Giethoorn Small Group Day Trip From Amsterdam With Canal Cruise

Honestly, I booked this trip because of all the wonderful reviews I had heard about Mahmoud\. I was really hoping he would be our guide so I could experience the trip with him\. For me, the people and the tour guide matter even more than the trip itself, because they are the ones who truly make the difference\. The trip turned out to be such a wonderful, smooth, and enjoyable experience\. I was traveling with my daughter and my mother, and our guide was incredibly caring, attentive, and helpful throughout the entire journey. Thank you so much for making this trip such a beautiful and unforgettable experience

Good fun day out. Our guide, Rachid, made the excursion informative and fun. The stop at the fruit market was pleasant with plenty of opportunities to try different produce. The boat tour was relaxing and it was nice to see the village from the water. Would recommend!

Well managed tour. Rashid the main tour person who took us was very good he took pains to explain all aspects on our way as well as guided us on what to do, where to eat ,what to buy n from where. He even went all the way to drop us back at our hotel. Overall an excellent trip under Mr Rashid.

This tour was amazing. The fairytale city was beautiful. The shops were not opened the day we went, but that has nothing to do with the tour itself other than I would have enjoyed to have seen them. Would recommended.

A fascinating day out with an excellent guide, Saeed. On our journey to Giethoorn - about 90 minutes - he educated us about the development of Holland and the reclamation of land from the sea. Giethoorn itself? Well, if you like quaint and hordes of tourists, this is the place for you. Food there is quite pricey, so if you are budgeting, take your own. Overall, my wife enjoyed it very much, me not so much.

The trip was amazing! Travel was reasonable and comfortable. Experience gave us the chance to see Giethoorn by boat and walking on our own.

Our guide, Rashi, was kind, knowledgeable and professional. Grrat way to visit the beautiful canal village. Time allotted for boat tour, lunch and visiting the village was generous. Would not hesitate to recommend this activity to my friends.

Lots of great things to see and the tour operators were outstanding thankyou Stephan (the rock), Ocean and Juan for a memorable experience.

Such a beautiful day in a fairy tale town. Our guide was very knowledgeable and friendly and we thoroughly enjoyed the day. Would highly recommend this tour.

Locating the starting location was very difficult. The app map was locked on the ending location. The chat phone help would not recognize my booking number. A different tour operator assisted me in eventually finding the proper location. Once we got started, everything went well.

Our guide, Jay, was very funny and entertaining, and we had a great time throughout the trip. The weather was lovely too, and we had a wonderful day.

Jay kept us entertained on the bus trip over. Would have liked a little more free time to explore once we were there.

This was the tour that exceeded my expectations. Our guide, Jay, was amazing. He was informative and funny. The stop at the fruit stand made me wish I had one just like it in my town. The canal cruise was awesome - made me wish I lived here. It is a must do tour!

Great guide and a great, relaxed tour. Got a great canal cruise and ate lunch experiencing local cuisine.

Great trip with Ibrahim, explosion of positive energy and information. Unexpected tasty stop at bio farm. I recommended!!!!

Ibrahim our guide and Anwar our driver did a great job. Ibrahim was both informative and entertaining. They were also very considerate making sure we had enough water and making washroom stops along the way. The town is unique and very charming.

I took this tour solo and there were 19 people on board the van. It was comfortable though the pass through lane between rows of seating was quite narrow. There are single seats (5 or 6 maybe?) on one side of the van, air con vents above and (importantly!) USB ports above also to charge devices. We had time to stop at the “fruit stand” which is really a large, locally owned fruit, cheese, and gourmet foods market (it’s called Vink Fruitboerderij) which is really fantastic! I bought a couple of bins of strawberries, some candied fruit, a couple hunks of cheese and their dipping sauces, fresh fruit juices, etc. They take cards and restrooms are available, too. It’s quite impressive (apparently they have “pick your own fruit” train dates in summer and fall, too). Jay did a nice job of providing some interesting facts and could “read the room” and adjust his narration accordingly. I think the driver is Davide? Both did a great job. Anyway, once we got to Gierthoorn the boat tour was excellent (be sure to bring some euros to tip the boat captain if you enjoyed it!). The boat captain is local and grew up in Gierthoorn. I love that the boat gives you the option to raise your own plate glass window (next to your seat) which is much better for picture taking along the scenic canal route! I would suggest sitting on the right side of the boat if you can. We were lucky to have cool, cloudy weather…the sun came out a bit more towards the end of our visit also. The cruise disembarked at the Grand Canal, giving a couple of hours to wander about the narrow footpaths, filled with other tourists and locals. Two hours seems like just the right amount of time to see the area and grab lunch or a snack. There is an ATM pretty close to where the boat let’s you out, if needed. I suggest avoiding the Euronet one (due to high fees) if you can walk a little further. Most restaurants take cards but I needed an ATM for tipping on the tour. I chose to get a late lunch alongside the Grand Canal at Grand Cafe Henri Willig (mustard soup, Bitterballen, and a brownie). There were two ladies who weren’t on the bus at departure time. We waited over 15 minutes and Jay was trying to reach them. After about 20 minutes we reluctantly pulled away but both Jay and I saw them flagging down the van so we stopped so they could both board the return journey to Amsterdam (otherwise it would have been a very expensive trip for those ladies to have gotten back!). Most drivers & guides wouldn’t have waited that long for them so I think it says a lot about this duo. Don’t hesitate to book this day trip!

This was nice relaxing day away from the city,really nice to see all the country side and our guide Ibriham made our trip with all his knowledge and banter on thexway there and back

We had a wonderful day on this tour and the guide was fabulous. His name was Ibrahaim. Driver was Tom.

The host Jay was great and informative. He was also very kind and patient and ensured everyone in the group made it back safely. Great experience!

Great tour with a quick stop on the way to Giethoorn to try local produce and chance to shop to fair prices. Our guide Jay was funny and very knowledgeable and it’s a great way to learn about the Netherlands and its history. Our driver Tom drove us safely and started up the aircon way ahead when we were done in Giethoorn so the bus was nice and cool after a few hot hours in the village. The captain of the boat was also very informative and learned us a lot about the village. We also appreciated a stop at the ice cream boat! Thanks for a great experience!

Our guide, Ibrahim was excellent. It was like having a private tour guide. He picked us up in a minivan, and there was only one other couple who came with us so it was a very small group. He also personalized the tour according to what we were interested in. The boat ride on the canal was very informative. The weather was rainy, but since the boat had a cover, it didn’t matter. They also had windows that we could lift up to take pictures. While we were there, there were not a lot of people because of the rain but we heard that sometimes it can be extremely packed with people.

Super friendly and knowledgeable tour guide. Beautiful village! Nice boat tour! Everything is perfect!

I thought the tour itself was great, it was a beautiful place. Not being from the area, more descriptions were needed for the pick up and drop off locations. I didn’t realize we were going by bus. Also, I felt so bad for the couple left at Greethoven. Apparently, they got lost and the bus left without them because they didn’t get back in time for the departure. The tour guide did remind everyone that we had to be back at 4:45-5:00 at the latest. We left exactly at 5:00.

Our tour to Giethoorn was amazing! I highly highly recommend it to anyone visiting Amsterdam and would like to enjoy the quaint countryside and the picturesque village of Giethoorn. Our tour guide, Jay, was fantastic! He made the day even more enjoyable. Jay was funny, highly knowledgeable, and a true professional! I’d like to give a shout out to Anwar, our driver, who got us there and back safely & soundly. A real perfect day & perfect tour! A must!!!

All was smooth and a pleasure to see some of the countryside. No complaints. Cost was a bit high for the quality of the trip. Guides were good and efficient. Food choices at your own expense were good.

Jay and Hasan are a super team! Wow did we get lucky with them. Superlative tour. Jay KNOWS stuff, no reading from anything! He cares about knowing this area and country. Really learned a lot

We did a day trip to Giethoorn known as the "Venice of the North"" The guided tour was excellent and our guide entertaining. Well organised bus transport, boat trips and commentary. Giethoorn is such a pretty place and should be on everyone list to visit. Pretty canals and unique homes dot the area.

This tour is an excellent way to get out of the city and see more of the NL and it's easy and convenient. The guides were friendly and knowledgeable. The ride to the site comfortable and we stopped at a farm amrket which was an added bonus. We arrived early on a slightly overcast day so it may have been quieter than usual. It was still absolutley beautiful and the bus to the boat ride were seamless. There was lots of time to look around independently and the guides offered valuable suggestions. Lovely trip for all ages.

Most of the time is spent in a big bus. One hr boat ride with hundreds of other boats on a canal that is wide enough for two boats The canal ride reminded me of the boat ride at Disneyland.. One and a half hrs to eat and walk around. The tour ends in a parking lot that is nowhere near the starting point. The tour guild and the boat driver ask for tips. I would not take this tour again or recommend it to my friends.

Tour starts with Amsterdam central area with wonderful info along the way to village. Our tour guide Ebhrahim was amazing and provided us very entertaining and useful insights during the trip. He made everything look so easy to follow. Boat ride is an activity not to miss. Only if free time could be an hr longer than 2 hrs then more to absorb but you always want more…

Our guided tour of Giethoorn was one of the highlights of our trip. The village is absolutely beautiful, but what really made the experience unforgettable were our guides, J and Sergio. They were knowledgeable, friendly, and genuinely passionate about sharing the history and charm of Giethoorn. They kept the tour engaging from start to finish, answered every question with enthusiasm, and made everyone feel welcome. Their sense of humor, attention to detail, and personal touch turned what could have been just another sightseeing tour into a memorable experience. If you’re visiting Giethoorn, I highly recommend taking this guided tour—especially if you’re lucky enough to have J and Sergio as your guides. They truly went above and beyond to make our day special. Thank you both for an amazing experience!

It is a great idea for a day trip. Giethoorn is absolutely beautiful and a must see. The bus ride is around two hours and you spend 3 hours in Giethoorn. The first hour is on a boat ride; it’s pleasant but be aware that there are massive traffic jams in the canals and sometimes you’re at a total stand still — there is nothing that can be done about that but it actually ends up being entertainment to see all of the boats crash into each other (no one gets hurt). The tour guides were kind and helpful. I felt like it was enough time to see the town, generally speaking, but it was definitely rushed.

Jay was excellent! The only part we didn’t like was that we couldn’t hear the guide on the boat. So maybe sit close to the back if you want to hear. Otherwise great views and plenty of time to get lunch and go in the little shops.

Giethoorn is a beautiful and easily accessible place. The town is very green and peaceful with restaurants offering beautiful views of the canals.

Jay was amazing as was our driver who was a lady who’s name started with M We had a great day Easy directions

Great experience, we had a rough start with the pickup location but they called us and found us and came to us. We loved the 1 hour boat tour and we had plenty of time to eat, shop, drink, and enjoy the views after. It was so worth it!

Geethoorn is a unique village of small thatched roof homes built on an extensive network of canals. There are no cars; you move around by boat or on the walking paths. The village was a bit overrun with tourists and visitors, which somewhat overwhelmed its charm. I’m glad to have seen it though. We got an unexpected extra on the trip when we stopped at a very good farmstand along the way. The farm products were excellent and we had time for tasting and shopping.

It was very well organised and a great experience. I had a great time and would recommend to anyone looking for a shirt day trip.

Bring cash some of places will not take cards. I did not have any issues our guide told us which restaurant only took cash. Jay did great job talking to us on way they made the ride enjoyable. If you get him you will be happy. Liked how he called us all family

The bus to and from Amsterdam to Giethoorn accommodated 20 passengers comfortably. The guide Jay kept us entertained with his jokes and local information. The boat with glass windows and top was great as it protected us from the drizzle. After 1 hour boat ride, we had 2 hours to wander around and admire the beautiful homes and bridges around the canals

Jay is one of the best guide you can ever have, a comforting friend whose there for you, Anwar is a safe driver (mind you we did on a rainy day), having this duo makes you feel safe and assured! Thank you so much, Jay and Anwar!

There is a 1 1/2 hour bus ride to Giethoorn. It gives a nice countryside view and experience. You get to see the longest dike, some of the many wind turbines, lots of fields where they grow vegetables, fruits and flowers. We stopped at a local farmer’s market where we ate samples of the products, which were so good we bought several items. They were bottling cherry jam that day and it was so good we bought a large jar to take home! Giethoorn is a small village with many canals and you go on a one hour boat ride. You have about two hours to yourselves to eat lunch (not included), and walk around the village. We saw a stork in their nest while we were there! Our driver was named Fatti (not sure of the spelling), but he was very good. Our tour guide was Jay. Jay was very humerous and told us lots of information about the country and Giethoorn. He also had lots of “dad jokes”. Great way to spend a relaxing day after the hustle and bustle of the city - plus very few bikes to avoid! We enjoyed it very much.

It was very pleasant and enjoyable! The driver and tour guide were both very personable. I would have booked the morning part of the trip had I realized it was there.

What a wonderful experience from start to finish. Our tour guide Jay was very informative and funny. The canal ride was beautiful. And the area was stunning.

We had a lovely day out traveling by bus for 1.5 hours to the village of Geithoorn. The guide was informative about the environs and explained many points of interest including the difference between dijks and dams, agriculture and local information. The boat ride took an hour through very scenic surroundings and was most relaxing. We then had two hours of free time to have lunch and look around. A pleasant day throughout.

This trip was an absolute dream! Our tour guide Jay was hilarious and extremely kind. Felt safe on the tour bus, and Giethoorn was beautiful! Highly recommend

This is a picture perfect village with a peaceful atmosphere that makes you feel completely relaxed. It’s truly smoothing and therapeutic … Definitely, a place you shouldn’t miss.

This was so much fun! The village is in incredible to see. And a good day trip. Got back with plenty of time to change and get ready for dinner.