Subject to continuing calm in the Middle East, this is our 2026 bike touring plan covering 3,300 km, 6 countries in 35 days.
Are we excited? Not yet, as it was only a week ago that we realised this trip might just happen – in the few months before, we had resigned ourselves to cancelling. We will cancel if missiles start falling again though.
I think once we are an hour out of Dubai heading to Zurich, then we will start to feel it.
It is very bittersweet for us, as we both harbor tremendous guilt with Khaleesi for that period of time, despite knowing she is well cared for, it is just not the same as what she gets at home – going to sleep on our bed for starters!
We start and finish in Switzerland at my son’s house in Stein. We will follow the Rhine River riding through three countries on day one.
Heading to the Vosges villages – I did a day trip through numerous in 2019 on a solo ride. Fairytale villages set amongst vineyards and mountains. Beautiful region of France that was once part of Germany.
We start at the mouth of the Moselle and follow the River for many days.
Arriving in Koblenz, the Moselle joins the Rhine River.
We then follow the Rhine River again up into Cologne, where I would like to visit the Cologne Cathedral.
We need to navigate some industrial areas in this region, heading into the Netherlands through Zwolle and to the very north coast.
On the northern coastline, the Lauwersmeer National Park is home to over 100 species of birds, that breed in its water, forests and grasslands, and we are riding through the Park.
Following the coast we will take a ferry ride across to Ameland Island, one of the West Frisian Islands off the north coast. It consists mostly of sand dunes and is one of the inhabited Dutch Wadden islands, forming a border between the North Sea and the Wadden Sea.
We have two nights there to explore the island that has four villages. There used to be six villages but two were flooded and now lie in the sea!.
Back on the ferry to mainland Europe and we wind our way down towards Amsterdam, spending two nights in Voldendam, a picturesque fishing village, close to Edam and within cycling distance of central Amsterdam.
We will spend a day cycling through sections of Amsterdam, likely getting a bit confused and lost with all the canals and bikes and sights. There are lots of bikes in Amsterdam it seems.
Then we head south to Delft for two nights, located between Rotterdam and The Hague. We will do a day ride through the two larger cities.
Next country is Belgium where we have two nights in Bruges which looks super pretty. I get to celebrate my 64th birthday on the second day here.
Heading further inland to Ghent we plan to catch up with a famous Zwifter, Fran Bambust. She has already booked the restaurant. Ghent is another nice looking city.
Heading south through Roubaix, and yes a visit to that famous stadium where the famous race finishes, we end up in Lille, northern France for two nights.
We do a day ride to Armentieres, to visit the site of my great uncle’s burial site from WW1 at Cite Bonjean Military Cemetery.
The cemetery contains 2,132 Commonwealth burials including 470 Australians. He was the younger brother of my grandma, Nellie Saward.
I look forward to this pilgrimage to pay homage for his ultimate sacrifice for his country.
Spending a few days in southern Belgium in towns including Mons, Namur and Teuven we head back into Germany to Aachen.
Another impressive cathedral that we will surely have a look at.
Aachen is the start of the Vennbahn, one of Europe’s longest cycle paths on a disused railway track. It heads through East Belgium into Luxembourg.
After two days we will end up in Luxembourg city, with a detour to Andy Schleck’s cycle shop – which will be closed being a Sunday so we will peer through the windows. I did have a local Zwifter offer to introduce us to Andy which was amazing, but I felt Andy would surely have better things to do!!
Then it is back into Germany, following the Saar River, through more Vosge villages and Colmar heading back into Switzerland.
A comprehensive route, with a lot more detail than I could possibly put here – more a teaser.
So, let’s hope the Middle East stays quiet, as we are routed via Dubai to Zurich. We did look at rerouting but it was an additional $7,000 on top of what we had already paid.
I have ridden 33,036 km outside of Australia now, with New Zealand sitting on 6,749 km and France in second spot on 6,565 km. France will take the lead after this trip, so I do hear New Zealand calling again!
Please join us vicariously as we continue our annual 3,000 km plus holidays, whilst we still can!!
Let peace reign.
yakkablog 