOURS & MOUNTAIN BIKING

Route 2: Tulip Bike/Barge Tour in Holland

4Winds does not offer the same tour as last year for bicyclists and non-bicyclists. There are no tulip tours on the Allure, Fleur and Iris this year. There are a few tulip tour dates on the small comfort barge Elodie (16 people per departure), which runs its own vesion of the tulip tour. This short tour begins and ends in Amsterdam and takes you through the beautiful, historical cities of Haarlem en Leiden. In the Keukenhof, you can admire the Dutch tulips in their entire splendor. Panorama Tulip land is visited a huge painting of the bulb fields 50 years ago, still not completely finished. Visit a Dutch cheese farm where you can try and buy some cheese.

The ride through the flower fields will be the same, visit to the Keukenhof and to the Flower Auction in Aalsmeer are also planned into the itinerary. This is also a bicycle tour and the biking will be a little more then on Route 1. Entrance fees are not included. The Elodie runs its tours always on Sunday.

Tour Details

$595/person (double occupancy) for Comfort Class (barges Fleur and Iris, newer barges with air conditioning).

Day 1: Sunday: Amsterdam – Haarlem, Bicycling 10km
The crew will welcome you aboard the Elodie with coffee and tea. As the ship sails to Haarlem you will be given a detailed explanation of the program. Just before you arrive, disembark for the first cycle trip. In the nice little village of Spaarnedam you will see the statue of Hans Brinkers, The boy who saved Holland. From Spaarnedam it is only a short cycle trip to Haarlem where the Elodie will be waiting for you. After a nice diner, 4Winds invites you for an evening stroll along the cozy streets and monumental buildings of Haarlem.

Day 2: Monday: Haarlem - Lisse - Leiden, Bicycling 25km
After a short sailing trip along the scenic river Spaarne, from Haarlem, disembard in Lisse. Continue the trip by bicycle, with your first stop to visit the Keukenhof. This annual flower exhibition has everything Holland has to offer when it comes to flowers. The variety of colors is overwhelming at this time of year.

Next stop, bicycle to the little town of Voorhout. Here you will find Panorama Tulipland, a 62-meter-long an 4-meter-high painting that will give you an impressive picture of the bulb fields some 50 years ago. In 1996, the artist, Leo van den Ende, started his enormous work of art and it is still not finished. Leo is working on his painting almost every day so there is a chance you might see him at work. After this visit, cycle through the bulb fields to Leiden, the oldest Dutch university towns has a charming and lively center. The Elodie will be your overnight in the center of Leiden - a good place to get acquainted with this historical town.

Day 3: Tuesday: Leiden - Uithoorn, Bicycling 25km
Continue the trip through the green heart of Holland to Uithoorn. Along the route, see windmills, lakes and green pastures, the typical Dutch landscape. Visit a Dutch cheese farm where you can admire and taste the art of Dutch cheese making.

Day 4: Wednesday: Uithoorn - Aalsmeer - Amsterdam, Bicycling 15km
Start the day early with a visit to the flower auction in Aalsmeer. You will see the world biggest flower auction in action. Every day the worlds market prices for flowers and plant is being determined right here in this building. Millions of flowers and plants find their way all over the world when the auction starts. After this visit, cycle to the Elodie that will take you back to Amsterdam after a nice boat trip over the river Amstel. At noon, end of tour.