River Cruise – Boat and Bike Holliday
With The MIRO a Real Gentlemens Yacht - 1926
Maastricht -Paris - and Paris - Maastricht 
This delightful river cruise and Boat and Bike Holliday is the ideal way to discover the gorgeous landscapes between Maastricht and Paris, whether it’s by ship, bike or walking. It’s all entirely up to you! There is ample time to relax and wonder at delightful old cities we will dock at along our route. Resign yourself to the care of the crew, enjoy the luxury and fun on board and take pleasure in an unforgettable sailing adventure through three countries.
Programme:
Day 1, Saturday - Maastricht
13.00 will see you embarking the boat and enjoying a chilled glass of Champagne, meeting the cast and crew and having your bike adjusted to meet your own personal preferences. There will also be time for a short test ‘drive’, so that you can get used to the feel of your bike. We’re delighted to serve you a delicious welcome dinner on board, before you embark upon a lovely city excursion through Maastricht that evening. During the walk a guide will show you all the hidden delights of this wondrous city: you’ll follow in the footsteps of d'Artagnan, the famous 4th musketeer. The guide will be please to tell you all about the city of Maastricht, including the rich history of this important southern town. And he’ll also be more than happy to join you for a beer on the very famous Vrijthof Square!
Day 2, Sunday
Maastricht - Liege
At 8.00 you’ll be enjoying a sumptuous breakfast while the Miro sails to Liege. On the way, you’ll pass the Maas’s highest Locks whereby the boat will ascend 18 metres – an impressive experience. The bike tour (20 km.) will bring you to Liege, where the Miro will dock in the very heart of the city. In the footsteps of legendary writer George Simenon and his equally famous Commissary Maigret, we wander through the city and visit the renowned Sunday market La Batte. This is the largest market in all of Belgium, and it is literally a treasure trove of everything you could possibly imagine. We will be pleased to serve you dinner at around 18.00, leaving more than enough time for you to spend you evening hours discovering Liege’s enchanting secrets, romantic streets and cosy bars for yourself.
Day 3, Monday Huy- Namur
We Cruise to Huy while you enjoy breakfast, and enjoy the vistas of all that we pass as we make our way. Once in Huy, we will have ample time to visit the imposing Cathedral and the impressive Citadel, and to have a look around this lovely town all by yourself. Huy is also the starting point of the bike route to Namur (32 km.), which will take you along gorgeous country panoramas with a number of unforgettable spots. The tour will end in the impressive city of Namur, which is also the capital of the Wallonia State. From where we’ll be docked you’ll have a beautiful view of the fairytale castle high above the city and the city ramparts, built centuries ago to protect against marauders. Namur has an enchanting city centre and after dinner the captain will be pleased to take you to the Citadel for a walk back in time, and to enjoy a wonderful view over the city, the Maas and the Sambre.
Day 4, Tuesday Namur - Streppy
As you enjoy another sumptuous breakfast, the Miro will already be progressing on to Charleroi, and you’ll see in the landscape the vestiges of the once-booming mining and steel industry for which the region was famous for centuries. Today’s bike tour will take us to Strépy Thieu (35 km.) to the new ship elevator in the Canal du Centre. This gigantic ship lift is as big as a football field and bridges a span of 73 meter. The fantastic engine room and adjoining museum are open to visitors so that you can learn more about this marvellous feat of engineering. Dinner will be served on board and afterwards you can enjoy the beautiful nature and the wonderful panoramic views.
Day 5, Wednesday Streppy - Mons
Today we’ll breakfast at 8.00 to fortify you for the bike tour planned. This one is 37 kilometres long and takes you from the Canal Historique du Centre, where you can visit three smaller ship elevators, one of which has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage site. From there, the route will take you to Mons . After dinner you’re welcome to take a break, and recover from your active day of biking or walking.
Day 6, Thursday Mons- Antoine a beautifull bike tour allong the canal and old Villages
Day 7, Friday
Antoine - Vallancienne
A new bike tour awaits you after a delicious breakfast, and you’ll cross the French border To the Beautifull City of Vallancienne
Day 8 ,Friday Vallancienne - Denain This tour takes you to Denain en Arleux (35km). The ship will follow on it’s course along the Boven Schelde and will dock at Souterrain du Ruyaulcourt. Here you’ll come back on board to continue through the dark shipping tunnels . These tunnels are 4.354 meters long and cross right through the hilly countryside. You’ll sail through the Canal du Nord that ends in the Souterrain du Pannetrie, a total of 1.601 meters of tunnels! From here, we’ll sail in a convoy, in typical French fashion: with wine and delicious food. Because what we don’t finish today, we can always do tomorrow or the day after, right? At any rate, there’s more than enough time to catch up on relaxing and taking walks, and simply enjoying the delights of the unique countryside.
Day 8, Saturday Denain - Noyon
the bike tour scheduled for today takes you all the way to Noyon. It’s not a short one - 40 kilometres – but since you’ll be tracking the boat anyway you can jump on at every sluice to take a break. The trip takes you through storybook French countryside and past picturesque villages that are primarily rural in nature. Noyon is an old city, dating to the period 600 BC. The town offers many worthy sight-seeing highlights and monuments that have survived the impact that both WWI and WWII had on the region. In the evening you’ll once more enjoy a sumptuous dinner and with a crisp wine on the aft deck, you’ll realise that life just doesn’t get any better.
Day 9, sunday Noyon - Compiegne Following breakfast you’ll proceed to Compiëgne (31 km), while the ship keeps it’s lazy river pace alongside you. You can jump on again at any of the delightful riverbanks that you’ll pass. Compiëgne is known as a regal village because every French king of old had a summer dwelling here, and once you see it you’ll know why. It’s also the city where Jeanne 'd Arc was captured. In short, a delightful city of rich history that you’ll love discovering for yourself, dotted with many museums to while away your day in. We’re happy to let you wander around to your heart’s content for the rest of the afternoon.
Day 10 Monday Compiegne - Creil During breakfast, the Miro will cruise on the Beatifull river Oise to the old city of Creil. we more on the city park ofThere you’ll begin your bike trip to Pontoise.
Day 11 Thuesday Creil - Pontoise - Bougival The tour will take you along tiny villages to 'l Isle -Adam. This is where Parisian’s come to play, and the influence of such a big city is obvious. You’ll spend the night in Pontoise or, if you choose, we can cruise on to Conflance -Sainte-Honorine. This is the main city of French inland barging , and you’ll wonder at all the beautiful boats, big and small, docked here peacefully. The town has a lovely ambience and you won’t be surprised to learn that many skippers retire here to enjoy their twilight years.
Day 12 Wensday Bougival - Paris Today you’ll make your entree into Paris! Biking and walking are a little difficult today but the Seine offers the perfect foreground for the wondrous city of Paris. You’ll love seeing the approaching skyline of Paris while you slowly make your way into the City of Lights. In Paris we’ll look to dock at Grenelle and after dinner you can take a walk to the romantic Eiffel Tower. You’ll fall sleep in it’s incredible shadow.
Days ,13Thursday After breakfast, the city of Paris awaits you! Boat and Bike Tour in the unforgettable City
Day 14, Friday Paris If you’d like to know more about this world-renowned city, our guide will be happy to accompany you on your travels. He’ll take you to see all the highlights by bike or by public transport, if you so wish. And a twilight boat ride on the Seine is yours for the asking. What an unforgettable way to end your holiday
Day 15 ,Saturday Paris - Home You’ll enjoy one last breakfast on board before saying goodbye to your newfound friends. We’ll be sad to see you go and hope that you’ll leave with only the fondest memories!
Return trip by TGV or Airplane
You’re free to bike or walk during your vacation but nothing is obligatory, and shorter or longer bike or walking tours are also very much a possibility. We’re here to tailor-make your vacation in accordance with your wishes!
The Miro has 5 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/ DVD , 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
. You’ll also fin don board a BBQ, various games, darts, Jeux de boulle, bikes and so forth.
Included:
You’re free to bike or walk during your vacation but nothing is obligatory, and shorter or longer bike or walking tours are also very much a possibility. We’re here to tailor-make your vacation in accordance with your wishes!
The Miro has 5 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/ DVD , 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
. You’ll also fin don board a BBQ, various games, darts, Jeux de boulle, bikes and so forth.- Champagne welcome
- Full size and First Class accommodation on Board The MIRO
- 2 pers. Dubbelbed Cabin with all comfort Sat.TV/DVD
- Airco Central Heating Own Badroom
- Breakfast - packetlunch - 12 x 3 / 4 course Diner
- Coffee & Afternoon Tea
- Fruit
- Bed linen and cleanTowels on request
- First Class 8 gear Bike rental Gazelle chamonix
- Maps -Tour info
- Multy Lingual Crew an Guide
- a welcoming family atmosphere
- Harbour duties bike insurance gasoil tax
- sailing duties tourist taxes
- Not included are: own purchases, , excursions, tips ,the barbrinks ,
- The trips are either 7 or 15 days based on full pension, with a maximum of 10 guests
- Your travel agent can advise you on the best way to get to and from your point of embarkation.
It’s also possible to cut the trips down somewhat if you have less time at your disposal. Please feel free to enquire about the possibilities. The return trip Paris - Maastricht covers the same ground as outlined above, except naturally in reverse order.
Departure dates and the 2009 price list: Jubilee price € 1585,- ,- p.p.p.15 days . € 850 ,- p.p. p 7 day Tour
Embark in Maastricht 26Sept. 2009
Disembark in Paris 10 Oct 2009
Embark in Paris 17 Oct 2009
Disembark in Maastricht 31 Oct. 2009