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Our Waterways Collection

Cruise and bike along the Danube River through Germany, Austria, Slovakia, and Hungary. Drift through historic wonderlands in Holland dotted with windmills and dazzling gardens. Pass the Venice skyline and Piazza San Marco on a sleek Italian river barge through the Venice Lagoon.

These tours are more than bucket-list destinations, they are journeys through magical places that lift the spirit to greater heights and fueling our passion for travel. Our bike and boat tours bring the romance of European culture to you at the gentle, gliding pace of a Strauss waltz. If you love unpacking once, exploring your surroundings by bike, immersing yourself in Old World culture, and indulging in fine food and wine, then we think you’ll be a wonderful VBT Waterways companion.

Inclusions

  • Custom VBT bike and helmet
  • RidewithGPS and route notes
  • Local trip leaders
  • Luggage transfers
  • Admission fees to local attractions
  • Cultural activities like cooking classes and guided city tours
  • Speciality transportation like ferry and train rides
  • Accommodations and most meals
  • Your choice of VBT branded gear for your adventure
  • Even more with the Air Package

Activity Guide

From independent meal discoveries to route distances at your own pace—your VBT vacation is all about choices that suit your style. Decide how much or how little you wish to explore, opt for social time or quiet, and explore what intrigues you most. The activity chart below will help you choose the perfect trip for you.

Easy

Ideal for recreational cyclists and first-time VBT travelers.

  • Average Daily Mileage: 15-35 mi.
  • Average Daily Cycling Time: Up to 4 hrs.

Easy / Moderate

Ideal for active beginners to more experienced riders.

  • Average Daily Mileage: 20-40 mi.
  • Average Daily Cycling Time: Up to 5 hrs.

Moderate

Terrain includes more hills. Longer distance options can be very rewarding for those who cycle regularly.

  • Average Daily Mileage: 25-60 mi.
  • Average Daily Cycling Time: Up to 6 hrs.

Moderate / Challenging

A full range of terrain mixed with moderate and challenging hills. Ideal for experienced cyclists.

  • Average Daily Mileage: 25-60 mi.
  • Average Daily Cycling Time: Up to 6 hrs.

Choose Your Ride

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Road Bicycle 1

Road Bikes

For enthusiast cyclists who want high performance with more positioning options.

Hybrid Bikes

Upright handlebars and wider tires for a smooth, stable ride.

E-bikes

Electric-assisted bicycle that provides extra support when needed.

We’ve Got Your Back

We offer support throughout your journey, from our expert tour consultants—who are eager to help you prepare—to shuttle services, baggage transfers between hotels, and snacks and water along the route. For emergency travel services, our travel assistance partner is just a phone call away.

Meet Your Leaders

Your professional Trip Leaders are bilingual and native to the regions they guide, providing you with insider access and local knowledge. You will also meet locals and friends of VBT who delight in sharing their skills with you, which might include sailors, naturalists, sommeliers, kayak instructors, truffle hunters, professors, artists, tradespeople, and farmers.

Typical Day on the Road

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Wake up to a full spread of local breakfast options courtesy of your private, onboard chef. Sometimes you’ll have an early adventure to fuel up for. For example, one morning in Holland you’ll get an early start in time to catch all the action at the world’s largest flower auction in Aalsmeer from a special gallery, where for a moment, you’ll be at the center of the international flower trade.

Set out for the first ride of the day. Perhaps you’ll pedal through the vineyards that line the Moselle River in Germany, or follow the promise of spring through tulip-laden Holland, or cruise along easy paths to Ghent—a historic city that was founded over 1,400 years ago and still boasts many beautiful buildings dating to medieval times.

Meet up with your Trip Leaders and the VBT support van at an arranged time and place to refill your water bottle and enjoy a healthy snack. Then continue cycling through beautiful landscapes and quaint villages before stopping for lunch.

Gather with your fellow travelers for a home-hosted picnic at the farm estate of a local Frisian couple that features a mini nature reserve of pretty gardens, tranquil water features, budding trees and beautiful wooden benches that they carved. Or perhaps find a quiet café on your own as you make your way to Trier, an ancient German city that was founded by the Celts in the fourth century BC.

Back on your bike, continue cycling through the wine villages along the Moselle, or stop to view the historic locks of one of Holland’s famed canals. Or perhaps set sail and try your hand at assisting your ship’s captain navigate the calm waters. Or you can simply sit back on deck and enjoy the journey while looking out for seals and other marine and birdlife.

Return to your room and enjoy some free time to relax on the sun deck. In Holland, local hosts escort you back to their home for a cup of coffee or tea and a light snack. During your conversation, you’ll learn about local traditions and everyday life in Enkhuizen, a historic town that used to be a harbor town for the Dutch East India Company.

It’s time for your own personal chef to provide a window into the regional cuisine as he or she prepares a delicious meal for your group. While you eat, share stories of your day with new friends over a complimentary glass of wine in the ship’s dining room. In Belgium, you may be treated to a tasting of the country’s world-renowned style of beer.

Sit back and enjoy the stars as you soak in a hot tub on the deck of your sailboat. Or perhaps leave the barge from where it’s docked for the night and stroll into town to browse its historic streets, enjoy a nightcap or take in some local music.

Choice, Comfort, and Discovery

Our trips are not run-of-the-mill tours, but creative and unusual itineraries that are crafted with great care and research. Our tour developers are not only route planners, but travel experts and cultural ambassadors who know how to weave the best elements together with the safest routes, sightseeing highlights, travel logistics, and accommodations, so you get the most out of your VBT experience.

VBT tours give you the freedom to make your vacation truly yours. If you’re hiking along the sunny coast and feel like taking a dip in the sea, go for it. A trinket catch your eye in an artisan boutique? Check it out. And while you’re at it, stop to chat with a local along the way. Live your vacation your way.

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