Van Gogh Tours

Between April and mid-May we offer special Tulip Tours. You’ll cycle through hectares of spring flowers and tulips, learn all about growing tulips in a tulip park, and, of course, you’ll visit the Keukenhof. The first part of your week will take you through the Dutch Waterland region with a characteristic and age-old Dutch landscape. On Tuesday you’ll pay a visit to the flower auction at Aalsmeer. Today Aalsmeer controls a market share of 44% for the turnover of bulbs and tulip flowers. The tulip originated in Turkey and reached the Netherlands at the end of the 16th century. In 1634 there was one single bulb that was so expensive it cost the same as an entire canal side house in Amsterdam. You’ll also visit the world-famous 32-hectare park Keukenhof, where you can admire wonderfully colorful fields with flowering bulbs in peace and quiet. Finally, you’ll return to Amsterdam where this tour ends.

Highlights

• Seeing the fast-paced sale of tulips and other flowers at the massive Aalsmeer flower market
• Wandering through bright gardens of different tradition and style at the Keukenhoff
• Learning how icons of Holland are made – including cheese, chocolate, and clogs
• Cycling through flat, impressive polder landscapes

You will enjoy Bruges, one of the most beautiful, historic cities of Belgium, and Amsterdam, the architecturally and culturally wonderful capital of the Netherlands. Our tour will also take you to the delightful cities of Gouda and Dordrecht, and the renowned 19 windmills of Kinderdijk. You’ll notice subtle differences between the green Dutch polder landscape with water aplenty, quiet roads, and villages, the old island world of Zeeland with fields, creeks, winding dikes, and dams, and the picturesque but drier countryside between the Flemish cities of Ghent and Bruges in Belgium.

These two Belgian cities experienced their golden age long before the emergence of the Dutch as a mercantile powerhouse. This is clearly evident in the architecture and paintings of the Flemish school. The mighty rivers in this part of the Netherlands and Belgium are prominent features along the route and you’ll be impressed by the Netherlands’ own world wonder, the Delta Works, which bear witness to Holland’s ongoing battle against the sea.

Highlights

• Cycling flat, winding roads past beautiful woodlands
• Taking a ferry to see Holland’s largest number of historical windmills
• Sampling the famous blue mussels of Zierikzee
• Losing yourself in the medieval streets of Belgium’s Flemish cities

On this tour, you will ride through the breath-taking landscape of Bordeaux and St Emilion “grands crus” vineyards before reaching the old villages and medieval chateaux of the Dordogne area, also famous for its outstanding gastronomy. Along the way you will have the chance to bike near the beautiful Dordogne River with its many bends and curves, sample the local delicacies of the town of Sarlat, and see the unique and beautiful town of Les Eyzies where many houses were built right into the side of a mountain! This trip is not to be missed for history and gastronomy lovers.

Highlights

• Biking the bends and curves of the picturesque Dordogne River
• Toasting the heritage of Bordeaux with a local wine
• Riding through the vineyards of Monbazillac as its majestic chateau comes into view
• Discovering some human prehistory at Les Eyzies and Lascaux
• Sampling delicious truffles and foie gras in the local market

Enjoy Bruges, one of the most beautiful, historic cities of Belgium and Amsterdam, the architecturally and culturally wonderful capital of the Netherlands. Also included a visit to architecturally and cultural wonderful Antwerp where you can visit the famous Rubens House and Utrecht in Holland. You’ll notice subtle differences between the green Dutch polder landscape with water aplenty, quiet roads and villages, the old island world of Zeeland, with fields, creeks, winding dikes and dams, and the picturesque but drier countryside between the Flemish cities of Ghent and Bruges in Belgium. These two Belgian cities experienced their golden age long before the emergence of the Dutch as a mercantile powerhouse.

The mighty rivers in this part of the Netherlands and Belgium are a prominent feature along the route and you’ll be mesmerized by the Netherlands’ own world wonder: the Delta Works, which bears witness to Holland’s on-going battle against the sea.

Highlights

• Cycling peaceful, Sunday morning streets in Ghent
• Stepping into the house of the brilliant artist Rubens
• Washing down a traditional lunch with a Belgian monastery beer
• Following a sand wall dating to the days of mammoths
• Meandering along the river Linge towards Leerdam, City of Glass

This tour includes visits to some of the major city centers and gorgeous surroundings of this very special region. Umbria is a mystic land with a mild climate, and a feeling of serenity in the air and in the soft colors of the landscape: grey stone houses, silvery-green olive trees, the magic powdery color of the earth. Biking through Umbria’s sensual rolling terrain is a gift to yourself that you’ll treasure for a lifetime!

On this tour you will enjoy visits to the impressive medieval style towns of Cortona (in Tuscany), Perugia, Assisi, and Spello. You’ll visit the exquisite hilltop villages scattered over Umbria’s green hills, pass century-old farms and churches (especially the unforgettable Basilica of San Francesco in Assisi). As you bike through this unspoiled landscape you’ll enjoy sweeping views over patchworks of wild flower fields, olive groves, and woods. Umbria is also famous for deletable dishes and some incredible artworks.

Highlights

• Wandering the narrow, windy streets of ancient hilltop villages
• Enjoying local fish caught fresh on Isola Maggiore
• Cycling to find the perfect picnic spot near the hilltop monastery St. Francis prayed
• Learning the secrets of Italian cuisine with a cooking class
• Sampling Umbria’s finest wine in Torgiano

During this 15 day bike & barge trip through Flanders (Belgium) and northern France, from Bruges to Paris, you will cycle through attractive areas, not yet discovered by mass tourism. This tour is characterized by a wide variation in landscapes and hasall the ingredients a good bike & barge tour needs to explore these interesting regions. The first stage in Belgium featureshighlights like magnificent Bruges as unbeatable start of a beautiful discovery tour, history in medieval Ghent, tapestry in Oudenaarde, Vincent van Gogh’s heritage, a nice Belgium beer at end of your daily cycling tour. Highlights in France are World War I battle fields and memorials in the Somme valley, the Chateau de Chantilly and its art gallery the Musée Condé that houses one of the finest collections of paintings in France, and – last but not least – beautiful Paris, the “City of Lights”.

The cycling tours go over gently forested undulations and across open farm land, along the rivers Scheldt, Somme, Oise andSeine; the Belgian-French border also appears to be more or less the watershed between the river basins of Scheldt and Seine.

We advise you to arrive one day earlier to Bruges, so that you will have plenty of time to discover this interesting city.

Highlights

• Wander around Medieval towns in Belgium
• Biking country lanes past castles and abbeys
• Be ready to be amazed in the Musée Condé
• Follow Vincent Van Gogh’s last footsteps in Auvers-sur-Oise
• Cruising the river Seine into Paris

With a beautiful, hilly landscape punctuated with picturesque villages and remarkable chateaux. It also offers exquisite French food! On your self-guided tour over 6 days and 5 nights, you’ll discover why Burgundy is so loved by tourists, especially bikers. The tour starts in the charming capital of Burgundy, Dijon. Accommodations are in charming three and four-star hotels in rooms with private facilities.

Highlights

• Cycling the prestigious vineyards of Burgundy
• Gazing up at the fairytale castle Chateau de Rochepot on its stony outcrop
• Learning about the history of the bicycle from its birth in 1818
• Enjoying views of grape vines and landscapes that inspired the French poet Lamartine

This tour is a step above the rest – with unique cultural experiences and fine dining and lodging.Local tulip historian Herman van Amsterdam joins us for an afternoon, giving you the chance to ask all your questions about tulips – and Dutch life! A visit to a local tulip farm, tasting the delectable dutch “stroopwafel,” and enjoying a traditional Indonesian “rice table”, are some of many special touches that make this tour a cultural experience like no other. You also get two guides, a group size limited to fourteen, and a support van in case you get tired. Along the way, you’ll visit the captivating, visually stunning Keukenhof Garden, where many new and exotic bulbs are on display; the historic cities of Delft, Leiden and The Hague; and the uniquely-Dutch, rural polder landscape with many windmills, lakes, lambs, charming unspoiled villages, and beautiful sand dunes. You’ll stay at three wonderful 3- and 4-star hotels (the first on the ocean, close to blooming fields of daffodils, hyacinths, and tulips; the second in the historic center of Delft; the last on a picturesque lake). After finishing pleasurable days of biking along safe, flat bicycle paths and small roads, you’ll enjoy four superb dinners of three or four-courses (the Dutch really know how to cook!). This tour is led personally by Denise so you’ll be traveling with a guide who really knows the local area and can give you the best service VGT has to offer!

Highlights

• Gliding through idyllic landscapes of farmland and vibrant tulip fields with the guidance of a local tulip historian
• Learning how Delft blue pottery is made at the workshop “Delftse Pauw”
• Following the footsteps of Rembrandt through gorgeous Leiden
• Winding through woods to pass by King Willem Alexander’s private mansion
• Sampling an array of the best Dutch cooking with expertly prepared three and four course meals
• Admiring the Netherland’s finest garden in bloom, the world-famous Keukenhof

The many idyllic landscapes and the enchanting silence of this delightful Dutch province will definitely seduce you. It is almost unbelievable that this quiet land with its charming villages, beautiful farms, historic windmills and fascinating musea is only 25 minutes from Amsterdam.

For this 3 night / 4 day cycling holiday, we have carefully selected the cozy, 3-star Hotel De Fortuna in the ‘cheese city’ Edam. It is peacefully located in the center of this picturesque small town.  The rooms are situated in 5 characteristic North Holland houses and feature a typical Dutch atmosphere.  Most rooms overlook the stylish garden on the banks of a small canal.  In the summer you can sit in the garden and enjoy the flowers, singing birds and small pleasure boats drifting by.  From Edam you’ll cycle to fascinating Amsterdam, but also to a number of the most delightful places in North-Holland: Hoorn, De Rijp, Volendam, Monnickendam and the peninsular village of Marken!

Highlights

• Cycling alongside idyllic canals and polder landscapes
• Stepping back in time in the traditional streets of the fishing village Volendam
• Climbing the stairs of an authentic working windmill
• Sampling the delicious, world-famous cheeses of Edam and Gouda
• Following the canals of Amsterdam as your explore its best museums
• Pairing fine international food with Dutch beer in the comfort of hotel restaurant

The landscape includes fjord-like steep rocks and cliffs bordering lush, green mountains and pristine green-blue mountain lakes. This stunning panorama of natural beauty has drawn European tourists for centuries and was the favored summer resort of the Habsburg monarchy. Note that the Hallstättersee region was recognized by the UNESCO as a World Heritage Site for its great natural and cultural heritage. The idyllic village of Hallstatt is “the jewel of this region” and additionally Bad Ischl, Bad Aussee, St. Wolfgang and St. Gilgen are some of our favorite villages you will encounter on this visually spectacular tour.

Highlights

• Exploring the history of Mozart’s family in a picturesque Austrian village
• Cycling through countryside with steep, stunning mountains on either side
• Enjoying a delicious pastry in a typically charming Austrian town
• Standing in the spot of the scenic wedding in “The Sound of Music”