Bike/Barge tours in Europe?
09-13-21, 07:11 PM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Bike/Barge tours in Europe?
I'm considering heading to Europe next year for my first bike tour in too long. At this point, I'm thinking of 7-10 days self-guided tour in the Netherlands, Germany, or Austria. The classic Danube trip is high on my list of possibilities, and a barge as a floating hotel sounds appealing.
But when I start trying to Google, I find many different front companies that all seem to funnel back to a handful of actual vessels. I'd love to hear from folks who have actually made similar trips to find out what companies they made arrangements through and how it worked out for them.
But when I start trying to Google, I find many different front companies that all seem to funnel back to a handful of actual vessels. I'd love to hear from folks who have actually made similar trips to find out what companies they made arrangements through and how it worked out for them.
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- Jeneralist
- Jeneralist
09-14-21, 09:44 AM
#2
Junior Member
We did a Bike N Barge down the Danube from Passau to the Iron Gate back in 2019. Loved it...accommodations weren't the finest on the boat, but for the amount of time you spend on there, it was OK. The food was great, and all the staff and guests were amazing. The trip was well planned, organized, and went off without too many hitches. Unfortunately, we didn't get all the way to the Iron Gate due to low water levels (not unusual at that time of year - late Sept). The trip was arranged through Boatbiketours and had to be booked about a full year in advance. We spent a week ahead of the tour in Dubrovnik, then the 2 week Bike N Barge, then another week in Czech / Germany / Switzerland before returning home to Canada. Something to keep in mind, sometimes the trips are governed by water levels in the Danube...if they are too high then the riverboats can't get under some of the bridges, if the water levels are too low - no go. That's why we picked a late Sept. start. Even though we booked with Boatbiketours, all the material on the boat - bike bags, map books, etc, was labelled Rad Reisen. Now that we've completed one trip, we would do another, and we learned that the bicycling network in Europe is extensive and well marked - meaning that you could do this on your own either camping, or moteling / BNB'ing. Hope this helps!
09-14-21, 10:18 AM
#3
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I'm considering heading to Europe next year for my first bike tour in too long. At this point, I'm thinking of 7-10 days self-guided tour in the Netherlands, Germany, or Austria. The classic Danube trip is high on my list of possibilities, and a barge as a floating hotel sounds appealing.
But when I start trying to Google, I find many different front companies that all seem to funnel back to a handful of actual vessels. I'd love to hear from folks who have actually made similar trips to find out what companies they made arrangements through and how it worked out for them.
But when I start trying to Google, I find many different front companies that all seem to funnel back to a handful of actual vessels. I'd love to hear from folks who have actually made similar trips to find out what companies they made arrangements through and how it worked out for them.
One of the things I liked about the riding was that they give us cue sheets with distance (in kilometers) and turns in the morning. Then they turned us loose. One of the two guides rode sweep and the other one drove a sag wagon but they didn’t set any pace or require us to ride together. I got lost a couple of times because I was way out in front and took wrong turns but it was fairly easy to find my way back. I would have liked a map but the cue sheets worked.
We did see other tours where there was a mother duck out front and a father duck in the back and they rode at the pace of all the other little ducks in the middle. They were also riding what looked like ride share bikes. That would have driven me crazy. I don’t know how you would ask if a tour company has that kind of requirement but just be aware that there are companies like that out there.
Overall, I enjoy it and we are looking into another one for Germany. That’s saying a lot for me because I usually tour for weeks on end by myself.
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Stuart Black
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
Stuart Black
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
09-14-21, 11:12 AM
#4
Bike touring webrarian
In June, 2017 me wife and I and some friends did a bicyclist-only boat trip from Passau to Budapest and back in one week. There was biking every day but no connected in any way. The boat would move, we would ride, and then either meet the boat in the next place or it would wait for us somewhere along the way. It was my first week on a boat and it was enjoyable. I prefer bike touring solo, but having a cabin for a week and doing some riding while someone else makes me food wasn't so bad.
I wrote a review of my trip, with a few photos, if you want more details, including the company and boat we used.
I wrote a review of my trip, with a few photos, if you want more details, including the company and boat we used.
09-17-21, 08:54 AM
#5
Senior Member
In June, 2017 me wife and I and some friends did a bicyclist-only boat trip from Passau to Budapest and back in one week. There was biking every day but no connected in any way. The boat would move, we would ride, and then either meet the boat in the next place or it would wait for us somewhere along the way. It was my first week on a boat and it was enjoyable. I prefer bike touring solo, but having a cabin for a week and doing some riding while someone else makes me food wasn't so bad.
I wrote a review of my trip, with a few photos, if you want more details, including the company and boat we used.
I wrote a review of my trip, with a few photos, if you want more details, including the company and boat we used.
09-21-21, 04:42 PM
#6
Junior Member
We did an 8-day bike/barge tour in Sep 2016 through Belgium and Holland. The tour began in Bruges, Belgium, travelled through Antwerp and finished in Amsterdam. The barge was very comfortable, with twelve cabins, each with two twin beds and a private bath (head) below the main deck. Our tour coincided with a European heat wave and it was a bit sticky at night as the interior spaces were not air conditioned. The crew consisted of a captain, chef, and deck hand, and all three pitched in to serve meals, provide cocktails, etc. We had a tour guide who accompanied us, but was not part of the crew. Our group consisted of six couples and we got along well with the other six couples who were also travelling on the tour. Daily routine was to wake up, enjoy breakfast on the barge, make our lunches (provided), then set off on the day's ride. Meanwhile the barge would relocate and we would return to the new moorings later in the afternoon, in time for a shower or canal swim then cocktails and dinner on the barge. Sometimes the barge travelled while we were aboard, then we rode, which provided nice scenery and change of pace. The country and waterway scenery in Belgium and Holland was beautiful
Daily riding distances were 40-60 km, relatively flat canal paths and rural roads. Bicycles were typical European touring bikes, heavy but quite fine for the terrain. Our tour was guided, which was fine for us, as we had a mix of abilities and fitness in the group, but it was a bit constraining at times. We were afforded plenty of opportunities to stop, rest, and sightsee and the tour guide shared her local knowledge. We now prefer self-guided tours which require more planning, but allow greater flexibility (in fact, we just completed a 12-day self-guided tour of Ireland's Atlantic coast with two of the couples from the 2016 tour and we had a wonderful time!)
Prices were very reasonable at the time. Certainly less expensive than staying in hotels and dining out every night. We used a small U.S. tour operator, Van Gogh Tours, and we thought they did a very good job of communicating with us and delivering as promised. I would use them again. Website: https://vangoghtours.com/
Good luck. I hope you enjoy your tour!
Daily riding distances were 40-60 km, relatively flat canal paths and rural roads. Bicycles were typical European touring bikes, heavy but quite fine for the terrain. Our tour was guided, which was fine for us, as we had a mix of abilities and fitness in the group, but it was a bit constraining at times. We were afforded plenty of opportunities to stop, rest, and sightsee and the tour guide shared her local knowledge. We now prefer self-guided tours which require more planning, but allow greater flexibility (in fact, we just completed a 12-day self-guided tour of Ireland's Atlantic coast with two of the couples from the 2016 tour and we had a wonderful time!)
Prices were very reasonable at the time. Certainly less expensive than staying in hotels and dining out every night. We used a small U.S. tour operator, Van Gogh Tours, and we thought they did a very good job of communicating with us and delivering as promised. I would use them again. Website: https://vangoghtours.com/
Good luck. I hope you enjoy your tour!
11-14-21, 07:45 AM
#7
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Update -- My occasional touring partner and i have decided that for 2022, we'll be staying closer to home. (Maybe explore the Empire State trail in New York?) Thanks for all the suggestions, and I may get back to you with an update in 2023!
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- Jeneralist
- Jeneralist
11-14-21, 09:36 AM
#8
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https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/...ire-trail.html
11-15-21, 05:20 PM
#9
Senior Member
You can still salvage your original idea. Charter a canal boat on the Erie Canal and day trip out from wherever you tie up. That could be a very cool tour at a very leisurely pace.
