Itinerary

Moselle & Saar: Beautiful river valleys, vineyards and towns

8 days / 7 nights | Ship: MS Olympia | Self guided bike tours

What could provide a more pleasant break than a trip to the Saar and Moselle, two rivers which wind through enchanting countryside, where castles on the hills guard the route and you can visit market squares surrounded by timbered houses? Is it any wonder that Moselle wines have such a good name? The journey through the Moselle valley between Koblenz and Trier traverses some of Germany’s most beautiful countryside. You will meet winegrowers and bottlers on the way, but also cyclists from all around the world.
The history of this region even goes back to the Roman Era, some 2.000 years ago. Beautiful timbered houses, vineyards, the Porta Nigra in Trier, the “German corner” (conjunction of Moselle and Rhine) in Koblenz and Saarburg are but a few of the highlights during this trip. The quality of the cycle paths along this route is excellent. Most of the path along the Moselle is paved or asphalted and does not have any gradients of note. This make the trip suitable even for relatively unpractised cyclists. You will live and travel on board the MS PATRIA, which has been a favourite ship for bike-boat holidays for many years.

Highlights of this bike and boat trip

Cycling through a famous wine country

Enjoying Moselle wines

Learning about Roman history in Trier

Barge Olympia a comfortable accomodation


Itinerary from Koblenz to Saarburg

Day 1 (Sat): Arrival to Koblenz (Bonn on 4th May 2024*)

Embarkation between 3:00 pm and 5:00 pm. You will spend the evening and first night in Koblenz (or in Bonn on 4th May 2024).

Day 2 (Sun): Koblenz – Alken | Alken – Moselkern – Cochem (Cycling 29 km / 19 miles)

By ship to Alken, where your bike tour starts. You are cycling to Moselkern and then on to Cochem. Cochem is a lovely little town with historical half-timbered-houses and a picturesque Old town. Inexperienced cyclists we recommend spending the day on board and use the day off to visit Cochem in the afternoon.

Day 3 (Mon): Cochem – Zell on the Moselle (Cycling 39 km / 25 miles)

The bike tour will take you to Beilstein first, which you can explore during a short tour on your own. Pass Europe’s steepest vineyard at Bremmer Calmont. Today´s tour ends in the wine village of Zell on the Moselle. You should take the time to enjoy the popular wines.

Day 4 (Tue): Zell on the Moselle – Bernkastel-Kues (Cycling 43 km / 28 miles)

You are cycling from Zell to romantic Traben-Trarbach, where Jugendstil architecture shows its best side. After that the middle aged market place of Bernkastel-Kues invites you for a rest. You will reach the ship in Kues after a tour through town.

Day 5 (Wed): Bernkastel-Kues –Mehring (Cycling 48 km / 28 miles)

Cycle tour to Piesport, the oldest winegrowing community along the Moselle. Visit the Roman cellars and the vineyards on your own. Further on you are going to Neumagen-Dhron which is the oldest wine city of Germany. After lunch break the tour continues to Mehring.

Day 6 (Thu): Mehring – Trier (Cycling 26–28 km / 16–19 miles)

You will cycle via Pfalzel to Trier, where MS PATRIA is already waiting for you. Trier is one of the oldest cities of Germany and its Roman roots are still visible in impressive buildings as the Porta Nigra, the Konstantin basilica and the Amphitheatre.

Day 7 (Fri): Trier – Wasserbillig – Saarburg (Cycling 39 km / 25 miles or more)

Today you will be cycling along the river from Trier via Wasserbillig in Luxembourg to Saarburg, also called “little Venice”. In its centre you will find a waterfall of 20 meters deep as well as many baroque buildings and fisher houses.

Day 8 (Sat): Saarburg

Disembarkation after breakfast until 9:00 a.m. Individual journey home.

* *Only departure 4th May 2024: Embarkation in Bonn instead of Koblenz, departure Bonn 5 p.m. Arrival in Andernach on
4th May 2024 at 10 p.m. Departure on day 2 from Andernach at 6 a.m. Arrival in Alken at 10 a.m. The further course according to the timeline.


Itinerary from Saarburg to Koblenz

Day 1 (Sat): Saarburg: Arrival and embarkation

Embarkation from 4 p.m. You will spend the first night and evening in Saarburg. In its centre you will find a waterfall of 20 meters deep as well as many baroque buildings and fisher houses.

Day 2 (Sun): Saarburg – Wasserbillig (Lux) – Trier (Cycling 39 km / 25 miles)

Today you will cycle from Saarburg along the idyllic nature reserve of the abandoned meander of the River Saar. Further on to Wasserbillig in Luxemburg and from here to the Igeler Säule. Later you will reach Trier, where MS PATRIA is already waiting for you.

Day 3 (Mon): Trier – Mehring (Cycling 26–28 km / 16–19 miles)

After breakfast you will cycle via Pfalzel to Mehring, the largest winegrowers’ community in the Mosel-Saar-Ruwer region.

Day 4 (Tue): Mehring – Piesport – Bernkastel-Kues (Cycling 47 km / 28 miles)

Today you will reach Bernkastel-Kues by bike. The market place from the Middle Ages with many wood timbered houses invites you for a rest. On your way you visit Neumagen-Dhron which is the oldest wine city of Germany. Further on you reach Piesport, the oldest wine growing community along the Moselle. You should take the time to enjoy the popular wines.

Day 5 (Wed): Bernkastel-Kues – Traben-Trarbach – Zell on the Moselle (Cycling 43 km / 28 miles)

From Bernkastel-Kues to Traben-Trarbach the route continues along the right bank of the Moselle. You follow the meanders of the Moselle and reach Zell on the Moselle – known for the “Zeller Schwarze Katz” wine location. In Zell you should take the opportunity to get to know the good wines of the Moselle.

Day 6 (Thu): Zell on the Moselle – Beilstein – Cochem (Cycling 38 km / 25 miles)

The perfect maintained historical centre of Beilstein, “the Sleeping Beauty of the Mosel”, is waiting for you. Today’s tour ends in Cochem with the Reichsburg. Cochem is a lovely little town with historical half-timbered-houses and a picturesque Old town.

Day 7 (Fri): Boat tour Cochem – Koblenz, day of rest on board | alternative Cochem – Alken – Koblenz,
(Cycling 53 km  / 31 miles

Today you can spend the day on board and relax on the sundeck. Enjoy the beautiful Moselle landscape passing by and stroll along the “Deutsche Eck” in Koblenz in the afternoon, where Moselle and Rhine flow together. Experienced cyclist can cycle from Cochem to Koblenz and visit Burg Eltz.

Day 8 (Sat): Departure from Koblenz

Disembarkation after breakfast until 9:00 a.m. Individual journey home.

Note: All distances are "approximate distances" of recommended bike tours. When a guest does not want to cycle one day, she/he can skip the bike tour and relax on board while cruising to the next harbour.

Please note: All cycling distances stated above are approximate only.