Cycling from Utrecht
Cycling from Utrecht
Cycling from Utrecht
6 Days Starting and ending in Utrecht
Visiting: Utrecht, New Dutch Amsterdam, Vecht, Oudewater, Vreeland, Wijk bij Duurstede
Tour operator:
Tour code:
C05UT
Group Type:
Independent
Guide Type:
Self Guided
Physical rating:
Leisurely / Moderate
Age range:
12 to 99
Special diets catered:
Please inform Exodus of specific dietary requirements
Tour operated in:
EnglishInterests:
Activities:
Tour Overview
This single-centre cycling holiday is based in beautiful Utrecht, the Netherlands' fourth largest city and the country's religious centre since the 8th century. The city's ancient centre has many structures having been the country's most important city until Amsterdam took up the mantle during the Dutch Golden Age (1581 - 1672 AD). Still a major trade centre, sitting on the banks of the River Rhine, places of particular interest ar the Cathedral of Saint Martin, the tallest belfry in the Netherlands. As well as many theatres, art galleries, museums and music venues, the city also has a growing monument in the Letter sof Utrecht - an endless poem in the cobblestones of the Oude Gracht in Utrecht to which a letter gets added every Saturday. .A recurring theme along the routes on this trip is the Dutch Waterline - this was an important military defence line in Dutch history. Canals and sluices made it possible to inundate large expanses of land to keep an advancing enemy at bay. In places where inundation was not possible forts were built, blending in with the landscape. You'll also cycle past the Utrechtse Heuvelrug National Park - the largest wooded area in the Randstad.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1 : Arrive In Utrecht
Location: Utrecht
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Hotel Mitland
Meals Included: No Meals
On this trip you stay in Utrecht, taking day trips out to explore the
surroundings. On your first day take time to discover the canals and many
cosy cafes, national monuments, including the Dom Tower, museums and even
world heritages sites. Utrecht is also the town of designer/architect Gerrit
Rietveld and Dick Bruna who created the children's books about 'Miffy'.
Stay at the Hotel Mitland with Breakfast for 5 nights
Day 2 : Round Tour South - New Dutch Waterline
Location: New Dutch Amsterdam
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Hotel Mitland
Meals Included: Breakfast
The Nieuwe Hollandse Waterlinie (1870 - 1940) was an important military
defence line in Dutch history. Canals and sluices made it possible to
inundate large expanses of land to prvent the advance of enemy troops and
vehicles and where inundation was not possible forts were built, blending in
with the landscape - these have become local tourist attractions. The 85km
length of the defensive line has become a green corridor, where wildlife has
flourished due to restrictions on land use and building.
You can shorten the route by 5km by taking a ferry at Fort Everdingen, the
home of the Duits & Lauret brewery, also a great place to stop for
refreshments.
Day 3 : Round Tour West - Rivers & Small Towns Along The Waterline
Location: Vecht, Oudewater
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Hotel Mitland
Meals Included: Breakfast
Follow the River Vecht to De Haar Castle, the largest castle in the country.
Beautifully restored in 1892, in neo-Gothic style, the castle welcomes
visitors to tour its stunning rooms and halls as well as the beautiful
gardens. Continue cycling to follow the River Old Rhine to the historic
fortified town of Woerden then on to Oudewater where you can opt to visit the
Weighing Hall (1482) where women used to be weighed to determine whether or
not they were witches. Step on the scales to find out if you would have been
deemed light enough to fly on a broomstick. Enjoy the natural scenery along
the River Hollandsche Ijssel, which leads to the fortified town of Montfoort
and its historical buildings. Follow the River Leidse Rijn back to Utrecht.
Today you can shorten your route by 9 km by skipping Oudewater and the
smaller rivers.
Day 4 : Round Tour North – Oostelijke Vechtplassen
Location: Vreeland
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Hotel Mitland
Meals Included: Breakfast
Today's route takes you northwards to the Oostelijke Vechtplassen - the
collective name for the 7,000-hectare nature reserve and lake district,
created largely as a result of long-term peat extraction and important to
many bird species. Cycle along its southern border, passing several New Dutch
Waterline forts. Then cycling along the River Vecht, you visit a series of
beautiful old villages such as Maarssen, Breukelen, Loenen aan de Vecht and
Vreeland. You eventually reach the Utrechtse Heuvelrug National Park where
you enjoy panoramic views. The wetlands beyond are also beautiful and
tranquil with their very rare habitat type (floating mats of sphagnum mosses
and other vegetation, anchored by sedges, on the surface of the water or on
top of very wet peat).
You can shorten your route by 8 km by skipping Vreeland and the nature
reserves at Tienhoven and Molenpolder. Cycle directly to Groenekan instead.
Day 5 : Round Tour East – Castles, Orchards & Woods
Location: Wijk bij Duurstede
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Hotel Mitland
Meals Included: Breakfast
From Utrecht, today's route follows the Kromme Rijn and the
Langbroekerwetering canal to historical Wijk bij Duurstede. Between the 7th
and 9th centuries the city was a centre of international trade that was
pillaged by the Vikings. The city has the only drive-through windmill in the
world and the ruins of Duurstede Castle and the Castle Park are worth a
visit. The nearby St. John the Baptist Great Church is a Gothic
pseudo-basilica with an unfinished tower and is a national monument. The
countryside scenery today alternates between meadows, castles, orchards and
stately country houses. You also get to cycle through the woods at the edge
of the Utrechtse Heuvelrug National Park. On your way back to Utrecht, you
reach the town of Doorn and its impressive castle, Slot Zeist, surrounded by
a beautiful English landscaped park.
You can also take a 5mi / 8km longer route. After Wijk bij Duurstede, follow
the 'Limes', the old frontier of the Roman Empire, along the Lower Rhine. The
beautiful village of Amerongen and Amerongen Castle are worth cycling the
extra distance.
Day 6 : Leave Utrecht
Location: Utrecht
Meals Included: Breakfast
After breakfast depart from Utrecht.
What's Included
-
High quality bikes
-
All accommodation
-
Route directions and maps
-
All breakfasts
What's Not Included
-
Visas or vaccinations
-
Upgrade to electric bike
-
Upgrade to Half Board
-
Travel insurance
-
Single accommodation (available on request -compulsory supplement)
Food
The Netherlands offers a variety of famous cheeses and local specialities that may be found throughout the country. In Utrecht, Reypenaer is a unique artisanal cheese. A variety of Gouda, it is taken through a few maturation stages that take place in controlled conditions in an old warehouse near the Oude Rijn river. There are three "aged" varieties: Reypenaer 1 year has a soft creamy texture and flavours that are slightly creamy, fruity, salty, and nutty. The slightly longer aged Reypenaer VSOP, aged for 2 years, has a delicate crystalline texture, a strong, full flavour and aromas of caramel, wood, hazelnut and chocolate. The longest aged is Reypenaer XO Reserve, ripened from 2.5 to 3 years, provides a complex, deep-flavoured cheese with mature crystalline texture and aromas of cognac, walnuts, butter, caramel and grass. Dutch cuisine includes specialities such as krokets (various flavours including meat, seafood and cheese) that are breaded and deep-fried and can be eaten on their own or in a sandwich form in a bun or roll (broodje kroket); stroopwafels, delicious caramel wafer biscuits originally from the city of Gouda. Other sweet treats include kletskop cookies, Weesper moppen cookies and Hopje candies flavoured with coffee and caramel.
Accommodation
You'll stay in the 4* Mitland Hotel located in the outskirts of the city and next to a lovely city park. Enjoy your breakfast by the waterside, overlooking the northern moat of historic Fort De Bilt with the option to upgrade to half board and enjoy dinner at the hotel too. The hotel's facilities include a bowling alley, a swimming pool and fitness room. You can cycle to the town centre in less than 10 minutes.
Check out our Q&As
-
Are vaccinations required for this tour?
None required.
-
Are children permitted to take part in the tour?
12+ age people can go on this tour.
-
What is the standard of the hotels on this tour?
4* Mitland Hotel
-
Are airport transfers included in this tour?
No
-
Are the local guides on the tour English speaking?
Yes
-
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
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.