Cycle & Sail Holiday
There are two different kinds of individual cycle holidays: Cycle & Sail Holidays or Cycle & Hotel Holidays. If you choose one of our Cycle & Sail Holidays , we'd like to give you a hearty welcome aboard one of our hotel barges. This ship serves both as your restaurant, your luggage transport and your stay for the night. When you are enjoying your bike ride, the barge sails with you to the next port town.
The cycle distances are average appr. 45 km/28 miles a day. You'll have the time for your daytrip between appr. 9.00-16.00 hrs.
When you arrive at the departure day aboard the hotel barge, you'll be welcomed by your tour leader. He/she will accompany you during your bike & barge holiday.
Cycle & Sail Holiday
Daily activities: the daily cycling trips are 45 km average. This means you'll be
leisurely pedaling from 09:00 a.m. till approximately 04:00 p.m. Usually there will be enough time to have several brakes and to do some sightseeing along the route. After all: It's your holiday!
The bicycles: For all cycle holidays in the Netherlands we use fine bikes of good quality. They are provided with hand brakes, at least 4-speed gear and a saddle bag. For the tours in other countries we provide bikes equipped with more gears as the terrain may be more hilly.
Fullboard: Each day starts with a firm bikers breakfast. During the Bike & Barge Holidays you prepare your own packed lunch (bread, fruit and drink). When you have freshened up after your cycle trip, a 3 courses dinner will be served in the dining room.
Your fellow travellers: In our small-scale tours you'll be with 20-30 fellow travellers of all ages. The cycling speed will always be 'easy going' because not all participants are in the same physical shape. During your Bike & Barge holiday you'll get to know Germans, French, Americans and Italians, but also South-Africans and people from New-Zealand. Everybody has a common wish though, to experience a relaxed and somewhat active holiday.
Your stay: During each Bike & Barge holiday you'll be staying and eating aboard one of our cosy sailing boatels. This boatel travels with you from harbour to harbour and will transport your luggage, meaning you'll have a 'light' cycle tour! Most hotel barges are provided with private facilities in each cabin (unless mentioned differently).
Furthermore you'll find an attractive dining & recreation room, sundeck and - on some ships - a separate bar.
Crew: The crew aboard the ship will ensure that your stay aboard is as pleasant as possible. The captain is responsible for the safe transportation of the passengers and their luggage. The chef cook and his assistant take care of your meals. The crew will be ther for questions and help.
Tour guidance: All your Bike & Barge Holidays (with the exception of Austria) will be accompanied by an enthousiastic and multilingual tourleader. He/she guides you along the fixed itineraries, informs you and will invite you for some interesting city walks. The tourleader represents HAT Tours aboard and will answer your questions and give you advice when asked for.
