The Heerlen-Mastricht-Vaals area is hilly, with extremely nice cycling and walking paths. Going anywhere in this area within one day is possible for trained cyclists, while families with children may prefer shorter distances (20-30 km per day). A 4-day round trip may then be suggested, as indicated below. Accomodations are easy to find, but some of the hotels are very popular, so reservations should be made well in advance.
Heerlen is suggested at a starting point, reachable by train. Van der Valk Hotel Kasteel Terworm can be recommended for dinner and overnight stay. Bicycles can be rented from Zinkviooltje in Epen.
Day 1. Heerlen-Valkenburg-Maastricht (29 km, map link)
From Kasteel Terworm, bike west across the bridge at Knooppunt 53. Continue through Voerendaal to Winthagen and Wijre (53-54-57-58) through a beautiful cultural landscape.
Turn north to Valkenburg (58-59-60) which is an old holiday centre with strong cycling traditions, including the famous Cauberg climb and Amstel Gold Race. The old castle and caves are worth a visit.
The suggested route to Maastricht goes over the hill through a nice cultural landscape. Continue into Maastricht along Akersteenweg to Van der Valk Hotel Maastricht, which can be recommended for dinner and overnight stay.
One extra day may be used in the beautiful old centre of Maastricht.
Day 2. Maastricht-Voeren-Slenaken (23 km, map link)
From Van der Valk Hotel Maastricht, bike south-east along Phillipsweg and Rijksweg to Knooppunt 5, and continue south through the nice landscape (5-73-74-78-100). Then turn east and enjoy the beautiful view along the border to Belgium.
There are good lunch cafés at ‘s-Gravenvoeren (100-431).
The suggested route continues to Sint-Martens-Voeren (431-422-423-424), where a high railway bridge is can be admired. Then the route goes uphill to De Plank and steeply down to Nurop (424-429-428), before returning to the Netherlands at Slenaken.
There are many hotels in and near Slenaken. Hotel Klein Zwitserland can be recommended for dinner and overnight stay. The view from the hotel terrace is wonderful.
Day 3. Slenaken-Drielandenpunt-Vaals (27 km, map link)
From Slenaken the suggested route goes east, uphill to Heijenrath and downhill towards Epen. A stop should be made to the right of the road to admire the fantastic view.
From Epen the route goes south, crossing the border to Belgium at Knooppunt 92. Then go east to Gemmenich (92-1-91) and uphill to the Drielandenpunt 323 m above sea level, which is the highest point of the Netherlands on the border to Belgium and Germany. It is fun both for children and adults to try the labyrinth. Everyone who can find the way to the center and out again should be really proud.
Then go downhill through the nice landscape to Knooppunt 93 and continue towards 95 into Vaals, where the entrance to Van der Valk Hotel Kasteel Bloemendaal is reached after ca. 700 m. This hotel can be recommended for dinner and overnight stay.
Alternatively, a less hilly route may be chosen between Slenaken and Vaals, and an extra day may be used to visit the Drielandenpunt.
Day 4. Vaals-Gulpen-Heerlen (28 km, map link)
From Kasteel Bloemendaal, go back to Knooppunt 93 and continue uphill to Vijlen and downhill to Mechelen and Gulpen, where lunch cafèes can be found (93-90-86-85).
Go through Gulpen and continue through the valley towards Wijre (85-58). Enjoy the beautiful landscape view on the route back to Terworm (58, 57, 54, 53).