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Belgium and Holland trip

I'm a (very) senior single female considering the Belgium/Holland trip of 11 days. It lists several 'strenuous' walking days. How strenuous are they? I'm fairly fit and did the eastern France trip in '22 with no trouble. I'm very eager to see the cities included in the B/H trip.

Thanks in advance for your comments.

Posted by
6552 posts

If you handled Eastern France, Belgium and Holland will be a breeze.

One of the days they note as strenuous is new since we took the tour, but the others were no problem. We have become about 11 or 12 years more “senior” since we took this tour, but I would have no qualms about taking it again.

Posted by
23642 posts

However, you should raise this question with the Steves' tour staff.

Posted by
14818 posts

I thought this tour was wonderful and fortunately Belgium and Netherlands are pretty flat.

In looking at the days that they have listed as strenuous:

Day 2 - This is strenuous for the length of the day, I think. If you feel pooped you can cut your visit to the Museum short and walk back to the hotel. It's less than 1/2 a mile if they use Hotel Harmony as they have done in the past.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/K71SV7mxDnVonPDs5

Day 4 is noted as strenuous and again, it's your full day in Bruges and you can cut out of the tour and return to your hotel. If you are pooped you can also take a canal boat tour so you can sit for 45 minutes or so!

Day 8 is noted as strenuous as well. If you are tired you can always tell the guide you'd like to get a taxi from the hotel to the restaurant where the rijstaffel is being served. I'd not miss the rijstaffel if you've never eaten one....delish!!

Here is a link to my TR from 2019. The itinerary looks about the same. I went in April so had Day 8 in Keukenhof instead of Aaslmer.

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/tours/trip-report-rs-belgium-holland-4-6-4-16-2019-plus-time-in-paris

I'd go for it! It's an awesome tour.