The Best Bike Tours for Boat and Water Lovers

I've always been drawn to water and boats. The serenity of cruising on a boat combined with the natural beauty of seas, lakes and rivers is hard to top - and indeed only topped by adding in a cycle ride during the day!

It will come as no surprise that I'm a huge advocate for Boat & Bike tours. I believe they are the best way to experience a destination - and often come with the added bonus of passing through multiple countries.

In this blog, I've picked out my three favourite Boat & Bike tours. Each one's a little different, but they all share the same principle of taking in stunning sights from the water, with plenty of cycling along the way to explore each place properly.

For more information on any of these tours, or for personal advice from our team, enquire online or call us on +44 (0) 1273 224066.

Our South Dalmatia Deluxe Boat & E-Bike Tour is a brilliant tour to kick this blog off. I cycled it all the way back in May 2014, but it's still one of my all-time favourites.

It's a bit of a cliché, but it's a tour that really has it all. Think scenic cycling on beautiful, quiet islands along with the culture of Hvar on the mainland - not forgetting the time to relax and dine on your deluxe motor yacht and go for a swim in the sea.

This tour is rated as 'Moderate to Challenging', so expect some climbs. Don't forget you've got some extra power from the e-bike, and as ever, the view is always worth the effort to reach it!

Every island has its own personality, so no two days feel the same. One morning you're cycling past fragrant pine forests and purple lavender fields, the next you have the option of river rafting in Cetina Valley. When it's time to stop, the narrow lanes of the old harbour towns are made for long lunches with a glass of local wine to see the afternoon out.

Your floating hotel for the week is the Magellan, a magnificent double-masted motor yacht. It's furnished to the highest standard, with a panoramic sundeck, spacious saloon and elegant aft deck.

A day in the life on the boat starts with a buffet breakfast on board. Full board is included for two of your seven days, with half board for the remaining five. Food plays a big role in the Magellan experience, so expect fresh cooking matched with a strong lineup of Croatian wines.

Each day's ride is set up with a briefing from your tour leader, who'll talk you through the route ahead. Afternoons off the bike are yours to enjoy the boat - whether that's stretching out on the sundeck and taking in the views, or cooling off from the swimming platform.

If you fancy a day out of the saddle, you can simply skip a half or full day and stay aboard to soak up Croatia's waters at your own pace.

"I rate tours according to three criteria: quality of destination, quality of accommodation. and quality of tour guides. Everything was excellent. Croatia is an incredibly beautiful country. The places we visited were astounding. The side trips were top of the line. Can’t say enough about the boat. One lady described it as a floating luxury hotel. That was not an exaggeration. A totally wonderful experience.

And the tour guides were excellent. They really took care of us. Always there, always helpful, and always flexible. We had a German couple that spoke no English, and the guides made the entire process work seamlessly. Well done!! Thoroughly enjoyed the trip and have recommended Freedom Treks to friends." - Bob Holliday

View tour: South Dalmatia Deluxe Boat & E-Bike Tour

Discover the sights and sounds of the more remote and rural parts of Holland on our Holland’s Northern Coast Boat & Bike Tour. You'll follow traffic-free and well-marked cycle paths as you fall into the gentle pace of coastal life, experiencing windswept archipelagos and lakeside harbour towns.

Following the edge of IJsselmeer, Holland's largest lake, enjoy a string of charming harbour towns and pause at a working windmill or sample some sauerkraut and fresh fish.

The wild dunes and unspoiled nature of North Holland are a real highlight, best experienced out on the Frisian Islands, where a sea crossing gives you the chance to spot seals, spoonbills, black-winged stilts and black-backed gulls. Texel's traditional brewery makes for a well-earned stop, and Vlieland - the smallest of the islands - offers blissfully traffic-free cycling.

Enjoy a unique stay on board the beautiful Wapen fan Fryslan, Mare Fan Fryslan or Leafde fan Fryslân. These are traditional Dutch tall ships - three-masted schooners and barquentines. The decks consist of a large saloon and restaurant with panoramic windows, a stylish bar, and a jacuzzi for relaxing after a day in the saddle. And of course, plenty of seating for sunbathing or outdoor dining.

These working sailing ships are surprisingly luxurious, and staying on them is a real highlight of this tour. There's also the unique chance to help out with the rigging and assist the deckhands if you wish - a nice perk for fellow boat lovers! 

"One of the best holidays by boat and bike. The boat was beautiful and great fun to sail. The food was as good as any restaurant and the crew were helpful, friendly, cheerful and informative. The Friesan Islands are a lovely part of the Netherlands and great for cycling - plenty of smooth, safe cycle paths and lovely beaches and woodland. I can highly recommend this trip." - Penny Picken

View tour: Holland’s Northern Coast Boat & Bike Tour

We offer 15 cycling holidays along the Danube River, but our Passau to Budapest Boat & Bike Tour is the best of them all in my opinion. I pedalled this tour in May 2023, and it hugely exceeded my already high expectations.

The big draw here is cycling through four countries in a week - Germany, Austria, Slovakia and Hungary - taking in Vienna, Bratislava and Budapest along the way. You'll also pass through Austria's stunning UNESCO-listed Wachau valley.

Watch this summary video of my trip for an insight into this tour:

The ride itself is rated 'easy': flat, riverside cycling along the Danube cycle path, so there's plenty of time to look up and take it all in.

Another massive benefit of this tour is the accommodation. You'll cruise on either the MV Vivienne or the MV Lisabelle. They are two similar riverboats; both elegant, with floor-to-ceiling windows so you never miss the views. Both feature a spacious lounge, a restaurant serving delicious food, and a sundeck for resting weary legs - we had plenty of fun and relaxing hours on board in between our daily rides.

Each day on board starts with a generous breakfast buffet. Cyclists get a packed lunch, although if you'd rather stay on board, there's a light meal option. After a day of riding and exploring, evenings bring meals drawing on the national cuisines of the countries you're passing through, and time to wind down with board games and a drink.

When I cycled this tour, food included kaiserschmarrn (a lightly sweetened pancake) in Austria, and schnitzel with spätzle (egg noodles, typically served as a side) in Germany. The combination of food, the boat, the Danube and the cycling make this such a brilliant tour, and I couldn't recommend it more if you're passionate about boats and water.

"The whole cruise was exceptionally well planned, organised and we were looked after by a great crew. The cruise director has been running this tour forever and provided great advice and support. The crew who loaded, unloaded and charged the bikes every day were brilliant, as were all the cheerful support service team. We loved the many quiet picturesque stretches of the Danube and the cycle track was invariably of the highest quality. Top tip: Take your time and enjoy every moment of the rides." - Chris Nelson

If one of these three tours sounds like your next cycling adventure, you can book your spot online now. Alternatively, if you would like some advice from our friendly team, enquire online or call us on +44 (0) 1273 224066.

There's only a limited number of cabins on a Boat & Bike tour, so I'd recommend booking sooner rather than later.

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