Amsterdam to Cochem

Day 1: Amsterdam -  Wijk bij Duurstede 
Day 2: Wijk bij Duurstede - Wageningen | Wageningen - Arnhem| Arnhem - Rees, 21 or 27 mi. (35 or 44 km)
Day 3: Rees - Wesel | Wesel - Duisburg | Duisburg - Düsseldorf, 24 mi. (40 km)
Day 4: Düsseldorf - Zons - Cologne, 17 or 33 mi. (28 or 54 km)
Day 5: Cologne - Bonn, 23 mi. (38 km)
Day 6: Bonn -  Remagen | Remagen - Koblenz, 27 mi. (44 km)
Day 7: Koblenz - Alken | Alken - Moselkern -  Cochem, 25 mi. (40 km)
Day 8: Departure from Cochem following breakfast, by 9:30am

All distances are approximate. The itinerary is subject to change sometimes without prior notice.  Some waterways may be subject to occasional closures due to drought, storms, floods, canal, or lock repairs, or other unforeseen circumstances that make navigation unsafe or impossible. The captain reserves the right to make any changes deemed necessary. 

Sections in italics are covered while boarded on ship.

Day 1: Amsterdam -  Wijk bij Duurstede
The embarkation time in Amsterdam is scheduled for 2 pm, so it is important to arrive on time. Once you have arrived, you will have a welcome meeting with the crew before the barge sets sail. Dinner will be served while you travel along the Amsterdam – Rhine Canal. The destination for tonight is Wijk bij Duurstede, which is one of the oldest settlements in the lowlands. The ship will dock there for the night.

Day 2: Wijk bij Duurstede - Wageningen | Wageningen - Arnhem| Arnhem - Rees, 21 or 27 mi. (35 or 44 km)
As the ship navigates to Wageningen, you enjoy your breakfast and the views. Once in Wageningen, the cycling itinerary follows a route over the high Veluwe nature reserve, through heathland and forest. The Netherlands is known for being flat but here you will find some slight natural height differences in the landscape, formed in the last Ice Age. In this period the “Hoge Veluwe” area was right on the edge of the ice. The barge awaits in Arnhem.  During dinner, the ship will navigate upstream into Germany. The destination for the night is Rees.

Day 3: Rees - Wesel | Wesel - Duisburg | Duisburg - Düsseldorf, 24 mi. (40 km)
The barge departs early this morning, destination: Wesel. From here the cycling will focus on the Ruhr area where Germany, and possibly Europe’s largest industries are located. Cities like Essen, Duisburg, Oberhausen, and Dortmund are intertwined together through a maze of highways, railways, and waterways. This region was once very prosperous and therefore a target in 1923, when French and Belgian troops tried to occupy it to enforce Prussia’s WWI reparation payments. From 1944 to 1945 the Ruhr was also a top target for the Allies. After so much conflict and industry, it’s hard to imagine that you can cycle here. The German government put a lot of effort into redeveloping the area after the closure of many factories. It may not always be scenic, but it’s an impressive and evolving post-industrial landscape not to be missed when visiting the Rhine. The ship picks you up at Duisburg and takes you on to Düsseldorf, as you enjoy your dinner on board. In the evening there’s time to visit the Altstadt, where you can try the famous local dark beer, Altbier. You’ll be amazed what an international city Düsseldorf is, with foreigners comprising almost a fifth of the population.

Day 4: Düsseldorf - Zons - Cologne, 17 or 33 mi. (28 or 54 km)
Your biking can begin directly from Düsseldorf or you can opt to start biking a bit later in the morning from Zons. Leaving Ruhr behind, the route follows the Rhine closely, arriving in Cologne early enough for some afternoon exploring. Founded by the Romans, Cologne is the oldest of Germany’s larger cities. In 50 AD it was already granted city status as a gift from the Roman empress Agrippina. Later, Cologne became one of the most important centers of the Holy Roman Empire. Its landmark is, of course, the Dom cathedral, located right next to the central station and railway bridge crossing the Rhine. Construction on the cathedral began in 1248 and was finally completed in 1880! The city was almost completely destroyed in the Allied bombings of 1944-1945. The city hall, however, dating from 1330, has been beautifully restored.

Day 5: Cologne - Bonn, 23 mi. (38 km)
You cycle close to the river again arriving in Bonn with enough time to  explore West Germany’s capital from 1945 until 1990. Berlin was re-established as the capital after Germany’s reunification, but Bonn continues to house six governmental departments. Like Cologne, Bonn was founded by the Romans, around the year 10 BC, as it was a good site to bridge the Rhine. Worth visiting are the old City Hall, the Münster Basilica, and the house where Beethoven was born. After dinner, you can join a city walk through Bonn.

Day 6: Bonn -  Remagen | Remagen - Koblenz, 27 mi. (44 km)
During breakfast, you sail to Remagen and take some time to explore this town’s rich historical past. Nowadays it’s best known for its once-famous Ludendorff Bridge, the only functional Rhine bridge captured by the Americans in Operation Lumberjack in March 1945. From Remagen, the biking incorporates a more romantic section of the Rhine valley with castle keeps, mansions and the first vineyards at the foothills of central Germany. You pass the beloved bathing resort of Bad Breisig and also Burg Rheineck. This stronghold, set in stunning scenery, dates back to 1100. You stop in Andernach, once a Roman settlement, a wonderful town with many historical sites. The day's destination is Koblenz whose name comes from the Latin confluentes, meaning the merging of two rivers (the Rhine and Moselle). The statue of Emperor Wilhelm of Prussia at the intersection of the two rivers is an impressive landmark. Today there is no dinner on board. You can select one of the local restaurants in Koblenz.

Day 7: Koblenz - Alken | Alken - Moselkern -  Cochem, 25 mi. (40 km)
In the morning, the boat crosses the first lock to enter the Moselle! Cyclists disembark in Alken to head to the foot of the hills where the Burg Eltz is hidden. Untouched by wars or fires, you will find this beautiful castle worth the effort of walking to it. The guided tour takes you back through the ages.

After, you continue cycling to Cochem, the most visited village on the Moselle River. A bustling and characteristic Mosel town with steep wine-clad mountains, wooded hills, an impressive castle, and a picturesque square with beautiful timber-framed houses and cafes. Time for a Moselle wine and your farewell diner!

Day 8: Departure from Cochem
Today marks the end of your tour. After enjoying a hearty breakfast you’ll say your last goodbyes, and can disembark anytime up until 9.30 a.m.
 

Day 1: Amsterdam - Wijk bij Duurstede
Day 2: Wijk bij Duurstede - Wageningen -  Arnhem
Day 3: Arnhem - Pannerden - Rees
Day 4: Rees - Wesel - Düsseldorf
Day 5: Düsseldorf - Zons
Day 6: Zons - Cologne
Day 7: Cologne - Bonn
Day 8: Bonn - Koblenz
Day 9: Koblenz - Burg Eltz - Cochem
Day 10: Cochem

Daily distances are approximately 28 mi. (44 km) per day. The itinerary is subject to change sometimes without prior notice.  Some waterways may be subject to occasional closures due to drought, storms, floods, canal, or lock repairs, or other unforeseen circumstances that make navigation unsafe or impossible. The captain reserves the right to make any changes deemed necessary. 

Day 1: Amsterdam -  Wijk bij Duurstede
Onboard, as the boat navigates, you will get a taste of the beauty of Amsterdam seen from the water. Your cycling begins as a scenic ride past the prestigious houses along the Vecht, where Amsterdam's sophisticated traders and aristocrats had their country homes. You follow this small winding river (a branch of the Rhine) upstream to Breukelen. By the end of the afternoon, you board the barge and cruise to Wijk bij Duurstede, a small fortified town on the Rhine River. 

Day 2: Wijk bij Duurstede - Wageningen - Arnhem
What a magical place! No visit to Holland is complete without a ride through Europe’s largest drifting dunes in the National Park Hoge Veluwe. Imagine an African safari with grassy plains, weathered pines, bogs brimming with rare species, and hardwood forests filled with birdsong. The geography is wild thanks to an Ice Age glacier that dumped its load of sand and gravel in the region.  Awaiting you on the other side is the world-famous Kröller-Müller art gallery and sculpture park with the largest private Van Gogh collection in the world. Also showcased are works by Claude Monet, Georges Seurat, Pablo Picasso, and Piet Mondrian. The route continues to Arnhem ‘Home of Eagles,’ given its name by Romans stationed on the Rhine. Perhaps you recall the 1977 classic A Bridge Too Far and the failed Allied Forces attempt to break through German lines and take several bridges (including Arnhem) in Operation Market Garden? Renamed the John Frost Bridge, you may walk or ride across this beloved landmark into Arnhem center which is teeming with art, fashion, and all things Lekker (Sweet, fun, cool).

Day 3: Arnhem - Pannerden - Rees (Germany)
Today is all about bridges, battlegrounds, and castles, for example, the 13th-century Doornenburg Castle. It’s an impressive brick behemoth where German commanders set up headquarters during the Battle of Arnhem. Naturally, it became a prime target for British bombers. After a tour, your route leaves Holland, crossing the border into Germany. Around the bend is Emmerich, home of Germany’s longest suspension bridge. This engineering feat spans some 1,600 ft across the Rhine and you can bike across for super aerial photos. Some 500 ships pass underneath it every day. Before the Rhine was channeled in the 1800s, sturgeon, shad, and salmon used to swim the river. Now, the barges are the big fish. Emmerich is also home to a WWII Biber submarine and one-man U-Boat which you can view in the Rhine Museum. The day's destination is Rees, famous for its medieval wall, towers, and river promenade with art sculptures, restaurants, and cafés. This is the perfect place to raise your Riesling glass or beer stein and watch the Rhine flow by. 

Day 4: Rees - Wesel - Düsseldorf
The great Ruhr region was once Germany’s blast furnaces during the Industrial Revolution, until recently. Pedaling peacefully along the Rhine, you’ll see historic factory stacks, now mostly quiet and converted into other uses and venues - a reminder of when coal was king. This area is also where Neanderthal Man was found in 1856. And, it’s home to the mega supermarket chain Aldi. We cruise through the world’s biggest inland harbor in Duisburg then it’s anchors away to the modern, sparkling city of Düsseldorf—Germany’s fashion and advertising capital.  Here you drink Altbier which doesn’t mean the beer is old; it’s a top-down fermentation style that’s hoppy and bitter-crisp. The waiters won’t ask if you want a second beer, it will just appear in front of you.  Explore the Altstadt along the river or check out Media Harbor, the rehabbed riverside warehouse district that will blow your mind. The city sparkles with international flair, übermodern architecture, and swanky folk. A casual feeling reigns in the evening when the “suits” loosen their ties at the 17th century Füchschen Brewery for roast pork shank (Haxen). You will need a couple of cold ones to wash down the Haxen. Bring it on Düsseldorf!

Day 5: Düsseldorf - Zons
First, you take some time to see Dusseldorf by day, continue on a lovely ride partly along the meandering Rhine, and end your cycling in Zons. This seemingly small town has a very long history! The first settlement in the seventh century. 

Day 6: Zons - Cologne
Today’s ride stretches from one rival city to the other. Be it beer suds or soccer clubs, ne’re the two agree. In Düsseldorf you drank Altbier, but you’ll forget that word exists when you arrive in Cologne. Here in Köln, Kölsch is king. It’s the largest city on your Rhine cruise and everything worth seeing is within walking distance from the barge. The city isn’t just big—it’s ancient. The Romans set up their northern military headquarters here in 50 AD. The blending of Roman and Germanic cultures comes to life in the Roman-Germanic Museum. After the telecommunications tower with its rotating restaurant, Cologne Cathedral is next. This giant Gothic beauty is longer than a football field and holds 20,000 people! The best place to take it all in is at Café Reichard for a German trifecta: coffee, cake and cathedral views. What a colossal city.!

Day 7: Cologne -  Bonn 
Today you will pedal to  West Germany’s former capital city. When the wall came down in 1990, most of the government moved back to Berlin. It’s the birthplace of musical genius Ludwig van Beethoven. You can visit the world-famous Haribo factory with all the gummy sweets and gadgets—imagine Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.  Bonn’s parks and gardens are splendid. The first-rate Botanical Gardens at Poppelsdorf Palace are among the oldest. Here you can see the world’s rarest flowering plant, titan arum, the Sumatran Corpse Flower that takes 7 years to blossom for just one day! Stroll Bonn’s endless river promenade and the nearby Rheinaue Leisure Park.  For the best views of the legendary Siebengebirge hills, join the locals under the great chestnut trees at the Alter Zoll, a local hotspot. It is a former Rhine toll station and military fort along the river.

Day 8: Bonn - Koblenz 
This morning you cruise past the Siebengebirge (seven hills) and officially enter the legendary middle Rhine valley with its dramatic cliffs and curves, romantic castles, sloping vineyards, and sleepy half-timbered villages. You sail past the ancient volcano, Dragon’s Rock where the hero Siegfried killed the dragon and bathed in its blood to become invincible. The Dragon’s Castle lies in ruins, a reminder of French revenge. Today’s biking starts in Remagen with a stop at Ludendorff Bridge. It was only one of two bridges still intact over the Rhine during Operation Lumberjack in the final days of WWII. The U.S. Army got 25,000 troops, six Army divisions, tanks, artillery, and trucks across the river in a stroke of good luck. You pass little villages with old churches and the medieval harbor crane. Arriving in Koblenz, you moor in the shadows of the mighty Ehrenbreitenstein fortress. Order a Trocken Riesling and prepare to become a convert for life. Prefer a beer in the Koblenz’ Biergarten? You will find that just steps away. 

Day 9: Koblen - Burg Eltz -  Cochem
In the morning, the boat crosses the first lock and enters the Moselle! You will be dropped off and given a head start to the foot of the hills where the Burg Eltz is hidden. Untouched by wars or fires, you will find this beautiful castle worth walking to. The guided tour takes you back through the ages. After your visit, you continue cycling to Cochem, the most visited village on the Moselle River. A bustling and characteristic Mosel town with steep wine-clad mountains, wooded hills, an impressive castle and a picturesque square with beautiful timber-framed houses and cafes. Time for a Moselle wine and farewell dinner celebration!

Day 10: End of Tour
Disembarkation by 9 am.