| Tour | Bike+Boat |
|---|---|
| Type | Both |
| Skill | Easy |
| Length | 8 days |
| From | €1265 Rates |
| Client Reviews |
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Tour Dates
Mainz to Metz: August 5, 2017
Metz to Mainz: August 12, 2017
Not being offered in 2018
Skill Level
This is an easy guided or self-guided bike and boat tour with daily distances ranging from 19 to 28 miles.
Tour Boats
Day-To-Day Itinerary
MAINZ TO METZ
Day 1: Arrival in Mainz, cruise to Bingen/Rüdesheim
Day 2: Bingen/Rüdesheim - Koblenz, 25 mi. (40 km)
Day 3: Koblenz - Cochem, 16 mi. (25 km)
Day 4: Cochem - Zell - Traben Trarbach, 22 mi. (35 km)
Day 5: Traben Trarbach - Bernkastel Kues - Trier, 28 mi. (45 km)
Day 6: Trier - Remich, 26 mi. (42 km)
Day 7: Remich - Thionville - Metz, 22 mi. (35 km)
Day 8: Departure from Metz
*All distances are approximate. The above planned itinerary is subject to change due to changing wind and weather conditions and other unforeseen circumstances having to do with mooring requirements, etc.
Day 1: Arrival in Mainz, cruise to Bingen/Rüdesheim
The Merlijn will be moored in the city of Mainz. Embarkation begins at 4 pm. You will be welcomed on board by the crew and can enjoy a complimentary cocktail and learn about the ship, the daily tours and the bicycles. If you arrive earlier, you can drop off your luggage beginning at 10:30 AM, giving you plenty of time to explore the city of Mainz. Be sure to stroll through the Old Town, its pride and joy, which is characterized by big, broad plazas, lovingly restored half-timbered houses and magnificent Baroque churches. At around 5:30 PM, the Merlijn leaves Mainz and cruises to Bigen/Rüdesheim where you stay overnight.
Day 2: Bingen/Rüdesheim - Koblenz, 25 mi. (40 km)
The day begins with a morning sail during breakfast so that the view from the Merlijn of the Lorelei rock can be enjoyed. According to German legend, there was once a beautiful young maiden, named Lorelei, who threw herself headlong into the river in despair over a faithless lover. Upon her death she was transformed into a siren and could from that time on be heard singing on a rock along the Rhine River, near St. Goar. Her hypnotic music lured sailors to their death. The legend is based on the echoing rock with that name near Sankt Goarshausen. In St. Goar, the cycling tour begins along the Rhine River, passing charming cities such as Boppard. There will be time to visit this ancient city, also called the "pearl on the Rhine River." If you would like, you can take the chair lift up to the magnificent viewpoint on the Rhine loop. Day's end finds you in Koblenz where the Moselle meets the Rhine River at the "German Corner."
Day 3: Koblenz - Cochem, 16 mi. (25 km)
Once again, during breakfast, the Merlijn will set off up the Moselle River to Alken where you will disembark and set off cycling to Moselkern. At Eltztal, a visit to the Eltz Castle is on the itinerary. Sitting atop a cliff, this castle is one of the very few that has never been destroyed during its long history. The Merlijn will be moored and waiting in Cochem. A visit to the famous Reichsburg Castle is recommended. The castle towers on a mighty rock, 100 meters above the town of Cochem. The castle was built around the year 1000. You can meander the medieval streets in this romantic city tucked between steep vineyards and the river. Dinner this evening is out on the town, perfect for exploring the local cuisine.
Day 4: Cochem - Zell - Traben Trarbach, 22 mi. (35 km)
The Merlijn will cruise to Beilstein in the morning for a visit to this medieval village. Afterwards, the cycling begins along the meandering Mosell River via Zell, famous for its vineyard Zeller Schwarze Katz, towards Traben - Trarbach, the city of the art nouveau. The day concludes with a wine tasting event at a local vineyard.
Day 5: Traben Trarbach - Bernkastel Kues - Trier, 28 mi. (45 km)
The boat sets forth first thing, cruising to Bernkastel-Kues where magnificaent framework houses line the marketplace. Cycling though the interesting city of Neumagen-Drohn, you will head toward Mehring, where the Merlijn will be moored. The Romans fell in love with this landscape more than 2000 years ago, building splendid country villas here and the Roman poet Ausonius sang of its beauty. Embarking once again in Mehring, you will cruise to Trier. After dinner, a stroll through the interesting streets can be enjoyed.
Day 6: Trier - Remich, 26 mi. (42 km)
After breakfast, you will enjoy a guided city tour through Trier and then begin to bike along the meandering Mosel River up to Wasserbillig where you follow the German Luxembourg border, encountering remainders of the Roman Times. Be sure to enjoy a glass of local wine and discover the difference between the German and Luxembourg wines. You will spend the night aboard the Merlijn in Remich.
Day 7: Remich - Thionville - Metz, 22 mi. (35 km)
Cycling out of Luxembourg, you head in the direction of the French Lorraine. In Sierck-les-Bains, there is an interesting old citadel. Thionville is the steel industry center for the Lorraine-district, but there is 17th century history as well in the form of ancient fortifications. The boat waits in Thionville for embarkation and sailing on to Metz, the final destination. It is a beautiful cruise along the Moselle River.
Day 8: Departure from Metz
Disembarkation will occur after breakfast at 9 AM. Be sure to allow for time to explore the city of Metz. The town's origins go back to the Roman times and today, it is a lively university city, complete with a medieval center. Recommended is a visit to the Gothic cathedral with its stain glass windows by Marc Chagall.
Metz is not at all the drab place you might expect from an industrial locale, indeed it is known as the "Ville jardin" or Garden City, with impeccable flower-beds. The warm hues of mustard-yellow stone buildings and the waters of the Moselle combine to form a lovely cityscape.
METZ TO MAINZ
Day 1: Arrival in Metz. Embarkation at 4 PM.
Day 2: Metz - Thionville - Remich, (25 km)
Day 3: Remich - Trier, (42 km)
Day 4: Trier - Traben Trarbach, (45 km)
Day 5: Traben Trarbach - Zell - Cochem, (20 km)
Day 6: Cochem - Moselkern - Koblenz, (35 km)
Day 7: Koblenz - Metz
Day 8: Mainz
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Email or Call 800-951-4384 +1 570-965-2064
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Pricing Information
Travel Details
This tour is operated by Jantien Wondergem and Henk Karelse. We do not run these tours ourselves, we never have. We work on commission from our local partners plus a small administration fee of €20. We pride ourselves on the strong relationship we have with our local partners and the services we provide.
Mainz to Metz Boats + Barges
Merlijn Germany, Netherlands Comfort Plus Class Boat The Merlijn has 12 luxurious cabins with two comfortable airbeds that can be pushed together or separated, a desk, a wardrobe closet, a hairdryer, and a safe. The lounge is comfortably furnished in a modern style with a restaurant area and lounge near the bar. You can enjoy fresh air, water, and nature in all weather on the sun deck. The entire ship is climate controlled and you can adjust the temperature in your own cabin.
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Customer Feedback
Noel J. 3 months ago
Jantien and Henk, our hosts on the Merlijn, were the daily highlight. Amazingly gracious, spirited, knowledgeable people.
Boat: Merlijn
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Alex B. 7 months ago
Amazing scenery, fantastic hosts, first class accommodations - a winner all around! Highly recommended, and would take another trip on the Merlijn in a heartbeat.
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Jenny S. 8 months ago
Highlights: Our daily biking trips, having a varied ride each day with different kms, visits and scenery, plus even a hike to a castle as well. My only suggestion is to keep this spontaneity as each day is an adventure with the known luxury of the barge awaiting us at the end of each ride.
Boat: Merlijn
Reply
Gina F. 8 months ago
Most Memorable Part? That is so hard to answer because there were so many of them. I do plan to enter your contest very soon. As for tips or suggestions for others...By all means considered a Tripsite bike trip for your next vacation. It has so much to offer. And don't let your fear of being able to complete the daily bike rides stop you. We had in our group of 21: an 80-year-old, a person with a "boot" on his foot due to an injury, a person with a sore back, and several people who don't bike regularly. All of them were able to not only complete our daily rides, they did so with no struggles and enjoyed themselves. E-bikes can be used by those who have trouble with longer or more challenging rides. There is something about riding in a group that bonds cyclists together. You go slow enough to have conversations and see all the details you could miss when going by bus or car, yet fast enough to cover miles of interesting terrain.
Boat: Merlijn
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Paul R. 8 months ago
Most memorable part: Discovering new and very interesting places with good friends.
Boat: Merlijn
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Charles O. 8 months ago
Traveling on the Merlijn is always a delight. The accommodation are great and the food was delicious. Our trip along the Mosell was utterly charming. This was my third sailing with Jantien and Henck and I hope it wasn't my last.
Boat: Merlijn
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Noel J. 8 months ago
Memorable and very satisfying tour. The Merlijn and her crew were wonderful, friendly, and efficient, even while operating one member short (due to illness). The route along the Rhein and Moselle Rivers was beautiful, historic, and made for great cycling. The extras offered by the tour, wine tasting trip, winery tour, Roman mosaic and others, were highlights, and the food on board was great. I'll be back.
Boat: Merlijn
Reply
James Gibson 2 years ago
Only the good, no bad. This was our second bike/barge experience and we will do more. On our last trip we brought 12 family and friends with us. They all loved it.
Boat: Merlijn
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Barbara Berling 2 years ago
Loved the trip and the Merlijn. Hoping to do another tour in 2017.
Boat: Merlijn
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