Discover the Netherlands' second largest nature reserve: the Veluwe. This beautiful nature reserve is a paradise for hikers, cyclists and nature lovers. You will find vast forests, sand drifts, heath and beautiful gravel routes. During this trip, you will explore the Veluwe and also make a trip to the Utrechtse Heuvelrug. You stay overnight in nice hotels and on a beautiful campsite in the middle of nature.

Duration 8 days / 7 nights
Length 472 km
Surface 51% paved / 49% unpaved
Difficulty (2,5)
Guided tour

Day 1 Arrival in Wageningen

You will travel on your own to Wageningen, the city where on 5 May 1945 Germany signed for the end of the war in the Netherlands. The city also known for its universities and research institutes in agriculture, environment, ecology and forestry.

Day 2 Roundtrip Utrechtse Heuvelrug (96 km)

Explore the Utrechtse Heuvelrug and Gelderse Vallei. The first part of the journey you cycle through the forests of the Utrechtse Heuvelrug. You will conquer such executioners as 'the Defensieweg’, 'Ruiterberg' and the 'Pyramid of Austerlitz'.  The second part of the stage takes you through Gelderse Vallei, the ride flattens out here and provides beautiful views. After a long day in the saddle, you return to the hotel with stunning views over the Rhine. 

• Distance: 95,6 km
• Elevation: 489 m
• Paved/Unpaved: 59% / 41%

Day 3 Wageningen – Velp (84 km)

For the first part of the ride, you never stay far from the Rhine. You climb the famous ’Italian Road’ and after 15 km you climb out of the Rhine valley and enter the Veluwe. You cycle through the largest nature reserve in the Netherlands. An alternation of forests, heathland, fens and sand drifts. This delightful stage ends at a campsite where you will spend the coming two nights in the middle of nature.

• Distance: 84,5 km
• Elevation: 567 m
• Paved/Unpaved: 52% / 48%

Day 4 Roundtrip Veluwezoom (75 km)

Today's stage is mostly on the Gravel Route across Veluwezoom National Park. Climbs, descents, forest paths and singletracks, everything is covered today. Watch out for crossing wildlife today. Chances of red deer, boar, Scottish Highlanders, roe deer and foxes. These 'Dutch Big Five' all have the Veluwezoom as their habitat. After the first 25 km with a some hilly parts, you cycle the next 30 km on the most beautiful roads in the flat IJsselvallei, after which you return to the Veluwezoom and climb some more altitude metres through woods and heathland.

• Distance: 75,4 km
• Elevation: 522 m
• Paved/Unpaved: 51% / 49%

Day 5 Velp – Elspeet (73 km)

Another challenging day awaits. After leaving the campsite, you cycle straight up to the Rozendaalsche Veld. From Hoenderloo another great challenge awaits, 25 km of mountain bike route with climbs, descents and beautiful singletracks. Radio Kootwijk (near the largest sand drift in Western Europe) is a nice place for a break, after which you continue your way through forest reserves and over country estates to your hotel on Landgoed Stakenberg.

• Distance: 72,9 km
• Elevation: 393 m
• Paved/Unpaved: 48% / 52%

Day 6 Roundtrit Crown Domain het Loo (83 km)

A beautiful round trip takes you today over still undiscovered parts of the northern side of the Veluwe. You cycle across Crown Estate Het Loo, the hunting grounds of our king, and are presented with a constant alternation of forest, heath and meadows.  Those in need of some extra rest can shorten the route to 65 km. 

• Distance: 82,9 km
• Elevation: 438 m
• Paved/Unpaved: 36% / 64%

Day 7 Elspeet – Wageningen (61 km)

The last cycling day of this trip is a relatively easy day where you cross the Veluwe from the northern part to the point where you started your journey. Enjoy the natural beauty one more time in the Speulder and Sprielder forests or on the breathtaking piece of nature Planken Wambuis. After the last ascent of the Wageningse Berg, the cycling part of the journey is over.

• Distance: 60,8 km
• Elevation: 312 m
• Paved/Unpaved: 62% / 38%

Day 8 departure from Wageningen

After breakfast, your holiday came to an end

Wageningen: Fletcher Hotel Wageningse Berg

This modern, recently renovated hotel offers you a stunning view on the Rhine Valley. It’s ideally situated not far from three National Parks.

Velp: Buitenplaats Beekhuizen

This campsite is situated in the middle of nature. You will stay with 3 or 4 persons in luxury XL Lodgetents with own toilet and bathroom.

Elspeet: Landgoedhotel Stakenberg

A hotel, beautiful siuated in the middle of an estate. Basic rooms but a wonderful terrace and bar will make you feel great here.

In the hotels, you will stay in a twin room with another participant of the tour. On Buitenplaats Beekhuizen, you will stay in a tent with 3 or 4 persons (everyone with your own bed). If you want to book a single room in the hotels, you will have to pay the single surcharge. It’s not possible to book a tent for your own in Velp.

If you book for a single room, you will only have single rooms during the 5 hotel stays, on the campsite, you will still share the tent with others.

Included

• 5 nights stay in hotel (twin room)
• 2 nights in 3 or 4 person tent on campsite
• 7x breakfast
• 7x dinner (excluding drinks)
• 7x lunch
• Tourist tax
• Luggage transport
• Guide on bike
• Support van
• Route description in GPX file
• Vignette for cycling on Veluwezoom and Utrechtse Heuvelrug

Excluded

• Any other meals
• Insurance
• Bike rental
• Drinks
• Energiebars during cycling
• Travel to and from starthotel

• Rental bike available, price on request
• Helmets not included