Bike & Boat: Sailing the Dutch Wadden Sea with the "MARE fan Fryslan"

Your first bike tour begins after breakfast. You cycle along the IJsselmeer to the old port town of Medemblik. You then continue sailing by ship to Den Oever at the dyke that separates the IJsselmeer and the Wadden Sea. You pass through the lock in the dyke and - depending on the weather - the ship sails across the Wadden Sea to the island of Texel.

Overnight place: Texel

The island of Texel is known for its varied landscapes and picturesque villages. Cycle tour on the largest Dutch North Sea island, Texel. Tip: The well-signposted Thijsseroute (40 km), which takes you through picturesque villages, beautiful landscapes and the North Sea. On the way you can visit the seal sanctuary Eco Mare, as well as a small brewery at the port of Oudeschild.

Overnight place: Texel

Today the sails are set. Your destination is the island of Terschelling further east. You will cross the Wadden Sea with its many sandbanks, where you may see seals. During the sailing tour, a hearty lunch will be served instead of dinner today. If weather permits, dine on deck. The exact route and travel time depend on the tidal current and the wind. In the course of the afternoon you arrive at Terschelling. The pretty little villages on the narrow and approx. 30 km long island have retained much of their old charm... No dinner will be served on board today. This gives you the opportunity to explore the harbor of the beautiful island with its many nice restaurants and pubs.

Overnight place: Terschelling Island

Yesterday you mainly sailed, today it's back to cycling. Terschelling has a lot to offer: nature and culture, 70 km of cycle paths and four beautiful villages. West Terschelling is the largest town on the island with numerous shops and pubs. The island's landmark can be seen from afar: the 400-year-old Brandaris lighthouse. Also worth seeing is the nature reserve De Boschplaat, characterized by moors, salt marshes, beaches and dunes. With a bit of luck you will see lots of ducks, black-winged stilts and large colonies of spoonbills and great black-backed gulls. In the late afternoon the ship departs and sails to Harlingen, the most important port on the Frisian mainland.

Overnight place: Harlingen

The bike tour starts after breakfast in Harlingen. Via Franeker with the famous planetarium by Eise Eisinga, you continue cycling through the wonderful, spacious landscape of Friesland dotted with small villages to Makkum on the eastern shore of the IJsselmeer. If you want to do the long bike ride, you also come to Bolsward, one of the Frisian eleven cities.

Overnight place: Makkum

From Makkum you continue by bike to Stavoren. The short route takes you through the old trading town of Hindeloopen. The Hindelooper painting is world famous. The first Frisian skating museum is also located here. The long route leads along several lakes in the Frisian Lake District and reveals a completely different landscape. From Stavoren the ship takes you back to Enkhuizen at the end of the day.

Overnight place: Enkhuizen

After breakfast, disembarkation until 09.30: and individual journey home.