Itinerary

Day 1:
Arrival in Giethoorn.

Arrive at Schiphol Airport and take a train and bus to the picturesque village of Giethoorn, also called ‘Venice of the North’.

Day 2:
Giethoorn, 0 or 37 miles (0 or 60km)

Today you can rent the traditional Giethoorn ‘punter’, similar to the gondola in Venice. Take a cycle tour through the wildlife sanctuary De Weerribben, a marshland with many small islands. Whatever route you take, you will constantly enjoy the magnificent panorama of these unique wetlands.

Day 3:
Giethoorn to Dwingeloo, 37 miles (60km)

In Havelte you will enter the green and spacious province of Drenthe and pass many Saxon farms. You will cycle along the Havelterberg, a hill where you will find two dolmen - colossal stones stacked on top of each other. The tour continues across the heather fields of Holtinge. Between Vledder and Doldersum, in the Koelingsveld, you will cycle past burial mounds dating from between 1000 and 500 years BC. The end of the tour will be Dwingeloo.

Day 4:
Dwingeloo to Westerbork, 41 miles (65km)

Your cycling starts across vast heather fields and not very long after that you will be immersed in the dense Smilde forests. You will leave these forests in Diever, then through beautiful villages such as Lhee, the route heads east for the Dwingelderveld National Park. Cycling along serene countryside roads, you will reach Westerbork.

Day 5:
Westerbork, 0 or 41 miles (0 or 65km)

There are a lot of things you can do today. In Orvelte, the whole village is a museum, you can learn about the history of Drenthe. The dairy factory that was established in 1899 still produces organic cheese. There’s more than one choice of cycle tours today.

Day 6:
Westerbork to Norg, 44 miles (70km)

Today’s route is maybe the most beautiful one in the program. From Westerbork the route goes north across the Hijkerveld, a diverse wildlife sanctuary. Next, you continue along the northeast flank of the Drents-Friese Wold National Park before cycling right through the Fochteloërveen. After leaving the beautiful heather fields, you will arrive in Veenhuizen. You will continue your tour through Westervelde, from where Norg is now within easy reach.

Day 7:
Norg, 0 or 31 miles (0 or 50km)

Relax in your hotel or cycle to Groningen, one of the most beautiful cities in the Netherlands. On the way you will cycle alongside magnificent lakes such as the Leekstermeer and the Paterswoldsemeer.

Day 8:
Departure from Norg.

Trip ends after breakfast.