Bike Tour: Dutch Gravel Ride - Veluwe and Utrechtse Heuvelrug - 8 days

You will travel on your own to Wageningen, the city where on 5 May 1945 Germany signed for the end of the war in the Netherlands. The city also known for its universities and research institutes in agriculture, environment, ecology and forestry.

Explore the Utrechtse Heuvelrug and Gelderse Vallei. The first part of the journey you cycle through the forests of the Utrechtse Heuvelrug. You will conquer such executioners as 'the Defensieweg’, 'Ruiterberg' and the 'Pyramid of Austerlitz'.  The second part of the stage takes you through Gelderse Vallei, the ride flattens out here and provides beautiful views. After a long day in the saddle, you return to the hotel with stunning views over the Rhine. 

Distance: 95,6 km

Elevation: 489 m

Paved/Unpaved: 59% / 41%

For the first part of the ride, you never stay far from the Rhine. You climb the famous ’Italian Road’ and after 15 km you climb out of the Rhine valley and enter the Veluwe. You cycle through the largest nature reserve in the Netherlands. An alternation of forests, heathland, fens and sand drifts. This delightful stage ends at a campsite where you will spend the coming two nights in the middle of nature.

Distance: 84,5 km

Elevation: 567 m

Paved/Unpaved: 52% / 48%

Today's stage is mostly on the Gravel Route across Veluwezoom National Park. Climbs, descents, forest paths and singletracks, everything is covered today. Watch out for crossing wildlife today. Chances of red deer, boar, Scottish Highlanders, roe deer and foxes. These 'Dutch Big Five' all have the Veluwezoom as their habitat. After the first 25 km with a some hilly parts, you cycle the next 30 km on the most beautiful roads in the flat IJsselvallei, after which you return to the Veluwezoom and climb some more altitude metres through woods and heathland.

Distance: 75,4 km

Elevation: 522 m

Paved/Unpaved: 51% / 49%

Another challenging day awaits. After leaving the campsite, you cycle straight up to the Rozendaalsche Veld. From Hoenderloo another great challenge awaits, 25 km of mountain bike route with climbs, descents and beautiful singletracks. Radio Kootwijk (near the largest sand drift in Western Europe) is a nice place for a break, after which you continue your way through forest reserves and over country estates to your hotel on Landgoed Stakenberg.

Distance: 72,9 km

Elevation: 393 m

Paved/Unpaved: 48% / 52%

A beautiful round trip takes you today over still undiscovered parts of the northern side of the Veluwe. You cycle across Crown Estate Het Loo, the hunting grounds of our king, and are presented with a constant alternation of forest, heath and meadows.  Those in need of some extra rest can shorten the route to 65 km.

The last cycling day of this trip is a relatively easy day where you cross the Veluwe from the northern part to the point where you started your journey. Enjoy the natural beauty one more time in the Speulder and Sprielder forests or on the breathtaking piece of nature Planken Wambuis. After the last ascent of the Wageningse Berg, the cycling part of the journey is over.

Distance: 60,8 km

Elevation: 312 m

Paved/Unpaved: 62% / 38%

After breakfast, your holiday came to an end