Why Our Ski Experts Recommend a Freedom Treks Cycling Holiday

 For three decades, the Ski Safari team has lived and breathed fresh mountain air, helping you discover the world’s best ski resorts and experiences. But to celebrate our landmark 30th anniversary, we decided to trade our ski boots for pedals. We headed across the North Sea for an epic two-day bike tour in the Netherlands, guided by our very own cycling company, Freedom Treks.

If you love the exceptional service and our team's first-hand knowledge on a Ski Safari holiday, you’re going to love how we do summers. We acquired Freedom Treks back in 2011. Ever since, our two teams have worked side-by-side under the same roof in our Hove office, sharing the exact same passion for unforgettable active travel experiences. Every year, once the snow starts to melt and the ski season wraps up, we join forces for a company weekend away to celebrate. This year, we let Freedom Treks show us how they do what they do best!

Our custom cycling route was inspired by Freedom Treks’ popular Green Heart of Holland Bike Tour, a stunning itinerary that winds from Utrecht to Gouda via Amsterdam.

Ready to see how the ski team handled life on two wheels? Read on to find out why a cycling holiday should be your next big adventure, browse all Freedom Treks tours in the Netherlands, or check out Freedom Treks' expert guide to the best bike tours from Amsterdam for some serious summer inspiration.

Day 1 - Arriving in Amsterdam

After landing in Amsterdam around midday, we spent a vibrant afternoon wandering the picturesque streets and canals before enjoying skyline views from the top of A'DAM Tower and a sunset canal cruise with a barbecue and a few drinks. It was a jam-packed afternoon and evening of seeing the best of Amsterdam, but we were ready to see what a Freedom Treks holiday had in store for us the next day!

The team saw all the sights in Amsterdam, including the colourful, leaning buildings along the waterfront - seen best from a sunset canal boat tour in our opinion!

Day 2 - Amsterdam to Utrecht - 62km / 39 miles

After pedalling out of Amsterdam along easy-to-follow cycle lanes, we cycled along scenic canals and past historic windmills, stopping for stroopwafel snacks and picturesque waterside drinks. We arrived in Utrecht late afternoon, and had a wonderful evening strolling along Utrecht's quaint streets.

We enjoyed beautifully quiet paths on our way to Utrecht, passing rivers and plenty of majestic windmills. Our team highlight included a hand-cranked cable ferry!

Day 3 - Utrecht Loop - 44km / 27 miles

We rode a fantastic looped route that included the historic Soesterberg Air Base and a traditional Dutch pancake lunch in Lage Vuursche, before returning to our hotel and transferring back to Amsterdam Airport Schiphol.

Cycling from Utrecht included plenty of forested cycleways, weaving through idyllic villages and through lush countryside

Why our team of ski experts recommends a Freedom Treks cycling holiday

"It’s exceptionally easy for first-time cyclists" - Anna, Operations Assistant Manager

The Netherlands is famously flat, and cycling is an every-day mode of transport for the Dutch. This is the perfect set-up for first-time riders; no intense racing or steep hills to battle with. Instead, expect great cycling surfaces and high-quality bikes and storage space for a day of pedalling through picturesque countryside.

Operations Assistant Manager Anna says: "As an extreme novice to cycling, I felt slightly daunted at the thought of cycling 38 miles between Amsterdam and Utrecht. I need not have worried about swapping skis for wheels though. It's exceptionally easy for first-time cyclists, and following flat cycle paths the whole way through lovely countryside was like a dream."

Like Anna (left), many of our team had never been on a cycling holiday before, so we were all in the same boat and all had a fantastic time!

Chloe, Sales Specialist, felt similarly reassured: "As someone who doesn’t cycle regularly, I was pleasantly surprised by how easy the bikes were to use. They came with plenty of storage space in the panniers for all-important snacks. Having everything prepared by the Freedom Treks team meant I felt comfortable, confident, and safe throughout."

"The journey is part of the experience" - Karla, Tour Coordinator

When you take a train or a bus between cities, you miss everything in between. On a bike, the journey is the holiday. We started in a vibrant, polished Amsterdam - enjoying a sunny evening canal cruise that Product and Sales Manager Andy Knights ranked as "among my favourite experiences in nearly 19 years with Ski Safari"!

Ophelia, Tour Coordinator, was amazed by how quickly the landscape transformed: "Once we were out of the city, the landscape transformed rapidly into beautiful countryside with green fields, flowery meadows, woods, and of course, several windmills!"

Our team enjoyed the many beautiful sights along the way... including windmills, pretty villages, boats cruising down serene rivers to name a few!

Tour Coordinator Karla agrees, and says: "What really made the weekend special was the journey between the two cities - it really was part of the experience! The route was beautiful, and I loved that I was able to see parts of the Netherlands that I wouldn’t ordinarily see on a city break. Cycling through the countryside definitely beat taking the train!"

"It’s a leisurely and social way to travel" - Chloe, Sales Specialist

A Freedom Treks cycling holiday isn't a race from Point A to Point B. Using a reliable GPS navigation app, our group navigated effortlessly at our own pace, meaning there was plenty of time to stop and enjoy features along the way.

Chloe says: "It's a leisurely and social way to travel - you have all day to chat with your friends and spot interesting features of villages and countryside you pass through. A highlight included a hand-cranked cable ferry river crossing!"

Chloe (right) had the fun challenge of manoeuvring a hand-cranked cable ferry across the river... it's a good job she's also a powerlifter, we zoomed across the river in no time!

"My group enjoyed spotting wildlife along the way, including adorable farm animals, such as piglets and lambs! There’s so much to see and do - including snapping pictures of windmills and watching drawbridges rise for boats meandering along still canals - that I’d definitely recommend taking your time rather than rushing."

And, of course, no holiday is complete without proper fuel. The route was dotted with picturesque villages, local cafés, and riverside stops perfectly placed for stroopwafel snacks, pancake lunches, and well-deserved drinks.

Members of our ski and cycle team - Craig, Matt, Catherine, Evan, Victoria, Andy and Sarah - paused for a serene Dutch lunch on the way to Utrecht

"We were spoilt for choice on the cafés and restaurants," says Anna. "Our favourite was 'Restaurant the Riverside' just outside Breukelen, where we stopped for a round of well-deserved beers and Aperol Spritzes to fuel our last few miles into Utrecht!"

"Seamless travel logistics" - Dexter, Sales Consultant

As ski specialists operating across the world, we prioritise seamless travel for all our customers, and our standards are incredibly high. A Freedom Treks cycling holiday prioritises the same values for all customers, so it was no surprise that we felt looked after and well-informed throughout the whole weekend.

"The whole cycling holiday was seamless, and you could really trust that everything would go to plan. I was impressed by the luggage transfer that comes with this travel style. You could leave your bags at the hotel reception as you check out and trust that it would be there waiting for you at your next check-in later that day," says Dexter Clark, Sales Consultant. "Being greeted by my belongings was a welcome sight, and it was reassuring to know we could set out to explore my new destination right away."

Dexter (third from the left) outside our hotel in Amsterdam. We collected our bikes from the basement of the hotel, which had plenty of room to take our bikes for a test ride.

Sales Specialist Alec noted how much it reminded him of his favourite winter trips: "Having previously travelled on several ski trips with Ski Safari, I really appreciated the similar style of travel - setting off with all logistics considered and taken care of and simply enjoying the adventure ahead without any hassle."

"Suitable for all ages and cycling abilities" - Andy Knights, Product and Sales Manager

You know a trip was a success when a group of ski fanatics comes home ready to book a cycling holiday for their own friends.

Take it from Product and Sales Manager Andy Knights, a self-proclaimed least-likely cyclist: "For someone who generally considers sitting on a saddle for more than 20 minutes an endurance sport, you could argue I’m the least likely person to become an advocate for cycling holidays. Yet here I am enthusiastically preaching the wonders of two-wheeled travel.

Smiles all around as Andy Knights (second from the left) and the team (Richard, Jess, Anna, Rupert and Katie) stood on the Netherlands' famous drawbridge

"I enjoyed it so much that halfway through the trip I declared to my skiing friends that we HAD to do this exact same itinerary. It really is a breezy way to travel and see wonders as you go, and definitely suitable for all ages and biking abilities."

Whether you want to explore the vibrant canals of Utrecht, pedal past historic windmills, or simply enjoy the freedom of the open path with the logistics entirely handled for you, a Freedom Treks cycling holiday is the ultimate stress-free getaway.

Our team’s top tips for your first cycling tour:

• Ophelia: "Take lots of photos! It’s great at the end of each day to look back and see just how much terrain you covered and how much you saw in a short space of time."
• Karla: "Pack a pair of padded cycling shorts - your body will thank you by day two!"
• Andy: "Eat well at breakfast and keep lunch relatively light. Carbohydrates are a cyclist’s best friend - and extremely effective at soaking up any local ales from the night before. Purely for recovery purposes, of course."

Ready to swap your skis for wheels?

Freedom Treks offer 165 hotel & bike and boat & bike tours across Europe and Asia which all range in variety, ability and length. As a team, Freedom Treks take all the logistics out of your hands - just like we do on the snow.

Don't hesitate to reach out to the knowledgeable team at Freedom Treks if you have any questions or are seeking further inspiration. You can enquire online or call Freedom Treks on +44 (0)1273 224066.

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