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where

CALAIS, FRANCE

to

AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS.

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WHEN

13th JULY

until

19th JULY

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ABOUT THE EXPERIENCE

Spend 5 days cycling across 4 countries on guided routes. (7 days including travel days)

This experience will be five days of amazing cycling, we will cycle across 4 countries including riding near Aachen a spa city near Germany’s border with Belgium and The Netherlands.

On route there will be fantastic food and outstanding cycling scenery (We will see plenty of windmills), our riding days will either be passing or staying in Ypres, Waterloo (Yes that one), Aachen , Nijmegen and Amsterdam to name a few.

Not about speed, this is about the challenge of cycling for 5 days (Approx. 100/125 km per day), this epic cycle experience is about the stunning surroundings we will find along the routes. We will endeavour to reach our destinations in the late afternoon to enjoy the cities we find ourselves in, followed by an evening of food and wine.

BIKE INFORMATION

You can have your bike in a box delivered to us in the lead up to the event (Or you can deliver it).
The cost to send a bike box Alan via parcel force is approx £65.00 and takes two days to arrive with us, (Or cardboard bike box.)
or we will meet you at Dover ferry terminal on Sunday 13th at 1300 where we will bring your bike across , you should book yourself a foot passenger ferry crossing or you can book as a bike on board and make your way to the hotel at your pleasure.
If you want to do it another way, just let us know.

Bike transport to us via parcel force or Ferry crossing is included in the price of the experience (BUT NOT BOTH).

This is an epic experience that will be a challenge but so rewarding.

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APPROXIMATE ITINERARY

THE FOLLOWING IS AN APPROXIMATION OF OUR DAYS IN THE SADDLE
  • DAY 1 - 13th JULY.
    day 1 -

    ARRIVAL DAY

    You can arrive anytime, all you need do is transfer to the hotel, check in is from 1400.
    The day is yours until approx. 1800, we will have an informal briefing and then your free until the following morning at 0845.

    Your evening meal you can take at your leisure, there are hundreds of great restaurants in Calais.

    Breakfast is from 0630 and we will meet at 0845 at the front of the hotel for the start of our first day's ride, all will be explained in the briefing.

  • DAY 2 - 14th JULY.
    day 2 - 128 km / 490 m

    Ride to Kortrijk, Belguim.

    We will start riding at 0900 (prompt) it will be the same for the whole week.

    The first riding day is relatively straight forward and has limited climbing, the first part we head for Bourbourg situated in a maritime plain in the middle of a triangle formed by Dunkirk, Calais, and Saint-Omer, there are plenty of canals to ride next to.

    The start of the second half of the ride at approx 65 km will see us cross into Belgium, the border isn't really much to shout about other than its two countries in a day, not often you do that.

    The final part of the ride is just a delight of the senses, lots to see at every turn, and of course we will stop as often as is needed throughout the day.

    The destination hotel is in Kortrijk and we aim to be there around 1500 so you have time to look around and relax before the next day, this hotel has a spa and we have access for free on the evening we are there.

  • DAY 3 - 15th JULY.
    day 3 - 131 km / 1050 m

    Ride to Warve, Belgium.

    After a hearty breakfast We will start riding at 0900 (prompt), today is slightly more testing with approx 1050m of climbing.

    Again, it's a nice easy start as we ride through parts of Flanders, the whole day is made up cris crossing Flanders and Wallonia, districts of Belgium steeped in history.

    We will find plenty of places for waffles on route, as we pass Waterloo it's not far to our Hotel, again we try and aim for 1500 to give us time for sightseeing.

    INTERESTING FACT - - Allthough in Belguim most inhabitants speak French as their mother tongue and are called "Wavriens" and "Wavriennes".

  • DAY 4 - 16th JULY
    day 4 - 120 km / 1147 m

    Ride to Aachen, Germany. (Vaals)

    Cycling from Aachen to the Netherlands offers us a fantastic opportunity to pass diverse landscapes and cultural landmarks.

    Much of the day is just steady riding hunting out coffee stops and interesting places as we head towards Vaals.

    We will finish our ride by visiting the Drielandenpunt, the tripoint where the borders of Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands meet. It’s a nice spot for a break and some photos, then a short ride to our hotel in Vaals.

  • DAY 5 - 17TH JULY
    day 5 - 125 km / 610 m

    Ride to Nijmegen, Netherlands.

    Today we head for Nijmegen which is the largest city in the Dutch province of Gelderland, Located on the Waal River close to the German border, Nijmegen is one of the oldest cities in the Netherlands.

    You may know it from Operation Market Garden (ww2) but its so much more, We have choosen an incredible route with varied landscapes, including forests, meadows, and charming towns.

    Not a difficult day in the saddle with much of the route feeling like your going downhill.

    PLACE TO VISIT - - Valkhof Museum, historic city center.

  • DAY 6 - 18TH JULY
    day 6 - 110 km / 445m

    Ride to Amsterdam, Netherlands.

    Our final stretch of cycling will see us head for Amsterdam taking us through some of the most beautiful parts of the Netherlands.

    PLACES TO VISIT - - Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum, Anne Frank House

  • DAY 7 - 19th JULY
    day 7 - DEPARTURE DAY

    ONWARD TRAVEL

    That’s it you have completed an amazing experience and its time to head home.

    You can choose to spend a few extra hours in Amsterdam, exploring and we will help with transfers to Amsterdam airport where we can (Dependant on our own travel plans).

    However the last Hotel is not far from the airport

    DO NOT FORGET TO BOOK A BIKE WITH YOU PLANE TICKET (We are happy to transport bikes back for you to collect at a later date).

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EXPERIENCE DETAILS

INCLUDED

  • 6 Nights’ accommodation in various hotels on route.
  • 6 Breakfasts.
  • 5 full days of guided routes (We ride with you).
  • Transfers from Calais to the Hotel and to Amsterdam airport for the return home.

    • EXCLUDED

  • Travel to France and from The Netherlands back home. (We will arrange a transfer from Calais only).
  • Lunches, Evening meals, Snacks and Drinks.
  • Travel Insurance.
  • Personal Equipment.
  • Bike, You will need to bring your own bike.

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TRIP COSTS

The total cost of the trip is £ 1299.00 .

The initial payment through this webpage is a deposit of £200 (Plus the booking fee) this will then secure your place.

Further payments are due in staged intervals, or you can pay the balance in full.

If you want to pay in full, please email info@veloeurope.co.uk

Please also email us if you make payments so they can be allocated correctly.

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TRAVEL INFORMATION

It is your responsibility to ensure you are at the start location for this experience.

This is in France, including with your bike, Velo europe do not organize your travel from your home destination to the start location, although we can assist with transfers from Calais to the Hotel if required.

If there is a need to book flights, ferries or additional travel please contact us BEFORE you do this, the experiences have a limited number of entrants needed for the experience to take place, we will not be held responsible for any additional costs incurred booking these addition travel arrangements. (SEE BELOW)

(WEDNESDAY 2 OCTOBER 2024, THIS EVENT HAS THE REQUIRED NUMBER TO PROCEED, SO PLEASE CONTACT US TO DISCUSS YOUR TRAVEL PLANS.)

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