Pearls of Holland Cycling
Pearls of Holland Cycling
Pearls of Holland Cycling
7 Days Starting and ending in Amsterdam
Visiting: Amsterdam, Haarlem, Leiden, Delft, Gouda
Tour operator:
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:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Activities:
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
Itinerary
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
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Local bike hire
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All breakfasts
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All accommodation (see accommodation section)
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Route notes and maps
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Luggage transfers
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Meals
7 breakfasts, 0 lunches, 0 dinners.
What's Not Included
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Arrival & departure transfers
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Optional electric bikes
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Half board upgrade (5 nights only)
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Single accommodation (available on request)
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Visas or vaccinations
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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
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Are the local guides on the tour English speaking?
Yes
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Are vaccinations required for this tour?
None required.
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Are airport transfers included in this tour?
No
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What is the standard of the hotels on this tour?
3 and 4 star hotels, all rooms en suite
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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.
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Exodus has been trading since 1974
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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.
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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.
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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
Book with Confidence
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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.
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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.
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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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