Mainz to Cologne
Germany Bike + Barge Tours
Bike & boat the Rhine River Valley!
- Tour Type
- Skill Level
- Length8 days
- Prices from€1198 Rates
- Book This Trip
Overview
This bike and boat tour in Germany from Mainz to Cologne and reverse leads along the most beautiful stretch of the great Rhine River. A rich and varied history unfolded along these banks and has left its mark in culture, landscape, and the arts.
Today the entire Upper Middle Rhine Valley is designated a Unesco World Heritage Site, meeting the criteria for such on many levels. The gorges rise steeply on both river banks, protected now by strict building and developing codes, allowing the sheer beauty of the area to remain. It is not hard to step back in time.
This romantic river valley, with precipitous cliffs, steep vineyards, typical villages, and hilltop castles is best explored by bike and boat, land and river!
Highlights
- Loreley Rock
- Rüdesheim near St. Goarshausen
- Koblenz
- Bonn
- Unsurpassed and timeless scenery
- Wonderful world-famous wine and beer
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Itinerary
Mainz to Cologne
Day 1: Mainz
Day 2: Mainz - Rüdesheim, 21 mi. (33 km)
Day 3: Rüdesheim - St. Goar/St. Goarshausen, 20 mi. (32 km)
Day 4: St. Goar - Koblenz, 24 mi. (38 km)
Day 5: Koblenz - Andernach, 16 mi. (25 km)
Day 6: Andernach - Bonn, 28 mi. (45 km)
Day 7: Bonn - Cologne, 23 mi. (37 km)
Day 8: Departure*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.
Day 1: Mainz
Embarkation takes place between 4 and 5 pm. Be sure to explore the old town of Mainz with its lovely alleys and public squares!Day 2: Mainz - Rüdesheim, 21 mi. (33 km)
Today you will experience firsthand why the Rhine River and its surroundings are part of the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage list. Beautiful islands, steep slate rocks, and vineyards shape the region around Rüdesheim. By bike, you will pass Eltville, the Kurfürstliche Burg fortress, and the famous landmark, Oestrich-Winkel, a former wine-loading crane from the 18th century. Completed in 1745, it was functioning until 1926. The day's destination is Rüdesheim, the winemaking town in the Rhine gorge. Be sure to visit the famous street, Drosselgasse and stop at a cafe for a taste of the world-famous Ruedesheimer Riesling.Day 3: Rüdesheim – St. Goar/St. Goarshausen, 20 mi. (32 km)
Following the Rhine through the Upper Middle Rhine Valley, you cycle past romantic castles and ruins, including the Reichenstein and Rheinstein fortresses. The famous Loreley rock will be passed on the way to St. Goar, your destination for today. Legend has it that a beautiful but melancholy siren would sit on the rock and sing as she combed her golden hair, distracting sailors while the strong currents smashed their ships to pieces against the rock. This has been called the most beautiful stretch of the Rhine River. From the top of the rock, you will have a beautiful view of St. Goar and St. Goarshausen.Day 4: St. Goar/St. Goarshausen - Koblenz, 24 mi. (38 km)
Boppard and the Marksburg are on the itinerary today as the route leads to Koblenz with its famous “Deutsche Eck” (German corner). Against a backdrop of vineyards, forests, and mountain ranges, the Moselle and Rhine Rivers merge here. From the Ehrenbreitstein Fortress, reached by cableway, you can enjoy a fantastic view over the splendid landscape of the Rhine. Koblenz is one of the oldest and most beautiful towns in Germany. Tickets for the cableway are available on board.Day 5: Koblenz - Andernach, 16 mi. (25 km)
The cycling itinerary today will lead you past Neuwied and the Engers Castle to Andernach, the destination for today. Like Koblenz, Andernach is one of the oldest cities of Germany. Here you will find the famous geyser that shoots 50 to 60 meters and is said to be the highest in the world. In Andernach you can enjoy sights like the Round Tower or visit the wine village Leutesdorf, which can be reached by ferry.Day 6: Andernach - Bonn, 28 mi. (45 km)
On the way to Bonn it is worthwhile to visit the Drachenburg Castle on the Drachenfels Königswinter or Sea Life, complete with the brand new Octopus Cave. Bonn is the former capital of Germany and the birthplace of Ludwig van Beethoven. You can visit the great composer’s birthplace, top-rated museums, and stroll the lovely riverside setting and the old government quarter.
Day 7: Bonn - Cologne, 23 mi. (37 km)
Before you reach Cologne by bike, there is the possibility for a stop at the Isle of Groov situated in the vast landscape of the Rheinaue wetland in the Cologne suburb Porz-Zündorf. The "island" is actually a peninsula and popular as a local recreation area with numerous outdoor restaurants as well as a rowing and pedal boat rental station. Final destination city and end of your tour is Cologne, overseen by the towering Cologne Gothic Cathedral. Yet amidst the antiquity, an energetic and youthful spirit shine. Life in Cologne is uncomplicated and vivacious. The breweries with their famous beer “Kölsch” will introduce you to the more relaxed side of the city.Day 8: Departure
Disembarkation by 9 am.Cologne to Mainz
Day 1: Cologne, embarkation between 3 pm - 5 pm
Day 2: Cologne - Bonn, 23 mi. (37 km)
Day 3: Bonn - Andernach, 28 mi. (45 km)
Day 4: Andernach - Koblenz, 19 mi. (25 km)
Day 5: Koblenz - St. Goar/St. Goarshausen, 24 mi. (38 km)
Day 6: St. Goarshausen/St. Goar - Rüdesheim, 19 mi. (32 km)
Day 7: Rüdesheim - Mainz, 21 mi. (32 km)
Day 8: MainzOptional excursions are possible and will be presented and bookable onboard, payable in cash only.
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Map
Boats & Bikes
Inclusions
What’s Included
- Accommodations for 7 nights on the Premium class ship, the Olympia
- Complimentary welcome beverage
- All meals (7 breakfasts, 6 packed lunches or light lunches on board, coffee & tea in the afternoon, 7 three-course dinners)
- Daily cabin cleaning
- Change of bedding & towels if requested
- Passenger & port fees
- Daily briefing on board & explanation of cycling itinerary
- Onboard tour leader (does not cycle with group)
- Maps & information material (1 set per cabin)
- 7-gear unisex city touring bicycle (Velo de Ville) with hand & backpedal brake or hand brakes only (please specify which you prefer)
- GPS tracks
- Bicycle protection
What’s Not Included
- All beverages
- Entrance fees & excursions
- Gratuities
- Travel Insurance
Dates & Pricing
Dates
Premium Class Boat
Olympia
Saturday departures
Mainz to Cologne
June 24 & July 22, 2023Cologne to Mainz
July 1 & July 29, 2023Please Note
- Rates are 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
2023
Main deck | Twin $ 1907 £ 1096 $ 1,771 € 1198 ₪ 4513 NZ$ 2088 NOK 13491 kr 13914 $ 1,320 Upper deck | Twin $ 2225 £ 1279 $ 2,066 € 1398 ₪ 5267 NZ$ 2436 NOK 15743 kr 16237 $ 1,541 Upper deck | Twin/astern $ 2146 £ 1233 $ 1,993 € 1348 ₪ 5078 NZ$ 2349 NOK 15180 kr 15656 $ 1,486 Upper deck | Single $ 2464 £ 1416 $ 2,288 € 1548 ₪ 5832 NZ$ 2698 NOK 17433 kr 17979 $ 1,706 Main deck | Twin for single-use $ 2305 £ 1325 $ 2,140 € 1448 ₪ 5455 NZ$ 2524 NOK 16307 kr 16817 $ 1,596 Upper deck | Twin for single-use On request Extra Options
Electric bike: $ 175 £ 101 $ 163 € 110 ₪ 414 NZ$ 192 NOK 1239 kr 1278 $ 121
Helmet purchase: $ 40 £ 23 $ 37 € 25 ₪ 94 NZ$ 44 NOK 282 kr 290 $ 28
Extra Info
Skill Level — Easy
This is an easy self-guided bike and boat tour. You will cycle between 25 and 45 km per day. The quality of the bike paths along the route is excellent. Most of the stretches are paved or asphalted and lead alongside the Rhine dikes without any gradients to note.
Airport Info
Closest international airport is Frankfurt International Airport (FRA).
Local Travel
If your tour begins in Mainz and ends in Cologne, upon arrival to the Frankfurt International Airport, you can take a direct train to Mainz. The Frankfurt Airport Regional Station is located below Terminal 1. S-Bahn train services S8 and S9 link the airport with central Frankfurt at Hauptbahnhof (central) station and surroundings. From Cologne, back to Frankfurt Airport, there is an ICE (Inter City Express Train) that can arrive in as little as one hour. If your tour begins in Cologne, again, the ICE inner city express train can travel between the airport and the city in less than an hour.
Climate
Please check local conditions before your arrival!
Day of Rest
Any day can be used as a day of rest by remaining on board.
Recommended
Soft-sided luggage is recommended as storage space is limited.
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.
Tour Requirements
Face masks might be required in the common areas. If you test positive for Covid-19 while on board, you may be asked to quarantine in your cabin, or even leave the ship.
Tour Operator
This tour is run by SE Tours.
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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