Bike Tour: Wadden Islands, Ameland & Schier - 7 days

Arrive in Pieterburen and settle in at your accommodation. Then jump right in with a visit to the seal centre or bike to Noordpolderzijl, the Netherlands’ smallest seaport and a favourite with the locals. Get your first taste of Groningen at dinner in the village and stroll to the seawall to admire the ever-changing mudflats.

You wake up in North Groningen, where flat land stretches out along the Wad with occasional mounds of the Wierden here and there. A short ride takes you to the Westpolder and Lauwersmeer National Park, where that island feeling begins to emerge. In Lauwersoog you catch the 12:30 or 15:30 boat to Schiermonnikoog and still have plenty of time to cycle to your hotel via the Westerplas.

We always try to book our standard hotel for the regular rate. However, due to the popularity of Schiermonnikoog, we may have to change to another, more expensive hotel on the island. This will be done in consultation. We therefore recommend booking early to avoid price increases.

The call of seagulls and salty island air, with the Wad to one side and the North Sea beach to the other. Grey-green beach grasses reach as far as the eye can see, briefly interrupted by a red or white lighthouse on the horizon. Though just ‘briefly’. The one sole tiny village can only be reached by bike, and there’s so much to do and so little time! Take a saltwater dip, stop for lunch at Paviljoen Paal 3, hit the beach for seal-spotting on the Balg, paddle in the Berkenplas, dine as the sun sinks into the sea or browse at boutiques in the village. Still not tired? ‘De Tox’ Bar stays open until late. Or curl up with a good book and rest up for tomorrow.

Your Wadden Island party is not over yet, you’ve got a second island to explore: Ameland. Take a morning boat then ride alongside the Frisian seawall to quaint hamlets such as Paessens, Wierum and 't Skoar. Pause at 't Fiskershúske Museum in Moddergat then pedal hard against the west wind to Holwerd Harbour. Tonight will be spent on Ameland in the village of Nes.

Enjoy the entire day on Ameland with over 100 km of cycle paths and 27 km of sandy beaches. A lovely island with lots of natural beauty, tranquillity and space. Visit charming villages like Hollum, Ballum, Nes and Buren, each with its own character and local shops. Climb up the striking lighthouse, stroll through endless dunes and take to the North Sea beach. That special Wadden Island atmosphere permeates everything. You’ll find ‘nobeltje’ on every menu but it’s best to save it for the evening, when your hotel is not too far away ...

As the ship's horn blows, Ameland Island slowly melds with the horizon. Soon you approach the Frisian Coast for the final stage of this wonderful Wadden trip. Your route leads to Holwerd and pretty Dokkum on the ‘eleven cities’ circuit. Leaving the neighbouring province behind, you cycle at the edge of Lauwersmeer National Park back toward Groningen. Stop off to see colourful fisherman's houses at old Zoutkamp Harbour, beautifully situated on the Reitdiep. Winding past the ‘wierde’ of Ulrum, Houwerzijl tea factory and Verhildersum ‘borg’ in Leens, you’ll feel the real Hogeland of peaceful space and reach Pieterburen at the end of the day.

Now you’ve seen the Wad and all the beauty of two Wadden Islands and a bit of Groningen. See you again soon!