Bruges & northern Sea coast
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Bruges and northern Sea coast bike tour
The West Flanders region grants the ideal mix of culture and nature. It is one of those unique places, where you can enjoy silence along canals and open landscapes, but where culture is never far away. Along the tour, you can discover the history of World War I (Ieper and Diksmuide). The most interesting town on this tour is of course Bruges, the famous historic town with its wonderful cultural heritage.
Bruges called Brugge by its native Dutch language name which assumedly used to signify landing stage, it is one of Europe’s most important landmarks as the city has hardly changed since the Middle Ages. The comprises the historic city of Bruges proper, considered one of the most beautiful in Europe, and the towns of and most of its medieval architecture is intact, but also has fine modern art collections. Several beers are named for Bruges, such as Brugse Tripel, Brugs Blond, Brugs Witbier and Straffe Hendrik.Level: Flat and easy, suitable for untrained bicyclists and families with children if able to bicycle 50 km/31 miles.
Bicycling path: Quiet, mostly paved backroads/marked bicycling lanes
Highlights The nice cycling along fields, canals, dunes and the coast, the architecture of monasteries, windmills and castles The medieval towns Ieper, Poperinge, Diksmuide and Bruges a world heritage, The coastal towns of De Haan, Heist and Knokke The burgundy atmosphere in pubs and restaurants and of course chocolate, waffles and French fries.
Bruges and northern Sea coast self guided bike tour itinerary
Saturday day 1: Roeselare – Individual arrival
After arriving in Roeselare you can start with a small tour to the basilica of Dadizele and discover the landscape around the city. Or first visit Roeselare, with the National Cycling Museum, the brewery of Rodenbach, the old cemetary, the city park along the Mandel river, the Castle of Rumbeke with various exhibitions and the city center known for its vibrating shopping streets.
Day 2: Roeselare – Ieper – 31 km/19 miles
Our first cycling tour will bring us to Ieper, a beautiful medieval town with a stunning market place and the famous town-gate ‘Menenpoort’. We will also pass the Tyne Cot cemetery, the biggest churchyard for English soldiers all over the world. In Ieper, you can visit the ‘In Flanders Fields Museum’ (to be paid on the spot). Cycling around Ieper is a nice experience, especially passing through the charming hills. You can also walk around the city and follow the ramparts route.
Day 3: Ieper – Diksmuide – 60 km/37 miles
On this tour, we will pass another nice medieval town: Poperinge, popular because of the ‘hoppe’ cultivated in this area. But, certainly also very interesting is the abbey of Saint Sixtus, where the best beer in the world is brewed. We will cycle further along the banks of the ‚Yzer‘ to Diksmuide, where the “Yzertoren”, a well-known monument of World War I, can be visited. You can also enjoy the beauty of the historic market place.
Day 4: Diksmuide – Bruges – 61 km/38 miles
It is almost unbelievable how many cultural heritage can be discovered in such a rural region. Indeed, the destination we are all excited about is of course Bruges, with its historic town center and the stunning belfry.
Day 5: Circular ride to Knokke – 59 km/37 miles
The fifth day, we will explore the area between Bruges and Knokke, the most mondain village of the Belgian coast. It will again be an unforgettable trip, through the polder landscapes and the dunes. The main sight of this tour is the nature reserve ‘Het Zwin’ and the picturesque village Damme. Or, when it is warm enough, you can go swimming in the sea!
Day 6: Bruges – De Haan – Bruges – 52 km/33 miles
This day will again be an exciting day, as we will visit another nice place on the Belgian coast. De Haan is a village which has protected very well the “Belle Epoque” style 19th century.
Day 7: Bruges – Roeselare – 59 km/37 miles
Our last cycling tour will bring us back to Roeselare. This tour passes two nice castles, d’Aertrycke and Wijnendaele. They are both really worth a visit! After arrival in Roeselare, it is possible to visit the national cyclist museum, entrance fee to be paid on spot
Day 8: End of trip after breakfast or extension in Roeselare
- WHAT´S INCLUDED IN THE SELF-GUIDED BIKE TRIP?
Duration - 8 days / 7 nights
Departures - Every Saturday from April 27th till September 21st except August 3rd replaced by arrival on Sunday August 4th due to the annual folk festival in Dranouter
Price per person - 499€ Double room with breakfast
- 210€ Supplement single room
- 45€ Supplement high season June 15th – August 24th
- 155€ Half-board supplement
Included services - 8 days/7 nights in 3*and 4* hotels in double room with private facilities
- 7 x buffet breakfast
- Museum discount card Bruges
- Luggage transport from hotel to hotel, 1 piece per person maximum 20 kg
- Map, tourist information and road description in English
- Service-hotline also on weekends
- Local taxes, except in Bruges
- Possibility to book half-board with 7 dinners 3-course menu, optional
Not included - Travel to and from Belgium
- Bike rental
- All meals except you booked half board which is optional
- Any other activities
- Tourism tax in Bruges
Bike rental - 140€ E-Bike rental per week
- 65€ Hybrid bikes 7 or 21 gears per week, pannier, pump, lock, repair kit and odometer
- 18€ Hybrid bike insurence
- 30€ E-Bike insurance
- 50€ Bike rental for kids per week
- 15€ Child seat
Reduction for children - Reduction sharing room with two paying adults:
- Children 0 – 2 years: – 100%
- Children 3 – 6 years: – 50%
- Children 7 – 11 years: – 25%
- Children from 12 years old: – 10%
- For adults sharing a room with two adults there is no discount. For the comfort of the clients, we can only book a double room and a single room at the hotel in Bruges but we will not ask a single room supplement. The rooms would be connecting rooms anyway.
Cancellation policy - Cancellation until 8 weeks before tour departure: 10%
- Cancellation until 4 weeks before tour departure: 50%
- Cancellation until 24 hours before tour departure:80%
- Cancellation less than 24 hours before tour departure:100%
How to get there? - Access National airport in Brussels or lowcost carrier to Charleroi, Brussels South + direct airport train to Roeselare taking 1h30 min, the hotel is in front of the station. Other trains: Direction Knokke/Blankenberge/Oostende + changing in Brugge direction of Kortrijk with changing in Kortrijk direction of De Panne with changing in Lichtervelde* Highway untill Roeselare, along A-17 Kortrijk–Brugge, exit Roeselare – Izegem.
How to book this tour? - We require 50% deposit for the trip per person upon reservation, final payment 6 weeks before tour departure. Credit card payments by Visa or Mastercard do have an additional increase of 2%.
Dificulty: 
- Price: from 499 €/person
- Type of trip: self-guided on bike
- Duration: 8 days / 7 nights
- Starting point: Roeselare
- Final destination: Roeselare
- Total distance: 321 km / 201 miles
- Bike type: See under “Additional Info”
