Explore the colorful tulips of Holland by boarding the Panache on an intimate 7-day cruise. Visit the cheese museum at Alkmaar and cruise Zaanse Schans to see the picturesque windmills, barns and houses built in traditional Dutch Style. Explore the century-old city of Haarlem and visit the world famous Keukenhof Garden, known as the 'Garden of Europe'. Journey the historic city of Leiden on a bicycle and feel the ambiance of their pretty tree-lined canals.
Involves minimal physical effort and is typically associated with leisurely activities. Activities are low-intensity or last less than a few hours each day.
Guests are met in Amsterdam and transferred by private chauffeured minibus to Panache. Once on board, enjoy a champagne welcome and an introduction to your crew and hotel barge.
Visit the Alkmaar cheese museum and enjoy a cheese tasting, before the first cruise to Zaanse Schans near Amsterdam, a place renowned for its wooden windmills, barns and houses built in the traditional Dutch style. After lunch on board, you will take a tour of Zaanse Schans, an open air conservation area and museum, giving you a vivid impression of the Dutch way of life in the 17th and 18th centuries. This historical area consists of authentic houses and windmills, a historic shipyard, pewter factory, a cheese and dairy farm and an age-old grocery store dating back to the 1900’s. Dinner on board.
You will enjoy an early morning cruise to the historic city of Haarlem, dating back to the 13th century. After lunch on board, this afternoon marks a highlight of the week with a visit to the world famous Keukenhof Gardens, known as the ‘Garden of Europe’. There are more than 100 acres filled with over 7 million flowering bulbs and you will stroll through a breath-taking backdrop of colour on this unforgettable half-day excursion. Dinner ashore this evening at a local restaurant.
An optional very early morning tour to the Aalsmeer flower auction, where some 17 million cut flowers from all over the world are traded each day. You will then return to the hotel barge for breakfast, then enjoy a tour of Haarlem. The city is home to the Frans Hals Museum founded in 1862 with its vast collection of Old Masters. Other highlights include St. Bavo’s Cathedral on the main square, where both Handel and Mozart played the magnificent Muller organ. Or you can opt for some free time to visit a fine selection of boutique shops. After lunch on board, cruise to your mooring at Oude Wetering where there is time to walk or cycle along the towpaths around the lake. Dinner on board.
After breakfast cruise to Leiden. Home to one of the oldest universities in the country and the birthplace of Rembrandt. Leiden is a historical city full of charm and character, a perfect place to explore on a bicycle, or simply stroll the banks of the pretty tree-lined canals. This afternoon you will take a tour of the city and a private boat trip, with your tour leader explaining the history that dates back to Roman times and more recent sites such as the church, St. Pieterskerk, from which the pilgrims departed for America. Free time to explore the many local cafes, boutique shops, markets and antique dealers.
Morning cruise arriving in Delft by lunchtime, your final mooring. Delft is renowned for its pottery ceramic products, which were styled on the imported Chinese porcelain of the 17th century. This beautiful, unspoiled town is more than 750 years old, and began as the home port of the Dutch East India Company. Following lunch, you will visit the Royal Delft factory, just a 5 minutes’ walk from our mooring to learn how this world-famous porcelain is made. You will have time during the afternoon to explore Delft further. Captain’s Farewell Dinner on board.
Day 7: Delft | Disembark
1 Breakfast
After breakfast, guests are transferred by private chauffeured minibus to their choice of location in Amsterdam.
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Junior Suite
150 sq ft including en suite facilities including TV/DVD, Double sink in bathroom and air conditioning/ heating, WiFi (subject to location)
Initial deposit is 25%, and most travelers will call our office and pay the deposit with a credit card.
Final payment is due 100 days prior to departure by Credit card, check, and bank transfer. All final payments by credit card subject to a surcharge of 2.5% and maximum of $20,000 charge
Beyond expectations! Then again we weren't sure what to expect. Lovely stay at the lodge, met other like-minded travelers (many had their trips planned by Adventure Life) and the owner was a gracious hostess. It felt like you were one happy family, visiting with a favorite aunt.
Nancy Sin
TrustScore 4.8 | 175 reviews
TrustScore 4.8 of 5
Based on 175 reviews on
7 hours ago
The response from Adventure Life to my first inquiry was prompt and promising. I worked with Jamie Broeckel, Trip Planner, via text, email, and phone calls- always extremely responsive and thorough with information and explaining the process to arrange a private tour for me to Malaysia Borneo. Within about week, the booking was complete and I made decisions because of Jamie's great customer service , friendly manner, and overall competence on behalf of the company's travel expertise. Now I have an itinerary, additional Trip Planner Assistants, several links for vital information for traveling to Maylasia, etc. Still many details for Sept. trip, but now the heavy lifting is done and I can enjoy the rest of the anticipation and research!! Thanks Jamie- you are amazing!!!!
Susan Campo
2 days ago
The trip was not only memorable for the amount of animals we saw but also for the people and accommodations at the two camps where we stayed. Our first guide, BK, was a wealth of information about the animals, landscape and down to the plants and what they were used for. Everyday out was a learning experience with him. All the people at the camps were gracious and the food was excellent.
Our second camp in the Okavanga was just as good as the first as far as the staff, accommodations, food and animals. After our experience at the first camp we amazed that the high quality remained the same. Our guide, G, made sure we were able to enjoy every experience including a rush through the bush to witness a cheetah and an ensuing hunt that he heard over his radio.
In both camps there were enough guides out that if they saw something the other guides were informed which helped in seeing as much as possible. It was also nice that the concessions were large enough that we did not have vehicles following each other throughout the day.
Normally there is always something in a trip of this length that we think could be improved upon but this is the rare case where we cannot think of anything. From the time we left the States to when we returned it was one of the most hassle free vacations we took.
Perhaps emphasizing the use of the laundry facilities at the camps would be useful because of the luggage restrictions would be the only thing I can think of as an improvement to future clients.
Kenneth Dropek
3 days ago
Mary was so pleasant and professional. She made sure all of our questions were answered.