Do I have to wear a safety helmet?

All cyclists in Spain, Turkey and Croatia are required by law to wear helmets. In Italy children up to and including 16 years of age are required by law to wear helmets, in Austria children up to and including 12, in Slovakia for children up to and including 14 and for everyone cycling outside of residential areas. In France adult cyclists are not obliged to wear a bike helmet, but children up to 12 years are.

Not compulsory

In all other countries wearing a helmet is recommended, but not compulsory. If you want to wear a helmet, we advise you to buy your own and bring it with you. On our Premium tours a helmet is included in the price and available on request. On most other tours you can rent a helmet.

Can I bring along my own bicycle?

On most of the ships you can bring your own bike, but please check beforehand if there is enough space aboard the ship you are traveling with. Please contact our office to verify.

Please note: the tour leader, crew, owner of the ship, and Boat Bike Tours are not responsible nor liable for any damage to, loss or theft of your bicycle.

What does “on request” mean when checking cabin availability?

When you see “on request” in the calendar overview on our website, it means that we do not have real-time availability for that specific departure. This typically applies to partner tours, where Boat Bike Tours acts as a “travel agent” rather than the direct tour operator.

If you place a booking “on request,” we will contact our partner to check if the selected cabin is still available. This process can take up to 48 hours. After that, you will either receive a booking confirmation or we will suggest an alternative tour, cabin, or date if the original choice is no longer available.

So, “on request” means your booking is not instantly confirmed but is being checked with the tour operator first.

How challenging are these tours?

The physical effort required varies by tour and whether you choose a regular bike or an e-bike. Most rides are 30–60 km (18–37 miles) per day, with a cycling time of 5–7 hours, including breaks. The pace is relaxed, around 15 km/h (9 mph).

We offer three difficulty levels:

Level 1: Flat terrain – ideal for beginners

Level 2: Some hills – moderate effort

Level 3: Hilly or mountainous – for experienced cyclists

E-bikes provide pedal assistance, making hills and longer distances easier, while regular bikes require more effort. You can skip a cycling day and stay on board anytime—our tours are designed to be flexible and enjoyable for all levels.

What happens in case of a medical emergency?

In the event of a medical issue or emergency during a Boat Bike Tours trip, the tour leader is either present or can be contacted by mobile phone. Our tour leaders receive regular first aid training to ensure they can respond effectively in case of emergencies. If you encounter a problem while cycling, the tour leader can provide support or directions to medical services. When needed, they can arrange transportation to the nearest medical facility, including taxis or ambulances. For minor issues, guests have the option to stay on board instead of joining the cycling route that day.

Guests are strongly advised to purchase travel insurance that covers medical situations, cancellations, and emergencies.

For guests with specific medical needs or conditions, it is important to inform Boat Bike Tours in advance. It is recommended that guests bring their health insurance documentation, any necessary medications and emergency contact information.

Is there more information about the bicycle seat?

Our bikes are equipped with the Selle Royal Freedom bike seat, specially designed to offer optimal comfort during your cycling journey. The saddle includes Royalgel padding, which helps relieve pressure on sensitive areas by distributing weight evenly across the surface. This ensures a more comfortable ride, especially on longer tours.

The seat is also waterproof, making it suitable for all weather conditions, and features a multi-layer structure that is resistant to punctures, tears, and cuts. Its ergonomic design supports both novice and experienced riders.

Whether you’re cycling for a few hours or the entire day, the Selle Royal Freedom seat is made to provide the support and durability you need.

Do I need to be fit to be able to do the cycling tour?

Well yes… It makes your holiday a lot more pleasurable. Daily cycling tours of around 40-60 kilometers, which means approx. 5 hours on the saddle each day riding at an average speed of 16 kilometers or 10 miles an hour. This demands a certain basic level of fitness.

Does a support vehicle accompany us?

No, there is not a support vehicle accompanying you during your cycling tour.

Can I bring my own pedals?

As long as they are attached to the bike you bring along too, it is okay. But to bring your own pedals to attach them to a rental bike, we have to disappoint you. This is not possible.

Can I rejoin the ship before the end of a stage?

Can i rejoin the ship before the end of a stage?

At some tours and on some locations it is possible to get back on board before the actual bike ride is over. But not everywhere. This is because most of our ships need enough space, depth and a quay to moor the ship for you to get back on board.

How long are the daily cycling stages?

This can vary between 30 and 60 kilometer / 18.6 and 37.3 miles per day. The exact distances can be found on your itinerary. Talking about time; we can state that – depending on your average speed (of at least 15 kilometers / 9 miles an hour – the average speed our tour leaders ride during the guided tours) and the number of breaks on the way – the time you spend on a cycling day varies from 5 to 7 hours.

What languages do the guides speak?

The guides or tour leaders speak English and German. Some of them also speak Dutch, French or Italian. They will do their briefings in English and German only. Of course, in case of questions, you can always ask.

Do I need a power adapter for the Netherlands?

In Europe, the electricity supply is 230 volts with a frequency of 50 Hz. The sockets are of type C and type F. Type C is the standard Euro plug, while type F is also known as Schuko. Both are compatible with plug types C, E, and F.

If you’re traveling from most European countries, your plugs will usually fit without a problem. However, travelers coming from the United Kingdom, North America, Australia, Japan, and several other regions will need a suitable adapter.

Most modern electronics such as phones, laptops, and tablets are designed to handle the 230 V supply, as they come with built-in power converters. Where you do need to be careful is with high-wattage appliances like hair dryers, curling irons, or similar devices. If they’re made for lower voltage (such as 110 V in North America), they can easily burn out. For those, we recommend bringing a power converter or buying a European version to use during your stay.

Is it possible to get sea-sick?

Most of our tours take place on calm inland waterways, where the water is typically very smooth. As a result, motion on board is minimal, and seasickness is rare among our guests.

Additionally, our ships dock each night and remain stationary while guests are sleeping, which adds to the overall comfort.

For our tours taking place at sea, we take extra care to avoid discomfort. Our ships will remain in port during stormy weather to prevent exposure to rough conditions. However, some individuals may still experience symptoms even when the sea is calm. In such cases, fresh air and focusing on a stationary point on the horizon can help ease symptoms. If you are sensitive to motion, we recommend bringing along any preferred medication or remedies just in case, but many of our guests find they don’t need them at all.

How large is the group on board?

This depends on the ship you are traveling on. Most of the smaller vessels (with a maximum capacity of 20) will be completely full during the season. The larger ships (with a maximum capacity of approx. 120) will be filled for about 80-90% on most tours.

What are the cabins like?

We have a large spectrum of cabin types; varying from lower deck twins to upper deck superior suites. Please check out the ships’ pages to find out more out the cabin types.

Is Wi-Fi available on the ships?

Yes. On all of our ships there is Wi-Fi. Check out all information about ‘Internet aboard the ships‘ in our Travel Prep.

Can I use a laundry service on board?

No. There is no laundry service aboard the ships.

Are there hairdryers available?

On some ships a hair dryer belongs to the standard inventory in your cabin. On other ships, you can ask for a hair dryer at the reception or at one of the crew members.

Is smoking on board allowed?

Smoking in your cabin, in the public areas – such as the restaurant, bar and lounge – is not allowed. On most of the ships, you can smoke on deck on designated smoking areas. On a few ships smoking is banned on the entire ship.

Can I bring a pet?

Can i bring a pet?

No. Pets are not allowed on board. Although some captains have a dog on board; these dogs are used to being aboard a ship and do not come to the public areas or in the cabins. They can be seen in and around the living area of the captain.

Do I need a visa to get into the country?

Do I need visa to get into the country?

This depends on your nationality. Some nationals of countries have to obtain a visa that grants them with the permission to enter the Schengen Area. The countries whose citizens are required to obtain a Schengen visa can be found on the visa page of the Schengen Visa Information.

Please note: Starting in April 2027, with full enforcement expected by mid-2027, visitors from countries that do not need a visa to enter the Schengen Area will have to obtain a quick electronic entry authorization (ETIAS) before they can travel to an EU or Schengen country. This so called ‘ETIAS authorization‘ is not a visa, but rather a lighter and more visitor-friendly version. The application process for an ETIAS is simple and quick; it takes around 10 minutes to complete and costs only €7.

Where can you park your car when you go on a boat bike tour?

This depends on your place of departure. If the tour starts in Amsterdam you can park your car in a P+R outside the city center, in one of the garages or book the valet service. In other cities there are different parking options, described in the boarding info you receive before traveling.

How do I get to the place of departure and is this transfer included?

After booking your holiday, we will send you detailed information on how to travel to your destination by car, train or aircraft, and how to reach your ship’s mooring location. You will receive information on where to park your car. At some destinations you can reserve a parking space in advance or how you can arrange a transfer.

Please read more about ‘Travel to destination‘ in our Travel Prep.

What is the average age of the fellow travelers?

The average age of our guests is between 50 and 80 years.

Which countries do the participants come from?

We have travelers from all over the world: from Scandinavia to South-Africa, from Australia to Canada, from Russia to Brazil and from China to the US. Also we have welcomed lots of European travelers.

How should I pack and what should I bring?

Please travel light! The cabins are not as spacious as a regular hotel room. Storage facilities are limited and in some cabins the space underneath the beds is not high enough to store a hard shell suitcase.
Take a look at our Travel Prep ‘What to bring‘ to find out what you must not forget.

What will happen should I encounter problems along the way?

Of course this depends on the kind of problem you encounter. For most of the problems you can ask your tour leader to help find a solution. If you travel on a semi-guided tour, then the tour leader or the captain can be reached by phone. Think of getting lost, flat tires, bike chain off, small accidents, etc.

In case of serious problems, such as accidents, sudden illnesses or injuries, please call the local emergency number 112.

Is it possible to rent a helmet?

Yes you can rent a helmet on most tours. On our Premium tours a rental helmet is included in the price and available on request.

Is it possible to stay on board for a day?

Of course you are welcome to stay on board during the day, instead of going along on the cycling tour. Please let the tour leader and/or crew know you will be staying aboard. Please note, that children under the age of 18 must be under adult supervision.

What happens if it rains?

Then you’ll probably get wet! Unless you wear your rain gear during cycling of course. If you mean by this question; will there still be a cycling tour if it rains? This depends of the intensity of the rain; there are lots of varieties starting with a drizzle to actually a complete cloudburst. You are free to decide to get on your bike or not, but if the tour leader thinks it is too dangerous to go cycling, he or she will let you know.

What will the weather be like?

Well, unfortunately this can not be predicted for all of our tours; different countries, different travel dates. Just make sure you pack for all weather types; rain gear, sunglasses and clothes that can be worn in layers.
If you look for a more specific weather forecast, check out AccuWeather: https://www.accuweather.com

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