Pearls of Holland Cycling

Pearls of Holland Cycling

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Pearls of Holland Cycling

7 Days Starting and ending in Amsterdam

Visiting: Amsterdam, Haarlem, Leiden, Delft, Gouda

Tour operator:

Exodus

Tour code:

C06HP

Guide Type:

Fully Guided

Group size:

1 - 12

Physical rating:

Low, Leisurely / Moderate

Age range:

12 to 99

Special diets catered:

Please inform Exodus of specific dietary requirements

Tour operated in:
English
Trip Styles:

Adventure Tours

Interests:

Cultural, History

This tour is no longer available

Tour Overview

Discover the Pearls of Holland on this mostly gentle circular cycling trip, starting and ending in the delightful city of Amsterdam with its UNESCO World Heritage canal ring area, its bustling squares and cultural hotspots, including the Anne Frank and Van Gogh museums. The varied countryside of Holland beckons with a mix of rectangular polders (low-lying land reclaimed from rivers and protected by dykes), woodland, country estates and wild gardens. Cycle through beautiful traditional villages, past windmills and farmhouses and on to the famous flower fields near Haarlem (visit in April and early May for the full effect of the blooms).As well as Amsterdam and the archetypal countryside of the Netherlands, you get to explore the cities of Haarlem, Leiden, Delft and Gouda, all with their own histories and cultural characters. Haarlem has a wealth of culture with the Frans Hals museum a must-see for art lovers with works from the Dutch Golden Age, as well as plenty of shopping, cafes and restaurants to choose from. The Keukenhof botanical gardens are worth a visit with over 7 million flowers in spring. Leiden is Holland's oldest university town and has a lively events calendar and canals, monuments windmills and museums offer some great sightseeing. Delft is world famous for its Delftware, the blue and white hand-painted pottery, but was also home to the artist Vermeer. Gouda, as well as being the venue for the famous summer cheese market (Thursday mornings April - August), has a fabulous, gothic town hall in the main square, romantic canals and even more food options with warm syrup waffles - perfect to try after a day of cycling. All the better to prepare you for the route back to Amsterdam.

Highlights

  • Discover the cities of Amsterdam, Haarlem, Leiden, Delft and Gouda with easy cycling between

  • Visit the Van Gogh and Vermeer museums, Delft potteries and the Gouda cheese market

  • If travelling in April and early May take in Holland's famous Tulip fields

Itinerary

Expand All
Day 1 : Arrive In Amsterdam
Location: Amsterdam
Meals Included: Breakfast

Wander around the iconic and surprisingly peaceful 17th century canal ring
area of the city (a UNESCO World Heritage Site). For hustle and bustle, make
your way to the city's famous squares or head off the beaten track along
Brouwersgracht. Alternatively find out what the city looks like from the
canals. Stay at the Westcord Art Hotel with breakfast.

Day 2 : Amsterdam To Haarlem
Location: Amsterdam, Haarlem
Meals Included: Breakfast

Get an early start today and beat the queues at the Van Gogh or Anne Frank
museum. Then, say 'farewell” or “tot ziens!” to Amsterdam and ride
through Kennemerland with its lovely variety of countryside, from vast
polders and country estates to woods and beautiful peatland. The attractive
city centre of Haarlem offers a wealth of shopping, art and culture, or the
option to just relax in cafes and restaurants. In April and early May, you
have the option of cycling a longer route of c.60 km where you can see the
tulip fields today. Stay at the Hotel Lion d'Or with breakfast.

Day 3 : Haarlem To Leiden
Location: Haarlem, Leiden
Meals Included: Breakfast

Downtown Haarlem is worth exploring - discover the city’s hidden 'hofjes”
(squares of tiny almshouses set around idyllic courtyards) and the Frans Hals
Museum for Dutch Golden Age artworks. Continue on your journey to Leiden
through the colourful Dune and Bulb Region. To capture the bulb flower fields
in their full splendour try to time this holiday before mid-May. Tulips,
crocuses, daffodils and hyacinths are grown here commercially, for bulb
export, and temporarily transform the landscape into one of the country’s
best-loved tourist attractions. Should you want to spend a day at world
famous Keukenhof flower exhibition, we recommend you book an extra night in
Leiden. Leiden is Holland’s oldest university town and has a very busy
cultural events calendar with a friendly city centre of canals, monuments,
windmills and museums. The historical botanical gardens are definitely worth
a visit. Stay at the Best Western Hotel Leiden with breakfast.

Day 4 : Leiden To Delft
Location: Leiden, Delft
Meals Included: Breakfast

Today provides typically Dutch scenery with orderly, man-made rectangles in
the polders (mostly peatland reclamations). You pedal past shining lakes,
green pastures, old windmills and farmhouses on your way to the famous city
of Delft. The melancholy charm of this historical city is breath-taking. Most
will associate Delft with its blue and white hand-painted pottery: Delftware,
however it was also home to painter Johannes Vermeer (1632-1675). The Vermeer
Centre gives illuminating insights into his life, works and city (no original
paintings on show here). Stay at the Best Western Museumhotel with breakfast.

Day 5 : Delft To Gouda
Location: Delft, Gouda
Meals Included: Breakfast

This stretch takes you through the Green Heart of Holland - a stronghold
against urban sprawl. Balance your way along the top of polder dikes, delight
in characteristic villages, far horizons and pleasingly strict rectangles cut
by ditches in fields of vibrant green. As you wander around the city of Gouda
at the end of the day, don’t miss the gothic town hall (1450); the Weighing
House (1667); the romantic inner-city canals and the stained glass windows in
St. John’s Church. Gouda is also famous for making syrup waffles (try one
hot!) and candles. If you’re travelling in Summer, plan your trip so that
you can witness the traditional Thursday morning cheese market at the start
of Day 6 (early April till last Thursday in August). Stay at the Best Western
Hotel Gouda with breakfast.

Day 6 : Gouda To Amsterdam
Location: Gouda, Amsterdam
Meals Included: Breakfast

Set off on the longest cycling leg today and bird lovers bring your
binoculars! Once again, switch on your five senses to fully enjoy the
characteristic countryside of the Green Heart. Drift past meadows, lakes and
small villages whilst enjoying the wind in the rushes, the clouds reflected
in the lakes and the picturesque River Amstel as you wend your way back to
Amsterdam. Why not sample the famous Dutch style apple tart with your coffee
en route? Should the prospect of 80 km be rather daunting, opt to split this
leg by booking an extra night in Woerden (making two legs: 43 km and 49 km).
Stay at the Westcord Art Hotel with breakfast.

Day 7 : Leave Amsterdam
Location: Amsterdam
Meals Included: Breakfast

After a hearty breakfast, depart Amsterdam.

What's Included

  • Local bike hire

  • All breakfasts

  • All accommodation (see accommodation section)

  • Route notes and maps

  • Luggage transfers

  • Meals

    7 breakfasts, 0 lunches, 0 dinners.

What's Not Included

  • Arrival & departure transfers

  • Optional electric bikes

  • Half board upgrade (5 nights only)

  • Single accommodation (available on request)

  • Visas or vaccinations

  • Travel insurance

Accommodation

Your accommodation during this trip is in three and four star hotels. The hotels are a mix of traditional and contemporary buildings and all offer excellent facilities and ensuite bathrooms. Should the named accommodation on the itinerary details not be available, an alternative of the same standard will be used.

Food

All breakfasts are included.There are plenty of treats to be tried during your trip in the Netherlands with local specialities including stroopwafels, cheese and beer.

Check out our Q&As

  • Are the local guides on the tour English speaking?

    Yes

  • Are vaccinations required for this tour?

    None required.

  • Are airport transfers included in this tour?

    No

  • What is the standard of the hotels on this tour?

    3 and 4 star hotels, all rooms en suite

  • What happens if I need to change my holiday date once I’ve booked?

    If you wish to make any changes to your booking, particularly if you need to alter any flights booked through us, please let us know as soon as possible. There is a booking or flight amendment fee of £40 per change and flight amendments often incur extra airline costs depending on the changes to be made and if the ticket has been issued or not.

  • How long has the tour company been trading?

    Exodus has been trading since 1974

  • What documents will I receive before I travel?

    Your final joining instructions and flight details, if booked with us, will then be sent out 2 to 3 weeks before departure. If you would like a hard copy posted, or if you require these any earlier, please contact the customer operations team. We advise that if you are booking connecting travel before receiving these, please ensure you leave plenty of time.

  • Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?

    Travellers are welcome to opt to share a room with a tour member of the same gender for no additional charge. If you'd like your own room, we can request a single supplement so that you will have your own room throughout.

  • Can I join the tour once it has departed?

    You are welcome to meet the group after the tour has departed however there is no reduction in rate for joining a tour after the departure date.

Reviews of this Operator

Gergana Racheva  

Very helpful and prompt service

06-Jan-2023

Very helpful and prompt service. I called to check for an already booked trip and once we sorted this, the agent was ready to help me with another booking as well. He actually waited for me to book my flight tickets, answered all my questions, informed me of all my options. Exodus is a tour company I am using regularly due to the quality of their trips, ease of booking and helpfulness of their customer service team

Trustpilot
Tim Hardy  

Stunning walking. Walking the Amalfi Coast

04-Nov-2021

This trip takes you through the most beautiful parts of the Mediterranean walking with a guide and also discovering the wonders of Pompeii and Vesuvius. The hotel had a nice feel as family run, spotless and comfortable rooms, we were well looked after for breakfasts and dinner each day, and the barmen fixed some mean cocktails for us.!

Paul Green  

It's amazing what you can do in a week! Cycling the Dalmatian Coast.

08-Oct-2021

This holiday was extremely enjoyable. The itinerary is well planned and the route takes you to a variety of destinations. Not having been to Croatia before I didn't know there were so many beautiful small islands and I loved the ferry and catarmaran rides. The coastal route we took was dramatic and the World Heritage sites in Split and Dubrovnik very interesting and worth visiting. The Adriatic Sea was warm, blue and inviting, good for swimming even in October. The hotels we stayed in varied in size from medium to large. I particularly liked the one just outside Dubrovnik as I had a sea view. Tourists were plentiful in Split and Dubrovnik but in the other places we stayed there was an end of season feel and it was quiet on the roads and in the resorts. The food was good and our guide was always able to recommend a nice restaurant for our evening meal. The weather in October was good for cycling - not hot, partly cloudy most days and one day it rained!

Mrs Y Morrison  

Fabulous company and trip

06-Jan-2023

We went overland from Cape Town to Zimbabwe through Botswana and Namibia. What a fantastic trip. Our first time with Exodus although we have travelled extensively around the world. We would highly recommend this company for such a brilliant trip - we got everything and more all at a good price. Thanks to everyone involved. We are looking at our next trip!

Trustpilot
John Edwards (Google Reviewer)  

I went cycling in Albania...

19-Aug-2023

I went cycling in Albania with exodus as my first holiday with them. Such a well organised and wonderful experience where I met multiple fellow travellers who have been advocates of them for many years. You can't argue with happy repeat customers and I'm planning my next adventure with them soon

Rob Burridge (Google Reviewer)  

I'v just come back from...

17-Jul-2022

I'v just come back from an amazing Wildlife & Wilderness trip in Botswana and I highly recommend Exodus Travels. Our guide Brian, was extremely knowledgeable on both the wildlife and history of Botswana and neighbouring countries. The other three staff, Abbis, Chief & Mr T, who accompanied us through out our 2 week trip, put in the hard work and made sure our camp was always prepared and that we we're well fed and looked after. The tour took us to some beautiful places and we saw some amazing wildlife, and on several occasions this was due to Brian's knowledge of the area and wildlife behaviour. Exodus have been very quick to respond to any queries I had, and the whole experience ran smoothly. I was also pleased to hear that during lockdown they provided staff with food packages 👍. I'd normally go on self organised trips, however, with this trip, the tour and guide Brian took us to places not possible otherwise and showed us things that we would'v missed out on. All of which were the highlights of the tour.

Daphne Partridge (Google Reviewer)  

After 14 roup adventure holidays...

26-Nov-2023

After 14 roup adventure holidays with Exofus we would not hesitate to recommend them as an excitingholiday company. They take you off the beaten track but offer great support and expertise :)

Alison Payton (Google Reviewer)  

I've done 8 trips in...

17-May-2023

I've done 8 trips in the last 14 years with Exodus, and have been rewarded with a 10% discount on all future bookings. I feel very confident that I'll receive pleasant, efficient service, and have the unusual holiday experience that I'm looking for each time. I've trekked to the top of snow-capped peaks, wild-camped in the desert, seen amazing spectacles of nature, visited 4 capital cities in a week, and learned about local culture and experienced local hospitality in a way that I simply wouldn't on a conventional holiday. The quality of the accommodation and guides can vary, but this is mainly down to cultural differences and things that Exodus can't control. I've only ever complained once, my complaint was taken seriously, and I was sent a discount voucher - you can't say fairer than that. I remain a loyal customer.

Jacquelyn Moore (Google Reviewer)  

Food came quickly. Staff very...

07-Mar-2024

Food came quickly. Staff very friendly and polite . However the chef or person preparing the food did not seem to read the menu! If it says a meal should come with vegetables, you should not have to ask for them. They served shepherds pie with garlic bread! The munchies ice cream sundae said it should come in a glass with a flake but came in a little bowl with just a few munchies! When asking the staff were happy to replace and correct but customer should get what they order and what menu says first time round!!

johanna leonor (Google Reviewer)  

If you like to be...

07-Sep-2023

If you like to be mistreated Exodus is perfect for you. If you enjoy terrible choices for hotels and pseudo restaurants Exodus is perfect for you. Careless about their clients and loveless about their propositions. Exodus has been a dissatisfaction and disappointment about every dealing i and my group have had with him. Especially a man called Simone who just cares about the money he can get from you couldn’t care less about service.

Book with Confidence

  • Transfer as credit to Future Tours

    Exodus allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform exodus, 43 days before departure.

  • Low Deposit

    Exodus requires a minimum deposit of 25% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 90 days before departure.

  • Cancellation Policy

    We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of exodus charges.

    Up to 70 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.

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