2-Country 7-River route - 9 dagen

DUTCH BIKETOURS - EMAIL: [email protected] - TELEPHONE +31 (0)24 3244712 - WWW.DUTCH-BIKETOURS.COM 2-Country 7-River route 9 days, € 650

Introduction

The water in the rivers slowly flows past…. An (international) bike ride along rivers, from wide to narrow, rippling through a wide variety of beautiful landscapes, including the National Park. This gives you as a cyclist a wonderful feeling of peace. The busy shipping traffic on the Maas and Rhine adds an extra dimension to this.

Day to Day

Day 1 Arrival in Venlo Travel on your own to Bilderberg Hotel De Bovenste Molen **** in Venlo; at the beautifully situated hotel on the edge of Venlo,

there is ample free parking.

Day 2 Venlo – Herten 50 km Follow the numbered cycling route through the quiet suburbs of Venlo and past the station to the Maas; From here, follow the Maas route in a southerly direction on the right bank of the Maas. At the Monastery village of Steyl, cross the Maas with the ferry and continue the Maas route via the castle village of Baarlo to the characteristic Maas village of Kessel. Here cross again the Maas with the ferry and then continue the Maas route via the Drakendorp Beesel to Roermond. From the center of Roermond it is still a few water-rich kilometers to the town of Herten.

Day 3 Herten – Düren 79 km Follow the beautiful (numbered) cycling route through the valley of the Roer, via Sint Odiliënberg and Vlodrop, to the border with . Near the village of Effeld, you will arrive on the RoerOever cycle path. The cycle path, partly gravel, meanders through the beautiful landscape and past idyllic villages. The town of Jülich is special, with the historic Citadel and the beautifully landscaped Brückenkopf Park. In Germany, enjoy tasty drinks / snacks on the many terraces along the route, which are called beer garden here!

If it is a rainy day, it is possible to view part of the route from the train (Rurtalbahn).

Day 4 Düren – Kall 69 km Today a super route; the further south, the more scenic beauty! (Eifel National Park). And that interspersed with picturesque villages, including high on a rock with an ancient castle and the town of , also known for it's castle. Beyond Heimbach, a short but challenging climb takes you to the Schwammenauel dam, followed by a 45-minute cruise on the Rursee (included in the price). From Rurberg the route continues on the Urft-Radweg, first a bit along the lake, where you can visit the Ordensburg Vogelsang. Further upstream are the Eifel villages Gemünd and Kall.

If it is a rainy day, it is possible to do part of the route by train (Rurtalbahn).

2-Country 7-River route - 9 dagen

Day 5 Kall – Altenahr 68 km The route continues through the picturesque Eifel landscape towards the Rhine. After another short part with "false flat" along the river Urft, the town of Blankenheim is reached. Besides a beautiful medieval castle and many half-timbered houses, here is also the source of the Ahr river. And that means, always downhill on the "steel steed" through the valley of the Ahr. Sometimes between high rising hills, then again through a wide valley. When approaching Altenahr, the first vineyards appear on the southern slopes! Cheers!

Day 6 Altenahr – Bad Godesberg 50 km Another 25 km paddle through the Ahr valley, on cycle paths along the vineyards and through characteristic wine towns such as Mayschoss, Dernau and Ahrweiler. Past Bad Neuenahr, a well-known spa town, the cycle tour along the Ahr ends in Sinzig with the

centuries-old Sankt-Petrus church (1225) as the eye-catcher. Then cycle on the Rhein-Radweg (EuroVelo 15) to the luxurious overnight stop of Bad Godesberg.

Day 7 Bad Godesberg – Monheim am Rhein 67 km Once again you can fully enjoy the Rhine today with the busy shipping traffic. There is also a possibility for a bit of sailing, e.g. from Bonn to Cologne. But it will be difficult to choose, with cities like Bonn (the former Bundeshauptstadt and Beethoven's hometown) and Cologne (Cologne Cathedral) en route. Today it leads partly on the right bank of the Rhine (“right Rhine”) and these are also

nice “back and forth” boat trips with the Fähre (ferry). The finish today is also on the right bank of the Rhine, in Monheim am Rhein (a few kilometers south of Düsseldorf). Should it heavily rain today, it is possible to view part of the route from the train (e.g. from Bonn to Cologne).

Day 8 Monheim am Rhein – Krefeld 54 km Today the last beautiful kilometers along the Rhine, both right-Rhine and left-Rhine. A visit to Düsseldorf, and the possibility of a

bike ride on the world famous Königsallee, is one of the highlights of this cycling holiday.

Day 9 Krefeld – Venlo 42 km Before arriving in Venlo, you still have over 40 very nice kilometers ahead of you. The bike ride along the river Niers is a good example of the impressive landscape in the Niederrhein region. The cycle path on the route of a former local railway line (the BahnRadweg) is also a unique cycling experience. And if desired, we have an extra ten kilometers in store for the diehards, and a

detour from Grefrath can be made to the monumental town of Wachtendonk. The very last beautiful kilometers then lead through a beautiful nature reserve (Naturpark Schwalm-Nette) to the finish line in the Jammerdal, which name has a double meaning here: unfortunately, end of cycling holiday! ('Jammer' is Dutch for 'unfortunately'.)

Prices, Data, Booking

Price pp € Double room, breakfast 650.00 Single room, breakfast 910.00 Dinner 220.00 Extra night, breakfast only 65.00 Rental bike € Hybrid 135.00 E-bike 180.00 Extra services € Bike theft insurance € 3.00 x 8 24.00 E-bike theft insurance € 6.00 x 8 48.00 Bike helmet per piece 12.50 SGR per piece 5.00 2-Country 7-River route - 9 dagen

Practical Info

8 Nights included

3/4 Star Hotels

Breakfast included, Halfboard optional

Detailed roadbooks with maps and tourist information

The possibility of renting our bikes

7-days a week service-hotline

Luggage transport to your next hotel

Venlo CS

Parking possibilities at the hotel

GPS-tracks availible

Boat trip on the Rursee is included

Any other ferry crossings are not included