Bike & Sail cruise from Germany to Great Britain with visit of Guernsey and Scilly Islands
A successful concept at terranova for years: your room travels with you on this tour! We have combined the sailing cruise on the stylish 5-star three-masted full-rigged ship SEA CLOUD SPIRIT and cycling with terranova to create an enjoyable cycling cruise for you. It is wonderful to return to your cozy cabin on board the ship after a cycling and hiking excursion. In the evening, it's not far to the ship's own restaurant, where you can relax and enjoy a delicious dinner.
The combination of carefully planned cycling and walking tours and a luxurious cruise with exquisite comfort allows you to explore beautiful landscapes from the water and from land and to be pampered in the process. Explore southern England and Cornwall by bike. Blooming gardens, gentle dunes, and rugged cliffs await you on wonderful hikes on the Channel Island of Guernsey and the Scilly Islands. The seafaring towns of Portsmouth and Dartmouth are steeped in history. You can also experience Northern Ireland's hip capital from a bike!
Highlights
- Idyllic cycling and hiking trails along the coast
- Overnight stays on the luxurious windjammer Sea Cloud SPIRIT
- Dartmoor National Park
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ITINERARY
Day 1: Arrival in London/Portsmouth
Individual flights to London Heathrow Airport in the morning. The Tour starts with the shared transfer at noon from Heathrow Airport to Portsmouth. Before boarding we enjoy the breathtaking view from the Spinnaker Tower of the surrounding area up to the Isle of Wight (weather-dependent) and stroll among the Elizabethan facades of the picturesque Dartmouth. Boarding on the Sea Cloud Spirit in the late afternoon, departure from the harbor and the first dinner on board.
Day 2: Renoir's Favorite Channel Island, Guernsey | 6km Hike
The Channel Islands are emerald green spots in the blue sea, surrounded by a wreath of pink granite and white spray. A mixture of French lifestyle and romantic "Rosamunde Pilcher-England" makes the Channel Islands so charming. Just behind the charming harbor town of St. Peter Port rises a wild coastline with steep capes and picturesque coves. This rugged landscape, carved by wind and waves, enchanted the painter Renoir. The most beautiful hike on the island begins at his favorite bay, where you stroll along narrow paths and immerse yourself in a green-clad cliff path. The views of the inaccessible coast and the sea are delightful.
Day 3: Dartmoor National Park | 55km Bike
Greetings from Sherlock Holmes! The infamous Dartmoor, located near the sailing haven Dartmouth, once served as a royal hunting ground and was declared a national park in 1949. Our fantastic bike tour winds its way, much like the numerous small rivers, from the high moorland back to the sea.
Day 4: Cornwall - Land's End | 26km Bike
The cycling routes around Land's End are hilly, and a strong wind often blows. With the e-bike, you'll enjoy views of the spectacular coastline. There are places you can hardly miss during a trip to Cornwall. Land's End is a symbolic place: the western end of the British mainland. The name itself evokes a sense of longing! After a break at Land's End, we cycle northeast to a spectacular stretch of the coast. During a hike on the "South West Coast Path," you can let your gaze wander towards America.
Day 5: Tresco Abbey Garden | 4km Hike
To the Scilly Islands! Tresco is the second-largest of the Scilly Islands and a subtropical gem. It is the only island in private ownership, currently owned by Lucy and Robert Dorrien Smith. This island is full of surprises—from spectacular cliffs and Bronze Age tombs to romantic castle ruins and secluded beaches, and, of course, the world-famous Tresco Abbey Garden, created by Augustus Smith in the 1830s.
Day 6: A Day Under Sail
Today, you can learn about the navigation of your sailboat during a bridge tour.
Day 7: Northern Ireland's Capital, Belfast | 15 km Bike
After a short transfer to the center of Belfast, the Belfast Highlights Bike Tour begins in the historic Titanic Quarter. Your guide delves into the history of the famous luxury liner. From the Titanic Quarter, continue your bike tour through Belfast, exploring the Cathedral Quarter, the hotspot of Belfast with world-famous street art, the city's oldest pub, and St. George's Market, where you can enjoy the culinary delights of Ireland.
Day 8: Disembarkation in Dublin
After breakfast, the joint disembarkation takes place in Dublin.
ROUTE: The total distance for the five cycling and hiking days is 106 km. You will predominantly cycle and hike on mostly flat terrain, using bike paths, gravel paths, forest trails, and lightly trafficked secondary roads.
The planned route is always subject to change due to nautical, meteorological or organizational reasons. Among other things, in the event of a strong storm, the captain may decide that the route must be changed for your safety. This is not a legal reason for free withdrawal from the trip.
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ARRIVAL & DEPARTURE
We recommend arriving by plane to London and departing from Dublin. You can book your flight together with your travel registration with terranova.
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MEETING POINT
Your tour guide will meet you at noon at the Arrival Area at London Heathrow Airport for the transfer to Portsmouth. Boarding on the Sea Cloud SPIRIT in the harbour of Portsmouth will start at 4:00 PM. The pier's name and your terranova tour guide's details will be provided with the travel documents, at the latest, 2 weeks before the trip.
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PRE-NIGHT OR POST-NIGHT ACCOMMODATION
An extension stay in Dublin is highly recommended. The city offers a wealth of opportunities to fill multiple days with interesting activities. We are happy to assist you in booking hotels in Dublin.
We can make free reservations for you in our contract hotels (properties associated with our tours). For all other reservations, we charge EUR 10 for the first booking and EUR 5 for each additional booking (up to a maximum of EUR 25) to cover our communication costs (fax, phone, postage, etc.). We appreciate your understanding!
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ADDITIONAL TRAVEL INFORMATION
During the day and on cycling excursions, dress comfortably and casually. Rain gear is a "must" and should be included in your luggage. Temperature changes can be significant within a single day. The "layering" principle, wearing multiple layers of sweaters and thin jackets, has proven effective. If you wish to use a helmet, you can bring your own or rent one for a fee of €20 in sizes S/M/L (pre-reservation recommended).
For evenings on board, you determine the style of your clothing—whether casual or summer-fine. Only during the traditional Captain's Dinner (twice per trip) is a bit more elegance a popular ritual.
Tour Guide + Ship's Crew
The onboard language is German, and the ship's crew speaks exclusively in German. In addition to the ship's crew, you will also have your familiar terranova tour guide, who exclusively takes care of our guests. The reception on board is open continuously.
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*All distances are approximate. The itinerary is subject to change, at times without prior notice. Some waterways may be subject to occasional closures due to drought, storms, floods, canal or lock repairs, or other unforeseen circumstances that make navigation unsafe or impossible. The captain reserves the right to make any changes deemed necessary.
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In deviation from our general terms and conditions, the following payment and cancellation conditions apply to this trip:
10 % of the travel price up to the 210th day before the start of the trip
20 % of the tour price 209th - 150th day before the start of the tour
35 % of the tour price 149th - 50th day before the start of the tour
50 % of the tour price 49th - 22nd day before the start of the tour
70 % of the tour price 21. - 15. day before the start of the tour
85 % of the tour price 14th - 1st day before the start of the tour
95 % of the tour price on the day of travel or in case of no-show
*When you receive our travel confirmation and the security certificate, a deposit per person of 25% of the tour price is due.
The minimum number of participants of the Sea Cloud Spirit bike cruise is 8 persons.
