| Tour | Bike + Boat |
|---|---|
| Type | Guided |
| Skill | Easy |
| Length | 8 days |
| From | €1272 Rates |
| Tour Reviews |
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Skill Level
This is an easy guided bike and boat tour
Tour Boats
Day-To-Day Itinerary
This tour is offered in both directions. Be sure to check dates and corresponding start and end cities.
*All distances are approximate. The above-planned itinerary is subject to change, even on very short notice, due to changing wind and weather conditions and other unforeseen circumstances having to do with mooring requirements, docking location changes, lock repairs, etc.
Day 1: Embarkation in Mettlach between 2 and 3 pm, 9 mi. (15 km)
Day 2: Saarschleife - Saarbrug, 22 mi. (35 km)
Day 3: Saarburg - near Trier, 22 mi. (35 km)
Day 4: Nearby Trier, sailing to Schweig - Bernkastel Kues, 31 mi. (50 km)
Day 5: Bernkastel Kues, Moselle - Maare cycling trail, 34 mi. (55 km)
Day 6: Bernkastel-Kues - Zell, 25 mi. (40 km)
Day 7: Zell - Cochem, 28 mi. (45 km)
Day 8: Cochem disembarkation before 10 am
Day 1: Embarkation in Mettlach between 2 and 3 pm, 9 mi. (15 km)
Your tour starts in the beautiful Saarland town of Mettlach, home of Villeroy & Boch and with a lot of shops and terraces. Do note that you can drop your luggage off at noon but cabins will not be ready for check-in. At 4 PM, the Zwaan will undergo short navigation along the Saar River to a beautiful mooring-place near the Saarschleife (Saar loop).
Day 2: Saarschleife - Saarbrug, 22 mi. (35 km)
From Mettlach, the route leads north along the Saar. Around the little village of Saarhölzbach, the Saarland is left behind and the Rheinland Pfalz is entered. The history of this little village goes back to the year 802 and the government of Charlemagne, also known as Charles the Great, King of Franks, King of Italy and the first Holy Roman Emperor. Destination today is Saarburg from where it is about 15 km. to the Mosel. Don’t forget to go for a walk through the old town center with the famous waterfalls and visit the old city castle.
Day 3: Saarburg - nearby Trier, 22 or 28 mi. (35 or 45 km)
Today you switch rivers in the historical city of Konz, leaving the Saar behind and then following the Mosel towards Luxembourg. It was around the year 365 A.D. that the river inspired the Roman teacher Magnus Ausonius to write his hymn Mosella:
‘Greetings, river, framed by perfumed vineyard-covered hills, Framed by grass; river of greenest shores. Your strong waters carry ships, flowing in easy waves. Along the stream, and a glittering lake your depths emulate.’
Along the old Saarschleife, to to the Igeler Säule, you cycle and then to and Wasserbillig in Luxembourg. In the afternoon you’ll turn eastwards to Trier where you’ll stay for around 3 hours. This city is known for its Roman legacies like the Porta Nigra, the Basilica of Constantine the Great and an amphitheater. After visiting there is one hour cycling to the mooring-place of the barge.
Day 4: Mooring location outside Trier - Bernkastel Kues, 31 mi. (50 km)
Today's route showcases Roman influence that is still present today in ancient villas, public baths, and other relics of ancient civilizations. The ancient remnants dot the slopes along the winding river. Destination today is the medieval town of Bernkastel Keus with its romantic narrow streets, remarkable half-timbered houses, and picturesque nooks and crannies.
Day 5: Bernkastel Kues, Moselle - Maare cycling trail, 34 mi. (55 km)
In the morning you are transferred by bus to Daun, to the start of the Moselle-Maare cycling trail, possibly the most famous cycling trail of the central Moselle. The track is built on an old railway line. There is no simpler way to cycle to the Moselle valley than on the former railway line through the Volcanic Eifel! The road runs through the landscape of volcanoes and crater lakes, along magnificent viaducts and past old railway stations and continues to roll on the Moselle bike path to Bernkastel-Kastel Kues.
Day 6: Bernkastel-Kues - Zell, 25 mi. (40 km)
The Mosel continues through a green and fascinating landscape with vineyards and forests and beautiful towns and villages like the ‘Winzerdorf’ Wolf. Further on, around the next curve, you’ll be surprised by the beautiful double city in Jugendstil, Traben Trarbach. The ship waits for you in the city of the black cat, Zell. The story goes that when some wine merchants from Aachen had to choose which wine barrel they wanted to buy, a black cat jumped upon one of the barrels to defend it. Of course, this made it clear for them which barrel they should buy.
Day 7: Zell - Cochem, 22 mi. (35 km)
The day starts with sailing to the beautiful village of Beilstein. Today you will visit the most beautiful castle along the Mosel River: Burg Eltz. You will cycle to a bicycle parking lot on the foothill and from there continue hiking (1 hour, not too steep) to Burg Eltz. Here there is an opportunity to visit the original medieval interior of the castle and climb the tower. After the visit, the cycling continues along the Mosel to Cochem, the final destination of this cycling week. Cochem is famous for its wines and dominated by the old Reichsburg.
Day 8: Cochem, disembarkation before 10 am
Day 1: Embarkation in Cochem between 2 and 3 pm.
Day 2: Cochem - Zell, 27.5 mi. (44 km)
Day 3: Zell - Bernkastel - Kues, 25 mi. (40 km)
Day 4: Bernkastel-Kues, Moselle - Maare cycling trail, 34 mi. (55 km)
Day 5: Bernkastel-Kues - nearby Trier, 31 mi. (50 km)
Day 6: Trier -Saarschleife - Saarburg, 22 mi. (35 km)
Day 7: Saarburg - Mettlach, 22 mi. (35 km)
Day 8: Mettlach, disembarkation before 10 am
Day 1: Embarkation in Cochem between 2 and 3 pm.
Your tour starts in the beautiful city Cochem with a lot of shops and terraces. Cochem is famous for its wines and dominated by the old Reichsburg. Do note that you can drop your luggage off at noon but cabins will not be ready for check-in.
Day 2: Cochem - Zell, 27.5 mi. (44 km)
Through five remarkable bends, you’ll meander along the river to the famous vineyards of Calmont. The steepest slopes have a gradient of 65%, which makes it quite difficult for the farmers to tend their vineyards. The lunch stop will be at the beautiful village of Beilstein. Endpoint today is the city of the black cat, Zell. The story goes that when a few wine merchants from Aachen had to choose which wine barrel they should buy a black cat jumped upon one of the barrels to defend it. Of course, this made it clear for them which barrel they should buy.
Day 3: Zell - Bernkastel - Kues, 25 mi. (40 km)
The Mosel makes its way through a green and fascinating landscape with vineyards and forests. Just after leaving Zell you will bike to the “Marienburg” where you will be awarded by a splendid view over the Mosel Meander. Along the way, you’ll find some beautiful towns and villages like the beautiful double city in Jugendstil, Traben Trarbach and the ‘Winzerdorf’ Wolf. The final destination is Bernkastel-Kues, a medieval town with romantic narrow streets, remarkable half-timbered houses and picturesque nooks and crannies
Day 4: Bernkastel Kues, Moselle - Maare cycling trail, 34 mi. (55 km)
In the morning the transfer bus takes you to Daun, to the start of the Moselle-Maare cycling trail, possibly the most famous cycling trail of the central Moselle. The track is built on an old railway line. There is no simpler way to cycle to the Moselle valley than on the former railway line through the Volcanic Eifel! The road runs through the landscape of volcanoes and crater lakes, along magnificent viaducts and past old railway stations and continues to roll on the Moselle bike path to Bernkastel-Kues.
Day 5: Bernkastel Kues - nearby Trier, 31 mi. (50 km)
During today’s tour, you switch rivers in the historical city of Konz, where you leave the Saar behind and follow the Mosel. Along the old Saarschleife, you cycle to the Igeler Säule and Wasserbillig in Luxemburg. In the afternoon you’ll turn eastwards to Trier where you’ll stay for around 3 hours. This city is known for its Roman legacies like the Porta Nigra, the Basilica of Constantine the Great and an amphitheater. After visiting there is one-hour cycling to the mooring-place of the barge.
Day 6: Trier -Saarschleife - Saarburg, 22 or 28 mi. (35 or 45 km)
After breakfast, you bike to the Saar-Canyon. Here there will be the opportunity to hike to an outlook on top of the canyon for a magnificent panorama over the faraway surroundings. The hike is not steep and takes 1 hour uphill and half an hour downhill. At lunchtime, you will arrive in the town of Mettlach for lunch and can visit the town with its outlet-shops. Of course, the biggest attraction of the town, the Villeroy & Boch porcelain museum, will not be overlooked, including a cup of coffee in the beautiful Museum-Café. You will end in the very scenic town of Saarburg with its huge waterfall in the middle of town.
Day 7: Saarburg - Mettlach, 22 mi. (35 km)
From Saarburg you cycle south along the Saar. Around the little village of Saarhölzbach you leave Rheinland Pfalz behind and enter the Saarland. The history of this little village goes back to the year 802 and the government of Charlemagne, also known as Charles the Great, king of Franks, king of Italy and the first Holy Roman Emperor. Today we will have lunch in Mettlach, a little town along the Saar River where we will visit the famous Villeroy & Boch porcelain museum. Today’s highlight is the beautiful Saarschleife (Saar loop). You will have the opportunity to hike to a panorama-point where you can have a great view of the whole region. The highlight of today is the beautiful Saarschleife. Endpoint today is Mettlach.
Day 8: End of tour
Disembarkation at 10 am
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Pricing Information
Travel Details
This tour is run by Cycletours.
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.
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Mosel and Saar Boats + Barges
Zwaan Belgium, Netherlands Comfort Class Boat Once a cargo boat, the Zwaan (Swan) was completely renovated and converted into a comfortable passenger barge. On board you will find seven comfortable cabins allowing a total capacity of 16 passengers.
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Tour Reviews
James S. 5 months ago Verified Reviewer
Biking along the river was incredible and I loved seeing small villages we would not have otherwise gone to. The lodging was way more comfortable than the pictures made the boat look, we were all impressed! The staff was all very accommodating to the multiple people in our group requiring gluten-free meals. Overall an amazing week with my extended family on the bikes and on the boat!
Boat: Zwaan
Reply
Rosalind K. 6 months ago Verified Reviewer
The boat crew and participants were wonderful. The food was beyond belief. The guide did any excellent job of leading the group on the road, but when we arrived at historic areas left us to ourselves. We did not receive any of the three guided town tours that the trip description promised.
Boat: Zwaan
Reply
Randall O. 6 months ago Verified Reviewer
We enjoyed everything about this tour - great accommodations on the Zwaan, wonderful meals, outstanding staff, and beautiful scenery.
Boat: Zwaan
Reply
Stephen M. 6 months ago Verified Reviewer
This was a great trip - many great memories. Most memorable? - I rated it a 4 because we were stuck with the bow cabin on the Zwaan and no one should be given that cabin if they don't expressly want it - too small and too difficult to get in and out - and a much different standard than the other cabins on the boat. We are two taller, older people and the least suited for that cabin, but because we were the last to board we were stuck with it. We were told by Tripsite that we were getting a different cabin but that didn't happen.
Boat: Zwaan
Reply
Bob T. 2 years ago Verified Reviewer
The opportunity to experience rural Germany close up was awesome and made even better with the efforts of our guide and crew.
Boat: Zwaan
Reply
Liz 1 year ago
We did a tour on the Zwaan in 2014. We loved the crew and plan to do another trip with them. Please advise if it is still Maria, Ilja and Dorus. Thanks a lot.
Reply
George P. 2 years ago Verified Reviewer
The scenery was gorgeous, there were quaint little towns around every bend of the Saar and Mosel rivers. Our bike guide was excellent and very knowledgeable about the areas we were at. The food was plentiful and dinners were way above average. Great tour!
Boat: Zwaan
Reply
Peter N. 2 years ago Verified Reviewer
Mosel/Saar B&B, It was a great trip, the barge was excellent, our staff especially the cook (meals) were wonderful and the scenery along the rivers was magnificent. I would highly recommend this trip especially with the barge and crew that took excellent care of our group.
Boat: Zwaan
Reply
Linda F. 3 years ago Verified Reviewer
I felt that the guide could have put more effort into letting us know what we were seeing. When we came upon a historic site such as a church, castle or such his standard comment was, "here is a church, you can go in and look at it if you want". We sat in front of the Porta Negra in Trier and were told it was a Roman ruin. Nothing more. My e-bike malfunctioned and I had to ride a regular bike the next day. I had ordered an e-bike because I have a health condition and was quite embarrassed that I held the rest of the group up while I walked the regular bike up small hills.
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Peter N. 3 years ago Verified Reviewer
Great Trip, Great Barge, and Great Staff. This is a very scenic trip along the Mosel and Saar. The vineyards make the view even better. The staff was very helpful and friendly and helped make the trip even better. I highly recommend this trip to everyone.
Boat: Zwaan
Reply
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