Boat Bike Tours Reviews 

Beautiful countryside and cycle paths, excellent tour guides, lovely food on board, brilliant staff. Great company on board.

Our accomadations and food on the boat were very good. Our group (12) found doing a cycling trip on the larger boat was not what we preferred. Not as well organized. Leaving the boat too late in the morning made us rushed throughout the day touring. We have all gone on the boat/bike barge with about 30 people and found it much better. Also having a tour guide is much better, which we had on the smaller barge boat.

We had a great time on the boat and the cycling paths were great- well maintained and beautiful scenery. Service at meals was fantastic. Leslie worked hard to keep us informed

This was our fifth boat and bike tour with this company, and unfortunately it was by far the least enjoyable. We’ve had wonderful experiences on previous trips, which makes this one all the more disappointing and leaves us questioning whether we will book with them again.

One of the issues was that this was advertised as a boat and bike tour, but in reality it was often a choice of boat or bike, not both. Whenever the itinerary indicated there would be a morning sail to our cycling departure point, we were instead instructed to disembark and bike to that location. As a result, those of us who wanted to participate in the cycling missed much of the cruising experience we had paid for.

Similarly, the itinerary regularly listed both a short and a long cycling option each day. In practice, we were never given a choice. Everyone was expected to complete the longer route, with daily elevation gains ranging from approximately 800 to nearly 2,000 feet. That may appeal to some cyclists, but it was not what was represented in the itinerary and removed the flexibility that attracted us to the tour in the first place.

The problems started on day one when we were trying the bikes. I immediately told the guide that my bike was too big for me, but my concern was dismissed with, “No, it’s fine.” It wasn’t, and it made riding much more difficult and potentially dangerous given the paths we were guided to than it should have been.

The guiding throughout the trip was poor. The guides frequently got lost, often speaking to each other in Dutch or German even though everyone in the group spoke English. Instead of providing confident leadership, they seemed unsure of the routes and regularly relied on each other to figure out where to go. On one day, what was supposed to be a 24-mile ride became a 44-mile ride because they got so lost. That is simply unacceptable on a guided cycling vacation.

The routes themselves were also disappointing. Rather than using enjoyable cycling paths, the guides repeatedly chose rocky, overgrown single-track trails with deep ruts, fallen trees, and thorny branches. These sections were difficult, unpleasant, and at times felt unsafe. They were completely out of keeping with what we expected from a guided leisure cycling tour.

The timing of the trip also seemed poorly planned. Much of France is effectively closed during this time of year, and this should have been anticipated by the tour operator. As a result, we rarely had opportunities for coffee breaks, and lunch stops were usually at dirty picnic tables—if we could even find one. Guests were instructed to use the “green door” (the woods) for bathroom breaks. It often felt like we were simply trying to get through the day rather than enjoying the beautiful Burgundy countryside.

Perhaps most disappointing was the guides’ lack of local knowledge. They appeared to know very little about the region beyond what they could search online and were unable to speak enough French to communicate with locals or translate during tours. One of the main reasons for choosing a guided trip is to learn about the history, culture, and places you visit. Unfortunately, we received very little of that. Even the navigation—which should have been the guides’ primary responsibility—was consistently poor.

Another disappointing aspect of the trip was the apparent favoritism shown by the guides. They seemed to focus their attention on a small group of guests while largely overlooking the rest of us. For example, my husband volunteered to serve as the sweep rider on several occasions, helping ensure no one was left behind. The guides never acknowledged his efforts and instead publicly credited another guest who had not actually performed that role. While recognition itself is not important, the incident reflected a broader pattern in which certain guests appeared to receive considerably more attention and appreciation than others. On a group tour, everyone should feel equally welcomed, included, and valued.

Burgundy is a beautiful region with so much to offer, but this tour did not do it justice. Between the misleading itinerary, the lack of promised route options, the loss of the cruising experience, the unsuitable cycling routes, the constant navigation mistakes, the guides’ limited local knowledge, the apparent favoritism toward a handful of guests, and the dismissive attitude toward guest concerns, this trip fell far short of the standard we have come to expect from this company. Sadly, what should have been another memorable vacation ended up being our most disappointing experience with them.
We usually start planning our next tour with Boat and Bike tours as soon as we get home, but I’m second guessing after this experience. We will revisit after some time passes.

It was remarkable and would do this again. Seemed to be very organized and thought out. The staff were all very friendly and professional.

The guides were amazing, as was the itinerary. Guides were experienced, flexible, and attentive. The combination of the seaside and farmland to cycle along and through was scenic and a great contrast. A recommendation for some of the less experienced cyclists would be a more detailed explanation of the trails which when unpaved could be a little difficult. My third BB trip and I was not disappointed.

An awesome vacation. We were so well looked after. The cycling was scenic and relaxing, just the right distance and wonderful stops along the way. Beautiful boat, great guides and fabulous food. Literally note perfect.

The crew of the boat and the tour guides were 5 star plus. The ship was always clean, lots of food and the Cordon Bleu chef’s meals were themed creatively and tasted Magnifique 😉! The bicycles were in great shape. Even the Netherland’s pesky weather co-operated with great cycling conditions.

The boat bike trip was fantastic, especially the staff on board who took such great care of us all! The Waddenzee route with sailing and the visits to the islands were definite highlights but the rest of the trip was good too.

Wonderful staff, amazing food, beautiful islands, extremely well organized, professional, comfortable accommodations, and an overall fun time.

While we have done several boat/bike trips, staying on a sailing vessel took it to a whole different level. The Atlantis is a beautiful ship and traveling on open water is a lovely, relaxing experience. The hands on opportunity to learn more about actual sailing was so informative and lots of fun. The captain, crew, staff and biking leaders were knowledgable, friendly, fun, and went out of their way to ensure everyone had a great experience. We would do this trip again in a heartbeat. Thank you to all!

This trip was a lovely way to explore the Dalmatian Islands and learn about the fierce Croatian people. The boat was beautiful, staff and food amazing, and tour guides strong. This is our second Boat-Bike trip and we will be back.

Boat Bike Tours communicated well as we booked and prepared for our week. Every member of the crew was a high-service team member with a pleasant manner. Having a small group of participants for biking and meals was great. The food was terrific including meals and snacks. The bike touring was well-designed and well-supported both for those who were more independent and for those needing assistance. A great trip!

Excellent cycling and hospitality on the Fleur.
The best boat I’ve been on by far.

Tour guides were informative, caring, friendly, interactive and were always aware of our safety. the tour itself was AMAZING! Seeing the countryside in Belgium and the Netherlands and tasting the local fare. The boat was well appointed. The food on the boat was fantastic. The crew were great.

Great boat. Great bikes. Great crew. Great meals. Great bike routes. Great fellow bikers

We just finished our trip on the Fleur and we had a great time touring France from Montargis to Paris. It was a beautiful way to see some of the countryside and we especially loved the villages that we rode through. Our group was a wide range of cycling abilities and the guides did a good job of catering to all the abilities. If I have one observation it would be that the rating of the difficulty be a bit more refined so those of lower ability are better prepared. The food was excellent and the Fleur was very comfortable and well appointed. I definitely would love to do another Boat Bike tour sometime.

I really enjoyed our boat/bike vacation. Our group was a fun, cohesive group. The biking was an excellent way to see the countryside, get exercise and see how the Dutch people live. Active vacations like this are my favorite.

Friendly, good food, knowledgeable guide throughout including closures along the way.

We loved our Northern Holland tour -- we saw places we would never have visited and learned interesting history of the place. We slept and ate incredibly well on board and appreciated the knowledgeable guides who provided us with helpful information. The cycling was excellent and the maps, GPS, and wayfinding information gave us confidence as we travelled through the Dutch countryside. Our kids - aged 13 and 15 - enjoyed every minute of the trip (well, except some of the headwinds when we were near the sea).