Explore the valleys of Rhine and Neckar by bicycle and ship

Between Koblenz and Bad Wimpfen you can enjoy a beautiful and unique cycling tour and cruise and explore the famous river valleys of Rhine and Neckar. Beautiful scenery, very nice cycling tracks along the river, famous cities and picturesque villages. The stretch of cycle path along the left bank of the Rhine between Bingen and Koblenz passes through the Rhenish Massif, which is fashioned by castles. After you have returned home, you will enjoy browsing your photos: the Cathedral in Worms, the Nibelungentor, of course Heidelberg with its magnificent Castle, the narrow streets of the old town centers of Eberbach and Koblenz, which are just a few of the highlights of this trip along the Rhine and the Neckar.
You will live and travel on board the MS PATRIA, which has been a favourite ship for bike-boat holidays for many years.

The journey along the Rhine and Neckar leads from Koblenz to Bas Wimpfen, and the return trip takes place the following week from Bad Wimpfen back to Koblenz. On various dates, the PATRIA also sails along the Mosel and Saar rivers from Koblenz to Saarburg, and a week later it makes the return journey from Saarburg back to Koblenz, both tours with highlights like Trier, Cochem and Bernkastel. A combination of tours allows a perfect match with a particularly diverse 14-day cycling cruise.

Route

Day 1 (Saturday) Arrival and embarkation

Embarkation as from 4 PM; the crew will welcome you on board. You will spend the evening and first night in Koblenz.

Day 2: Koblenz - Bingen | Bingen – Rüdesheim – Mainz (ca. 37 km / 22,2 miles)

You sail by barge downstream the river Rhine from Koblenz to Bingen. From there you cycle directly on the left bank or via the world known village of Rüdesheim to Mainz, that offers a variety of entertaining museums.

Day 3: Mainz – Nierstein (ca. 20 km / 12 miles)

The many picturesque houses along the way through Mainz make your bike tour an experience. The tour goes to Nierstein, where your will enjoy your lunch on board. You can optionally explore a vineyard tractor wagon including a wine-tasting and diner at the local winegrowers.

Day 4: Nierstein – Worms (ca. 40 km / 24 miles)

We cycle via Oppenheim to Worms, which you can explore during a tour. Worms is famous for its Cathedral, the Nibelungentor and as City of Luther.

Day 5: Worms –Mannheim – Heidelberg (ca. 55 km / 33 miles)

Via the Nibelungen bridge you cycle over Lampertheim and Mannheim to Celtic city Ladenburg. We will end this tour in Heidelberg, this old city draws tourists from all over the world. Visit the castle. The tour leader offer you a tour through Heidelberg.

Day 6: Heidelberg – Eberbach (ca. 38 km / 22,8 miles)

After a bike tour from Heidelberg via Ziegelhausen and through the Odenwald to Neckar-steinach you will reach picturesque Eberbach, a nice old town with narrow streets.

Day 7: Eberbach – Bad Wimpfen (ca. 41 km / 25 miles)

The first stop of today's bike tour is Burg Hornsberg in Neckarzimmern. Bad Wimpfen, the destination of this tour, looks like a dream village of the Middle Ages.

Day 8: Bad Wimpfen

After breakfast you will disembark: End of tour.

Included:

Tour and accommodation on board 8 days / 7 nights (Sat.-Sat.) from/to Koblenz/Bad Wimpfen, cabin in the booked category
Full board (7 x breakfast, 6 x picnic lunch during bike tours, 7 x three course dinner)
Use of bed linen and towels (change of towels daily possible)
Daily short cleaning of the cabin
Welcome drink and speech on the first evening
Tour leader (multilingual) with daily briefings of the bike tours, some short city tours, during the day the tour leader can be reached on his cell phone
Printed instructions and detailed maps for the daily bike tours
Daily coffee and tea till 4 PM

Not included: Transfers to/from the docking place in Koblenz or Bad Wimpfen; Rental bicycle (optional), other transfers, parking fee, entrance fees & excursions, fees for ferries, drinks on board, personal insurances, gratuities (at your discretion).

Cycling tracks

The quality of cycling tracks is very good: usually you will cycle on paved tracks along the rivers without any gradients of note. This makes the trip also suitable for relatively unpractised cyclists.

Rental bicycles

The bicycles on board are mostly unisex touring or trekking bikes with normal mount (ladies model), with 7 or 8 gears, hand brake and/or pedal brake and pannier bag. Other bikes (e.g. E-Bikes, children's bikes, tandems etc.) can only be rented on request and in exceptional cases. Requests with a minimum of 2 months before departure date and only valid after a written confirmation by the tour operator.
A rental bicycle is optional. Guests are also allowed to bring their own bicycles (at no extra cost). However, the crew or tour operator are in no way responsible for any damage, loss or theft of such bicycles. In Germany bikers are not obligated by law to wear a bike helmet. Bike helmets are not available on board.

Parking information:

Public car park near the landing in Koblenz, cost per week approx. 100 €.
Free P+R car park available, take the regular public bus into the city. No reservation possible.

Return transfer to Koblenz/Bad Wimpfen: 3 hours by train, cost approx. 34 €. Mini-van available for groups from 4 persons, cost approx. € 77 per person, limited space, reservation requested when booking the tour, payable locally.