Adventourus Active Vacations

7 day semi-escorted luxury barge cruise, cycling & walking tour

   A beautiful cycling and walking tour is our Route Ravel from Maastricht (Holland) to Givet (France), encompassing three countries: the Netherlands, Belgium and France. You cruise on the River Maas through the historic cities of Liege, Namur, Dinand, Givet, Riviere, and Huy.

    A day that you don’t want to bicycle? Or walk? Then stay on board and sail away with the luxurious Miro and enjoy the ever-changing and picturesque landscape.

    Upon your arrival in Maastricht, you’re expected at the Pietersplas yacht harbour before13.00 (the harbour has video surveillance and reserved parking places) with boarding starting at noon. Once on board, we’re pleased to offer you a welcome aperitif and let you know a little bit more about the planned tour. The bikes are handed out and will be personally adjusted for your biking comfort. We set sail with the MIRO towards Liege, via the locks of Lanaye. With their 18 meter drop, these are the highest locks in the Maas and it makes for a pretty impressive event. Upon arrival in historical centre of Liege, we’ll dock at the aquarium museum Du Liege. Dinner will be served in Liege and in the evening there will be ample time to visit the lovely city highlights – the captain will be happy to take you to the renowned Café Chantant Le Jardin des Olliviette, where the music of the region and the famous French “chansons” create a wonderfully unique atmosphere.

    We’ll begin the day early with a hearty Captain’s breakfast, after which you’ll be more than fortified for a visit to the famous Sunday market La Batte, Belgium’s oldest market. The Miro will then set sail for Namur via the Route-Ravel, along the mighty steel mills that underline the industrial importance of the Maas.  The route is ever-changing: wild, wooded glens and cultivated areas all compete for your attention alongside the winding river. We’ll also see many an ancient castle, straight out of a fairytale. Above the d’Ampsin-Neuville locks you’ll disembark once more and take a bike ride to Namur, a rich old city and also the capital of Wallonia, situated on the junction of the Sambre and the Maas rivers. In the evening hours you’ll visit the enchanting castle of Namur and wonder at the sights of this lovely city. And you’ll fall asleep under the romantic canopy of lights that illuminate the imposing walls of the Chateau Namur.

Day 3: Bike tour to Dinant (29 km)

    The bike route takes you from the Maasdal, or Maas Valley, to Namur and then  to Dinant. On the left riverbank you can admire the strawberry town of Weppion, while on the other riverbank you’ll have a great views of Profondeville en Riviere with it’s fabulous vantage point ‘Sept Meuse’, which offers a breathtaking view over seven Maas valleys on the right bank. The route travels along the typical Maas-style village Dave-Frenes en Godinne with its beautiful 17th century Spanish manor house called Yvoir and the lovely abbey-brewery of Leffe. Small, welcoming villages where the delights of Belgian beer await, surround you on your sailing adventure. Shortly before Dinant you can wonder at the old fortresses of Poilvache to your right and Crèvecoeur to your left, directly opposite each other and each guarding its own riverbank. Today you’ll also be rewarded by the gorgeous natural beauty of the region. The Miro will be waiting for you again in the centre of the picturesque city of Dinant.

    The valley disappears after Dinant, and the villages get sparser and the cliffs more steep. They give this landscape a wild and untouched flavour. On the right bank you’ll pass Anseremme. Here you can tour the Lesse by canoe, and then via the locks to the Château of Freyr, also known as little Versailles on the Maas. We cross over via a ferryboat in Waulsort towards Hastière. (25 km)
    Here you can visit the old Roman abbey church, before continuing on to Givet, a city known as the port of France. The return route is an alternative to the one just taken. On the fourth day you’re welcome to rest or you can also take a short bike ride through the lovely scenery surrounding Dinant. After dinner there is a romantic evening cruise planned to Riviere. This is also where we’ll spend the night, in a quiet place alongside the picturesque banks of the river. If you’ve still got any energy reserves, the skipper will be happy to take you for a lovely walk to see the charming windmills or the renowned Sept Meuse.

    During your breakfast the MIRO will be sailing through gorgeous mountain scenery to La Plante. And from La Plante we’ll take a bike tour via Marche-les-Dames (the place where in 1934 the Belgian King and mountaineer Albert I met his death while climbing the steep cliffs) to Huy. Here we’ll dock at the beautiful  city piers for the night. Huy is a lovely peaceful city with windy streets and alleys and an ancient tradition in metal work. The golden treasure of the Cathedral Notre Dame is unique, crafted by goldsmith Godefried von Huy in the 13th century. The Citadel allows unforgettably breathtaking views of the plateau of Sarte.

    While enjoying yet another sumptuous breakfast, we’ll already be sailing towards the sun to Liege, where we’ll begin a bike tour of harboursides and iron works. Via the country towns of Monsin and Visé, we’ll cross the border and bike past gorgeous apple orchards to Castle Eijsden, and then through lovely Limburg country to Maastricht. We’ll be sure to stop at the famous Mergel Caves for your sightseeing pleasure.

    We’ll end the day with a delicious captain’s dinner if you like, or you’re welcome to take the Harbour taxi to the delightful city of Maastricht where it is also possible to take a tour of this magnificent part of the Netherlands. And for those who enjoy a spot of shopping, all shops are open till 21.00 on Thursday evenings.

    After breakfast your cycling tour comes to an end, you disembark at 10.00 am, and you may begin your journey home. We would also be more than happy to extend your stay in Europe.

PRICE & DETAILS

- Welcome drink

- 6 nights including buffet breakfast and packed lunch on board the 5***** Hotel Yacht Miro

- 6x afternoon tea

- Luxurious comfort class cabin, with bathroom, satellite TV, air-conditioning, safe, central heating

- Towels, linen and maid service

- bike rental of first-class Gazelle Chamonix electro-bikes with 2 saddle bags, extra long step-in, 8-speeds, bike computer, rain poncho, repair materials, a double safety lock and bike helmet, reinforced tires etc.

- full bicycle insurance

- biking and walking maps, route descriptions and travel information for your use and convenience

- multilingual crew on board to provide assistance and advice on the days touring

NOT INCLUDED

- local harbour and lock taxes of 98€ pp, must be paid in cash onboard to the captain

- staff gratuities

- bar drinks

- optional extra night aboard ship pre/post tour

Logding

MS Miro 5*****: The Miro has 6 luxuriously appointed 2-person comfort class cabins, finished in the finest cherry wood, each containing a separate bathroom with shower, toilet and so forth. There is a cosy seating area, satellite colour TV, a safe, 220 volt electricity network, fax, telephone.

The yacht is also equipped with internet access, as well as heating for those cooler nights and air-conditioning for warm summer days.

The interior reflects the luxurious style and decadence of the 1920's, though was totally refitted in 2006. The spacious salon with open fireplace and fully-equipped bar has expansive windows allowing panoramic views.

The yacht also has a protectec back deck area, to keep stiff sea breezes at bay, as well as roomy stairwells and wide gangplanks. A fabulous sunning area with ample seating completes the picture.

EASY TO MODERATE: The total length of the cycling route is about 175 km. The total length by boat is around 170 km. Almost all bike paths are level and well-lit, but alternative routes and local roads are also a possibility.

These are lovely bike routes along the well-signposted bike route Ravel. Suitable for all levels of cyclist.

   The best flight options are into Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport and out of Paris. There are highspeed trains from the terminal to Maastricht every hour, at a cost of approx. 25€. The voyage takes approx. 2h30.

  If required, a return train from Paris to Amsterdam takes 3h30, at a cost of approx. 60€. Taxis to/from Maastricht station cost approx 12€.