Saarburg Valley in Germany. Flickr:Gilbert Sopakuwa

Cologne to Saarburg

Name: Cologne to Saarburg
Brand: Tripsite
SKU: ts118o5252
Rating: 5 (2 reviews)

Germany Bike + Barge Tours

Rhine, Moselle & Saar - three river tour in Germany!

Tour Type
Guided
Skill Level
Easy
Length
8–9 days
?
Prices from
€1740 Rates
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Overview
Itinerary
Boats & Bikes
Inclusions
Dates & Pricing
Extra Info
Photos
Reviews

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Overview
As you navigate the ancient waterways on this bike and boat tour in Germany, you will explore the landscape of three rivers, the mighty Rhine, the romantic Moselle, and the beautiful Saar.
You bike an enchanting landscape steeped in a rich and diverse history, from the Romans who settled here and left Porta Nigra in Trier, to medieval villages with gingerbread houses. Castles perch as hilltop lookouts and vineyards climb the mountains.
You will enjoy a unique, small group experience aboard the Deluxe class vessel, the Merlijn, one of our favorites!
Highlights
- Cologne
- Koblenz, gateway to the UNESCO World Heritage "Oberes Mittelrheintal" (Upper Middle Rhine Valley)
- Cochem, scenic and historic
- The wine village of Zell
- Trier, the oldest city in Germany
- River path cycling
- Wine tasting at the well-known winery, Storck
Be sure to check out all of our bike & barge tours in Germany.
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Itinerary
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.
2023 - 8-Day Tour
Day 1: Cologne
Day 2: Cologne - Bonn - Andernach, 28 mi. (45 km)
Day 3: Andernach - Koblenz, 19 mi. (30 km)
Day 4: Koblenz - Alken - Cochem, 25 mi. (40 km)
Day 5: Cochem - Zell - Traben Trarbach, 25 mi. (40 km)
Day 6: Traben-Trarbach - Bernkastel Kues - Mehring - Trier, 28 mi. (45 km)
Day 7: Trier - Saarburg, 16 or 34 mi. (25 or 55 km)
Day 8: Saarburg
Day 1: Cologne
Check is between 3:30 and 4 pm when you will be welcomed on board with a complimentary drink. Unpack, unwind, meet the crew and your fellow passengers and learn about the boat, the tour, and safety.
Day 2: Cologne - Bonn - Andernach, 28 mi. (45 km)
You start sailing early this morning, and as you enjoy your breakfast, you can also enjoy the upstream journey on the Rhine River. Your bike tour will start in Bonn, the city of Beethoven. After a short visit here, you will cycle along the Siebengebirge, a German range of hills to the East of the Rhine, consisting of more than 40 mountains and hills. Your bike tour will end in Andernach where the Merlijn will moor for the. night. After dinner, you can enjoy a city walk with your guide.
Day 3: Andernach - Koblenz, 19 mi. (30 km)
Your cycling itinerary will start directly from Andernach and will lead to Koblenz. You will be early enough in Koblenz to explore the city or to take the cable car up to Ehrenbreitenstein Castle on the other side of the Rhine river. Your crew can organize tickets as well as a local guide.
Day 4: Koblenz - Alken - Cochem, 25 mi. (40 km)
You sail to Alken and pass the first two locks from the Moselle to begin biking into Eltztal tovisit the beautiful castle of Eltz. Located in a romantic setting atop a cliff, the castle is one of the very few that has never been destroyed during its long history. The route then leads to Cochem, a lovely little town with historic and authentic half-timbered houses and a picturesque Old Town. You may want to pay a visit to the famous Reichsburg or stroll the medieval streets.
Day 5: Cochem - Zell - Traben Trarbach, 25 mi. (40 km)
You begin to bike directly from Cochem with the first stop in Beilstein, a tiny medieval village known as the Sleeping Beauty of the Moselle. Until about 1900, this village was only accessible by boat. Along the meandering Moselle River, you will bike to Zell famous for its vineyard ‘Zeller Schwarze Katz’. Here in Zell, you will board the Merlijn and then navigate to Traben Trarbach, the city of the art nouveau. Tonight you will be offered a wine tasting at the Winery of Storck.
Day 6: Traben-Trarbach - Bernkastel Kues - Mehring - Trier, 28 mi. (45 km)
During breakfast, the Merlijn motors to Bernkastel Kues. First, you will have some time for a tour of the city and a visit to the oldest marketplace of Germany. Your cycling itinerary then leads to the holiday resort of Mehring, passing Neumagen-Drohn. This is the spot where the Romans first set foot, traveling from the Rhine to the Moselle river. The Romans fell in love with this landscape more than 2000 years ago and built splendid country villas here. In Mehring, you will board the Merlijn again to cruise to Trier. This is the perfect place to enjoy the local German cuisine, eating dinner out in one of the many local restaurants in Trier.
Day 7: Trier - Saarburg, 16 or 34 mi. (25 or 55 km)
In the morning, you can explore Trier a bit more. The crew can arrange a local city guide to teach you everything about Trier. Trier was the capital of the Western Roman Empire, a Roman government seat, and is well-known for its Porta Nigra, a gigantic city gate. In the afternoon you will bike to Saarburg. The cityscape of Saarburg is crisscrossed with narrow alleys, framework houses, Baroque constructions as well as colorful fishermen and sailor-houses. The master architect of Berlin, Karl Friedrich Schinkel already named the ensemble of romantic houses and small bridges on the Buttermarkt ‘Little Venice’ in the 19th century.
Day 8: Departure
2024 - 9-Day Tour
Day 1: Cologne
Day 2: Bonn - Andernach, 28 mi. (45 km)
Day 3: Andernach - Koblenz - Winningen, 25 mi. (40 km)
Day 4: Winningen - Alken - Cochem, 25 mi. (40 km)
Day 5: Cochem - Zell - Traben Trarbach, 23 or 34 mi. (36 or 55 km)
Day 6: Traben-Trarbach - Trier, 24 or 34 mi. (38 or 55 km)
Day 7: Trier, 36 mi. (58 km)
Day 8: Trier - Saarburg, 16 or 34 mi. (25 or 55 km)
Day 8: Saarburg
Boats & Bikes
Boat Types: Deluxe
- Merlijn
  Deluxe
  ?
  4.8 out of 5 (10 Reviews)
  View Boat
  Deluxe Class Barge
  Touring Bicycle
  The Merlijn prides itself on the top quality bikes offered. Although only your own helmet provides the best fit, bicycle helmets are available to borrow on board for the week. These are good… Read More
  Electric Bicycle
  The Merlijn has unisex e-bikes available to rent. You may reserve them in advance. The cost is €30 per day, payable on board, advanced reservation is required. Visa and MasterCard accepted for… Read More
  "The Divine Miss M" as we lovingly call the Merlijn is a diva, for sure. What can we say? Is it the luxurious cabins with the most comfortable beds you have ever slept in? Is it the lovely dining area with the large windows and skylight that let the air, light, and sun pour in? Or perhaps it is the sun deck, where you can relax with newfound friends, sharing good wine and good conversation. We think you will find it is the entire divine package! Step on board and discover for yourself! Read More
Inclusions
What’s Included
2023
- Accommodation for 7 nights in a climate-controlled cabin on the deluxe class vessel, the Merlijn
- Complimentary welcome drink
- Daily cleaning of your cabin
- 7 breakfast buffets, 6 packed lunches, & 6 three-course dinners
- Complimentary coffee, tea, & ice water
- Tour guide
- Daily tour briefing
- 27-speed hybrid bike (Sensa). Bikes come equipped with hydraulic disc brakes, waterproof pannier, water bottle, towel, & universal helmet
- Canal, bridge & harbor fees
- Entrance to Eltz Castle
- Wine tasting in Traben-Trarbach at Storck
What’s Not Included
- 2023 & 2024
  One dinner
  Drinks other than those mentioned as included
  Excursions other than those mentioned
  City maps
  Tour maps
  Gratuities
  Bike protection
  Travel Insurance

Dates & Pricing

Dates

2023

Cologne to Saarburg - 8-Day Tour

Saturday Departure
July 8, 2023

2024

Cologne to Saarburg - 9-Day Tour

Sunday Departure
September 1, 2024

Please Note

Rates are per person, based on double occupancy
Tour prices are based on the fuel costs at time prices are set, often months or years in advance. In rare cases, additional fees may apply for fuel cost increases.
Information to read before you book
We recommend purchasing trip insurance
† Currency exchange rate set 90 days before travel
Please see our FAQ

Pricing

2023

Cologne to Saarburg 8-Day Tour

Twin/Double	$ 2851 £ 1524 $ 2,557 € 1740 ₪ 6992 ¥ 265782 NZ$ 3140 NOK 20864 kr 20677 $ 1,914
Twin for Single-Use, On Request	$ 5132 £ 2743 $ 4,603 € 3132 ₪ 12586 ¥ 478407 NZ$ 5653 NOK 37556 kr 37219 $ 3,445

2024

Cologne to Saarburg 9-Day Tour

Twin/Double	$ 4170 £ 2229 $ 3,740 € 2545 ₪ 10227 ¥ 388744 NZ$ 4593 NOK 30517 kr 30244 $ 2,799
Twin for Single-Use, On Request	On request

Extra Options

Electric bike rental

8-day tour, payable on board, advanced reservation required: $ 295 £ 158 $ 265 € 180 ₪ 723 ¥ 27495 NZ$ 325 NOK 2158 kr 2139 $ 198

9-day tour, payable on board, advanced reservation required: $ 344 £ 184 $ 309 € 210 ₪ 844 ¥ 32077 NZ$ 379 NOK 2518 kr 2496 $ 231

Extra Info
Skill Level — Easy
This is an easy guided bike and boat tour that follows river paths and rural country roads.
Airport Info
The closest international airport to both the tour start in Cologne and your tour end in Saarburg is Frankfurt International Airport (FRA).
Local Travel
Frankfurt Airport is well connected by public transportation. Frankfurt Airport Train Station, located next to Terminal 1, offers connections to popular German cities via Deutsche Bahn, the national railway company of Germany. There are local S-Bahn lines (lines S8 and S9) that take travelers into central Frankfurt in about 10-15 minutes. From the main train station in the city, it is just a short taxi ride to the boat. From Saarburg back to Frankfurt airport by train is approximately 3.5 hrs, cost approximately €35/person. You will transfer in Koblenz. The German rail site bahn.de is a good resource when researching train travel in Germany.
Climate
Please check local conditions before your arrival. The Mosel wine region has a northernly continental climate.
Recommended
Due to variations in wifi signal strength and speed, If you are dependent on a constant, strong, fast, and reliable signal at all times, please consider a a personal hot spot.
Remarks
The cycling itinerary offered on the Merlijn has been designed and is guided by an expert guide. During the trip, the guide will adjust the plans when necessary based on the ability of the group. You are given an overview of the itinerary each day.
If you would like to cycle on your own, this may be possible. The guide and/or captain can inform you where to find the ship at the end of the day, or what time to be at a location to board. There are several maps available on board for you to use.
GPS tracks and written turn-by-turn route descriptions are not available.
Important to know
Travel Documents
It is each traveler's responsibility to ensure that you are in compliance with the country or countries you plan to visit.  This includes and is not limited to passport validity, visa requirements and acquisition, blank passport pages required for your destination (s), etc.

US citizens:  A good website to research the requirements of the Schengen Agreement and entry into other countries is travel.state.gov .
Non-EU and EU residents: Please research the requirements of your country of residence for international travel and your destination country or countries.

*Important note: Please check on the  European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) status as once implemented, this will be required to visit any of the 26 Schengen-member countries for tourism, business, medical, or transit. This is an additional check on security rather than a visa.
Covid-19 Info
Country Entry Requirements
Due to the changing requirements for entry, it is imperative that you stay up to date on requirements set by the country/countries that you are visiting. Please visit our Travel Restrictions Tool page and the country/countries government webpage for this information.
Extra Stay
Would you like to extend your time in Germany? We advise Booking.com for researching and reserving your extra nights. You can read a detailed description of the hotels offered including a clear listing of amenities, but more importantly, you can view customer reviews and ratings.
Tour Operator
Tour Operator
This tour is run by Merlijn de magie van water B.V...
We value the strong relationship we have with our local partners and the services we provide.
We are not a broker.
We do not inflate tour prices.
We are simply travelers helping travelers.
Would you like to learn more About Us? How about What Makes Us Different than other companies?
Photos
Reviews
Eric D.
10 months ago
Verified Reviewer
This trip is mostly between towns and villages each day, but with the opportunity to "bookend" the cycling with visits to a number of famous large cities in the area. I stayed several days in Cologne first, and in Strasbourg and Frankfurt at the end. All are easily reachable by high speed train. On the cycle trip, I particularly enjoyed the portion out of Koblenz where we cycled right through the vineyards on the hillside slopes rather than right along the river.
This was my fifth cycle trip and by far the most luxurious boat, the Merlijn. Summer temperatures were HOT but somehow the paths along the meandering Mosel were often in the shade. One unpredictable factor for any trip is the quality of the guide. Lia was top notch. As were the bikes. And the food.
Helpful hints... I choose my trips according to what discounts are offered, as every tour has something worthwhile on offer. Germany is a beer drinking country, and I found non alcohol beer available everywhere.
Reply
Merlijn
Carolyn R.
10 months ago
Verified Reviewer
The Moselle is a storybook beautiful valley with vineyards sloping up the river valleys and quaint towns along the way with castles on the hills. I couldn't ask for a more beautiful location. The Merlijn crew were amazing; the food was wonderful and our tour guide Leia made the trip enjoyable and informative. I really appreciated they took us to visit Berg Elze, I loved the castle. All around, this was a fabulous vacation that I would recommend to anyone who knows how to bike!
Reply
Merlijn
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Tripsite Customer Reviews

Eric D.
10 months ago

Verified Reviewer

This trip is mostly between towns and villages each day, but with the opportunity to "bookend" the cycling with visits to a number of famous large cities in the area. I stayed several days in Cologne first, and in Strasbourg and Frankfurt at the end. All are easily reachable by high speed train. On the cycle trip, I particularly enjoyed the portion out of Koblenz where we cycled right through the vineyards on the hillside slopes rather than right along the river.

This was my fifth cycle trip and by far the most luxurious boat, the Merlijn. Summer temperatures were HOT but somehow the paths along the meandering Mosel were often in the shade. One unpredictable factor for any trip is the quality of the guide. Lia was top notch. As were the bikes. And the food.

Helpful hints... I choose my trips according to what discounts are offered, as every tour has something worthwhile on offer. Germany is a beer drinking country, and I found non alcohol beer available everywhere.

Merlijn

Carolyn R.
10 months ago

Verified Reviewer

The Moselle is a storybook beautiful valley with vineyards sloping up the river valleys and quaint towns along the way with castles on the hills. I couldn't ask for a more beautiful location. The Merlijn crew were amazing; the food was wonderful and our tour guide Leia made the trip enjoyable and informative. I really appreciated they took us to visit Berg Elze, I loved the castle. All around, this was a fabulous vacation that I would recommend to anyone who knows how to bike!

Merlijn

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Cologne to Saarburg

Germany Bike + Barge Tours

Rhine, Moselle & Saar - three river tour in Germany!

Overview

Highlights

Itinerary

Boats & Bikes

Deluxe Class Barge

Inclusions

What’s Included

2023

2024

What’s Not Included

2023 & 2024
One dinner
Drinks other than those mentioned as included
Excursions other than those mentioned
City maps
Tour maps
Gratuities
Bike protection
Travel Insurance