Mosel Bike Tour
Germany, France Bike Tours
Bike in France and Germany in the footsteps of the Romans!
- Tour Type
- Skill Level
- Length8 days
- Prices from€873 Rates
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Overview
This Mosel bike route leads along the border triangle of France, Luxembourg, and Germany. Beginning your cycling adventure in Metz, you follow the course of the river along excellent bike paths discovering famous German towns such as Traben-Trarbach, Bernkastel-Kues, and Cochem,
Your route through the Mosel River Valley will feature medieval castles, historic cities, vineyards, and romantic wineries. Wine has long been a part of the Mosel’s history due to the favorable wine-growing climate here.
Highlights
- Metz with its Gothic Cathedral adorned with massive stained glass windows
- Vineyards of the Mosel Valley
- Trier, the "second Rome", the oldest city in Germany.
- Porta Nigra
- Wine tasting
- Mosel Bike Path cycling
- Cochem and its fairytale 12th Century castle perched atop a vineyard lined hill
- Altstadt (old town) of Cochem
- Koblenz
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Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Metz
Day 2: Metz - Perl, 17 to 39 mi. (27 to 63 km)
Day 3: Perl - Trier, 32 mi. (52 km)
Day 4: Trier - Piesport, 30 mi. (48 km)
Day 5: Piesport - Traben-Trarbach, 25 mi. (40 km)
Day 6: Traben-Trarbach - Cochem, 35 mi. (55 km)
Day 7: Cochem - Koblenz, 31 mi. (49 km)
Day 8: Departure*All distances are approximate. Due to circumstances beyond control, weather conditions, or provisions issued by local authorities, therefore the itinerary may be subject to some changes before and/or during your holiday. For example, along the way you may find temporary deviations/detours caused by roadwork, In this case, please follow the directions posted on site.
Day 1: Arrival
Today you arrive in Metz, the capital of the Lorraine region. Strategically located between the Mosel river and the plateau of Lorraine, Metz is a lively university city. It also has a medieval center and a beautiful Gothic cathedral, Saint-Etienne Cathedral. The poet Verlaine wrote that the cathedral was “the lantern of God”. In fact, the building contains the largest surface area of stained glass of all French cathedrals (almost 6,500 square meters). The 14th-century stained-glass windows by Hermann de Münster rival the contemporary products of Marc Chagall and Jacques Villon. It is a living monument to the history of stained glass.Day 2: Metz - Perl, 17 to 39 mi. (27 to 63 km)
Almost the entire day will be spent in France. It is recommended to take a train (direct connection) to Thionville. From here, the path is very good as you cycle along the water to the Franco-German border. Just over the border, lies Perl. You might like to take the ferry to Schengen or cycle to the Roman Villa Borg (5 km east of Perl.) You will marvel at the excavations designed to present an authentic representation of the buildings as they originally stood. The current buildings are made up of the baths which are fully functional consisting of a frigidarium (cold bath), caldarium (hot bath) and tepidarium (tempered bath) latrines, a dressing room, and a relaxation area. The manor or main building has a large reception hall and a number of adjacent rooms in which the most important finds from the site are displayed. There is also a Roman kitchen (recently completed), a residential building, and a tavern, which was not part of the original villa but which serves meals based on ancient Roman recipes.*Overall, the bike paths along the Mosel are perfectly developed with high-quality routes. However, the Mosel bicycle route on the French side of Metz and Thionville (35 km) is mostly on streets with heavy traffic. Therefore, it is recommended to bridge the journey (Metz to Thionville) by train. Then from Thionville onward, the path is well signposted. In the detailed travel documents, recommendations on the most beautiful stretches are given.
Day 3: Perl - Trier, 32 mi. (52 km)
The day begins cycling through the vast vineyards of the Mosel valley and you will want to take some time in Remich, a place the Romans called, Remacum. You will feel the Mediterranean flair in many cafes and bistros along the 3 km long Mosel promenade. On the right bank of the Mosel, you continue your journey to Konz where you cross the mouth of the Saar and Mosel. From here it is not far to Trier. Trier, which stands on the Mosel River, was a Roman colony from the 1st century AD and then a great trading center beginning in the next century. At one time this city was known as the 'second Rome' and is said to be the oldest city in Germany. The number and quality of the surviving monuments, such as the magnificent Porta Nigra, Constatine's Basilica, the amphitheater, as well as the Roman Spa, Kaisertherme, all give testimony to Roman civilization.Day 4: Trier - Piesport, 30 mi. (48 km)
Today, Roman past and contemporary viniculture will meet. The Mosel bike trail leads to Mehring, where the Villa Rustica awaits. 'Villa Rustica’ is the designation for a manor in the Roman Empire. Today, the reconstructed walls and foundations can be visited again. Afterward, you will cycle to Trittenheim, where a nature trail educates on the local variety of grapes and the process of vine-growing. Just before reaching today’s destination, you will pass Neumagen-Dhron, Germany’s oldest wine-growing place! You should stop here to taste some of that wine!Day 5: Piesport - Traben-Trarbach, 25 mi. (40 km)
The two famous towns Bernkastel-Kues and Traben-Trarbach and the well-known wine-growing resort "Kröver Nacktarsch" are today’s highlights. Marvel at the colorful and manifold half-timbered constructions seaming the market place of Bernkastel-Kues. In Traben-Trarbach, there is an opportunity to take a boat trip.Day 6: Traben-Trarbach - Cochem, 35 mi. (56 km)
You will discover Enkirch today, a jewel of the Moselle region’s traditional half-timbered architecture. Then it is on to Zell, the wine-growing resort know for its "Zeller Schwarzen Katz" (The Black cat of Zell’). Take a relaxing break in the small town of Beilstein, proud of its nickname "Rothenburg an der Mosel". Your final destination is Cochem with its picturesque center and the ancient realm dating from the 11th century.Day 7: Cochem - Koblenz, 31 mi. (49 km)
The Mosel bike trail leads to the quaint wine-growing villages like Koben Gondorf or Winningen and then to the Deutsche Eck, but first, there is the opportunity to visit the medieval castle of Burg Eltz. Enjoy the wide view over the magnificent valley of the Rhine and be looking forward to a wonderful evening in Koblenz.Day 8: Individual departure
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Map
Hotels & Bikes
Accommodations
Category A: Centrally located 3-star and 4-star hotels
Category B: Centrally located small family inns and hotels. Please note, in Trier, the hotel is located 5 km outside of city.Bicycles
27-speed Tourer
Men or Women's Frames
Frame: Aluminium
Speed: 27-speed
Gear Shift: Shimano 27-speed derailler
Brakes: V-brakes
Handlebar: Riser
Wheels: 28-inch Marathon Plus by Schwalbe
Saddle: Sportive gel
Pedals: Aluminium with large rubber surface
Other: Lights, mudguards, reflectors, lock, rackEbike
Motor: Bosch
Battery: Lithium-ion polymer battery (100 km)
Display unit: Show current battery charge, total mileage, speed, trip etc)
Gear shift: Shimano 8-speed hub gears
Typres: Schwalbe
Brakes: Hydraulic
Other: Lights, mudguards, reflectors, lock, rackInclusions
What’s Included
- Hotel accommodations for 7 nights
- Breakfasts
- 27 speed touring bicycle (high handlebars and more upright riding position) equipped with waterproof pannier, optional map holder (please request), repair kit with tools and spare tube)
- Luggage transfer
- Tour information packet
- Route descriptions & maps
- GPS tracks available upon request
- Service hotline
What’s Not Included
- All meals other than breakfast
- Helmets (bring your own or purchase at a bike shop on arrival +- €60)
- Bike Protection
- Travel Insurance
- City tax (payable locally at each hotel)
Dates & Pricing
Dates
Daily from April 6 to October 19, 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
2024
Season 1: April 6 to April 19 | October 12 to October 19, 2024
Season 2: April 20 to May 3 | October 5 to October 11, 2024
Season 3: June 8 to August 16 | September 21 to October 4, 2024
Season 4: May 4 to June 7 | August 17 to September 20, 2024Category A Category B Season 1 Twin/double $ 1730 £ 892 $ 1,536 € 1023 kr 155383 ₪ 4144 ¥ 169226 Mex$ 19099 NZ$ 1865 NOK 12082 kr 11835 $ 1,135 $ 1477 £ 761 $ 1,311 € 873 kr 132600 ₪ 3536 ¥ 144413 Mex$ 16299 NZ$ 1592 NOK 10310 kr 10099 $ 968 Single room $ 2238 £ 1153 $ 1,986 € 1323 kr 200950 ₪ 5359 ¥ 218853 Mex$ 24700 NZ$ 2413 NOK 15625 kr 15305 $ 1,467 $ 1882 £ 970 $ 1,671 € 1113 kr 169053 ₪ 4508 ¥ 184114 Mex$ 20779 NZ$ 2030 NOK 13145 kr 12876 $ 1,234 Season 2 Twin/double $ 1899 £ 979 $ 1,686 € 1123 kr 170572 ₪ 4549 ¥ 185768 Mex$ 20966 NZ$ 2048 NOK 13263 kr 12992 $ 1,246 $ 1612 £ 831 $ 1,431 € 953 kr 144751 ₪ 3860 ¥ 157647 Mex$ 17792 NZ$ 1738 NOK 11255 kr 11025 $ 1,057 Single room $ 2407 £ 1240 $ 2,136 € 1423 kr 216139 ₪ 5764 ¥ 235395 Mex$ 26567 NZ$ 2595 NOK 16806 kr 16462 $ 1,578 $ 2018 £ 1040 $ 1,791 € 1193 kr 181204 ₪ 4832 ¥ 197348 Mex$ 22273 NZ$ 2175 NOK 14090 kr 13801 $ 1,323 Season 3 Twin/double $ 1984 £ 1022 $ 1,761 € 1173 kr 178166 ₪ 4751 ¥ 194039 Mex$ 21900 NZ$ 2139 NOK 13853 kr 13570 $ 1,301 $ 1696 £ 874 $ 1,506 € 1003 kr 152345 ₪ 4063 ¥ 165918 Mex$ 18726 NZ$ 1829 NOK 11846 kr 11603 $ 1,112 Single room $ 2491 £ 1284 $ 2,211 € 1473 kr 223733 ₪ 5966 ¥ 243666 Mex$ 27501 NZ$ 2686 NOK 17396 kr 17041 $ 1,634 $ 2102 £ 1083 $ 1,866 € 1243 kr 188799 ₪ 5035 ¥ 205619 Mex$ 23207 NZ$ 2267 NOK 14680 kr 14380 $ 1,379 Season 4 Twin/double $ 2069 £ 1066 $ 1,836 € 1223 kr 185761 ₪ 4954 ¥ 202310 Mex$ 22833 NZ$ 2230 NOK 14444 kr 14148 $ 1,356 $ 1781 £ 918 $ 1,581 € 1053 kr 159940 ₪ 4265 ¥ 174189 Mex$ 19659 NZ$ 1920 NOK 12436 kr 12182 $ 1,168 Single room $ 2576 £ 1327 $ 2,286 € 1523 kr 231328 ₪ 6169 ¥ 251937 Mex$ 28434 NZ$ 2777 NOK 17987 kr 17619 $ 1,689 $ 2187 £ 1127 $ 1,941 € 1293 kr 196393 ₪ 5237 ¥ 213890 Mex$ 24140 NZ$ 2358 NOK 15271 kr 14958 $ 1,434 Extra Options
Electric bike rental $ 271 £ 139 $ 240 € 160 kr 24302 ₪ 648 ¥ 26467 Mex$ 2987 NZ$ 292 NOK 1890 kr 1851 $ 177 Transfer back to Metz (departure at 9 am) $ 195 £ 100 $ 173 € 115 kr 17467 ₪ 466 ¥ 19023 Mex$ 2147 NZ$ 210 NOK 1358 kr 1330 $ 128 Transfer back to Metz incl. bike, if bringing your own (departure daily at 9 am) $ 262 £ 135 $ 233 € 155 kr 23543 ₪ 628 ¥ 25640 Mex$ 2894 NZ$ 283 NOK 1831 kr 1793 $ 172 Extra nights
Category A Category B Metz, twin/double $ 151 £ 78 $ 134 € 89 kr 13518 ₪ 360 ¥ 14723 Mex$ 1662 NZ$ 162 NOK 1051 kr 1030 $ 99 $ 127 £ 65 $ 113 € 75 kr 11392 ₪ 304 ¥ 12407 Mex$ 1400 NZ$ 137 NOK 886 kr 868 $ 83 Single $ 235 £ 121 $ 209 € 139 kr 21113 ₪ 563 ¥ 22994 Mex$ 2595 NZ$ 253 NOK 1642 kr 1608 $ 154 $ 195 £ 100 $ 173 € 115 kr 17467 ₪ 466 ¥ 19023 Mex$ 2147 NZ$ 210 NOK 1358 kr 1330 $ 128 Koblenz, twin/double $ 134 £ 69 $ 119 € 79 kr 11999 ₪ 320 ¥ 13068 Mex$ 1475 NZ$ 144 NOK 933 kr 914 $ 88 $ 117 £ 60 $ 104 € 69 kr 10480 ₪ 279 ¥ 11414 Mex$ 1288 NZ$ 126 NOK 815 kr 798 $ 77 Single $ 201 £ 104 $ 179 € 119 kr 18075 ₪ 482 ¥ 19685 Mex$ 2222 NZ$ 217 NOK 1405 kr 1377 $ 132 $ 167 £ 86 $ 149 € 99 kr 15037 ₪ 401 ¥ 16377 Mex$ 1848 NZ$ 181 NOK 1169 kr 1145 $ 110 Extra Info
Skill Level — Easy–Moderate
This self-guided bike tour in France and Germany that meanders the Mosel river valley is considered easy and traverses mainly flat terrain. The average daily distance is about 25 miles. Overall the bike paths along the Mosel are perfectly developed and the quality of the bike trail is superb. You can expect a perfectly signposted route on both sides of the Mosel. Do note that the Moselle bicycle route on the French side of Metz and Thionville (35 km) does lead onto roads with occasional heavy traffic. Therefore, it is recommended to bridge this section by the train. Then from Thionville onward, the path is once again well signposted. From Germany, you can expect a perfectly signposted cycle path often on the right-hand side of the Moselle. In the detailed travel documents, recommendations on the most beautiful stretches are given.
Airport Info
For this tour, the closest large international airport to Metz is Luxembourg (LUX). From the LUX airport you can take a bus to city center and continue by train to Metz. Travel time is approximately 1.5 hrs. From Koblenz back to LUX is approximately 4 hours.
Alternatively, you can also look at flying into one airport and out for another. You can opt to fly into Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG). From Paris CDG to Metz is approximately 3 to 3.5 hrs via train. The closest airport to the end of your tour in Koblenz is Frankfurt International Airport (FRA). From Koblenz to FRA is approximately 1 to 1.5 hrs via train.
Local Travel
Paris de Gaulle:
From the airport Paris CDG you can take a train to Metz Ville. The (fast) TGV train is recommended. The train ride takes approximately 2½ hours. Advanced reservations for the TGV are required and can be made here: www.raileurope.com. Upon your arrival at the train station in Metz, it is recommended to take a taxi to the first hotel.
At the end of your tour in Koblenz, your train travel time to the Frankfurt Airport will be about 2 hours.Climate
Please check local conditions before arrival. The Mosel wine region has a northernly continental climate.
Remarks
Boat trips on the river Moselle
You can add to your biking experience by booking an extra night on any night and taking a day trip on one of the many passenger ships along the Moselle. From April to October there are many options as docks are located in almost all places in both directions. Often additional tours are offered off the boat. You can find more information here.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.Extra Stay
Extra nights available in any of the overnight towns on your tour.
Tour Operator
This tour is run by Velociped.
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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