Four Countries Rails to Trails E-Bike Tour
Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg Bike Tours
Cycling the European Vennbahn, Europe’s most scenic & longest railway cycle path on an electric bike
Overview
Here in the west, we are very familiar with the Rails to Trails movement and know that is a lovely cycling experience. Now, we offer this European version through four countries featuring lovely and leisurely electric bike cycling.
You will pedal 127 kilometers on a little-known route called the Vennbahn through a landscape dotted with ancient abbeys and tidy villages of whitewashed brick and half-timbered homes.
The route weaves between borders and meanders through high moor and grassland terrain, famous worldwide for its local cheeses, cured meats, and grains that flavor Belgian ales.
Those who love history will love this tour. The region has been a key player from the Romans, Carolingian Emperors, Industrial Revolution, and WWII up to the present.
You can combine this tour with the bike and barge tour Metz to Cochem, on the premium class vessel, the Iris making this a Five Country Tour!
Highlights
- Crossing borders
- Cycling the longest rail-to-trail path in Europe
- Aachen
- Trier
- Optional excursion to Bastogne to visit the World War II Battle of the Bulge museum
- Holland/American WWII cemetery in Margraten
- Regional cuisine
Itinerary
Day 1: Limburg
Day 2: Slenaken - Maastricht
Day 3: Epen - Aachen, Germany
Day 4: Aachen - Monschau
Day 5: Monschau - St. Vith, Belgium
Day 6: St Vith - Clervaux, Luxembourg
Day 7: Clervaux - Moselle area, Germany
Day 8: End of tour/ transfer to Metz if you are extending your tour on a bike and boat experience!The average daily biking distance is 25 miles (40 km). 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.
Day 1: Limburg, Holland
In the hills of Limburg, in an old village, Epen, close to the Belgium and German borders, you are welcomed to your little hotel. This will be your home for the first 3 nights and from here, you will bike and discover. But not today, today is your time to recover from your travels, have a nice drink on the terrace, and enjoy the scenery and the local hospitality.Day 2: Slenaken- Maastricht
Spanish and Roman ruins, elegant French and Belgian touches in the food, architecture, and manners. This is the exotic Dutch south. Your bike ride weaves through rolling countryside dotted with castles and breweries. After visiting the impressive Holland/American WWII cemetery in Margraten, you follow an easy route to the region’s capital city Maastricht, an ancient and important bridge crossing for getting food and grains from France to the Roman garrisons on the Rhine, the eastern frontier of the empire. Today, Maastricht is lively, international, and buzzing with university students. The Maastricht Treaty made the city known in our times as the birthplace of the European Union, European citizenship, and the Euro currency. Take time to explore the beautiful square surrounded by grand cafés, shops, museums, and a pair of magnificent churches. The cozy streets and alleys form a medieval labyrinth atop which Sint Pieter fortress crowns the city’s medieval defense system, linked via an underground network of tunnels. The best place to try spicy Indonesian food (outside of Sri Lanka) is in Holland thanks to their seafaring and spice trading routes in the East Indies. “Rijsttafel” (a selection of spicy dishes served with rice) is a must-try before leaving.Day 3: Slenaken - Aachen, Germany
After a hearty Dutch breakfast, you "saddle up" and follow the emperor’s road to Aachen, Germany’s westernmost city and former Imperial Residence of the Carolingian Dynasty. It was the heart and soul of the medieval European world, the home of Charlemagne and his court in the 9th century. Both French and German cultures trace their beginnings back to him. For 600 years, 30 German Kings and 12 Queens were coronated in the cathedral Charlemagne built in 796, now a UNESCO world heritage site. His royal remains are interred here and it has been an important pilgrimage destination on the road to Santiago de Compostela. Aachen is also a famous German spa town. Roman legionnaires soaked their battle-weary bones in the 30 hot springs that bubble up, heated by volcanic activity not far beneath the earth’s crust. Medieval monks and kings all took the waters here. The modern-day spa is a top-notch bathing facility and is highly recommended. The gothic Rathouse (town hall) is also worth a visit with its 50 life-size rulers guarding the facade. If you stop for a coffee at Café zum Mohren, you’ll have historic views of centuries in one glance…the medieval cathedral and ancient Roman ruins, not to mention the best homemade ice cream cakes in all of Germany. Not to be missed!Day 4: Aachen - Monschau
Today you start the 127 km Fen-Railway bike path. This 1882 industrial line was built to transport iron ore and coal to the steelworks in Aachen. A hundred years later, it was converted to a rails-to-trails. Crossing viaducts and tunnels, you cycle alongside various rail signal installations and huge water pumps that once filled thirsty steam locomotives. What a thrill for historic train enthusiasts. We climb at a 2% grade through a forest you can imagine Hansel and Gretel would have played—and gotten lost. The air is piney fresh along the German-Belgian border through towns like Roentgen, the first town to be liberated by American troops at the end of WWII. You descend into a narrow forested valley to Monschau, arriving at our historic hotel, a half-timbered beauty brimming with flower boxes. Thanks to the river that flows through the center, mills generated cloth fabric in the 1700s and the town grew rich. This pretty German village looks too “Disney” to be real, but it is. Imagine meandering cobblestone streets, craggy cliffs, a 12th-century castle, and outdoor terraces overlooking the river. It’s like finding a treasure when you least expect it.Day 5: Monschau - St. Vith, Belgium
You ride through the high fen (moor) straddling the Belgian-German border heading south. It is a mystical landscape, a place for poets, daydreamers, and cyclists. Due to a unique variety of grasses, heathers, and birdlife, this watery world of springs is not only a National Park but also a massive watershed for two major rivers including the Maas and the Rhine. Pedaling through the peaceful Belgian countryside into sleepy villages with steaming waffles, you will be tempted to stop. The views sweep across rolling green pastures as far as the eye can see with horse farms and grazing cattle. This is farm country at its best. If you happen to catch a whiff of bacon, it’s because the finest smoked meats are cured in the former railway station in Montenau along the route. St. Vith is home for the night. After centuries as a market town and then an important railway junction, you’ll notice the town appears new, and it is. On Christmas 1944, St Vith was obliterated during a battle between American and German forces in WW II. The town is located in a small area in eastern Belgium that speaks German. Find a café and order steamed mussels and local Belgian ale. You earned it.Day 6: St Vith - Clervaux, Luxembourg
The morning ride promises a good chance of wild animal sightings…herons, field rabbits, falcons, red stags, and wild boar. Before you know it, you are already in Luxembourg, the world’s only Grand Duchy, a country half the size of Rhode Island. The language is a mélange of her two powerful neighbors French and Germany, resulting in a unique language called Luxembourgish. For the last leg of today’s journey, you board a train to our overnight destination in Clervaux overshadowed by a 12th-century castle and Benedictine abbey, both worth visiting. In the afternoon, you can relax or spend time in our 4-star hotel’s wellness center. There’s an optional side trip to visit the Battle of the Bulge War Museum in Bastogne, Belgium. To prepare for this trip, we recommend Monuments Men and the HBO miniseries, Band of Brothers.Day 7: Clervaux - Moselle area, Germany
Back on a morning train to Ettelbrück in Luxembourg, you then enjoy easy cycling along the Sauer River before reaching the vineyard-clad slopes of the lovely Moselle River. You pass Diekirch, home of the famous Luxemburg Beer, arriving for lunch in the precious town of Echternach, the oldest town of Luxembourg. The town developed around the Benedictine monastery which Willibrord, the Patron Saint of Luxembourg built in 698 AD. He is the only saint to be buried in this country and his remains lie here. The monastery was renowned for its Scriptorium, which produced priceless decorative manuscripts. Remnants of the largest Roman villa ruins north of the Alps are on display for us to investigate. Enjoy a leisurely lunch in the town square. By midday, we arrive at the German Mosel River, famous for Riesling wines, dramatic scenery, and Imperial Trier, the ancient Roman city where Constantine the Great ruled during the late Classical period.Day 8: End of tour/ transfer to Metz if you are extending your tour on a bike and boat experience!
You can combine this tour with the Metz to Cochem tour to make it a 15-day 5 country tour! Ask us for pricing.
Be sure to check out all of our bike tours in Europe or look at our featured bike trips, specials, and news!
Map
Accommodation
You will be accommodated in 3 and 4-star hotels which are charming to the core. Many are historic and family-owned, and many smaller inns and bed and breakfasts with character. For those who will participate in the 5 Country combined tour, you will also be accommodated onboard the premium class vessel, the Iris.
Inclusions
What’s Included
- Accommodations for 7 nights in hotels in Limburg (area), Monschau, St. Vith, Clervaux & Trier (area).
- Welcome reception and dinner in Slenaken
- 2 dinners in Slenaken (not including welcome dinner)
- 1 dinner in St. Vith
- Farewell diner in Trier (area)
- Lunch at Trois Vierges
- All transfers during the tour by train or coach
- Electric bike rental including helmet, pannier, and water bottle
- Excursion to Bastogne WWII Museum & entrance fee
What’s Not Included
- Excursions & exhibitions not mentioned as included
- Dinners/lunches not mentioned in the day-to-day program
- Beverages
- Gratuities for your tour guides/van driver & other staff
- Traveling to & from your tour
- Bicycle protection
- Travel Insurance
Dates & Pricing
Dates
2024
June 22, 2024
Please 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
Double/twin $ 4011 £ 2092 $ 3,720 € 2440 Ft 999129 kr 371632 ₪ 10447 ¥ 402711 Mex$ 53283 NZ$ 4416 kr 29153 zł 10724 S$ 3561 kr 28297 CHF 2341 $ 2,746 Single supplement On request Extra Options
Discount for standard bike $ 181 £ 94 $ 168 € 110 Ft 45043 kr 16754 ₪ 471 ¥ 18155 Mex$ 2402 NZ$ 199 kr 1314 zł 483 S$ 161 kr 1276 CHF 106 $ 124 Extra nights On request Extra Info
Skill Level — Easy
We are rating this tour easy on an electric bike even taking into account the 2% uphill grade for part of the ride. If you opt to do this tour on a regular touring bike, your difficulty level would probably be considered moderate depending on your own fitness level. Most participants will be cycling utilizing the battery-assisted bikes so those on a touring bike will have a bit more effort to “keep up.”
Airport Info
We advise to fly in to Amsterdam which has a good train connection to Maastricht and to fly out of Frankfurt, it is closest to Trier, Metz, and Cochem, and again, offers good train connection.
Local Travel
From Amsterdam, train to Maastricht and taxi or public transportation to your first hotel.
Climate
Please check local conditions before your arrival!
Remarks
May we suggest:
Kayak tour on the Sauer river on Friday (weather depending): €25 Euro ppImportant 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 the status of the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) 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.Tour Operator
This tour is run by Bike Planet.
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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