Aschaffenburg to Cochem

Day 1: Arrival in Aschaffenburg
Day 2: Aschaffenburg - Frankfurt-am-Main, 28 mi. (45 km)
Day 3: Frankfurt-am-Main - Mainz, 28 mi. (45 km)
Day 4: Mainz - Rüdesheim, 22 mi. (35 km)
Day 5: Rüdesheim - St. Goar - Boppard - Koblenz, 22 mi. (35 km)
Day 6: Koblenz - Cochem, 26 mi. (41 km)
Day 7: Cochem - Beilstein - Neef - Cochem, 14 or 34 mi. (22 or 55 km)
Day 8: Cochem

Day 1: Arrival in Aschaffenburg
The Johannesburg Palace will be the first thing you see as you arrive at Aschaffenburg as it is the grandest of all Renaissance palace complexes. Once on board the Iris you will be introduced to the crew, followed by a tour presentation and bike fitting. A stroll of Aschaffenburg with your guides and dinner awaits you.

Day 2: Aschaffenburg - Frankfurt-am-Main, 28 mi. (45 km)
Your first stop during your cycling itinerary will be in Hanau, the town where the famous Grimm Brothers were born. A small ferry takes you to the other side of the Main River where the route leads to the small, romantic city of Selingenstadt with its winding alleys, basilica, and half-timbered medieval houses.

The final destination today is Frankfurt, one of Germany’s largest cities. Frankfurt is a bustling and thriving trade city, home to many international banks and the stock market but has a historic element has well, home to many museums. The city was bombed severely in WWII and has only recently restored its historic center, Roemerberg which is well worth a visit!

Day 3: Frankfurt-am-Main - Mainz, 28 mi. (45 km)
Following the river downstream, your route first leads away from the Main River. A shortcut through a forested area leads to the banks of the mighty Rhine. Today’s destination is Mainz, where the Main River meets the Rhine. In the afternoon, there will be time to explore this exciting city. Mainz’s inner city is its pride and joy, filled with spacious plazas, lovingly restored timber-framed houses, and magnificent Baroque-style churches. The old city center dates back to Roman times. 

Day 4: Mainz - Rüdesheim, 22 mi. (35 km)
The route today is a bit shorter to give you plenty of time to enjoy the day's destination, the lovely town of Ruedesheim. The cycling to arrive here leads through rolling vineyards and well-known wine villages. The Rhine is flowing gently, forming little islands and broadening its bed up to 800 m in width. Did you know that the Romans were the ones that planted vines here? Stroll through the “Drosselgasse”, famous for its entertaining music and taste some of the wines of this wine village. This small old “gasse” is only 144 meters long and has thousands of paving stones. There is a cable car to a very scenic viewpoint over the Rhine Valley. Another possibility is to explore the Asbach center, home of German Brandy, produced locally since 1892. 

Day 5: Rüdesheim - St. Goar - Boppard - Koblenz, 22 mi. (35 km)
You sail down the Rhine through the narrow passage at the Loreley, where legends still live.

There is an ancient poem about an enchantin woman, the beautiful Lore Lay, betrayed by her sweetheart, and accused of bewitching men and causing their death. Rather than sentence her to death, the bishop consigned her to a nunnery. On the way, accompanied by three knights, she comes to the Lorelei rock. She asks permission to climb it and view the Rhine once again. Thinking that she sees her love in the Rhine, she falls to her death. The rocks still echo her name.

In St. Goar and Boppard you cycle in the area that is the most visited part of the Rhine through charming little wine villages ending at your final destination for the day, the city of Koblenz, overseen by the Ehrenbreitstein Fortress. 

Day 6: Koblenz - Cochem, 26 mi. (41 km)
By ship, you cross the first lock and enter the Moselle to be dropped off with bikes, giving you a headstart 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 hike to reach it. The guided tour takes you back through the ages. You then 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!

Day 7: Cochem - Beilstein - Neef - Cochem, 14 or 34 mi. (22 or 55 km)
On this last full day of the tour, You have the option of a bike tour to Beilstein and back. Beilstein is a small and picturesque village, used as a film set many times, for it looks still very medieval. You can walk  to the Monestry and enjoy a coffee and kuchen there. A ferry takes you to the other side of the Moselle, and you can cycle back to Cochem them. If you want to add mileage, you can continue to cycle to Neef and return from there. For those who are finished with cycling, Cochem has a great castle to visit, offering a magnificent view over the Moselle. You will see the Iris very clearly as it is docked very close to the Castle. 

Day 8: Cochem

Day 1: Cochem
Day 2: Moselle, visit of the Burg Eltz
Day 3: Koblenz - St. Goar
Day 4: St. Goar - Ruedesheim
Day 5: Ruedesheim - Mainz
Day 6: Mainz - Frankfurt am Main
Day 7: Frankfurt am Main - Aschaffenburg
Day 8: Aschaffenburg

This itinerary, as on all bike and boat tours, is subject to change due to unforeseen circumstances such as changing weather or lock repair, etc. In case of flood or low tide, the captain reserves the right to change the route of the ship and therefore, cycling itinerary may also be affected. In extreme situations, a tour could be canceled on short notice.  No legal right shall be constituted of both situations. (Water level is force majeure). The same applies for officially ordered - previously not announced - repair work on locks or bridges or in the event of a mechanical breakdown.

Average daily distance: 30 mi. (48 km)

Day 1: Cochem
Today you will join the IRIS docked in Cochem and enjoy the day in this typical Moselle and Wine village. The guide will take you on a walk to the Burg (Castle) to have a guided tour there!

Day 2: Moselle, visit of the Burg Eltz
Your first ride will be along the river on the Moselle bike path with a stop at Burg Eltz, well hidden in the hills. This castle is different from any other castle. It has remained unscathed by wars, owned and cared for by the same family from the time it was built.  Its architecture has no comparison and many of the original furnishings of the past eight centuries still remain in place. There is a Treasury and Armoury boasting world-class artworks in gold and silver. It towers high on a large rock but is still in a valley. It is a must-visit. You will return to the barge by bike for a cruise to Koblenz and docking for the night.

Koblenz has a beautiful “Altstadt” (old city) in the triangle between the Mosel and the Rhine River.

Day 3: Koblenz - St. Goar
After breakfast, the route leads to the ancient city Boppard. Here the Rhine takes an amazing turn, nearly 180 degrees. Boppard has always been a visitors' magnet with precipitous vineyards and one of the nicest bank promenades on the Middle Rhine. It also boasts the oldest preserved Roman fort walls north of the Alps.
Your destination is St. Goar, opposite the famous Loreley. A ferry and a bus will transfer you up to the Loreley and a hiking path leads the final way to this lovely vista over the narrowest part in the romantic Rhine Valley.
The first traces of human settlement have been apparent from the time the Loreley Plateau was level with the Rhine. During the Middle Ages, the Loreley was well known, along with the Binger Loch, as the most dangerous section of the Rhine. Many mariners in their wooden dinghies came to tragedy here. In St. Goar, directly opposite the Loreley, the saint, Goar settled to save shipwrecked mariners and nurse them back to health.

Day 4: St. Goar - Ruedesheim
Your morning starts with a great sail along the Lorelei. Once you begin to cycle, you will pass by pompous castles to reach Ruedesheim.  Even the Romans planted vines here! Stroll through the “Drosselgasse”, famous for its entertaining music and taste some of the wines of this wine village. This small old “gasse” is only 144 meters long and has thousands of paving stones. Visit the Asbach center, home of German Brandy, produced locally since 1892. You’re not into brandy? They produce some great chocolate as well.

The old town, dating from the Middle Ages, and parts of the city’s fortifications like the Adlerturm (eagle tower) are well maintained. Here you will find cozy traditional wine taverns in historic half-timbered houses.

Day 5: Ruedesheim - Mainz
The beautiful first stage leads through rolling vineyards and well-known wine villages. The Rhine is flowing gently, forming little islands and broadening its bed up to 800 m width! Today's destination is Mainz, where the Main river meets the Rhine.
In the afternoon there will be time to explore this interesting city. Mainz’s inner city is its pride and joy, filled with spacious plazas, lovingly restored -timbered houses, and magnificent Baroque-style churches. The ‘Old Town’ has a very charming and warm atmosphere.

Day 6: Mainz - Frankfurt am Main
You now cycle on the cycle paths along the Main River to Frankfurt, one of Germany’s largest cities. Frankfurt is a trade city, home to Banks and Stockmarkets. The city skyline is very contemporary due to these developments and also because of the destruction in the Second World War and subsequent rebuilding. Frankfurt has many museums as well,  located in a special area along the riverside and famous for its annual Buchmesse (Book Fair).

Day 7: Frankfurt am Main - Aschaffenburg
Today’s bike tour leads first to the small and romantic city of Seligenstadt with its windings alleys, wood-framed houses, and basilica. You then cross the Main on a small ferry and continue through Hanau the town where the famous Grimm Brothers were born. You will find the barge again in Aschaffenburg, with the Johannisburg Palace, located on the banks of the Main River. This castle will be the first thing you see as you enter Aschaffenburg as it is the grandest of all Renaissance palace complexes.

Day 8: Aschaffenburg
Departure