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.
Itinerary
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 9: SaarburgAll 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.
Day 1: Cologne
Check-in on the Merlijn, your sailing home for the week, begins at 3:30 pm. Enjoy a welcome drink, meet the crew, and attend a tour briefing where you'll be informed about the tour, the features of the ship, and safety protocols. After cruising the Rhine for a few hours, the captain drops anchor for a first relaxing night on board.Day 2: Bonn - Andernach, 28 mi. (45 km)
Enjoy breakfast while the Merlijn continues further upstream on the river Rhine. Your bike tour will start in Bonn, the city of Beethoven. Cycle along the Siebengebirge (lit. "seven mountains" in German), which is a range of hills to the East of the Rhine, south-east of Bonn, comprising of over 40 mountains and hills. The route ends at Andernach, where you meet the Merlijn again, which will be docked overnight. Your guide will take you on an after-dinner walk through this interesting city along the Rhine.Day 3: Andernach - Koblenz - Winningen, 25 mi. (40 km)
After breakfast, your bike tour will start from Andernach, and leads you to Koblenz. Here, the guide will show you around this magnificent city and take you on a cable car ride across the Rhine to Ehrenbreitstein Castle. This offers a fabulous view over the city of Koblenz and the ‘Deutsche Eck’, where the Moselle merges with the Rhine. Afterwards, cycle on to Winningen, where the Merlijn awaits for an overnight stay.Day 4: Winningen - Alken - Cochem, 25 mi. (40 km)
During breakfast, the boat cruises to Alken and passes one more lock of the Moselle. Here you begin biking into the Eltztal, where you will take a break from the saddle and lace up your hiking shoes. After a hike of approximately 40 minutes, you reach beautiful castle of Eltz. Romantically situated on top of cliff, the castle is one of only a few that has not suffered destruction throughout its long history. Afterwards, you’ll cycle to Cochem, where the Merlijn awaits. In Cochem, a visit to the famous Reichsburg, or a stroll through the cozy streets of this romantic city is highly recommended.Day 5: Cochem - Zell - Traben Trarbach, 23 or 34 mi. (36 or 55 km)
In the morning, start biking from Cochem, with the small village of Beilstein being your first stop. It’s well worth a visit, so enjoy a stroll through this medieval village, which is still completely intact. Along the meandering Moselle River, you will cycle on to Zell, which is famous for its ‘Zeller Schwarze Katz’ (black cat) vineyard. From Zell, you have two options to conclude your day:1. Board the Merlijn and cruise to Traben-Trarbach.
2. Extend your bike tour and cycle on to Traben-Trarbach.
After dinner you will be offered a wine-tasting session at the Winery of Storck.
Day 6: Traben-Trarbach - Trier, 24 or 34 mi. (38 or 55 km)
During breakfast, the boat will cruise to the starting point of today's bike tour. You will cycle along the Moselle, with a first stop in Bernkastel-Kues. Here you can walk through the town and visit Germany’s oldest marketplace. After your visit, cycle on to Neumagen where you have two options:1. Board the Merlijn and enjoy a relaxing cruising afternoon.
2. Extend your bike tour and cycle on to Mehring.
Mehring is the spot where the Romans first set foot, travelling from the Rhine to the Moselle river. The Romans fell in love with this landscape more than 2000 years ago, and built splendid rural villas here. In Mehring, you will board the Merlijn again, and together we will cruise towards Trier. Tonight you will enjoy another delicious dinner on board.
Day 7: Trier, 36 mi. (58 km)
Today looks a bit different day than the average bike and barge day. The Merlijn will stay docked in Trier for another full day and we offer several choices today. Those who came 100% for the cycling can get ready to enjoy one of the cycling highlights on this trip! Where most routes lead along the river, today's route is entirely through the mountains and free nature, and even then mostly downhill! To achieve this, you go in the morning, together with your bicycle, by bus into the mountains and then follow an old railroad line, which has recently been transformed into a bicycle path, towards the Mosel. This ride will take most of the day…
Those who also deserve some rest during this vacation, want to go shopping or see more culture, will also find something to their liking. Leave the bike onboard for the day and walk into Trier to enjoy everything this city has to offer. A rich history, nice stores and plenty of terraces. Our guide will be happy to help you with your plans for the day. Tonight’s dinner is at your own pace in one of the many restaurants.Day 8: Trier - Saarburg, 16 or 34 mi. (25 or 55 km)
In the morning, you can do some more exploring in Trier. A guided tour of this fascinating city can be arranged. Trier was once the capital of the Western Roman Empire, a Roman seat of government, and is well-known for its impressive city gate, the Porta Nigra. In the afternoon you will cycle to Saarburg, your final destination of the tour.The cityscape of Saarburg is characterized by narrow alleys, framework houses, and Baroque structures, as well as colorful fishing cottages and seafarers’ houses. The master architect of Berlin, Karl Friedrich Schinkel, called this collection of romantic houses and small bridges on the Buttermarkt "Little Venice" in the 19th century.
Day 9: Saarburg
Disembarkation after breakfast.Map
Boats & Bikes
- Merlijn
Deluxe Class Barge
"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
- Accommodation for 8 nights in a climate-controlled cabin on the deluxe class vessel, the Merlijn
- Complimentary welcome drink
- Daily cleaning of your cabin
- 8 breakfast buffets, 7 packed lunches, & 7 three-course dinners
- Complimentary coffee, tea, & ice water
- Tour guide
- Daily tour briefing
- Standard rental bike with waterproof pannier, water bottle, towel, & universal helmet
- Canal, bridge & harbor fees
- Entrance to Eltz Castle
- Wine tasting in Traben-Trarbach at Storck
- WiFi (signal speed & strength varies)
What’s Not Included
- 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
2024
Sunday departure, September 1, 2024
2025
Sunday departure, June 29, 2025
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
- Please see our FAQ
Pricing
2024
Twin/Double $ 4283 £ 2179 $ 3,929 € 2545 Ft 1059135 kr 387252 ₪ 10579 ¥ 429831 Mex$ 56696 NZ$ 4715 kr 31102 zł 11309 S$ 3731 kr 30177 CHF 2449 $ 2,822 Twin for Single-Use, On Request On request 2025
Twin/Double $ 4897 £ 2492 $ 4,493 € 2910 Ft 1211034 kr 442791 ₪ 12097 ¥ 491476 Mex$ 64827 NZ$ 5391 kr 35562 zł 12931 S$ 4267 kr 34505 CHF 2800 $ 3,227 Twin for Single-Use, On Request On request Extra Options
Electric bike rental: $ 353 £ 180 $ 324 € 210 Ft 87394 kr 31954 ₪ 873 ¥ 35467 Mex$ 4678 NZ$ 389 kr 2566 zł 933 S$ 308 kr 2490 CHF 202 $ 233
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.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
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?
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