Belgium Bike + Boat Tour Reviews — 151 to 180 of 937

We enjoyed the immersive experience of biking through beautiful countryside, villages, and forests as the method of sightseeing - an activity that was entirely new to us.

This was an amazing tour for several reasons. Firstly, there were 7 (rather than a full complement of 14) experienced cyclists over the age of 60, none of whom used an e-bike. This allowed the guide to change the cycle route to reflect our abilities, to show us some special sights and to give us a special experience. Harm, the guide, did this with ease. Secondly, the crew of the Feniks was excellent. This includes Fiona, the captain, Rainier, the assistant and Hilde, the cook. Thirdly, the laundry service was a game changer. If we had understood what this service involved, we could have packed considerably lighter.

Our bike tour from Bruges to Amsterdam was stellar in every way possible! First, the boat: It was awesome! Our cabin had plenty of room for the two of us and the shower was unexpectedly nice. Second, the crew: AMAZING! All of the crew on our boat were just excellent. The food was so good! Koen made sure that we were all well fed in preparation for our rides everyday and well fed when we got back with lots of snacks and a yummy dinner. Marianne and Tessie were so nice and very helpful around the boat (Marianne is a great dancer too!). The captain of the boat, Xander, was great and very funny. Last, and definitely not least, is our tour guide Wieger. He was such a nice man and so much fun. I really can't say enough about him. Third, dealing with Tripsite: In a word... Easy! They were very helpful and answered all our questions (no matter how silly) without delay. Fourth. the bikes: They were perfect. We used electric bikes and even though there were days that we rode with the power off to get some extra exercise, we were glad that we got them. Sometimes it's nice to get a helping hand once and a while. Some in our group got the normal bikes and they struggled more than we did on certain days. We had planned to ride on our own with the maps supplied by the boat. We're very glad that we didn't because there were lots of detours due to construction and trail closures and we would've never been able to find our way like Wieger was able to. Plus the group dynamic was so much fun. Our group had 23 people in it from Canada, the US, Italy, France, and Germany. It was so nice getting to know them all.
We thoroughly enjoyed our trip and would absolutely do it again!

The Zwaantje, Captain Martijn, and his crew were among the highlights of this trip. We had an amazing time exploring the different cities. The routes were easy to follow and the guides were great, friendly and personable, though I would have loved more history/information during our rides. We enjoyed the variety of scenery, the option to go off on our own, and the opportunity to socialize with many other adventurous people :)

What a wonderful trip! We found the biking very enjoyable- the scenery was BEAUTIFUL and the daily routes mostly flat. It was nice to stop after riding awhile for a beer/drink or snack while enjoying the sights and history of local villages. The Magnifique II had welcoming staff, nice accommodations, and great food. Would highly recommend this trip!!

Best way to see the countryside, Unesco heritage sites ( Kinderdijk and Delta Works) of the Netherlands and Belgium (Bruges). An added bonus were the evening tour guided walks through each town where we met our docked barge. The dinners were always 3 courses- much tastier than expected and breakfast offered healthy options. As a senior traveller, I was happy to have rented an e-bike for the couple of days where we biked into the wind. The crew was warm & friendly and the accommodations on the Sailing Home barge were cozy and comfortable. The sun deck with cover was an additional gathering space. After a week together, felt like I was leaving family.

Always the staff and fellow passengers are the highlight of bike and barge trips. We loved the rides through the countryside and tiny towns, visits to the windmills, the dairy, the vending machines sporting fresh strawberries, the food on the barge, and so much more.

This was truly my favorite vacation. Such an amazing way to experience Belgium and the Netherlands. The crew was top notch, The food was gourmet, The barge was luxurious, the bikes were very comfortable, and we really enjoyed meeting new people. Sign up for this trip. You won't regret it!

Wow, what an amazing experience. Crew and other travelers were fantastic. I enjoyed biking everyday even on the days that the wind was in my face all day. We had fantastic weather and were able to enjoy the sunshine and sites that we travelled on our bikes each day. Wim was our tour guide and he was very friendly and lead us from Bruges to Amsterdam without any issues. Breakfast and dinner on the boat were great, along with the option to pack a lunch or stop in a village for lunch. Sadly the Quo Vadis is being sold or we would for sure book another bike and boat tour utilizing their services. Great, kind crew for sure.

The scenery

The Magnifique IV is as comfortable and roomy as a canal barge can be. The crew and guides were caring and attentive, performing their roles perfectly. The meals were lovely, excellent, beautifully prepared and presented.
The daily routes were delightful, with a dramatic scenic build as we entered The Netherlands and approached Amsterdam.
Bring a strap-on water bottle cage for easy and frequent hydration during the day.

The Barge, Crew and Captain were all so welcoming and accommodating. The Guides were knowledgeable and the biking was easy for all levels. The combination of guests was the magical part, we all blended extremely well which made the experience all the more Memorable.

Loved all the beautiful scenery and being able to see it by bike. We particularly liked being in a small group (9 couples) who we got to know quite well and had fun socializing with. The crew and guide were very attentive and made the trip extra fun.

I appreciated all of our stops in small towns or villages and getting to patronize some local businesses. Each day was a different type of experience in terms of scenery as well as the type of paths we rode on and the distances traveled which I thought made it wonderful. I loved getting to ride near different people each day and getting to know all the members of my trip. Our guide Anita was great at modifying our route as needed based on issues with the barge and weather.

Riding through the countryside and small villages was beautiful.

The crew was the best! A definite ten + in every way. Dinners were excellent and crew always available to us. Nelleka lent us her fan at night! Harm great guide. Fiona excellent skipper and Reinier always helpful. Great atmosphere. It would have been nice to have some special stops, maybe a cooking class, winery and more info about special sites would be good. Tour description clearly stated that barge has Wi-Fi and air conditioning. It was very hot and ac very spotty and not available at night. No wifi.

This trip was truly enjoyable. The accomadations on the barge were comfortable and very clean. The staff was knowledgeable and pleasant. The food was great and because I was there for the bike ride, the organization of the leaders and the routes planned each day were exactly as presented, plus there was always time for exploring the destination cities/towns.

I will definitely be planning another bike and boat/barge trip soon.

Time spent in Bruges. Bruges is a beautiful small city.
Suggestions: More information for unguided bikers, e.g. places to stop, places of interest

The excellent mix of people on the boat from at least 8 different countries. Everyone was very friendly and interesting. We ate dinner with different people every night. A very fun group! My advice to other is to step outside of your own group and talk with your fellow travelers, the crew and the guides. Struggle through using your high school French or German. It's well worth it.

The food, crew, and guides were top-notch. It was our first barge trip. It was a very relaxing yet active way to explore historic cities and the roads and waterways connecting them.

The staff was absolutely tremendous. I have nothing but praise for them. The boat was very well appointed and meticulously maintained. Thank you all so much for fabulous trip and memories that will last a lifetime!

Riding through the countryside. Historic buildings.

The daily bike rides! With our group of 26 it would have been nice to have had 2 guides for 2 groups.

Loved the biking along the coast of the Netherlands, beside the sea! Very scenic, but also very windy, more wind than I expected. Using an e-bike was most beneficial for the entire route. I highly recommend the e-bike on this tour, especially due to the strong North winds!

The boat and staff were amazing, really informative and couldn't have been more helpful. Boat and rooms were beautiful, food was amazing, cycling was easy if you are used to do any level of cycling but still varied and interesting with different options.

We had a wonderful experience on this trip. The owner of the barge and his crew were just like family. lovely meals from our wonderful cook and the first mate was always there to help and a plush was him doing washing every day for all of us. Our guide was very experienced and was always available. Our captain was unbelievable. This was our second bike, barge trip, and crew could not be faulted. my only suggestion would be if you are not a real good cyclist consider using an electric assist bike France has a lot of hills. On the hole a wonderful two weeks. Thank you. FENIKS

Our boat, crew, tour guides, food, accomodations and overall experience was exceptional. The Magnifique II is a great boat. The small size of the group and the alternative mileages each day with two guides allowed everyone to find a pace and distance that suited them. A gluten free meal plan was available for a small additional cost and for the most part was as good as gluten free food can be. Everything was run on time but without hurry.

The trip guides were great and the ship was very comfortable, with friendly and welcoming staff. We also loved the areas we visited. Beautiful countryside that we probably wouldn’t have seen any other way. Amsterdam was interesting, but be careful of all the bikes, which rule the streets. Bruges was smaller and older. We had a fun time.

We loved all of our trip! The barge was lovely, the food first class and the 2 guides were excellent. We enjoyed meeting new people, the relaxed atmosphere and our daily rides.

Biking through the countryside and villages of Belgium and the Netherlands is just a wonderful way to really "see" these countries and their people. This trip was well organized, provided an excellent dining experience, and camaraderie of fellow passengers. Bikes were comfortable and in great condition, and our guide was informative and fun. Tip for others: clothing layers!! Also, utilize the e-bikes if you are not routinely biking 20-30 miles beforehand.