The Netherland's Wadden Sea Sail and Bike Tour

Sail and bike tours are something very special. Feel the freedom the wind and salt on your skin! It’s a little bit like discovering the seas and new areas as a modern-day explorer. Aboard one of the most comfortable sailing ships, you will experience pure nature while enjoying water, sun and a stiff breeze on the big inland lake IJsselmeer and the so-called “Wadden Sea”, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage biosphere reserve. During this Sail & Bike tour, you can explore the beautiful and unique Frisian Sea and some of its islands. It is a world with two faces, where sand and water dominate during the changeover from low to high tide and where islands of all sizes line up like pearls on a chain. There are tidal channels, seagrass meadows, mussel beds, sandbanks, mudflats, salt marshes, beaches and dunes.

The Frisian Sea is the habitat of marine mammals, such as seals and porpoises, and the breeding ground and wintering area for millions of birds. The area is one of the last remaining large-scale, low-tide ecosystems where natural processes continue to function. Furthermore, you will visit the famous (freshwater lake) IJsselmeer and its beautiful coastline with many fishing villages and old trading harbour towns.

Highlights:

The North Sea islands of Texel and Terschelling and their beautiful natural areas, small villages and long sandy beaches that you can explore by bicycle. Highlights on the coasts of the mainland in the provinces of North-Holland and Friesland are a combination of rural areas, small villages and picturesque harbour towns: a true “El Dorado” for cyclists. If you like, onboard, you may be instructed by the experienced crew lend a hand during navigating and raising the sails. Sailing experience is not necessary. But of course, you are also very welcome to just relax and enjoy the sailing and scenery. Since the ships are very large (up to 55 meters/60 yards) and very stable, there is almost no risk of seasickness. If you still would like to take precautions, we advise regular seasickness medication.

Accommodation:

The imposing four-masted  schooner made its maiden voyage in the spring of 2018. The interior of this recently restyled ship can best be described as refined. On the lower deck there are 12 well-equipped twin cabins, 1 smaller twin cabin and 1 junior-suite with two separate beds and 2 single cabin. In two twins a third (bunk) bed can be added, which makes it perfect for a family. On the upper deck there are 4 magnificent suites with a hotel-style bed, a double glass sliding door and a small private balcony. Sumptuous meals are served in the restaurant and the ship’s bar is fully stocked; so the salon is the place to be after a day on the pedals. Or on deck, where you can burn some extra calories by helping to hoist the sails.

Tour Character: Fully Guided Level 1

Accompanied by a competent, professional and multilingual tour leader, you and the group will visit interesting sights and places on the daily cycling tours. During the bike tour, they will explain the local history and culture behind the things you encounter along the way. You can also choose to ride individually with the help of the Ride with GPS app and cycling map (available on board).

Important observations for the Sail & Bike program: 

A little bit of adventure is a part of every Sail & Bike tour: the departure and arrival day and the location – Enkhuizen – are a certainty, 100%. For the rest, the planned daily sailing routes are partially dependent on the strength and direction of the winds and – on the Wadden Sea – high and low tide. The skipper decides the best route to be taken day by day, and discusses the options with his guests. The crew does everything in its power to enable the program to run according to plan and to offer you as fascinating, varied and active a week as possible, in which nature and culture play a major part. It is, however, also possible that departure times and the time spent on the water – and even the order of the program itself – may be adjusted. Enjoy the ride and let yourself be led by the elements! Whenever possible, various passages will be undertaken fully rigged and anyone who would like to help the crew to sail and steer the boat is welcome to do so. This is of course absolutely up to you and no sailing experience is necessary.

Included in the Wadden Sea Sail and Bike Tour:

• 8 days/7 nights
• 7 x breakfast
• 5 x packed lunches & 1 x lunch on board
• 6 x 3-course dinner
• Coffee and tea on board
• Welcome drink
• Use of bed linen and towels
• Daily cleaning of the cabin
• Climate-controlled cabin
• Daily briefings
• Fully guided cycling tours (2 tour leaders, 2 groups)
• Cycling map (1 set per cabin)
• GPS tracks
• Use of a helmet
• Use of a waterproof pannier bag
• Biodegradable water bottle
• Fees for ferries
• City walk Medemblik
• Nature museum & seal sanctuary Ecomare
• UNESCO World Heritage Planetarium of Eise Eisinga
• Wi-Fi

Not included in the tour:

• 1x Dinner on Terschelling
• Drinks
• Bicycle rental or E-bike rental
• Personal insurances
• Gratuities (at your discretion)
• Entrance fees and excursions (not mentioned under inclusions)
• Transfers to/from the docking place
• Parking fees
• SGR Insolvency protection (mandatory consumer contribution SGR insolvency protection guarantee scheme: € 5 per person

Notes:

• All distances are “approximate distances” of recommended bike tours.
• The daily bike tours are individual, conducted at your own pace and without a tour leader. There are daily briefings on board and detailed bicycle maps and route notes are available. GPS tracks will be sent to you 4 weeks before the start date of the tour.
• During the days when 2 bicycle options are possible, you can make a choice for the longer or the shorter option.
• Not all mentioned highlights will be visited during the short bike option.
• In case you prefer a day of rest, you can skip the bike tour and relax on board while cruising to the next town.
• On the arrival day is it possible to bring your luggage on board from 11am (not possible 4th May)
• The planned itinerary is subject to change due to nautical, technical or meteorological reasons and other unforeseen circumstances. If there is low or high water and a route cannot be shipped, the captain reserves the right to change the route in view of your safety (this cannot be accepted as a reason for free withdrawal).

Arrival/parking/departure:

• Parking behind the NS-train station in Enkhuizen is free, but can be very crowded
• Departure Sundays

If you would like to rent a bike (105 EUR) or e-bike (266 EUR), please contact our office when booking: [email protected]

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