Mainz to Merzig

Day 1: Arrival in Mainz - Cruise to Rüdesheim
Day 2: Rüdesheim - St. Goar - Koblenz, 25 mi.  (40 km)
Day 3: Koblenz - Cochem, 25 mi. (40 km)
Day 4: Cochem - Zell - Traben Trarbach, 25 mi.  (40 km)
Day 5: Traben Trarbach - Bernkastel Kues - Trier, 28 mi.  (45 km)
Day 6: Trier - Saarburg (15/35 km)
Day 7: Saarburg - Merzig (32 km)
Day 8: Departure

Day 1: Arrival in Mainz - Rüdesheim
The Merlijn will be moored in the city of Mainz. Embarkation starts at 3:30 pm. The crew will welcome you onboard and while you enjoy a complimentary drink you will get information about the ship, the tours, and the bicycles. Around 5:00 PM the Merlijn motors to Rüdesheim where you will stay overnight. Before you board in Mainz, try to visit the Old Town, which is the pride and joy of the city scene. Broad, roomy squares, lovingly-restored half-timbered houses, and magnificent Baroque churches give the Old Town its charming, "gemuetliches" character. 

Day 2: Rüdesheim - St. Goar - Koblenz, the Romantic Rhine, 25 mi. (40 km)
Today begins with a sailing breakfast so that you can experience the view of the statue, Loreley, from the Merlijn. In St. Goar you will start biking along the Rhine river passing charming cities such as Boppard. You will have time to visit the ancient city of Boppard, also called ‘the pearl on the river Rhine’. You might even want to take the chair-lift up to the magnificent viewpoints on the Rhine loop.

The bike trip ends in Koblenz, where the Moselle meets the Rhine river at the “German Corner”. 

Day 3: Koblenz - Alken -  Cochem, 25 mi.  (40 km)
Another sailing breakfast this morning while cruising upstream on the Moselle River to Alken. Here you will start the biking tour to Moselkern.

You will bike into the Elztal and visit the castle Eltz. Situated romantically on a clifftop, the castle is one of the very few that has never been destroyed during its long history. Afterward, you will bike to Cochem where the Merlijn has already docked. In Cochem, you may want to pay a visit to the famous Reichsburg or stroll through the cozy streets in this romantic city.

Day 4: Cochem - Zell - Traben Trarbach, 25 mi. (40 km)
Starting in Cochem, your first stop today will be the small village of Beilstein. This small, peaceful medieval village is worth a visit. Never having been damaged by the ravages of war it has therefore retained a truly unique atmosphere. Along the meandering Moselle River, you will bike to Zell - famous for its vineyard Zeller Schwarze Katz. Before you reach Zell you pass Sankt Aldegund. This village has a great cellar with all kinds of mustards, liquors, and wines and is definitely worth a visit! In Zell. You will board the Merlijn to sail to Traben -Trarbach, the city of the art nouveau. After dinner, you will have the opportunity for a wine tasting in a local winery.

Day 5: Traben Trarbach - Bernkastel Kues - Mehring - Trier, 28 mi. (45 km)
Initially, the boat cruises to Bernkastel-Kues, in the heart of the beautiful Middle Mosel River valley. These twin towns are quintessential medieval German towns. Magnificent framework houses line the marketplace. By bike, you travel to the holiday resort of Mehring, passing the interesting city of Neumagen-Drohn. The Romans fell in love with this landscape more than 2000 years ago and built splendid country-villas here. The Roman poet Ausonius sang of the beautiful landscape. In Mehring, you will board the Merlijn again to cruise to Trier. Dinner this evening is on your own and you will enjoy exploring Trier.

Day 6: Trier - Saarburg, 16 mi. or 34 mi. (25 or 55 km)
On a guided city tour, you can further explore Trier. Trier was a Roman government seat and is well-known for its Porta Nigra, a gigantic city gate.

Laced with narrow alleys, framework houses, Baroque constructions, and colorful traditional fishing and sailing huts.  The master architect of Berlin, Karl Friedrich Schinkel named the ensemble of romantic houses and small bridges on the Buttermarkt,  “Little Venice” in the 19th century. After your visit to Trier, you will bike to Saarburg, following the charming Saar River. Tonight you will enjoy your dinner in one of the restaurants in Saarburg.

Day 7: Saarburg - Merzig, 20 mi. (32 km)
After a tour through Saarburg and a splendid view over the city and the Saar valley, you will bike about 15 km to the Saar-loop near Orscholz, the renowned river bend of the Saar. More than any other region, it symbolizes the "rendezvous in Saarland", a junction of water and land. An excellent viewpoint over the landscape and the Saar loop is at the “Cloef”. From there, it is only 10 km to today’s destination, the city of Merzig. On your way, you may want to visit the village of Villeroy & Boch,  Mettlach. In Merzig, a short city tour in the afternoon gives you a chance to have a look at structures dating over eight centuries as well as visiting some museums.

Day 8: Merzig
End of tour and departure

Day 1: Arrival in Mainz - Cruise to Rüdesheim
Day 2: Rüdesheim - Oberwesel- Koblenz, 25 mi. (40 km)
Day 3: Koblenz - Alken - Cochem, 25 mi. (40 km)
Day 4: Cochem - Zell - Traben Trarbach, 23 mi. or extend to 34 mi. (36 km or extend to 55 km)
Day 5: Traben Trarbach - Bernkastel Kues - Trier, 24 mi. or extend to 31 mi. (38 km or extend to 50 km)
Day 6: Trier, 36 mi. (58 km)
Day 7: Trier - Saarburg, 16 mi. or 31 mi. (25 km or 50 km)
Day 8: Saarburg - Merzig, 20 mi (32 km)
Day 9: Departure