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11 – 17 April 2027
Canals & Tulips
Quick Trekking Info (click here):
Guide: Marco Carletto
Trekking type: basecamp hiking (we always sleep in the same place)
Difficulty: intermediate (no elevation gain, but some stages are long; some stamina is required)
Accommodation: hotel in central Amsterdam
Single rooms available: yes, max. 5 (first-come, first-served basis)
Group meeting point: Zurich HB train station
Travel: by night train, group reservations made by us in a 4-6-bed sleeper. We can also book train ticket to Zurich.
Trekking in the Netherlands may seem like a breeze…no hills and a flat horizon, but on closer inspection, it’s a country you can’t help but love: the Dutch are welcoming and cheerful, the landscape is well-maintained, many villages are charming, and exploring it on foot is sure to be a wonderful discovery! We begin in Amsterdam, the Venice of the North…a romantic and tolerant city, whose libertine and relaxed spirit invites us to discover its renowned canals and ancient buildings, where museums, churches, coffee shops, and shop windows (including red-light windows!) blend in complete harmony, even if seemingly antithetical. We’ll then see the first tulips blooming in their immense fields, the famous windmills, ponds and canals, as well as sand dunes along deserted beaches. Thousands of kilometers of cycle paths, thousands of bicycles…a European unparalleled experience! A brief but interesting overview of this small, hard-working, well-organized, cosmopolitan, enterprising, and modern Northern European country that puts you at ease with its simple, cheerful lifestyle.
| Price in CHF* | Price in EUR | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | Fr. 1130.- | EUR 1190 |
| Single room charge | Fr. 210.- | EUR 230 |
| Small group charge (6-7 PAX) | Fr. 90.- | EUR 100 |
| Travel insurance | on request | from EUR 45 |
*rate in CHF may vary according to rate exchange CHF/EUR
What is included:
- accommodation with breakfast
- guided hikes as shown in programm
- bike tour in the tulip fields
- all local transportation in Holland
noT included:
- train trip to Holland (quoted separately)
- travel insurance
- packed lunches
- everything not specified as included in the program
11 april: Departure by train from Ticino to Amsterdam, via Zurich
Depart by train for Zurich in the late afternoon. In the evening, we take a direct train to Amsterdam, sleeping in a couchette (4 or 6 beds) with breakfast included.
12 april: amsterdam
We arrive by train at Amsterdam Centraal station around 9:30 a.m. We walk to our accommodation, a former Dutch navy building located on a quiet island, with a park and canal views. We have a free day to explore the city, each based on their own interests. We can visit some famous museums (Van Gogh Museum, Rijksmuseum), take a boat tour along the famous canals (UNESCO World Heritage Site), or simply stroll around to enjoy the city’s vibrant yet relaxed atmosphere. Dinner at the hotel and overnight stay.
13 april: Edam and surroundings
Breakfast. We set off by bus towards the town of Edam, famous for its production of the renowned Edam cheese. From there, we’ll head to the nearby village of Volendam, overlooking the sea and boasting characteristic houses. We’ll stop for lunch and in the early afternoon, take the boat to the island of Marken. Marken is one of the best-preserved and most traditional villages in the Netherlands. We’ll then have the opportunity to tour the island, which is small but inhabited by many aquatic birds and friendly hares that roam the meadows. In the late afternoon, we’ll take the bus back to Amsterdam. Dinner and overnight stay.
Distance: 14 km, approx. 4 hours of walking.
14 april: Callantsoog and tulips fields
Breakfast. We’ll take a combined train/bus ride to Callantsoog Beach, one of the first nudist beaches in the Netherlands. We’ll walk for several kilometers along the magnificent, wide, white sand. We’ll stop at a lovely bistro near the sea for a delicious brunch. We’ll continue our hike, then we rent bicycles, and wander through the tulip fields. This is one of the largest areas where these magnificent flowers, of which the Netherlands is the undisputed leading exporter, are grown and cultivated. We’ll take plenty of photos of these fields, which abound like a multicolored palette. Finally, we’ll return by bus and train to Amsterdam. Dinner and overnight stay.
Distance: approximately 9.5 km, approximately 2.5 hours walking + 3-4 hours cycling.
15 april: From Weesp, hike around the lakes and marshes to NAARDEN
Breakfast. We take the train to Weesp, a beautiful village in the Gooi-Vecht region. We embark on a beautiful hike along the Vecht River and then into the marshes and lakes of Ankevenske Plassen. Here, water dominates, with canals, swimming ponds, waterfowl, and the tranquility of the Dutch countryside. We arrive in Naarden, an ancient medieval fortified village worth visiting. In the late afternoon, we take the bus back to Weesp. Dinner and then return by train to Amsterdam. Overnight stay.
Distance: 19.5 km, walking time approximately 5.5 hours
16 april: KEUKENHOF PARK
Breakfast. We take the bus to the famous Keukenhof Park, a marvel of greenhouses and gardens displaying countless varieties of tulips of every color and shape. We spend a few hours at leisure in this famous park and in the afternoon we return to Amsterdam, where we should still have a few hours at our disposal.
Dinner on your own, then in the evening, after 9:00 PM, we board our night train to Zurich.
17 april: arrival in Zurich – end of tour
Breakfast on the train. Early in the morning, around 8:00 a.m., we arrive in Zurich, where we’ll catch our connecting train to our final destinations. End of tour.
| Difficulty level | Intermediate. The route covers distances from 16 to 21 km but has no elevation gain and does not require intense effort. However, some physical endurance is required for the longer stages. A few training outings before departure are recommended. |
| Group size | Max. 15 |
| Hiking trails | We walk mostly on bike paths, low-traffic roads, and forest trails. One day, walk on sand by the sea. |
| Gear | Hiking shoes are fine, water-repellent low-cut shoes with a good, well-profiled sole. Technical hiking clothing that’s breathable and quick-drying. A rain jacket or poncho/umbrella for rainy days. Hiking poles are not necessary. A small backpack (about 18-25 liters) for day hikes, with a rain cover. You’ll receive a comprehensive packing list before your departure. |
| Climate | Very variable with frequent changes in conditions. From sunny to rainy in a short time, or vice versa. Temperatures range from cool to warm, typical of Northern Europe. |
