Difficulty Rating : 3 Start: Brussels Finish: Bruges Terrain: Easy cycle, flat, ideal for families Daily Average: 50km Weekly Average: 275km Tour Type: Self Guided,Family Teaser: Surprisingly close and surprisingly beautiful,  that's the simplist way to describe the region of Flanders and Brussels. 
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Surprisingly close and surprisingly beautiful,  that's the simplist way to describe the region of Flanders and Brussels. 

Highlishts include wonderful cycling between sea, canals and dunes,  a rich architecture of churches, abbeys, castles and windmills,  the historical art cities of Brussels, Leuven, Mechelen, Ghent and Bruges as well as the beautiful seaside towns of De Haan and Blankenberge.   All this washed down with wonderful gastronomy in bustling cafes and restaurants and 350 different kinds of beer to savour!

This is a beautiful self guided tour which starts in Belgiums capital Brussels and finishes in the medieval city of Bruges,  suitable for families with an eye to something different!   We have a special tour designed for the families with small children around Bruges with many attractions for adults and children alike.

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A downloadable version of the itinery is available from the Resources Tab

Itineraries

Day 1

Arrival in Brussels

Arrival to Brussels city. The market square, the Atomium, Manneke Pis, the icons of the Belgian capital are a must for every visitor of Brussels. Moreover, Brussels is also the city of Jugendstil / Art Nouveau. And of course, there is always a festival like ‘Couleur Café’, a flower carpet or an interesting exhibition.

Day 2

Brussels ~ Mechelen (65 km)

The tour starts with a cycle through Leuven. This city is not only known as a university city – with the oldest Belgian university -but also as a beer city. A walk in Mechelen, a city at the river Dijle, will show you all the most important historical buildings, which were erected in the time of the Burgundy. You certainly have to visit the St. Rombouts-Cathedral, the palaces of Margarete of York and Margarete of Austria. Or you can also visit the toy’s museum!

Day 3

Mechelen ~ Bornem (30 km)

Today you cycle along the river Rupel and Schelde to Bornem. Because of the short ride, there is plenty of time to take a 15-minute train ride towards the centre of Antwerp. Enjoy a stroll on the Meir, have a beer on one of the many plazas or admire the rich architecture and art of this Flemish capital

Day 4

Bornem ~ Ghent (65 km)

Ghent, also the historical centre of Flanders, offers a variety of places of interest in the shadow of numerous towers, for example, the St. Bavo cathedral with the world-famous painting of Jan van Eyck. The historical heart of the city is well preserved: you can, for example, visit the old port. Nearby, you will find the ‘Gravensteen’, once the medieval castle of the counts of Ghent, today one of the most important places of interest.

Day 5

Ghent ~ Bruges (50 km)

The historical centre of Bruges is part of the world famous Unesco world heritage site list. Anyone who visits Bruges will notice straight away that this city has always taken care of its architectural and cultural treasures. Take your time and stroll along lovely parks, intimate little streets and ancient market squares. You can also do some shopping: the shopkeepers will love to explain to you everything about our Belgian chocolate or beer. Or simply enjoy ‘French’ fries on the stunning market square.

Day 6

Your Plan

Cycle along the canals to the picturesque village of Lissewege and further to the quaint coastal village of De Haan, enjoying a refreshing dive into the North sea or relaxing at the beach. Or you can also enjoy a free day for shopping, a boat ride on the canals, sightseeing by carriage, visiting some museums, climbing the belfry or a 15 min. train ride to Ostend, a majestic port.

  • 6 nights in 3* and 4* hotels ensuite
  • 6 x breakfast
  • Luggage transfer (1 piece pps / 20kg max)
  • Map, tourist info & road description
  • Service Hotline

Bike rental is not included in our 2024 tour price. This is an additional:
€80.00 Hybrid Bike
€155.00 Electric Bike
€10.00 Helmet rental 

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BRUSSELS

Day 1: NH Hotel du Grand Sablon 

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MECHELEN

Day 2: NH Mechelen  

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BORNEM

Day 3: Hotel Secundo (no website available)

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GENT

Day 4: Aparthotel Castelnou  

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BRUGES

Day 5+6: Hotel Velotel

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2024 SELF GUIDED (Brussels to Bruges)
€575 per person sharing
€270 for single room supplement
€50 high season supplement from 8th June - 18th August

Self Guided Tour Information

Every Saturday from 27 April – 7 September 2024.
From 7 July - 18 August also arrival on Saturdays and Sundays

How to get to the start point in Brussels: 

The best access point would be the Airport in Brussels or Charleroi (Ryanair).  From Charleroi a direct bus will bring you into the centre of Brussels  Airport Bus Info
If you are arriving by trains: to Brussels, the first hotel is only 0.7 km from Brussels Central Station

As always please contact us in the office for more information (info@cyclingsafaris.com).

Tour Date Options

Red = booked out / not available, Blue = Limited Availability, Green = available

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Booking Form

Primary Contact Details.

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Insurance

We require you to have Travel Insurance when you book the tour. It is important that you are covered in case of cancellation due to injury as the deposit is non refundable

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Please indicate below how many people are in your group including yourself.

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Acommodation

For single travellers, we organise accommodation on a twin sharing basis. Please note it may not be possible on all our tours and a single supplement will be applied.

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Other Information

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Payment Information

If you have been on a previous tour, there is a €50.00 discount on our week long tours in Ireland (unfortunately this discount does not apply to other European trips)

A €250.00 deposit is required for each person booking on a holiday. The Balance payment is required two month prior to the starting date. The deposit is forfeited in the event of a cancellation of your booking. The balancing payment is also non-refundable in the event of the cancellation occuring within 14 days of the tour starting date. All transactions are taken in Euro.

We will contact you to confirm your booking and payment details.

Please ensure that you have read the terms and conditions before proceeding.

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Booking Conditions

Irish Cycling Safaris Ltd (“the Company”) accepts bookings subject to the following conditions:

  • The contract is between the Company and the client, being any person travelling or intending to travel on a tour operated by the company. The contract, including all matters arising from it, is subject to Irish law and the exclusive jurisdiction of the Irish courts. A booking is accepted and becomes definite only from the date when the company sends a confirmation. It is at this point that a contract between the company and the client comes into existence. Before your booking is confirmed and comes into existence the company reserves the right to increase or decrease brochure prices. The company or their agents reserve the right to decline any booking at their discretion.
  • To secure a booking the Company or their agent requires a completed booking form and the necessary deposit. (Full payment if travel within 60 days). The first named client must be over 18 years of age. Clients booking by telephone, by website/E-mail or fax will be deemed to have signed the booking form and read and accepted our terms of booking. The person signing, or being deemed to sign, the booking form warrants that he/she has full authority to do so on behalf of all persons whose names appear thereon, and confirms that all such persons are fully aware of and accept these conditions.
  • The balance of all monies due, including any surcharges applicable at the time, must be paid to the company or their agents not later than 60 days before departure. In the case of non-payment of the balance by the due date the Company reserves the right to cancel your booking and cancellation charges will apply. If any cheque is dishonoured we reserve the right to charge €25 to cover administration costs.
  • Travel Insurance is mandatory for all clients whilst on a tour organised by the Company. Clients are wholly responsible for arranging their own insurance. Clients are responsible for ensuring that they are in possession of private Travel insurance with protection for the full duration of the tour in respect of at least medical expenses, injury, death, repatriation, cancellation and curtailment, with adequate cover.
  • An administration fee of €25 per booking plus any additional costs incurred will be charged if a confirmed booking is changed or transferred to a different departure date or tour, up to 60 days prior to departure. Thereafter all changes will be treated as cancellations and subject to the relevant charges. Changes are subject to availability. For an administration fee of €25 you may request a credit voucher. This must be redeemed within 12 months of issue and must be used against a new booking. The voucher is non transferable and cannot be exchanged for cash. In certain circumstances, which the Company considers reasonable, the booking may be transferred to another suitable person; however the tour arrangements must remain the same and will only be allowed if all suppliers agree to accept the name change. If a transfer is allowed an administration charge of €25 per person will be charged plus any extra charges levied by suppliers.
  • Should the client wish to cancel, cancellation charges will be imposed. These are calculated from the day written notification is received by the company or their agent as a percentage of the total tour price, including surcharges as follows:

    > 60 days before departure – retention of deposit

    60-14 days before departure – 50%

    < 14 days before departure – 100%

  • Clients are responsible for arranging, and must be in possession of, a valid passport and any visas and vaccination certificates required for the whole of their journey. Information about these matters or related items (climate, clothing, baggage, personal items etc) is given in good faith but without responsibility on the part of the company.
  • Should the client have a reason to complain, you must immediately notify our representative and the relevant supplier. If the client’s complaint is not dealt with satisfactorily at the time, they must write to us with full details of the complaint within 28 days of the end of the tour. Failure to notify complaints entirely within accordance of this clause will diminish or extinguish the client’s ability to claim compensation.
  • The company provides all services on a “ground only” basis. The client is responsible for arranging their own travel to the designated start points of each tour. The company cannot accept any liability for any delay/cancellation in your transportation and cannot offer any refunds for lost holiday time.
  • Clients agree to accept the authority and decisions of the Company’s employees, tour leaders and agents whilst on the tour with the company. If in the opinion of such persons the health, level of fitness or conduct of a client at any time before or after departure appears likely to endanger the safe, comfortable or happy progress of a tour the client may be excluded from all or part of the tour without refund or recompense. In the case of ill health the company may make such arrangements as it sees fit and recover the costs thereof from the client. If a client commits an illegal act the client may be excluded from the tour and the Company shall cease to have responsibility to/for them. If you are affected by a condition, medical or otherwise, that might affect you or affect other people’s enjoyment or active participation of the tour, you must advise us at the time of booking. No refund will be given for any unused services.
  • The Company will use its best endeavours to operate all tours as advertised. However, it reserves the right to change any of the facilities, services, prices or itineraries described in our brochure/website. If a major change is necessary or deemed advisable, the company will advise the client as soon as reasonably possible, if there is no time before departure. A major change does not apply to a change of transport or named accommodation, but is usually considered a major change in itinerary or change in duration of a client’s holiday. If advised of a major change before departure, the client will have the choice of accepting changes (at additional cost if applicable), purchasing another available tour from the company, or cancelling the tour with a full refund.

    Provided that the major change is not as a result of situations outside the company’s control or consolidation, compensation will be paid as follows:

    Notification Period Given / Compensation Per Person

    More than 30 days: Nil

    14-30 days: €40

    Less than 14 days: €50

     
  • Force Majeure. We regret we cannot accept liability or pay any compensation where the performance or prompt performance of our contractual obligations is prevented or affected by reasons of circumstance amounting to “force majeure”. In these conditions “force majeure” means any event which we the supplier of services in question could not, even with all due care, foresee or avoid. Such events include war or threat of war, riot, civil strife, industrial dispute, terrorist activity, natural or nuclear disaster, fire or adverse weather conditions, epidemics or health risks and all similar events outside our control.
  • The company reserves the right to cancel a tour in any circumstances but will not cancel a tour less than 4 weeks before departure except for “force majeure”, consolidation, or the client’s failure to pay the final balance. Unless the client fails to pay the final balance, the company, upon cancellation will return all monies paid to it, or offer the client an alternative holiday of comparable standard if available (if less expensive than original we will refund the difference, if more expensive, the client will have to pay the difference). Compensation will not be payable (1) where the company is forced to cancel as a result of unusual and unforeseeable circumstances beyond our control, the consequences of which we could not have avoided even with all due care or (2) where an insufficient number of people book the clients chosen holiday and we notify we are cancelling for this reason not less than 28 days before departure. In all cases our liability is limited to offering the above choices and the compensation payments (where applicable) set out in clause 11. No compensation is payable if we notify you of cancellation more than 8 weeks before departure. We cannot be held responsible for any costs or expenses you may have as a result of cancellation.
  • Client’s bookings are accepted on the understanding that they appreciate the risks inherent in adventure travel and that they undertake the tours featured in our programme at their own volition. Our obligations, and those of any suppliers providing any service or facility involved in any travel arrangements you book with us, are to provide services and facilities with reasonable care and skill. Facilities will be provided to the realistic minimum standard recommended by the regulatory authorities responsible.
  • Bike Hire: The equipment including all accessories supplied is let out on hire. The equipment remains the property of the company and the Client will not sell, hire out or otherwise part with the possessions thereof.

    The Client undertakes not to misuse the equipment and to return it with all accessories in the same condition as when received (ordinary wear and tear accepted). The company shall be entitled to charge the client for any damages caused to equipment during the period of hire. In event of a breakdown, other than a result of the Clients misuse, the company will use its best endeavours to repair or procure repair of the equipment.

    The company will not be liable for any damage or loss whatsoever, through breakdown or other defect in the equipment or other circumstances beyond the company’s control. The Client shall indemnify the company with respect to all costs, claims, expenses and demands suffered or incurred which arise directly or indirectly out of the use of the equipment during the period of hire. The company reserves the right to charge the client for partial or full settlement of any claim. In the event of the equipment being stolen or lost, the company reserves the right to call upon the client to indemnify the company the replacement of the equipment. However, should the equipment subsequently be returned in a satisfactory condition, the company undertakes to refund the clients indemnity within 14 days.

    The Client will ensure that the equipment is adequately secured when not in use, will not use the equipment whilst under the influence of drink or drugs and will immediately notify the company in the event of breakdown or loss of equipment.

  • Clients bringing their own bikes do so on the proviso that their equipment is in a suitable condition for participation in a tour. Responsibility for maintenance of bicycles brought by clients rests with the client. The company will endeavour to accommodate such clients, but cannot guarantee that correct tools and spares will be available, given the wide range of possibilities that exist.