Tour around the Ijlssemeer 7nights

TOUR AROUND THE IJLSSEMEER

Without 'Afsluitdijk'

Included
Hire of 3speed cycles and equipment
B&B Accommodation in quality 3 or 4 star hotels in rooms with shower/ wc
Luggage Transport-
maximum 20kg p.p.
Tour Information including maps and routes

Excluded
Cycle Helmets
Lunches & Dinners
Entrance fees,etc Ferry fare to Stavoren

Extras
Extra nights
Purmerend/Amsterdam

Dinners

Ferry fare to Stavoren

Access (advice only, not included)
By air to Amsterdam Airport: by ferry to Rotterdam/Hook of Holland: by car, parking available. Train to Purmerend.

Duration
7 Nights/8 Days

Start
Any day, April to September.
Minimum two persons

Level 1

Tour Code TAI - 7

Price £585 per person

Single suppl £220

Child reductions available please enquiry at office.

7 evening dinners

£200

Ferry fare approx €15

Day 1. Arrive PURMEREND: explore this city noted for its gardens and fine trees. Collect cycles, maps and route (no briefing).

Day 2. PURMEREND - HOORN/ENKHUIZEN 25/34ml(40/55km)
Starting in Purmerend, you cycle toward the picturesque villages of Edam and Volendam. Edam is a beautiful fossil from the Golden Age, Volendam is famous for its harbour and the tasty smoked eel produced there. Then you cycle North past a fortress, to enter an open landscape of dykes, water and polders. Along the way, windmills in Schellinkhout and Wijdenes. Just before Hoorn, you pass a boundary pole from 1761. To your right, you look out over the water of Hoornse Hop where, in 1573, the Dutch had a famous sea battle with the Spanish. Take your time to look around Hoorn but be sure to leave some for Enkhuizen, with its beautiful open air Zuiderzee museum. Just after Enkhuizen you pass 'De Ven' lighthouse, from 1700, and Rabout castle in Medemblik .

Day 3. HOORN/ENKHUIZEN - HARICH/RIJS/LEMMER 12/25/37ml(20/40/60km)
Today you cycle alongside the IJsselmeer, through old Dutch polder landscape, towards Enkhuizen where you can visit the Zuiderzee museum. A visit will make clear how people earlier lived in the fisherman villages around the IJsselmeer. In the afternoon you can take the ferryservice toward Stavoren. From Stavoren, you cycle towards Rijs/Lemmer.

Day 4. HARICH/RIJS/LEMMER - GIETHOORN/BLOKZIJL 40/50ml(65/80km)
After an overnight stay in Rijs/Lemmer, you cycle upon different lakes and canals alongside national park "de Weerribben". Across this swamp, you cycle via Blokzijl to Vollenhove or Giethoorn. Blokzijl and Vollehove are two places that once were situated at the bank of the Zuiderzee.

Day 5. GIETHOORN/BLOKZIJL - HARDERWIJK 46ml(75km)
As you leave the peat-moors and reed lands, you come to the lovely village of Vollenhove. From the polder of Mastenbroek, the Hanseatic city of Kampen appears on the horizon. The historical heart of this city still conserves 3 of the former 21 city gates. A wonderful spot to stop for a lunch break and a stroll around the centre. Then you cycle to another Hanseatic city, Elburg, and on to Harderwijk. Across the water, the Flevopolder comes into view. The lake found here, just off the mainland, offers an excellent opportunity for a swim.

Day 6. HARDERWIJK - MUIDERBERG/NAARDEN 34/37ml(55/60km)
A chance to see the dolphin show at the Dolfinarium in Harderwijk and later take a stroll to the harbour, full of sailboats and yachts. As you cycle further along the dike, sea-gulls and other water birds accompany you to Spakenburg. You pass a small beach at Nulde, lovely spot for a paddle on a warm day. Then the Eem dike brings you to the city of Naarden, one of the best examples of a 17th century fortified town.

Day 7. MUIDERBERG/NAARDEN - PURMEREND 31ml(50km)
On your last day, you cycle first to the castle of Muiden, then it's on to Amsterdam, capital of the
Netherlands. Cycling in this city is an adventure, but this afternoon you'll be able visit the city by train from Purmerend. Today's cycling route takes you north of the capital, to cross 'het IJ' by ferry to the picturesque isle of Marken, just half a mile off the coast near Monnickendam.

Day 8.Depart PURMEREND