Ride Director Comments

Ride Description

OVERVIEW:  If you look at a map of the Netherlands, there is a little teardrop of land in the Limburg Province that hangs off to the south, nestled between Belgium and Germany with the beautiful historic university city of Maastricht in the center. This is the starting point for our 14-day 3-country tour exploring picturesque villages with whitewashed and half-timbered homes, green nature reserves, castles, ancient abbeys, breweries, archeological sites, national parks, Roman history, WWII history and more. The region has been a key player during Roman times, the Carolingian Dynasty, the Industrial Revolution, and WWII up to the present. Distances are moderate, so you can maximize your exploration time. The longest mandatory cycling day is 62 km (38 miles) and 883 m (2907 ft) elevation.

This loop ride, beginning and ending in Maastricht, takes you on a little-known rail-trail, on numbered and well-marked sections of Eurovelo routes, Meuse (Maas River) cycle route, Archeo-route Limburg, German Rur Radweg and others.

This is the third time this tour has been offered.  All routes will have been scouted as of the end of  the second tour in September 2026.

ITINERARY AND HIGHLIGHTS

Day 1 Tue 5/18      We will meet for a 'get to know you' social hour at 5:30 pm at the NH Maastricht hotel. Maastricht is one of the oldest cities in the Netherlands, settled by Romans at the beginning of the first century.

Day 2 Wed 5/19      (27 km or 17 mi. 565 m, 1853 ft.)   Today we ride a short distance from our hotel in Maastricht which gives you time to explore the Valkenburg area and go cave biking if you choose! You can also climb to the Castle Ruins (the only castle built on a hill in the Netherlands) and view the Velvet Caves, a maze of 12th century passageways beneath the Castle Ruins. You can then wander through the Old Town where you'll find many restaurants and cafes to enjoy.

Day 3 Thurs 5/20 (66 km or 41 mi, 330 m, 1082 ft.)   Today we ride from our hotel in Maastricht for an educational, scenic and varied ride following sections of the LF Maasroute (https://www.lfmaasroute.nl/en), Eurovelo 19 (Meuse Cycle Route https://en.eurovelo.com/ev19) and the Archeo-Route Limburg (https://archeoroutelimburg.nl/en). The landscape along the Maas river bears many traces of the battle between man and water.

Day 4 Fri 5/21 (62 km or 38 mi. 886 m, 2907 ft.) Today we move from Maastricht to  the Balmoral Region of  Belgium, a picturesque area nestled in the Ardennes mountains. After 23 km (14 mi) you will come to the Abbey of Val Dieu, near Aubel which was founded in 1216 by Cistercian monks.

Day 5 Sat 5/22  Flex day in Balmoral - optional ride available

Day 6 Sun 5/23 (43 km or 27 mi. 520 m, 1706 ft.)   Today we move to Monschau, Germany, a charming resort town with half timbered houses, narrow cobblestone streets with the River Rur running through it.   You will be riding through forested areas, and along the little known paved rail trail,the Venn Bahn.

Day 7 Mon 5/24  Flex day in Monschau - optional ride available

Day 8  Tue  5/25     (46 km or 29 mi, 257m, 843 ft)  We’ll be moving north to Duren today, following the border between Belgium and Germany at times. You’ll pass through a charming swath of Western Germany that combines old towns, forested hills, river valleys and gentle lowlands. An 11 km unpaved cycle path takes you along side the RUR River (Rur Bank Cycle Route) 

Day 9  Wed  5/26     (48 km or 28 mi,706m, 2316 ft)   Your destination today is Vaals, Netherlands,  a small city straddling both Belgian and German borders. Vaals is known for the nearby Drielandenpunt , the tripoint on the Dutch, German and Belgian borders, the only place in the Netherlands, where the 3 points touch and it's only a few minutes from the hotel. 

Day 10  Thurs  5/27   Flex day in Vaals    A day to explore Vaals and area. Optional routes will be provided for today.

Day 11  Fri   5/28 (30 km or 18 mi, 260 m, 853 ft)  This will be a mixed day of riding to our final destination, Maastricht, where we will spend 2 more full days to experience guided tour in historic caves under the city and to ride to the oldest town in Belgium, Tongeren.

Day 12  Sat   5/29   Today we'll experience a 2.5 hr tour in the tunnels under Maastricht. We have arranged a special WWll underground excursion for our group.

Day 13  Sun   5/30   (60 km or 37 mi, 246m, 807 ft)     An opportunity today to cycle to the charming town of Tongeren, the oldest city in Belgium. Visit the Gallo - Roman museum https://galloromeinsmuseum.be/en/, an archeological museum dedicated to prehistoric times and Roman age of the region.  

Day 14  Mon   5/31   Departure day     Return of rental bikes today.

RIDE RATING: The ride rating of this tour is 2A, with 12 ride days, 5 mandatory. The mandatory ride days have an average distance of 45 km or 28 miles and 526 m or 1727 feet elevation. Day 4, a move day, is the longest ride at 62 km (38mi) 886 m (2907 ft), which is at the low end of a B rating ride for distance and at the "3" level for elevation gain, with short steep grades. Most of the riding will be on dedicated cycle paths or on quiet farm roads. Some sections are unpaved on hard packed gravel or dirt; some sections are on main roads with bicycle lanes. All routes have been planned with RideWithGPS, following designated international routes and regional and local routes.

LOGISTICS: The tour starts and ends in Maastricht, Limburg, Netherlands. To get to the centrally located NH Maastricht hotel from Schiphol Amsterdam airport, there are direct trains to Maastricht Central station which leave regularly; then there is another short train ride, taxi or bus to the hotel.

We will be riding mostly on paved trails and on dirt or crushed packed-rock paths, roads, and cobblestones for short stretches. All bikes for this tour should have at least 32 mm tires. E-bikes are acceptable. Tandems are accepted but are difficult to transport on local trains should the riders opt to shorten any day’s route by taking the train.

Rental bikes will be available through COURTENS BIKE SPORTS (Courtensbikesports.nl) in Maastricht. Other options are also available, if the type of bikes at Courtens is not suitable. Participants are responsible for and must pay separately for their bike rentals. 

We will arrange for storage of your bike box at the hotel if needed - please confirm with the ride leader if you need storage. Arrival one night before the start date is recommended for those who have rented a bicycle. It is the participant’s responsibility to book the extra night – the leaders will provide details about the starting hotel.

ETIAS Travel Authorization: ETIAS stands for the European Travel Information and Authorisation System. It is a visa waiver for short-term stays in Europe and has been in the works for almost a decade. ETIAS is not a visa but it will be required for some travelers to the EU, including Americans and Canadians. The roll-out is currently expected to begin at some point in Q4 2026. More information on the requirement will be provided to tour participants by January 2027. More information can be found here: https://etias.com.

LODGING AND MEALS: The tour cost includes 13 nights’ accommodation in 3-4 star hotels, including breakfast, 13 happy hours with a glass of wine/beer or soft drink and 7 group dinners where participants will be responsible for their own drinks. Lunches and daytime snacks will be on your own with many options to choose from along the routes.

WEATHER: The average May high temperature is approximately 63F (17C) with lows averaging 49F (9C) and being in the mountains there is likely to be some rain. Riders should be prepared for all types of weather.

LUGGAGE: The van will transport the luggage each move day. Each rider is expected to drop off their luggage at the announced time. Participants are expected to handle their own luggage and to help with loading and unloading the van. Due to limited space and handling requirements, we limit everyone to two pieces of luggage. Each piece of luggage must not exceed 25 lbs. Two small duffel bags tend to work well.

CUE SHEETS, MAPS AND GPS FILES: RWGPS routes will be provided approximately 1 month prior to the start of the tour. Participants will receive an email containing a link to the EVENT file. Participants will need to have downloaded (at the minimum) the free version of the RWGPS app to receive the voice turn-by-turn directions. RWGPS can be run on a Garmin device and/or smartphone. Participants wanting cue sheets or maps will need to print their own from the file provided.

COST AND ADMIN: The tour cost is USD $3600, which includes luggage transfers on all mandatory ride days. The cost is based on an exchange rate of 1 Euro = 1.29 USD. A deposit of $2000 is due within 7 days of being accepted on the ride. The final payment of USD $1600 is due November 1, 2026. The final payment may be adjusted depending on the USD/Euro currency exchange rate.

HEALTH AND SAFETY: Participants are expected to come to the tour in good health and ready to ride. Should someone's health become compromised and the group’s health and safety placed in jeopardy, a plan will be developed by the ride leaders and communicated to all individuals. The expectation is for the group to work together to mitigate any spread of infection or illness to ensure the tour can continue as planned.

SINGLES AND SOLO: Singles and solos are a great addition to any ride and are most welcome to join. A “single” is a participant who wishes to share a room. It is highly recommended that singles find their own roommate prior to signing up. The Ride Leader will assist in matching up singles who apply for the ride. If a roommate is found, both single riders will then be put on the Pending list and their deposits and all other payments due will be required at that time.

A “solo” is a person who does not wish to share a room and pays the solo supplement of $1,500 by check or Zelle by November 1, 2026. Instructions for making the solo supplement payment will be shared with solo participants as needed. Due to limited hotel capacity, this tour will only accept 2 solos.

CANCELLATION POLICY: The BAC Ride Registration Fee and Payment Processing Fees are not refundable unless the entire tour is canceled because the number of participants registered is less than the minimum established for the tour. Refunds of tour payments will depend upon whether a replacement rider signs onto the tour and what costs can be recouped. The amount refunded will be based on the principle that the tour’s remaining participants will not incur any additional cost as a result of cancellations. If the canceling participant is replaced, a refund will be made at that time. If the canceling participant cannot be replaced, any refund will be determined after the ride and final expense report are completed. If a single participant cancels and another roommate cannot be found, in addition to other costs that cannot be recouped the canceling roommate may also be liable for additional costs incurred by a single occupying a double room. BAC encourages members to purchase trip cancellation insurance.

RIDE PARTICIPANT RESPONSIBILITY: Please remember that BAC Ride Leaders are volunteers, and that successful tours depend on participants providing much of their own support. Participants are expected to come to the ride well trained, in good health and ready to accomplish the required daily riding using well-maintained bicycles. All participants should accept responsibility for a safe and enjoyable tour. We encourage you to read the ride description carefully and respond to requests from the Ride Leader. While on the ride, support your Ride Leader with offers to help with various tasks such as happy hour preparation and clean up. We ask all participants not to interfere with the ride by inviting non-participants onto any portion of the ride or tour. Please keep the Ride Leader informed of any special request you might have and respect the Ride Leader’s decisions.

INSURANCE STATEMENT: BAC maintains two insurance policies: a) United States, and b) Foreign (all other countries). Both the U.S. and Foreign policies are considered secondary policies to your personal medical insurance policy. They are subject to a $1000 deductible and may not cover all expenses related to an accident. Copies of the current policies are located under the “Docs” tab on the BAC website.

Before participating in any BAC tour, you should assess whether your medical and travel insurance coverage is sufficient. While touring in the U.S, the BAC insurance includes coverage for injuries due to accidents during the bike trip. Members’ personal insurance will need to cover medical emergencies such as sudden and unexpected illness (i.e. treatment for unexpected illnesses, including Covid, are not covered).

While touring internationally, i.e., outside of the U.S., BAC maintains Foreign accident insurance to assist with expenses related to accidents, medical emergencies (including sudden and unexpected sickness), and repatriation. Insurance will apply door-to-door for treatment and travel for a maximum of 90 days overall. Coverage extends to a limited period spanning the published BAC trip dates, allowing for side trips occurring before and after the BAC ride; the limitation period is 7 days before or after the published BAC trip dates. The policy covers the cost of treatment for Covid and other unexpected illnesses, but not quarantine.

SIGN-UP: To register for this ride, use the sign-up links just above the Ride Description. After preliminary acceptance, you will be moved to the pending list and receive an email requesting you to go back to the BAC site to digitally accept the terms of the Release of Liability (ROL) and pay the Tour Deposit and the non-refundable BAC Ride Registration Fee by credit card. There is a $150.00 international ride fee. As soon as your deposit has been processed and you have signed the ROL, your name(s) will be added to the Participant List. BAC members with questions may contact the Ride Director by "clicking" the name at the top of this Ride Description.