Boat Bike Tours is expanding its boutique barge experience in 2026 with a new 15-day Belgium & France itinerary that cruises and cycles along the Somme River, where the company’s barge Fleur is the only passenger ship offering multiday trips.
For travelers seeking a more intimate experience, boutique barges like the Fleur provide a “home away from home.” Captained by their owner, they blend comfort, warm hospitality and the ability to cruise narrow rivers and canals that larger ships can’t.
“Our boutique barges are really at the heart of our style of travel,” said Laurens Winkel, CEO of Boat Bike Tours. “They’re small and comfortable with a welcoming crew, so they can take guests biking in towns other ships can’t reach and let them settle in and connect on a personal level. The barge’s owner is also the captain and can share insight on local history, culture and the landscape. It’s a truly authentic way to travel.”
Home Away from Home
The welcoming atmosphere of boutique barges like the Fleur begins as soon as guests step on board, when the owner is the first to meet them and offer a helping hand.
“Traveling on a small barge is quite special – it’s like having a home away from home,” said Steffie Kranz, owner of the Fleur. “It’s warm, friendly and has everything you need when you aren’t biking, from a cabin of your own to space to socialize. Everyone gets to know each other, and some guests even end up traveling together again.”
Each barge has its own cozy charm and a crew focused on making guests feel at home. The Fleur’s cabins feature comfy beds with flowery linens, ample lighting and cabinet space, and private bathrooms. A roomy sitting area is a place to engage in a lively chat, watch the scenery pass or put your feet up for a nap. Dinner is a time to gather around tables, relive the day’s ride and savor the chef’s menu of Flemish and northern French recipes. And fresh-cut blooms add colorful accents throughout.
The coziness of the barge extends to its ability to cruise through narrow canals and calm backwaters, and dock in small harbors. Today, the Fleur is the only barge taking guests on the Somme River.
Flanders and the Somme
On the new Belgium & France tour, guests boat and bike from the canals of Bruges to Abbeville and the English Channel, along Flanders’ fields and through the peaceful Somme River valley.
Stops along the way offer opportunities to connect with the region’s history, culture and nature. Reflect on the past at World War I memorials, and explore medieval cities and towns, castles, cathedrals and caves. Take in art at the Louvre in Lens, learn about author Jules Verne’s life and taste traditional cuisine in Lille, French whisky and goat cheese from a chèvrerie. And enjoy flatlands dotted with farms, the famed floating gardens of Amiens, tree-lined canals and the coastal atmosphere of the Bay of Somme.
E-bikes and two route options each day ensure easy riding for all.
