Holland and Tulips – an Easter Trip

SUMMARY

Date: 5 nights and 6 days.

Guide: Eva and Sarah your local guides – one will walk with you each day.

Walking Grade: Goat Level 1 – walks will be up to 14km/8.6 miles. This is longer than the usual Goat 1 but we have graded this holiday Goat 1  because it is very flat and at a steady pace. We also have a mini bus with us and can shorten walks – or you can just do the culture part if you so wish. This holiday is to walk to discover the varied landscape of Holland whilst also spending time visiting some cultural attractions.

Highlights: wide variety of walks and landscapes, tulips in bloom,birdlife, hiking on quintessential Dutch heritage sites, boutique hotels to end your day, great Dutch food.

We can also help get tickets for the Anne Frank Museum in Amsterdam, the Van Gogh museums as well as the Keukenhof Tulip Gardens for anyone who would like to see them whilst in Holland.

Or you can book tickets directly with the Anne Frank House Anne Frank House tickets

Base: We stay at different small hotels as we travel from Amsterdam to the Veluwe Forest, Tulip fields and back to Amsterdam.

Arrivals: We suggest arriving into Amsterdam by 14.00ish on Tuesday. We recommend train travel from London or the ferry. 

For those flying you arrive into Amsterdam Schiphol and take the short trip by train to your hotel.

The boat journey is a fun way to travel from England and there are ferries from Harwich , Hull and Newcastle . You can check out fares here  Ferry Travel

Departures: From Amsterdam on Sunday before the Easter rush – we suggest travelling after 14.00 to give you a morning for free time to explore more of Amsterdam. We can help with any extensions to your trip.

Price: £2,100 per person solo occupancy or £1900 per person if you bring a friend/partner and are sharing a room.

Included:

• Solo occupancy en-suite room in boutique hotels
• All meals – breakfast , packed lunches whilst walking, evening meals
• All transport by minivan(s) during your trip
• Local female, English speaking guides
• All Water, snacks, fruits, and soft drinks on tour days
• All entrance tickets and/or activity rentals for the itinerary during the trip

Not included:

• Souvenirs, personal purchases
• Any meals not specifically mentioned above, alcoholic beverages
•  Any tickets/rentals not specifically mentioned above in the included list

DETAILS

This trip is a special small group tour to show you the best sights and excursions in Holland, often off the beaten track.

We have chosen an Easter trip in April so you can experience the Tulips in bloom.

For such a small country, the landscape is extremely diverse. From high sand dunes along the coast to the ancient woods of the Veluwe, from moors and hills formed in the ice age to grassland, rivers, and canals in the lowlands. And where else in the world can you hike on the bottom of the ocean?

You will visit the capital city of Amsterdam, the inland lowlands, the sea as well as a variety of cultural heritage sights along the way. You are sure to try some cheese, see a windmill and by the end will surely be in love with this country!

ITINERARY

The itinerary is to give an example and may change depending on weather, tides and at the discretion of our guides. You will be briefed each day by your guide so you always know of any changes.

Day 1
• Arrival and free afternoon in Amsterdam
• Welcome dinner.
• Overnight in Amsterdam

Day 2
• Hike in the green heart of Holland. This 14km hike goes past windmills and castles, through villages, forests and open grassland. We visit Castle de Haar in the afternoon. This middle aged castle, restored by Baron Etienne in 1890, is the biggest and most beautiful castle of the Netherlands!

Transfer by mini bus to Veluwe forest for dinner together at our hotel.

Overnight Veluwe forest.

Day 3
In the morning we hike 12 km in National Park Hoge Veluwe, looking for Red Deer and wild boar. This ancient area combines open moors with heather and deep dark woods. After lunch we visit the Kröller-Müller Museum (with the second largest collection of Van Gogh in the world)

Overnight Veluwe Forest

Day 4
We head north and will do a 13 km hike in Sallandse Heuvelrug around the Holterberg. This hilly landscape was formed in the ice age and provides beautiful views. We will visit Giethoorn, “ the Venice of the North” in the afternoon. This small village with its thatched roofed farms, no roads and a hundred bridges is best viewed from the water.

Overnight in Schagen

Day 5

This day is all about tulips. Did you know that tulip season is really short. the best time to see the fields in bloom is mid to late April.

We will start with visit to a tulip experience where we learn about the history of tulip farming and will see all the different stages of farming and growing, and enjoy the famous Dutch apple pie with coffee. We will then continue to visit one of the tulip gardens in the area, hundreds of varieties displaying their vibrant colours! After a delicious lunch we will do a beautiful hike through one of the biggest tulip areas in the Netherlands, these are the real fields, offering many photo opportunities and a new sea of colour around every corner!”

To note: this trip is to see Tulips but not the more well known Tulip garden of Keukenhof. This can be arranged before or after the organised tour if you are keen to visit.

Overnight in Schagen

Day 6
• Early morning departure to Amsterdam/ day in Amsterdam if you have time. We can help organise excursions.