Saarburg to Mainz
Germany Bike + Barge Tours
Bike, barge & cruise the mighty ‘father’ Rhine, the ever-romantic Moselle, and beautiful Saar River
- Tour Type
- Skill Level
- Length8–9 days
- Prices from€1740 Rates
- Book This Trip
Overview
During this three-river tour in Germany, you follow iconic German rivers exploring and experiencing culture, cuisine, and history.
Your route will mainly follow riverside cycle paths lined with castles, vineyards, and quaint German villages, including charming Rüdesheim and Zell, the "black cat" city.
In quaint Traben Trarbach, you will enjoy a wine tasting at the world-renowned Storck Winery. Your itinerary also includes Cochem, Koblenz, and Mainz which perfects this bike and boat tour in Germany.
Highlights
- Rüdesheim
- Black Cat city of Zell
- Bernkastel
- Roman city of Trier
- Saarburg
- Romantic Rhine
- Loreley
- Vineyards of the Moselle
- A lovely small boat experience
- Riverside cycling
Be sure to look over our full list of bike & barge tours in Germany.
Itinerary
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: Saarburg
Day 2: Saarburg - Trier, 13 mi. (20 km) or extend to 34 mi. (55 km)
Day 3: Trier - Mehring - Bernkastel - Traben Trarbach, 28 mi. (45 km)
Day 4: Traben Trarbach - Zell - Cochem, 22 mi. (35 km)
Day 5: Cochem - Koblenz, 25 mi. (40 km)
Day 6: Koblenz - Oberwesel - Rüdesheim, 19 mi. (30 km)
Day 7: Rüdesheim - Mainz, 24 mi. (38 km)
Day 8: MainzDay 1: Saarburg
Check-in takes place between 3:30 and 4:30 pm. As you enjoy your complimentary welcome beverage, the crew will be introduced and you will have a briefing regarding your upcoming tour, the ship, and safety protocols for the week ahead. After dinner, there will be time to stroll through the city and enjoy a splendid view of the Saar valley. In the charming city itself, you’ll be impressed by the narrow alleys, framework houses, and Baroque constructions, as well as colorful seamen’s houses and fishermen’s dwellings. There is an overnight stay in Saarburg.Day 2: Saarburg - Trier, 13 mi. (20 km) or extend to 34 mi. (55 km)
You depart Saarburg by bike, following the Saar River downstream. At Konz, the Saar meets the Moselle river. Continuing onward, you arrive in Trier, your overnight destination. There is enough time for a visit to the city and a tour by a local guide. Trier was founded by the Romans and was once the capital of the Western Roman Empire. There are several well-preserved structures worth visiting such as the Porta Nigra gate, ruins of Roman baths, and an amphitheater outside the city center.Day 3: Trier - Mehring - Bernkastel - Traben Trarbach, 28 mi. (45 km)
As you enjoy breakfast, the Merlijn will sail from Trier to the holiday resort of Mehring, where the biking begins. The Romans fell in love with this landscape more than 2000 years ago and built splendid country villas. After visiting Neumagen-Drohn, you will cycle on to Bernkastel-Kues, where magnificent timber framework houses line the oldest market square in Europe. After a visit to this charming city, you’ll board the Merlijn and depart for Traben Trarbach. At night, you’ll be offered a wine-tasting session at the Storck Winery.Day 4: Traben Trarbach - Zell - Cochem, 22 mi. (35 km)
Once the Merlijn arrives in Zell, famous for its ‘Zeller Schwarze Katz’ vineyard, you disembark and start to bike along the meandering Moselle, passing through many charming villages, such as Alf and Sankt Aldegund. In Sankt Aldegunde, you can visit a cellar with lots of liqueurs, wines, and Mosel-made mustards, before heading to Bremm and finally Beilstein. After exploring this interesting medieval and well-preserved village, you bike to Cochem, where the Merlijn is waiting for you.Day 5: Cochem - Koblenz, 25 mi. (40 km)
After breakfast, you start biking from Cochem into the Eltztal, and after a hike of approx. 40 minutes, you visit the beautiful castle of Eltz. With its romantic clifftop location, the castle is one of the very few that has remained intact throughout its long history. You will then bike to your overnight destination of Koblenz. Dinner is on your own this evening so you have the opportunity to try the local German cuisine.Day 6: Koblenz - Oberwesel - Rüdesheim, 19 mi. (30 km)
Today is one of the highlights of the trip: sailing through the romantic middle Rhine and passing by the Lorely, you might even hear her singing! This part of the Rhine is steeped in history, myths, and legends. Once the barge arrives in Oberwesel, your bike tour starts, following the Rhine gorge further from the river banks. At the end, you reach Bingen, which is worth visiting. You cross the river by ferry to reach the charming and famous city of Rüdesheim with its Drossegasse (Drosse Alley), a cobbled pedestrian-only street filled with historic buildings, restaurants, bars, and shops. There is an opportunity to take the cable car up to the mountain for a spectacular view of the Rhine.Day 7: Rüdesheim - Mainz, 24 mi. (38 km)
Cycle directly from Rüdesheim, along the Rhine River, passing through cozy little towns such as Oestrich-Winkel and Eltville. Don’t forget to stop at a traditional German bakery for a Berliner, a donut-like sweet treat stuffed with jam! The tour ends in Mainz, the capital of Rhineland-Palatinate. Mainz's Old Town is the pride and joy of the city scene. Spacious squares, lovingly restored half-timbered houses, and magnificent Baroque churches lend the old town its "gemütliches" (charming) character. The Merlijn awaits your arrival. Your final evening on board will be highlighted by a farewell dinner.Day 8: Mainz
After breakfast, it is time to say goodbye and continue your European trip or leave for the airport.Day 1: Saarburg
Day 2: Saarburg - Trier, 13 mi. (20 km) or extend to 34 mi. (55 km)
Day 3: Trier, 58 km
Day 4: Trier - Mehring - Bernkastel - Traben Trarbach, 28 mi. (45 km)
Day 5: Traben Trarbach - Zell - Cochem, 26 mi. (41 km)
Day 6: Cochem - Koblenz, 29 mi. (46 km)
Day 7: Koblenz - Oberwesel - Rüdesheim, 19 mi. (30 km)
Day 8: Rüdesheim - Mainz, 24 mi. (38 km)
Day 9: MainzMap
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
2023
- Accommodations for 7 nights on board the deluxe vessel, the Merlijn
- 7 breakfasts, 6 packed lunches, & 6 three-course dinners
- Complimentary welcome beverage
- Coffee, tea, & iced water
- Daily cleaning of your cabin
- Toiletries (soap, shampoo)
- Bathrobe & slippers
- Services of a tour guide
- Daily tour briefing
- 27-speed bicycle, including a waterproof pannier, towel, & universal helmet
- Complimentary water bottle
- Canal, bridge, & harbor fees
- All ferry fares en route
- Entrance to the castle of Eltz
- Wine-tasting session at the Storck winery
- Guided city tour of Trier
- WiFi (signal speed & strength may vary)
- Accommodations for 8 nights on board the deluxe vessel, the Merlijn
- 8 breakfasts, 7 packed lunches, & 7 three-course dinners
- Complimentary welcome beverage
- Coffee, tea, & iced water
- Daily cleaning of your cabin
- Toiletries (soap, shampoo)
- Bathrobe & slippers
- Services of a tour guide
- Daily tour briefing
- 27-speed bicycle, including a waterproof pannier, towel, & universal helmet
- Complimentary water bottle
- Canal, bridge, & harbor fees
- All ferry fares en route
- Entrance to the castle of Eltz
- Wine-tasting session at the Storck winery
- Guided city tour of Trier
- WiFi (signal speed & strength may vary)
2024
What’s Not Included
- 1 dinner
- Drinks other than those mentioned
- City maps
- Bike maps
- Gratuities
- Bike protection
- Travel Insurance
Dates & Pricing
Dates
Saarburg to Mainz - 8-Day Tour
Saturday departure
July 15, 2023Saarburg to Mainz - 9-Day Tour
Monday departure
September 9, 2024Please 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
Saarburg to Mainz - 8-Day Tour
Twin/Double
$ 2911 £ 1539 $ 2,585 € 1740 ₪ 7087 ¥ 266934 NZ$ 3144 NOK 21123 kr 20578 $ 1,900
Twin for Single-Use, On Request
€ 3132 Saarburg to Mainz - 9-Day Tour
Twin/Double
$ 4258 £ 2251 $ 3,781 € 2545 ₪ 10365 ¥ 390430 NZ$ 4599 NOK 30896 kr 30099 $ 2,779
Twin for Single-Use, On Request
On request Extra Options
Electric bike rental
2023
8-day tour, payable on board, advanced reservation required: $ 301 £ 159 $ 267 € 180 ₪ 733 ¥ 27614 NZ$ 325 NOK 2185 kr 2129 $ 197
2024
9-day tour, payable on board, advanced reservation required: $ 351 £ 186 $ 312 € 210 ₪ 855 ¥ 32216 NZ$ 379 NOK 2549 kr 2484 $ 229
Extra Info
Skill Level — Easy
This is an easy guided bike and boat tour with average biking distances from 30 to 55 km.
Airport Info
The closest international airport to both your tour start and tour end is Frankfurt International Airport (FRA). However, if you do not mind arriving at one airport and departing from another, Luxembourg International Airport (LUX) is actually much closer to Saarburg than Frankfurt Airport.
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.
Train travel from Frankfurt Airport to Saarburg is approximately 4 hours and does entail either one or two transfers.
Public transportation (bus) from Luxembourg to Saarburg will take about 1 1/2 hours with one transfer.
At the end of your tour in Mainz, train travel to Frankfurt Airport takes only about 1/2 hour with zero transfers.The German rail site bahn.de is good resource when researching train travel in Germany.
Climate
Please check local conditions before your arrival. The Mosel region has a moderate maritime climate. This climate type is very favorable to all kinds of vegetation and its cooler temperatures especially conducive to grape growing.
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.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.
Extra Stay
Extra time in Germany is always enjoyable as there is so much to do and see. 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, customer reviews, and ratings.
Tour Operator
This tour is run by Coen van der Vlies.
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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