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»» Starting in Brugge, Belgium & ending in Amsterdam (Netherlands)

Dates; Tuesday 29th June to Friday 9th July - 2021

Aimed at the active Traveller, this tour combines two ideal ways of exploring Europe - cycling & canal

barge cruising. Escorted by Bruno & Christine Corletto, this itinerary sees us cruising from Brugge

(Belgium) to Amsterdam (Netherlands) via the historic canal system & waterways through traditional

Flemish & Dutch landscapes including pretty villages, canal-locks, dikes, windmills & majestic river cities

with interesting encounters at every bend.

Enjoy 10 nights onboard our “floating hotel” the Quo Vadis which will dock every night in charming canal-

ringed medieval towns & river cities – unpack once in your comfortable en-suited cabin & delight in the

homely facilities & personable services provided by our wonderful crew.

Each day you can choose to do the easy optional cycling guided excursions along tow paths, cycle ways &

village streets or spend leisurely days in the lounge or on deck enjoying the beautiful scenery &

countryside pass by.

This itinerary also provides a special opportunity to visit some of the iconic WW1 battle-sites to learn

more about & honour those who served on the Western Front.

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

Enjoy the company of your fellow travellers & crew onboard the very comfortable Quo Vadis Barge boat, a

beautiful & classic Canal Barge exclusively booked for Bishops Adventures.

Unpack once & return to your “Floating Hotel” each day to relax over a refreshment in the lounge or

sundeck before savouring a delicious 3 course meal prepared by our own onboard chef.

Overnight tie-ups in interesting and typical Flemish & Dutch medieval towns, villages & river port- cities

allowing leisurely evening walks or cycles into town after most of the day trippers have gone.

Guided bike excursions along mostly flat paths & trails enjoying charming towns & peaceful countryside.

Experience Belgium’s enchanting port-city of Brugge, one of Europe’s best-preserved medieval gems

known as “Venice of the North” & enjoy exploring cobbled alleyways & picture-perfect squares & canals.

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Day tour to Villers-Bretonneux WW1 Military Cemetery in France with an accredited English- speaking

Battlefield Guide. Visit the recently opened Sir John Monash Centre & be moved by the words & actions

of our Australian Troops.

Day tour to the Somme & experience Western Front battlefields in “Flanders Fields” where our Aussie

troops served including the symbolic Menin Gate in Ypres to join the stirring evening Last Post ceremony.

Enjoy stays in the classic Flemish port-cities of Ghent & Antwerp on the Leie & Scheldt Rivers.

Discover South Holland’s fascinating “Dutch Delta” region, a network of ingenious locks & dykes designed

to protect low-lying towns & cities from the sea including stops in charming Dordrecht & Willemstad.

Visit UNESCO declared “Kinderdijk” & see the impressive row of 19 windmills built in the 18th century.

Soak up the storybook charm of the famous cheese & canal-ringed town of Gouda & her many highlights.

Cruise into lively Amsterdam & time to enjoy some of the famous sites of this unique & fascinating city.

CANAL BARGE (QUO VADIS) FACILITIES

Our home for this tour is a beautifully refurbished canal barge ‘Quo Vadis’ with comfortable air-conditioned

twin bed en-suited cabins (with porthole) for a maximum of 22 passengers plus crew. Exclusively booked for

our Bishops Adventures Tour, the Quo Vadis has spacious lounge/dining areas, saloon bar and outside sundeck.

Meals are beautifully prepared and presented and the bar is well stocked and prices very reasonable. Wi-fi

is free but limited. The vessel is skippered by the owner who involves himself with his passengers and ensures

that everything is “ship shape”. Because the barge is small with a retractable wheelhouse it can access some

of the narrower canals and waterways fitting under lower bridges that other larger operators can’t do.

Welcome aboard our ‘floating hotel’ the Quo Vadis Enjoy the view from the sun-deck

CYCLING

Cycle touring is a major part of this itinerary and is the best way to really experience and enjoy the flat

lowland regions we will travel through. These organised guided-rides will interest leisure riders and cycling

enthusiasts alike and are varied passing through farmlands, forests, pretty villages and towns, alongside

canals, rivers and on levy banks lined with windmills etc.

Each evening our on-board Bike Guide will provide a briefing on the next day’s ride and as you will notice in

the proposed itinerary on the next page, will offer on most days either a longer or shorter ride on a majority

rules basis or subject to weather conditions. The rides are classified as easy-moderate and will average out

at between 40-50klms per day however this is mostly along flat tow paths, cycle ways and village streets.

Daily cycling itineraries are leisurely with ample time for coffee or beer breaks allowing us to truly soak up

the experiences along the way, just like a local. There is also a limited supply of e-bikes (electric pedal-

bikes) available onboard at an additional cost should you prefer. Each bike is equipped with a weatherproof

bag, water bottle and holder, security lock and helmets will be provided.

Of course, you can opt out from riding & simply spend leisurely days cruising comfortably onboard enjoying

the scenery & admiring how well the Quo Vadis negotiates the fascinating waterways, locks & drawbridges.

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PROPOSED ITINERARY (NB; Please note that the following itinerary is subject to change due to unforeseen

circumstances, including, but not limited to, weather, last minute mooring changes & operational issues that may arise

with the locks or bridges etc on route. This is an adventure tour after all. All cycling distances are approximate.)

DAY 1: Tue 29th June Arrive Brugge & Check-in to “Quo Vadis” Barge Boat (D) Individual arrival in Brugge, Belgium. The MS Quo Vadis awaits you in Brugge just outside the historic centre close to the railway station. Embarkation and check-in will be between 3:00pm-5:00pm where Bruno, Christine and our friendly barge crew will meet and settle you in. Your bike will then be assigned to you and adjusted accordingly as you take it for a test-ride. Enjoy pre-dinner drinks and dinner on board before taking a guided walk through Brugge’s magical UNESCO World Heritage medieval quarter lined with charming cobblestoned alleyways. Brugge is one of the most beautiful of all Flemish cities comprising some of Europe’s most well-preserved medieval formations therefore we suggest you plan to arrive a day or two early to allow enough time to let her charm wash over you. Brugge will capture your heart - straight out of a painting it is known as the “Venice of the North”. Its pretty cobbled streets and network of canals are overflowing with charm - medieval church spires are nestled amongst its famous chocolate shops and atmospheric bars serving world renown Belgium beer.

DAY 2: Wed 30th June Round trip around Brugge to the North Sea (Cycle approx. 55 klms) (B,L,D)

Your first day of cycling will take you around the outskirts of Brugge then along a peaceful canal-side path to the

pretty village of Damme then beyond to the seaside resort of Blankenberge. Enjoy a relaxing break at one of

the beach cafés or cool down with a swim in the North Sea before cycling back to Brugge and the Quo Vadis.

The non-cyclists today can enjoy discovering more of Brugge’s fascinating corners and highlights.

DAY 3: Thurs 1st July Bruges – Machelen – Kortrijk on the Leie River (Cycle approx. 40 klms) (B,L,D)

During breakfast the barge will sail to Moerbrugge along the Ghent – Oostende canal. Here we start cycling

through the beautiful Flemish countryside and stop to see some well-preserved WWII German bunkers built to

guard this strategic waterway. After several hours we re-join the barge in Machelen on the Leie River before

sailing southbound to our overnight mooring in the delightful town of Kortrijk located only 7 klms from France.

DAY 4: Fri 2nd July Day Tour to Ypres & Menin Gate – Return to Kortrijk (Cycle up to 40 klms) (B,L)

Today a coach has been arranged to take us and our bikes, to the nearby Western Flanders town of Ypres (pron.

E-PER in Dutch), located 30klms from Kortrijk. Ypres was on the frontline during WWI and virtually completely

destroyed after 4 major battles. This impressive town was a major Flemish textile centre and has been rebuilt to

recapture its original charm. Today many points of interest, historical buildings and monuments can be enjoyed

here including the striking Cloth Hall located on the market square in the town centre, a medieval commercial

building, once one of the largest markets and cloth industry warehouses of the Middle Ages. On the second

floor of the Cloth Hall visit the “In Flanders Fields” an excellent museum dedicated to the study of WW1.

But of course, the biggest treasures are the monuments of the more than 170 war cemeteries around Ypres,

mostly of soldiers from the British Commonwealth. For the cyclist we follow the Ypres Salient North and East

stopping at the Yorkshire Trench and dug-out, Langemark German Cemetery, the New Zealand Forces Memorial,

Hill 60 (Australian Tunnelling Company), the Tyne Cot Cemetery, Passchendaele, Polygon Woods and other sites

where ANZAC troops served. Late afternoon we return to Ypres and the famous Menin Gate, so named because

here the road out of Ypres passed through the town’s old wall defences. During the war the two imposing stone

lions standing on each side of the Menin Gate were seen by tens of thousands of troops as they marched towards

the front line. The gate, beyond which these men’s fates lay, became highly symbolic and records the names of

55,000 British and Empire troops “missing” in France and Belgium including 6,000 Australians with no known

grave. After dinner in Ypres (at own arrangement and cost), we will gather at the Menin Gate for the 8pm Last

Post ceremony which has taken place every night since 1928 (except during the German occupation of WW11)

to honour all fallen soldiers. Afterwards the bus will take us back to the Quo Vadis where it is tied-up in Kortrijk.

A typical cycling day along flat & pretty canal tow-paths

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DAY 5: Sat 3rd July Day Tour to WW1 Battlefields in the Somme, France (Kortrijk – Ghent) (B,L,D) After breakfast at 8.00am we board our luxury coach (don’t forget your passports today) and meet our Battlefield Guide for a special and memorable exclusive tour to see the places where our Aussie troops saw service on the WW1 Western Front battlefields in the Somme, France. Today you can take your usual included packed lunch or for something different purchase at the lunch-stop (at your own cost).

Along the way we will include a stop at Pozieres, where the AIF were first engaged in the Somme battle, where from the highest point in the battlefield we will gain an overview of the campaign that lasted from July to November 1916. We then travel to Thiepval, now the site of the largest and best-known memorial to the missing of the Somme and its scale and location is truly remarkable and evocative. From here we visit the moving Villers-Bretonneux military cemetery, memorial and the recently opened state of the art Sir John Monash Centre which tells Australia’s story of the Western Front in the words of those who served.

There will also be time to visit the Villers-Bretonneux School House Museum (rebuilt after WWI thanks to the fundraising efforts of Victorian School children) famous for the sign “Do Not Forget Australia”. On our return journey we will stop at Le Hamel, a spectacular hilltop site that saw an important and impressive Australian victory under the command of Lieutenant General John Monash (his first as the AIF corps commander) and led eventually to the end of the war. After a long and special day, we are taken back to the Quo Vadis that has re-located during the day to Ghent in Belgium. After dinner, for those with energy to spare, we can take a stroll into the historical centre of Ghent to enjoy the quaint alleys and pretty canals which is particularly magical in the late evening when all the day trippers have gone

DAY 6: Sun 4th July Ghent – Dendermonde – St. Amands (Cycle approx. 45 klms) (B,L,D)

After breakfast we get back on the bikes and ride through diverse and panoramic landscapes to Dendermonde

at the mouth of the Dender River where it flows into the River Schelde. For its size, Dendermonde packs a big

punch with many outstanding World Heritage medieval buildings thanks to a thriving cloth industry through the

middle ages which led to the building of the impressive City Hall, Belfry & Cloth Hall centred around its stately

market square Grote Market, a perfect place for a coffee break. Back on the barge we cruise along one of the

most beautiful and winding parts of the route along the River Schelde to tranquil St. Amands for the night.

DAY 7: Mon 5th July St Amands – Temse – Antwerp (Cycle approx. 40 klms) B,L,D)

The cycle route today takes us along the Schelde’s interesting floodplain dikes and lakes to Temse Bridge, then

deep into peaceful Flemish countryside via Rupelmonde and Hemiksem before arriving at the lively harbour city

of Antwerp. Known not only for being Belgium's first port, Antwerp is also called the “Diamond City” - famous

for handling up to 80% of the world's rough diamonds. It is also the birthplace of the famous 16th century painter

Rubens considered the most influential of all the Flemish artists. After dinner you can catch a cab into the city

centre to visit the fascinating alleys & historic Renaissance buildings surrounding the gorgeous City Square

‘Grote’ Market. Overnight in Antwerp.

DAY 8: Tue 6th July Antwerp – Tholen – Willemstad – Dordrecht (Cycle approx. 40 klms) (B,L,D)

This morning we enjoy a sailing breakfast as the Quo Vadis crosses the Dutch border via the Schelde-Rhine Canal

then negotiates the impressive Kreekrak lock system. From here the cyclists head for Tholen, a former fishing

village in the province of Zeeland, the Netherlands westernmost and least populous province. We cycle along pretty

delta flats to the splendid fortified town of Willemstad passing along the grand Volkerak lock system. Here the

riders reboard the barge as we sail to Dordrecht, or Dort as it is known, one of the oldest cities in Holland with an

attractive and relaxed historic centre. Overnight in Dordrecht.

Last Post ceremony – Menin Gate, Ypres Villers-Bretonneux WW1 Military Cemetery

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DAY 9: Wed 7th July Dordrecht – Gouda (Cycle approx. 40klms) (B,L,D)

Today the cyclists start the day with a fast ferry “waterbus” ride to Alblasserdam, a large polder (low-lying tracts

of reclaimed land enclosed by levee embankments) bordered by wide rivers on all sides. Here, water

management has always been crucial with many canals dug and windmills constructed. A short ride brings us to

Kinderdijk where 19 historic UNESCO World Heritage listed windmills remain, creating a picturesque and

quintessential Dutch landscape. After visiting a working windmill, we cycle via an inland path to a cheese farm

before arriving in Gouda, famous for cheese, its fabulous 15th century city hall and the historic cheese weighing

station and museum.

DAY 10: Thu 8th July Gouda – Alphen – Amsterdam (Cycle approx. 35 klms) (B,L,D)

During breakfast the Quo Vadis sails to Alphen aan de Rijn on the banks of the Old Rhine in the heart of the

“Green Belt”. From here the cyclists ride alongside the River Amstel to Ouderkerk where we reboard the barge

for an impressive journey through the old Amsterdam canals as we sail into Amsterdam’s magnificent harbour

where we tie-up. Tonight, we enjoy a special dinner onboard the Quo Vadis for our last night together. Later we

can enjoy a walk into Amsterdam’s lovely canal-ringed historic quarter a short distance from the harbour.

Day 11: Fri 9th July Departure in Amsterdam. (B)

Your tour officially ends at 9:00am after breakfast. Disembark for own arrangements for ongoing travel.

TOUR PRICE: $5,290 per person, twin share (booking & cancelation conditions apply) NB: Please note that as there are no single berth cabins on this vessel, this tour cannot cater for single travellers.

INCLUSIONS:

✓ 11 days / 10 nights on board the Quo Vadis ✓ Twin-bed cabins for 2 people with private shower, toilet, air-conditioning and central heating ✓ Full board (10 x breakfasts, 9 x self-packed lunches, 9 x 3 course dinners) except for dinner on Day 4 ✓ Daily cabin cleaning ✓ Free WIFI on board (but limited) ✓ 8-speed bike rental with helmet, removal bike bag and security lock ✓ Complimentary water bottle ✓ On-board English-speaking Bike Tour Guide and daily cycling briefings ✓ Coffee, tea, hot chocolate and water ✓ Battlefield Day Tour (Villers-Bretonneux) including the services of an accredited English-speaking Guide ✓ Coach transfer to/from Ypres including ticket for the WW1 Memorial Museum ✓ All ferry fares on route ✓ Visit to a working windmill (Kinderdijk) ✓ Belgium Beer Tasting experience ✓ Tour escorted by Bruno & Christine Corletto ✓ Tour Information Pack

NOT INCLUDED:

Beverages

Dinner on Day 4 in Ypres (at own arrangement)

Entrance fees to optional attractions (museums, galleries etc) not listed in the inclusions above

Electric e-bike supplement at a cost of approximately 15 Euros per day (limited number available)

Bike protection (please check that your Travel Insurance covers this in case of theft or damage)

Special diets

Gratuities

CONTACT: BISHOPS ADVENTURES

Phone: 0428 244 229 (Office) or 0422 045 042 (Christine) or 0409 950 362 (Bruno)

Address: PO Box 8, Shoalhaven Heads, NSW, 2535

Email: bishopsadventures@bigpond.com Web: www.bishopsadventures.com.au

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Tour Route Map

All the comforts of home onboard the Quo Vadis Spacious & comfy twin-bed cabins with private en-suite