Alsace - Colmar and Osthouse

Day 1: Colmar
Day 2: Round-trip to the famous wine villages, 28 or 37 mi. (45 or 60 km)
Day 3: Colmar - Mulhouse, return to Colmar by train, 40 mi. (65 km)
Day 4: Colmar - Sélestat - Osthouse, 19 or 40 mi. (30 or 65 km)
Day 5: Osthouse - Strasbourg - Osthouse,16 or 44 mi. (25 or 70 km) 
Day 6: Osthouse - Obernai and the Alsatian wine villages - Osthouse, 31 or 37 mi. (50 or 60 km)
Day 7: Osthouse - East through Rhine river valley - Osthouse, 25 or 37 mi. (40 or 60 km)
Day 8: Departure or extension

All distances are approximate. Itinerary is subject to change due to conditions on the path, roadwork, or other circumstances.

Day 1: Colmar
Arrival in Colmar, check-in at the hotel, and have some free time to explore the town.

Sample accommodations:
Standard: Hotel Beauséjour
Premier: Best Western Grand Hotel Bristol

Day 2: Colmar - famous wine villages - Colmar, 28 or 37 mi. (45 or 60 km)
You will have a choice between two cycle routes:  The shorter route - Cycling from Colmar, you head north through the great wine villages that are known for the Alsatian wines:  Ribeauvillé, Hunawihr, Riquewihr, and Kientzheim.   The longer route - This option will allow you to continue your bike route to visit two of the "Most Beautiful Villages of France" of Turckheim and medieval Eguishmeim.  It is a picturesque itinerary for sure: almost storybook-like!

Sample accommodations:
Standard: Hotel Beauséjour 
Premier: Best Western Grand Hotel Bristol

Day 3: Colmar - Mulhouse, return to Colmar by train, 40 mi. (65 km)
Today's route leads east to Neuf Brisach, then continues south to the village of Ottmarsheim, with its impressive 12th-century abbey church. Although Ottmarsheim is quite small, there are several medieval half-timbered houses to be seen in the streets close to the church. You will pedal on the Hardt’s forest cycle path and then along the Huningue’s canal to reach Mulhouse. You will return to Colmar by regional train.

Sample accommodation: 
Standard: Hotel Beauséjour 
Premier:  Best Western Grand Hotel Bristol

Day 4: Colmar - Sélestat - Osthouse, 19 or 40 mi. (30 or 65 km)
You will pedal along the path of the Rhone to the Rhine canal to Marckolsheim on the banks of the Rhine. The paths cross the Alsatian Ried and then onto charming Sélestat, with its 2 great churches, a Romanesque and Gothic basilica. On your way there, in the Alsace region, there’s the unique Baroque church in Ebersmunster that is worth a visit.  After the many rural villages along the way, the larger city of Benfeld will be an impressive change. It contains a beautiful Town Hall in the Renaissance style. It’s possible to travel directly from Colmar to Sélestat on the train (bikes are allowed for free), taking the simple direct connection (38 km) if you want to shorten the cycling itinerary.

Sample accommodation:
Standard/Premier:  Hôtel à la Ferme

Day 5: Osthouse - Strasbourg - Osthouse, 16 or 44 mi. (25 or 70 km) 
Over an asphalt cycle path along the Canal du Rhône au Rhin, you will cycle northward to Strasbourg. The cycle path ends at the 17th-century Barrage Vauban. From its panoramic terrace, you have an amazing view of the old city, which you can explore via bicycle or on foot. Strasbourg owns one of France’s unique networks of bike paths. The picturesque neighborhood ‘La petite France’ and the magnificent Gothic cathedral are only some of the many great treasures you will come across in Strasbourg. If you'd like, you can also go to Strasbourg by train (bikes are allowed for free) for more time to sightsee.

Sample accommodation: 
Standard/Premier: Hôtel à la Ferme

Day 6: Osthouse - wine villages including Obernai - Osthouse, 31 or 37 mi. (50 or 60 km) 
This roundtrip tour takes you west to the foot of the Vosges Mountains. Here the famous vineyards start. The small but picturesque old city of Obernai is worth exploring, as is the wine village of Barr! On the return leg, you have the choice to reach other beautiful wine villages on the wine route such as Mittelbergheim, Andlau, Itterswiller, and Nothalten, or to shorten your itinerary, to the flowered village of Stotzheim. From the many rural villages along the way, the larger city of Benfeld will be an impressive change.

Sample accommodation:
Standard/Premier: Hôtel à la Ferme

Day 7: Osthouse - east through Rhine river valley - Osthouse, 25 or 37 mi. (40 or 60 km) 
This route takes you east through the marshlands of the Rhine River Valley. Via a large lock complex, you’ll cycle to the other side into Germany. Through a landscape with the same character as ‘Le Grand Ried’, you can make a round trip to the old town of Lahr. Lahr lies at the foot of the wine hills that form the start of the mountains of the Black Forest. Over the Rhine dyke, you’ll cycle along the marsh forests to where you can cross over with the ferry to the French border town of Rhinau. From here, it’s not too far to return to the hotel.

Sample accommodation: 
Standard/Premier: Hôtel à la Ferme

Day 8: Departure or extension

If you’re looking for a different flavor, check out our full list of bike tours in Europe or view all our featured bicycle tours, specials, and news.

Accommodations

You have a choice of accommodation on this tour:
Category A: 4-star hotels
Category B: 3 and 4-star hotels

Bicycles

Standard bike

Unisex or men's frame, ideal for an upright position

• Aluminum frame
• Flat handlebar
• Royal Comfort saddle
• 7 or 21-speed (Shimano Alivia). 7-speed with back-pedaling brake hub.
• Flat pedal
• Shimano V-Brake
• Rear rack
• Mudguards
• 28-inch wheels
• Men's bike on request

Unisex electric bike

• Aluminum unisex frame (23 kg)
• On-board computer with LCD display will indicate your speed, distance, battery charge status and other data.
• Royal Comfort saddle
• 8-speeds integrated into the hub
• Bosch Active Line motors
• Battery: Bosch power pack 500 Wh, range approx 90 km average speed on flat terrain
• Flat pedals
• Shimano Déore disc brakes front and rear, backpedaling
• Rear rack
• Mudguards
• 28-inch wheels

Accessories

Additional accessories

• Handlebar bag with map holder (waterproof)
• Rear bag (waterproof)
• Repair kit with small tools and spare inner tube
• Bicycle pump
• Key or combination padlock
• Odometer

Please note: Helmets are not included. You will need to bring your own.

Supplemental accessories

On request.

• Child seat (9 month to 6 years old)
• Child bike (3 to 8 years old)
• Child transporter KTM (1 to 2 children)
• Tag a long (3 to 6 years old)