Day 1: Maastricht – Liège, boat trip
Individual arrival in Maastricht and boarding at 12:00. Afterwards there will be a champagne reception and the MS Miro will set off for Liège. On the way, the ship passes the highest lock on the Meuse (ships are raised about 18 meters here!). In Liège, the first dinner awaits you, along with the opportunity to take a walk through the city.
Day 2: Liège – Huy – Namur, approx. 42 km
After breakfast and a boat ride to Neuville, today’s bike tour starts to the city of Namur, capital of Wallonia. The route takes you via Huy, whose impressive cathedral and citadel invite you to linger. Once in Namur, a hike to the citadel is on the program, before there is still time to explore the beautiful city center on your own.
Day 3: Namur – Pont de Loup – Charleroi, approx. 40 km
While you are enjoying another hearty breakfast, the Miró will already be continuing on to the famous Floreffe Abbey and Brewery. You will be able to see the remains of the once-thriving mining and steel industry, for which the region was famous for centuries. Today’s bike tour takes us to Pont de Loup and on to Charleroi by boat.
Day 4: Grosselies – Strépy – Mons, approx. 45 km
During breakfast, the ship will take you to the new boat lift at Strépy Thieu on the Canal du Centre. You can visit the machine room and museum of this enormous structure before starting your bike tour on the Canal Historique du Centre. The three old boat lifts on site have been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Today’s tour ends in Mons, where you will have time to visit the historic old town.
Day 5: Mons – Antoing, approx. 37 km
Today’s tour takes you through idyllic landscapes and friendly villages along the Canal du Centre to Antoing. At each lock, you have the option of going on board the ship and thus shortening the bike tour.
Day 6: Antoing – Valenciennes, approx. 42 km
Today you will cross the French border and continue your bike tour in the direction of Valenciennes, passing through picturesque villages and natural areas that are used primarily for agriculture and forestry.
Day 7: Valenciennes – Bouchain
In the morning you have time to visit the old town of Valenciennes before continuing by bike to Bouchain. The Miro berths directly at the wall of the castle.
Day 8: Bouchain – Péronne, approx. 42 km
Today’s tour first takes you to Noyon, where you will visit the castle museum. Afterwards, the route continues through winding villages and beautiful landscapes to the Souterrain du De Ruyaulcourt, where the ship is waiting for you. On the ship, you will experience a relaxed passage through the 4350m long tunnel under the Platte de Quentin. Enjoy the surroundings of the Canal du Nord, which is typically navigated at a leisurely pace in a convoy of ships.
Day 9: Peronne – Noyon, approx. 55 km
In Peronne, you can visit the beautiful city, the castle and park, as well as the historical monument and the war museum. The planned bike tour for today will take you to Noyon on the Somme. The route passes through a fairytale French landscape and picturesque villages, many of which are rural in character. Noyon is an ancient town dating back to 600 BC. The town offers many highlights and monuments worth seeing, including the cathedral, which survived the effects of the First and Second World Wars in the region.
Day 10: Noyon – St. Jean-aux-Boix – Compiègne, approx. 45 km
Today’s bike tour takes you via the “fairytale castle” of Pierefonds to the royal city of Compiègne. Compiègne is a historically rich city where many French kings spent their summers. Stroll through the city or discover one of the many museums.
Day 11: Compiègne – Creil, approx. 38 km
Today’s bike tour runs along the Oise, through wooded sections and picturesque villages to Creil. In the cozy little provincial town of Creil, you can already see the urban influences of the metropolis of Paris, which you will get a little closer to every day.
Day 12: Creil – Baumont sur Oise – Conflance
Today you will follow in the footsteps of the painter Vincent van Gogh, who spent his last days in Auver sur Oise and was also buried there. Many of the themes from his paintings can be found in this region. In the afternoon, you will travel by boat along the picturesque rivers Oise and Seine to Conflance, which is considered the center of French inland shipping.
Day 13: Conflance – Bougival – Paris
Cycling is possible today, but not necessarily on the program. You can enjoy the magnificent scenery of the Seine from the ship and relax. As the skyline of Paris approaches, the ship sails comfortably along the river. Once in Paris, the ship takes a tour of the Paris Seine and the old tunnels before the Miro finally docks at the famous Port de la Vilette.
Day 14: Paris
Paris is waiting to be explored by you. Discover the secrets of the city on your own or take a city tour with your captain. In the evening, dinner awaits you at the Music Café with the crew and captain.
Day 15: Paris
Disembarkation and individual departure or extension of your stay in Paris