Strasbourg – Mainz
Bike Cruise Rhine valley: Strasbourg – Mainz
8 days / 7 nights | Ship: MS Olympia | Self-guided cycling tours
The Rhine Cycle Route provides fine views over the Rhine, which has often been immortalised in story and song, as well as over untouched riverside forests with rich varied fauna and flora. The cycleway also leads through picturesque towns, villages and winegrowing areas. The region boasts a wealth of popular touristic destinations and cultural sites as well as of culinary specialities. You cannot miss a short detour along the Neckar River and to Heidelberg, a marvellous city steeped in history. Words are useless to describe the beautiful landscape, the unique cultural sites and the regional delicacies: you simply have to experience them yourself!
Highlights of this bike and boat trip
✔ Cycling along the Rhine Bike Path
✔ Seeing beautiful churches and castles
✔ Crossing the German-French border
✔ Beautiful barge Olympia
Itinerary Strasbourg – Mainz
Day 1 (Sat): Strasbourg
Individual arrival in Strasbourg. Embarkation from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm. On board, your captain, the crew and the tour manager will welcome you with a welcome drink.
Day 2 (Sun): Strasbourg – Gambsheim lock (Cycling 25 km / 15 miles), Boat Tour Gambsheim lock – Germersheim
After breakfast, you will have the possibility to visit Strasbourg, the capital of the Alsace, with its numerous channels, the Strasbourg Minster and the Tanners` Quarter with its small historic half-timbered houses. Enjoy a piece of French joie de vivre before you begin your first cycle tour. Cycle directly alongside the Rhine River through the gentle Rhine plain until you reach the Gambsheim lock where your ship already awaits you to set sail for Germersheim. While sailing, enjoy a glass of wine on deck or in the saloon recalling the first impressions of your journey.
Day 3 (Mon): Germersheim – Speyer (Cycling 25 km / 16 miles)
Today`s cycle tour leads through unspoilt nature along the old Rhine ox-bow lakes. Before, however, look forward to exploring the ancient fortified city of Germersheim with its numerous quaint lanes, corners and squares. Continue cycling through the Palatinate Region to reach the cathedral city of Speyer. In 1981, Speyer Cathedral was added to the UNESCO-World Heritage List.
Day 4 (Tue): Speyer – Mannheim (Cycling 20 km / 13 miles)
Enjoy a short cycle ride alongside the Old Rhine, past marvellous lakes, through untouched protected areas designated as National Nature Reserves and natural flood plains. You reach Mannheim, also called the “City of Squares” due to its layout in a grid-pattern. In these squares, countless places are well worth visiting as for example the famous Mannheim Baroque Palace – German largest Baroque palace complex and the water tower – the city’s landmark.
Day 5 (Wed): Mannheim – Heidelberg – Mannheim (Cycling 60 km / 37 miles)
Today the tour leads through the core of the Electoral Palatinate and thus partly along the Castle Road. Schwetzingen Castle and its castle garden are only two reasons to visit the charming town of Schwetzingen. From here, the route continues via Plankstadt and Eppelheim to Heidelberg. Already visible from afar, the castle ruin of Heidelberg Castle towers over the Old Town. Admire the famous Heidelberg red sandstone bridge or stroll through meandering lanes and see the picturesque squares in the Old Town. The further way leads you on the other side of the Neckar via the Roman town Ladenburg back to Mannheim.
Day 6 (Tue): Mannheim – Worms (Cycling 25 km / 16 miles)
Today you leave Mannheim and drive past meadows and fields, following the course of the Rhine to the imperial city of Worms. On your journey through two millenniums of the city’s history, learn about emperors and kings, myths and legends of the Nibelung, Judaism and Martin Luther.
Day 7 (Fri): Boat Tour Worms – Nierstein, Nierstein – Mainz (Cycling 20 km / 13 miles)
With almost 1,000 Hectare of viticultural area, Nierstein is home to the largest wine-growing community on the Rhine. The historic Old Town with its medieval market square and noble houses is also well worth visiting. A short stretch that leaves plenty of time for one to indulge oneself: cycle on the Rhine Cycle Route on well-paved cycle ways directly alongside the Rhine from Nierstein to Mainz. Guests, who would like to cycle a longer stretch, can also choose to start the cycle tour already in Worms. (cycle tour Worms-Mainz approx. 60 km).
Day 8 (Sat): Mainz
After breakfast disembarkation until 09:00am. Individual journey home.
Please note: All cycling distances stated above are approximate only. Itinerary is subject to change.
Mainz – Strasbourg
Itinerary Mainz – Strasbourg
Day 1 (Sat): Mainz
Individual arrival to Mainz. Embarkation will be from 3:00 – 5:00 p.m. There may be time to explore the capital of Rhineland-Palatinate with its lovingly restored half-timbered houses and the Romanesque Cathedral of Saint Martin.
Day 2 (Sun): Mainz – Nierstein (Cycling 20 km / 13 miles), Boat Tour Nierstein – Worms
A short cycle leg and plenty of time for one to indulge oneself: Cycle on the Rhine Cycle Route with its well-paved cycle ways directly alongside the Rhine to Nierstein. With almost 1,000 Hectare of viticulture area, Nierstein is home to the largest wine-growing community on the Rhine. Visit the historic Old Town with its medieval market square and the noble houses. In the afternoon, sail from Nierstein to Worms. Guests, who would like to cycle a longer stretch, can start the bike ride already in Mainz. (cycle tour Mainz-Worms approx. 60 km).
Day 3 (Mon): Worms – Mannheim (Cycling 25 km / 16 miles)
In the Imperial city of Worms, set off for today`s cycle leg. Enjoy riding through vast fields and meadows. The beautiful cycle trail across the Friesenheim Island offers a high contrast to the opposite Rhine bank dominated by the BASF plant. A few kilometres further on, you will reach the confluence of the rivers Rhine and Neckar in Mannheim, where your ship will already be waiting for you. Make the most of the afternoon, and take a stroll through Mannheim, the City of Squares, up to the Baroque castle.
Day 4 (Tue): Mannheim – Heidelberg – Mannheim (Cycling 60 km / 37 miles)
Today, follow the course of the marvellous Neckar River up to Heidelberg. The ancient Roman city of Ladenburg with its historic Old Town is worth a short stop-over. Visible already from afar, the ruin of the Heidelberg Castle towers over the Old Town. Stroll across the famous Heidelberg Sandstone Bridge, or through the winding lanes and charming squares of the Old Town. Your way back leads through the heart of the Electoral Palatinate along the Kurpfalzruote cycle way to Schwetzingen Castle. The castle garden is a perfect place for a short break before continuing along the Rhine Cycle Route to Mannheim, where you reach back to the buzzing city life.
Day 5 (Wed): Mannheim – Speyer (Cycling 20 km / 13 miles)
Alongside the numerous oxbow lakes of the Old Rhine leads the way to today’s destination – the cathedral city of Speyer. Enjoy the short bike ride through unspoilt nature, areas that are designated Natural Nature Reserves and natural flood plains. The Speyer Cathedral was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1981.
Day 6 (Thu) Speyer – Germersheim (Cycling 20 km / 14 miles) Boat tour Germersheim – Lock Gambsheim
Along the old Rhine ox-bow lakes cycle through the unspoilt nature of the Palatinate region. Look forward to visiting the old fortified city of Germersheim with its numerous quaint lanes, corners and squares. Enjoy the boat tour to Gambsheim while having a fine glass of wine on deck or in the saloon, replaying the events of the day.
Day 7 (Fri): Lock Gambsheim – Strasbourg (Cycling approx. 23 km / 15 miles)
On your last bike tour stretch, cycle in an easy pace directly alongside the river through the gentle Rhine plain until you reach the capital of the Alsace, the city of Strasbourg with its countless channels. Stroll to the Strasbourg Minster, the landmark of the city, through the picturesque Tanners’ Quarter with its small historic half-timbered houses and enjoy a piece of French joie de vivre while your journey slowly comes to an end.
Day 8: Saturday, Strasburg
After breakfast disembarkation until 9:00am. Individual journey home.
Please note: All cycling distances stated above are approximate only. Itinerary is subject to change.
Map
Ship MS Olympia
MS Olympia
Comfortable and cosy river ship with family environment. The ship was refurbished in 2015/2016. The panoramic salon with bar in gentlemen club-style and the bright and friendly restaurant are waiting for you to pass relaxing hours here. A spacious, partly shaded sun deck and storage space for bicycles.
Cabins
Cabins 49 outside cabins, comfortable and cosy with en-suite bathroom, hair dryer, telephone, TV, individual air conditioning/heating, fridge and safe.
Main Deck 21x 2-bed-cabins (approx. 11m2), panoramic window (not opening windows)
Upper Deck 22x 2-bed-cabins (approx. 11m2) + four 2-bed-cabins of bigger size at the stern of the ship (= 2-bed-cabins astern: perceptive engine and generator noise when ship is in motion and in locks, approx. 12m2, three of them feature twin beds) as well as two single cabins (approx. 9m2). Panoramic windows to be opened.
Technical Details
Built in 1984 | Cabin refurbishment 2015/2016 | Registry Switzerland | Length 88,50 m | Width 10,50 m | Draft 1,50 m Number of Crew ca. 21 | Passengers max. 96
On board language: German and English.
Travel Dates & Prices 2023
Bike Cruise Rhine valley: Strasbourg – Mainz
Travel Dates and Prices 2023 per Person
Please click at the travel data to open the request form.
Travel Dates
Prices 2023 per Person in €
Season 2023
Twin below deck
1099,- €
Twin upper /rear*
1249,- €
Twin upper deck
1299,- €
Twin upper als single
1449,- €
Twin below als single
1349,- €
2-bed cabin upper deck for single use
1948,- €
*Cabins at rear of the ship; perceptive engine and generator noise (when ship is in motion and in locks)
Optional services / Notes
Cycle hire (7 gears)
79,- €
E-bike hire (on request)
189,- €
- * Twin upper rear = cabins next to the engine room
- Minimum number of participants: 80
Services included
- Seven nights in outside cabins with private facilities in the booked cabin category
- Program according to routing
- All charges for harbours, bridges and locks
- Room cleaning every day, changing of towels and bed cloths as necessary
- Welcome-Drink
- Full board consisting of 7x breakfast, 6x lunch package for cycle tours or snack on board (non-cyclists),
- 6x coffee or tea in the afternoon, 7x 3-course-dinner
- Daily meeting for the cycle tours
- Printed instructions and maps for daily individual bike tours (1 per cabin)
- GPS tracks
- Tour guide on board
Not included: Journey way, shuttles, bike rentals, entrance fees and excursions, city maps, ferry fees, travel insurances, parking fees, tips, drinks on board, personal expenses
Difficulty level
The cycling tours are individual and self-guided. You will cycle about 20-50 kms. The kilometres indicated for the cycle tours are approximate. The quality of the cycle ways along this route is excellent. Most of the way is paved or asphalted and does not have any gradients of note. This makes the trip suitable even for unpractised cyclists.
Meals on board
Special dietary needs and food allergies: please inform us about your dietary needs and we will do our best to take them into consideration. There will be an extra fee of approx. € 50 per person/week (to be paid on board). Please inform us on booking.
Luggage
Luggage on board: we recommend waterproof rain gear, bike helmet, sun hat and sports shoes. We would like to ask you to do without hard-side luggage as storage space in the cabin is very limited!
Bicycle rental
7-gear-Unisex-trekking bikes und 8-gear-E-Bikes (brand: Velo de Ville - special SE-Tours edition)
With hand brake and pedal brake or hand brakes only (subject to availability, please indicate as a non-binding customer request by the booking)
Pannier bag and rental bike insurance included.
E-Bikes on a limited number only
Please indicate your body height by the booking
To bring your own bike On request only – due to lack of space on sun deck
Arrival
Mainz: The mooring is about 3 km from the train station in Mainz. Parking Garage at Central station in Mainz for about € 80, - per week, the parking spaces can not be booked in advance.
Car Park facilities: Car Park at the central station (unguarded, cannot be booked in advance) in Mainz. Parking fee approx. € 10,- per day
Strasbourg: The mooring is not far from the train station Strasbourg / Kehl. When starting in Strasbourg we recommend to park the car in Mainz and to travel by train to Strasbourg.
Car Park facilities: parking in Strasbourg is part of the City's "sustainable mobility" policy; parking spaces in the city centre are very limited. The rates are higher than average, like in every international large town. Outside the city centre there are several park & ride parking spaces. The parking garage „Gare Wodli“ at the central station costs 20 € per 24 h (Prices are subject to change, effective May 2022; www.strassburg.eu)
