Bike and Barge
Rhine and Moselle cycle route
round tour from Koblenz
- DE107 / Germany
- Bike and Barge Bike and barge In the daytime by bike, in the evening on board a hotel-boat that follows the cyclists along the route. Your luggage stays in the cabin and you can stay on the boat if you don't feel like cycling. Details
- Self-guided Self-guided Travel at your own pace following maps, roadbooks and information material. When travelling, you can always count on our assistance.
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Bronze
Silver
Gold
Platinum
Bronze
Silver
Gold
Platinum
Comfort and accommodation
Four levels of comfort to describe the different types of accommodation.
Find out more about comfort on this trip under comfort and departures.
- Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct
- 8 days
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- round tour from Koblenz
- Full board included
To know
Highlights
This bike and barge tour explores the nature and history of two of Germany's most famous wine regions, along the beautiful Rhine and Moselle rivers. Here, where the Celts settled and the Romans introduced viticulture, the landscape is shaped by the course of the rivers. Impeccable bike paths along their banks connect pretty towns rich in history and vestiges of the past. Start and end point is the Roman city of Koblenz, where the Moselle flows into the Rhine at the German Corner.
- Koblenz, at the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle rivers.
- The vineyards, green hills and castles of the Moselle Valley
- The magnificent castle of Reichsburg
What awaits you
A one-week bike and barge tour in the Moselle wine region and along the Rhine. Most of the tour follows the river on a well-marked cycle path that runs along both banks. The quality of the terrain is excellent: the route is mainly on paved roads or well-trodden paths along the river, with no major climbs, making it suitable even for less fit cyclists.
Accommodation
Overnight accommodation is provided aboard a riverboat, a floating hotel ready to follow you during the biking stages and welcome you aboard in the evening. The atmosphere is comfortable and is designed down to the smallest detail to ensure that you have an unforgettable stay. At dinner, the chefs and crew treat you to a feast of flavors and aromas. The cabins have private bathrooms and air conditioning.
1. Individual arrival and embarkation in Koblenz
Welcome to Koblenz! The barge Arkona will be waiting for you at 2 p.m. After a welcome from the crew, we will sail south along the Rhine through Boppard in the Middle Rhine Valley to St. Goar. From here you can see the ruins of Rheinfels Castle overlooking the town and the castles of Katz and Maus on the other side of the Rhine. Spend your first night in the village of St. Goar.
2. Ride through the Rhine Valley from St. Goar to Rüdesheim
Start your first bike ride today from St. Goar through the narrowest part of the Rhine Valley, then through the beautiful villages of Oberwesel, Bacharach and Bingen. On a small island in the Rhine, at the bottleneck of the “Binger Loch”, stands the medieval Mäuseturm. Together with the Ehrenfels Castle across the way, this 25-meter-high tower served as a sentry post and customs office for the collection of Rhine tolls. At Bingen, take the ferry across the river to the wine town of Rüdesheim, your destination for today.
3. Along the Rhine, from Rüdesheim to Mainz
From Rüdesheim, you can choose between a shorter, flatter ride or a longer ride with more elevation gain. The shorter route follows the right bank of the Rhine to Mainz (35 km). The longer route, on the other hand, takes you from Oestrich, uphill with a gradient of up to 5 percent, to the beautiful Romanesque Eberbach Abbey, a former Cistercian abbey also famous for its vineyards. In Mainz, you will cross the bridge over the Rhine to reach the old town where your boat is moored. In the afternoon and evening, you have time to enjoy the city with its medieval old town and narrow streets.
4. Mainz, the Elzbach Valley and Treis-Karden
You set sail early in the morning and sail past the German Corner into the Moselle Valley to the Lehmen Lock. From here you begin your bike ride through the Elzbach Valley and arrive at the beautiful Eltz Castle, one of the most famous of its kind in Germany, dating back to the 12th century. Next, you cycle through Moselkern and Müden to the pretty wine village of Treis-Karden, where you will spend the night.
5. From Treis-Karden to Trarbach, among castles and vineyards
Today, while you are enjoying breakfast, the boat will leave for Beilstein. From here the journey begins through a beautiful part of the Moselle valley, the “Cochemer Krampen”. Vineyards, hills and small villages accompany you to the charming town of Traben-Trarbach. At the foot of the former fortress of Mont Royal, Traben lies on the relatively flat north bank of the river, while Traben lies on the steep south bank of the Moselle.
6. Sail to Bernkastel-Kues, then cycle to Cochem
In the morning the boat remains in Traben-Trarbach. Today you can choose between a bike tour to Bernkastel-Kues or stay in Traben-Trarbach for a leisurely stroll through the town center. Your boat leaves the town in the early afternoon to reach Cochem, but again you can choose to do this leg in the saddle. Beautiful Cochem welcomes you with its famous Reichsburg Castle, which rises imposingly above the town.
7° Return to Koblenz, a romantic city at the confluence of the Moselle and Rhine rivers
Today, after a short stop in Winningen, the boat will continue to Koblenz in the late morning.From Winningen, you can experience the thrill of riding into the historic center of Koblenz.The city’s name comes from the Romans, who first built a fortified urban settlement at the confluence of the Moselle and Rhine Rivers and called it Confluentes (“confluence”) because of its unique and strategic location.Today, Koblenz is a modern city, full of flowers, parks, surrounded by three beautiful mountain ranges, Hunsrück, Eifel and Westerwald.
Comfort Gold
- comfort Gold
- bathroom and shower en suite
- A/C in the whole barge
- 1 sundeck
- lounge area with bar
- Wi-fi
- 92 guests, 47 cabins
Arkona
- comfort Gold
- bathroom and shower en suite
- A/C in the cabini
- 1 sundeck
- lounge area with bar
- Wi-fi
- 92 guests, 47 cabins
Completely refurbished between 2017 and 2018, Arkona is a modern and elegant riverboat that sails the rivers of Holland and Germany. The spaces on board are perfect for creating a relaxing atmosphere during the voyage. The upper deck features the tastefully furnished dining room with a bar and a bright and cosy restaurant. The spacious sun deck is partly shaded and has comfortable sun loungers that invite passengers to enjoy the surrounding landscape in complete relaxation.
Cabins
- 33 twin cabins on the lower deck (under deck) with non-opening windows
- 12 twin cabins on the upper deck (above deck) with opening windows
- 2 single cabins on the upper deck (above deck) with partially opening windows
All cabins measure about 11 sq. meters and have a private bathroom, air conditioning, TV, small closet, mini safe and hair dryer.
Common areas
- spacious lounge on the upper deck with large panoramic windows
- bar and restaurant
- a sundeck to admire the scenery and relax
2025
Departures on Sunday
go to online quote
Accommodation
- 7 nights accommodation
- Bed linen and towels
- Daily cleaning of the cabin
Meals
- 7 breakfasts
- 6 packed lunches
- 7 dinners, drinks excluded
- Welcome drink
- Coffee and tea on board till 4 p.m.
If you are vegetarian, gluten-intolerant or allergic to some specific ingredients/substances please indicate it at the moment of booking. A supplement applies for gluten-free, lactose-free or vegan diets.
Once on board, make sure that the kitchen staff is aware of your allergies, in order to avoid unpleasant situations.
Tour information
Before departure you will receive by email:
- the link to download the tour information material in Pdf (Tour notes and Final tour details)
On board you will find maps and route description, to follow for unaccompanied cycling.
Assistance
Cancellation policy
In the event of unavoidable and extraordinary circumstances occurring at the place of destination or in its immediate surrounding area and having a substantial impact on the execution of the package or on the transport of travellers towards the destination, the traveller has the right to withdraw from the agreement before using the package, without paying withdrawal costs.
In all the other cases of withdrawal from the travel agreement, the traveller is always required to pay a withdrawal penalty. Read more
Withdrawal penalties
- 20% up to 84 days prior to departure date
- 40% from 83 to 42 days prior to departure date
- 60% from 41 to 28 days prior to departure date
- 90% from 27 to 1 day prior to departure date
- 100% no-show
Round trip
Travel to and from start and finish points not included
To pay on the spot
- Meals not mentioned in the section “price includes”
- Tips
The amount is up to your discretion, we suggest 5-7 % of the cost of the trip.
Rental bikes and accessories
You can rent bikes and accessories from our local partner.
The helmet is not mandatory, but we recommend wearing it and bringing your own.
Additional excluded services
- Accommodation in single cabin
- Everything not mentioned in the section “included”
Bikes
The bike you rented will be waiting for you on board: serviced, adjusted to your height and ready for your tour.
Unisex touring bike
- 7 speed
- anti-puncture tires
- comfort gel saddle
Unisex touring bike
- 7 speed
- anti-puncture tires
- comfort gel saddle
Standard components
- bike bell
- side kickstand
- front/rear lights
- front/rear mudguards
- bottle holder
- rear rack
Accessories included
- rear side pannier
- water bottle
- repair kit
- lock
Unisex E-bike
- 7 speed
- anti-puncture tires
- comfort gel saddle
Unisex E-bike
- 7 speed
- anti-puncture tires
- comfort gel saddle
Standard components
- bike bell
- side kickstand
- front/rear lights
- front/rear mudguards
- bottle holder
- rear rack
Accessories included
- rear side pannier
- water bottle
- repair kit
- lock
- battery charger
Side bag
- waterproof
- to be attached to the roof rack
- Ideal for carrying useful items for the daily stage
Side bag
- waterproof
- to be attached to the roof rack
- Ideal for carrying useful items for the daily stage
Practical information
Route profile
- Level: easy
- Total length: 245 km
- Terrain: 90% tarmac, 10% unpaved
Embarkation
The embarkation will take place on the first day at 2.00 p.m. in Koblenz.
How to get there
Koblenz is the starting point of the tour to be reached independently.
By plane
Koblenz is connected with the following airports: Köln/Bonn and Frankfurt.
From Köln Bonn airport (CGN):
- direct train DB Bahn to Koblenz (approx. 1,5 hour)
From Frankfurt airport (FRA):
- direct train DB Bahn to Koblenz (approx. 1,5 hour)
By train
Koblenz Hauptbahnhof is the closest station.
Documents
If you are a citizen of the EU or of a Schengen country – i.e. most EU countries and four European Free Trade Association (EFTA) member states, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland – you are free to travel to other Schengen countries without having to go through border controls.
Even if you don’t need a passport for border checks within the Schengen area, it is still always highly recommended to take a passport or ID card with you.
If you are a non-EU national wishing to visit or travel within the EU, you will need a passport:
- valid for at least 3 months after the date you intend to leave the EU country you are visiting,
- which was issued within the previous 10 years
- and possibly a visa
You should apply for a visa from the consulate or embassy of the country you are visiting. If your visa is from a Schengen area country, it automatically allows you to travel to the other Schengen countries as well.
Do not forget your travel, health and/or car insurance documents.
For further information visit Your Europe official website.
Do not forget your travel, health and/or car insurance documents.
Always thoroughly check the document you travel with: expiration date and integrity.
Registration of documents is compulsory at check-in in hotels.
Language and time zone
The official language is German.
Internet, telephone, electricity
Internet and telephone
Emergency numbers
112 – Common Emergency Number. This is the European emergency number which can be called in any emergency from any telephone (landline and mobile phone). Calls are free.
Electricity
The electrical net is 230 volts – 50 Hz. Type C or F power sockets.
We recommend to always carry a universal adapter for electronic devices.
Currency
The currency in Germany is the euro (€).
Equipment and clothing
Luggage
- Bags instead of suitcases (space on board is limited)
Cycling essentials
- handlebar mobile phone holder (we recommend the SP Connect™ system: if you buy it online you get a 20% discount using the code TRAVEL20)
- a power bank
- comfortable shoes with stiff soles
- padded cycling shorts
- a reusable water bottle
Personal equipment
- basic first aid kit which includes sticky bandages, gauze, and low-grade disinfectant
- sunglasses for eye protection
- protective sun lotion
- insect repellent
Clothes
- light weight waterproof/windproof tops
- leggings and long-sleeved tops for cooler mornings or evenings
- small close-fitting rucksack to carry small items during the day while cycling
- swimsuit
- clothes to cover your shoulders when you visit churches
Read carefully
Tour programme variations
- Due to organisational reasons, weather conditions or provisions issued by local authorities, the itinerary may be subject to some changes before and/or during the holiday.
- Issues with high and low water, as well as logistic obstacles such as officially ordered – previously not announced – repair work on locks or bridges can modify some of the daily stretches or overnight stays and may even request a transfer by bus. These decisions are only taken by the boat’s captain.
Travel insurance
- It is advisable to take out an insurance policy against expenses arising from cancellation of the tour package, accidents, luggage (loss and damage), as well as a contract covering expenses in case of repatriation. Insurance policies are not included in the tour package offered by the operator.
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