Hotel Barges and Biking
The beauty of a hotel barge cruise with European Waterways is that it can be as active – or as relaxing – as the guest wishes to make it. When some pictures the ideal afternoon on board, they see themselves sitting out on the deck in the sunshine, watching the scenery drift by with a glass of chilled wine in hand. Others, however, get twitchy sitting still for too long. For the latter, we have an excellent solution: our barging and biking schemes.
Bikes Aboard - All of our hotel barges carry bicycles and bike helmets, which are available for anyone to use. During your cruise, all you have to do is ask a member of the crew to moor up or let you off at the next lock; then you can pedal along down the towpath and join the barge again at the next lock or village. It’s a great way for the livelier members of the group to get out, stretch their legs and see the canal or river from a different perspective.
"Biking Plus"
For those passengers who would like to be a little more adventurous, a number of our hotel barges now offer a “Biking Plus” option, as follows:
- Whilst others are relaxing on deck, or maybe enjoying a stroll, you can take a bike on most days and follow an interesting, but not too challenging route which we will have already carefully researched.
- You will be given clearly marked maps for each round trip route and a backpack with everything you might need so that, for an hour or two, you can explore the surrounding countryside and villages along the lanes, towpaths and byways.
- If you get stuck or lost, a crew member will come to fetch you. Otherwise, you can just rejoin the hotel barge where you left her – or maybe a little further along the canal.
- The hotel barge itinerary is arranged so that you won’t miss any of the organised excursions or much of the cruising, but you will have seen a little more of the people & places around you – and done yourself some good at the same time!
Bike helmets are provided and our reservations team can advise you on the biking opportunities for each itinerary.
If the idea of a little pedalling appeals, our reservations team can advise you on the biking opportunities for each cruise itinerary.
If the idea of a little pedalling appeals, our reservations team can advise you on the biking opportunities for each cruise itinerary.
Bike helmets are provided and our reservations team can advise you on the biking opportunities for each itinerary.
“Biking Plus” is available aboard Anjodi, Enchanté, Finesse, L’Art de Vivre, La Belle Epoque, L’Impressionniste, Renaissance & Panache.
