Boat Bike Tours Opens N. American Office

Credit: Boat Bike Tours

(Press Release) FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Leading European cruise-and-cycle tour operator Boat Bike Tours has opened a sales office in Fairfield, Connecticut, to meet growing demand for active travel experiences among North Americans. The company has also merged with Croatia-based Islandhopping and now offers more than 70 itineraries across 15 countries. Based in Amsterdam, Boat Bike Tours is known for its deeper, more active spin on exploring the continent by barge, motor yacht, sailing ship and bike. For more information, visit https://www.boatbiketours.com/.

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“When it comes to what we do, our name says it all – we blend the comfort of cruising aboard small ships with adventures by bike,” said CEO Laurens Winkel. “With Boat Bike Tours, trips are inland on rivers and canals, while Islandhopping is on saltwater. And with bikes, the experience isn’t like a regular European cruise. Rather than using a tour bus for excursions to popular sites in bigger cities, we’re able to ride out through the countryside, to towns and villages, taking time to enjoy the local people, culture and nature found along the way.”

While new to North America, Boat Bike Tours is not new to boating or biking.

The company got its start when Channel Cruises Holland, a barge tour operator founded in 1977, added biking to its itineraries in response to guests asking for traditional Dutch activities. The new cruise-and-cycle concept was so successful that it was spun off into its own brand in the mid-1990s. Between 2000 and 2020, the company grew, adding more itineraries and ships, and last year it merged with Islandhopping, which also specializes in cruise-and-cycle travel.

Today, Boat Bike Tours offers a variety of experiences from Europe’s west coast to the Mediterranean.

Its fleet of 50 unique ships includes barges, motor yachts and sailing ships, ranging from comfortable to superior. Biking styles include guided for casual riders and independent for seasoned cyclists, with touring bikes, e-bikes and even mountain bikes in select destinations.

Itineraries range from five to 15 days, with most being eight days, and cater to a variety of budgets and interests, from historic cities and landmarks to picturesque natural landscapes and the world’s best wines.

The Boat Bike Tours experience is also deeper than traditional cruises offer. Spending days exploring by bike and nights moored in towns allows for more intimate connections with local people, culture and nature. And traveling by smaller boat and bike also takes guests beyond tourist hotspots and minimizes environmental impacts.

Popular destinations among North American guests include:

• Amsterdam to Bruges: Cruise and ride through the Dutch countryside of Zeeland and western Flanders in Belgium. See world-famous cities such as Amsterdam, Antwerp, Ghent and Bruges, as well as picturesque villages, a Dutch cheese farm, the windmills of Kinderdijk and the magnificent natural landscape along the Schelde River.
• Split to Dubrovnik: Hop from island to island in the South Dalmatia region of Croatia by boat and e-bike. See the amazing town centers of Split and Dubrovnik, and experience the culture and nature of more sparsely populated islands like Brač, Hvar, Korčula, Lastovo, Mljet and Šipan. E-bikes help with hilly and mountainous terrain.
• Cochem to Metz: Follow the Moselle River through Germany, France and Luxembourg, passing endless vineyards and stopping to taste local wines. See enchanting old cities like Cochem and Bernkastel, the once-imperial Roman Trier, the stunning waterfalls of Saarburg, the Gothic cathedral of Metz and welcoming villages in between.

“With half of our guests coming from North America now, it makes sense to have an office here,” said Jana Tvedt, Director of Sales, North America for Boat Bike Tours. “We’re available when needed and familiar with what Americans and Canadians are looking for in destinations, experiences and ships. And we’re always happy to work with travel advisors, groups and charters.”

The North American office is open 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Eastern Monday through Thursday and 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern on Friday. Call 203-814-1249 or visit https://www.boatbiketours.com/.