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Ready for an island vacation? Then Greece is your absolute dream destination! In the azure waters of the Aegean and Ionian Seas, around 3,000 islands await you, of which only about 115 are inhabited. Even the Greeks themselves don’t know exactly how many islands there really are and how many of them are actually inhabited. But one thing is for sure: there are too many to visit them all! Catharina’s top 5 islands in Greece If you don’t know where to start planning your Greek island vacation, be sure to…

And where to find them! France is known for its food, and no trip to France would be complete without trying the best food that the country has to offer. Fortunately, it’s easy to eat the best French food without spending a fortune; it’s a matter of knowing where to find it! Before the advent of supermarkets and hypermarchés, the French – French women, to be specific – did the shopping every day for that day’s meals, buying only enough for one day. Each town had shops that sold the…

When Kit Parks interviewed veteran Boat Bike Tours guests Penny and Jim for her Active Travel Adventures podcast, a theme emerged: the ease of traveling this way. Penny and Jim hail from Texas originally, but now live in Colorado. They took a bicycling tour once in the San Juan islands off of S eattle and enjoyed it, but what turned them off was the fact that they had to pack and unpack every day. This is why they first chose to travel with Boat Bike Tours: the ship serves as…

When it comes to immersing yourself in the wonder of Dutch tulip fields, we all know of the spectacular destination of Keukenhof. With seven million bulbs on display each spring, it’s one of the world’s largest flower gardens. But there are many other magical hidden hotspots that are often overlooked. In this blog we take a peek at four corners of the Netherlands where floral magic happens.   1. The living bulb archive Hortus Bulborum is a foundation that manages a unique collection of tulips, narcissus and hyacinths. Based in…

Why do we see so many people come back to our trips? There’s something about our cycling and boating vacations that keeps calling them back. Janneke Wallin – a Dutch woman who has lived in Sweden since 2010 – is one of these return visitors. Along with her Swedish husband she has taken two trips with Boat Bike Tours: the Northern Tour of Holland route and the Discover Friesland route. “I can’t think of any reason why you wouldn’t go on a trip with Boat Bike Tours!”   Getting to…

Home of the fairytale, Germany is both familiar and fantastical at the same time, with so many beautiful places to discover. Whether you’re enjoying some wanderlust planning a future trip or you’re ready to travel in Europe this season, we have some wonderful inspiration: the enchanting river valleys of Germany! 1. The warm welcome Spend the day exploring verdant landscapes by bike before returning to your hotel ship each evening. With their comfortable interiors, attention to detail and devoted tour leaders and crew, our unique river cruise ships, such as…

Have you ever sailed on the Wadden Sea? If it was up to Captain Joris de Wit, everyone should be able to experience this. During the Sail & Bike Wadden Sea you’ll sail across the IJsselmeer and the Wadden Sea, you’ll visit the islands of Texel and Terschelling and harbor towns such as Harlingen, Makkum and Hindeloopen. “The Wadden Sea is a fantastically beautiful nature reserve. When do you ever get to sail on a three-and four masted ship? It’s super cool.” Additionally, we offer a Premium Wadden Sea tour…

Who wouldn’t want to spend a day shopping or soaking up history in the old center of Amsterdam or hip Rotterdam? The Netherlands has plenty of hotspots. But there are also lots of great places that have not yet been overrun by tourism. It’s always fun to discover the hidden gems where it’s not so busy, and where you can cycle through ancient streets or savor a cappuccino with a view of the water. The great thing about a cycling and boating holiday with Boat Bike Tours is that you…

Are you familiar yet with our boutique ships? On these special ships, you’re part of the family as soon as you step on board. You’ll be greeted personally by the captain and it won’t be long before you know the other passengers by name. You’ll travel in a small group of maximum 24 guests. This creates real contacts and sometimes even real friendships.   The skippers give each of our boutique ships their very own, personal character: the heart and soul on board. Together with their handpicked crew, they ensure…

Are you curious about what you can experience on a cycling and sailing trip around the IJsselmeer?   Endless expanses and the ever-changing spectacle of the clouds, picturesque fishing villages and historic port cities: it’s not for nothing that a sailing trip around the IJsselmeer is a real holiday classic! In this multifaceted region, culture and nature have been closely intertwined for centuries, guaranteeing a fascinating travel experience. This is especially true when you travel with our captain, Alwin, because he always gives heart and soul to his ship, the…