The Brussels to Bruges bike and barge tour on board the MS Quo Vadis is an absolute cycling classic that takes you through an enchanting river landscape bookended by these two iconic Belgian cities. During this eight day, seven night tour you will not only get the opportunity to discover the enchanting river/canal system of Belgium, but will also get to visit and explore the world famous cities of Brussels, Antwerp, Ghent, Mechelen and Bruges. Along the way you will cycle through small traditional Belgian villages, will visit a number of famous local landmarks and, importantly, will have the opportunity to immerse yourself in Belgium’s well-deserved reputation for superb food and drink.
On a daily basis you will cycle along old tow paths next to small canals and rivers and via quiet country lanes to ancient villages steeped in history. Enjoy a coffee or one of the many village beers in an authentic Belgian pub where the locals approvingly raise their glass, especially when you arrive by bike. Your home away from home for the duration of the Bruges to Brussels tour is the floating hotel MS Quo Vadis, a comfortably furnished and appointed barge that will make you feel right at home. The MS Quo Vadis is equipped with 12 spacious outside cabins with private shower/WC, two single beds that can be pushed together and air conditioning (windows cannot be opened). The ship, which caters for a maximum of 24 guests, offers a gorgeous open salon with corner seats, a restaurant, a small bar and a sundeck with umbrellas. The captain and the owner Rendert Jan and his crew will look after you the most pleasant way.
Individual arrival in Brussels. The MS Quo Vadis awaits you in the Brussels harbour. Embarkation and check-in where the crew will welcome you on board is from 3 to 5pm.
During breakfast the barge MS Quo Vadis will sail to Vilvoorde where, following the distribution of bicycles, your first day of cycling will see you travel to Mechelen a remarkable city that boasts more than 300 buildings that are historically listed. Of these 8 are churches – all on less than 3 square kilometres of land!
Today you will cycle from Willebroek via Lier to Antwerp. Antwerp is a harbour city situated on the river Schelde famous for handling up to 80% of the world’s rough diamonds. Lively Antwerp is a hidden gem. Its medieval streets, Renaissance monuments and vibrant nightlife are a magnet for tourists from around the world.
The bicycle tour today will take you upstream along the Schelde River to Hemiksem and on to Rupelmonde where the Schelde joins the Rupel River. After following the Rupel for a few kilometres you will reach the village of Niel and later the Walenhoek Nature Reserve. Along the way you will have the opportunity to visit an historical brick factory situated between Boom and Niel where bricks have been manufactured since the Middle Ages. ……
Today you will cycle to the beautiful city of Ghent, where the MS Quo Vadis will be moored in the suburb of Merelbeke which is approx. a 15 minute cycle from the city centre. You will enjoy being able to explore the pedestrian area in Ghent’s town centre, partly by bike and partly on foot.
Part of the day’s cycling will be along the Ghent-Oostende-canal to Oostende through the beautiful Flemish landscape to Bruges, a lovely art city and Belgium’s most perfectly preserved medieval town. Widely described as the “Venice of the North”, Bruges attracts more than two million visitors every year who come for the ambience of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed historical centre.
Your final day of cycling takes you along a quiet canal and past beautiful poplar trees through an attractive polder landscape (a polder is a low-lying tract of land enclosed by embankments) dotted with small farm houses to the North Sea coast via the small city of Damme.
Disembarkation after breakfast until 9:30am: End of your trip.
Departure –
19 May 2018
PRICE: from: $1700.00 cad / per person*
Single Supplement : $650
*based on double occupancy in twin cabin
Departures
02 Jun 2018
16 Jun 2018
30 Jun 2018
PRICE: from: $1700.00 cad / per person*
Single Supplement : $650
*based on double occupancy in twin cabin
Departures
14 Jul 2018
28 Jul 2018
PRICE: from: $1700.00 cad / per person*
Single Supplement : $650
*based on double occupancy in twin cabin
Departures
11 Aug 2018
25 Aug 2018
PRICE: from: $1700.00 cad / per person*
Single Supplement : $650
*based on double occupancy in twin cabin