NEW TOUR for 2025
Cycle Vacation in Germany: follow the Neckar and Rhine and a bit of Moselle River!
Flowing through a medieval corridor of castles, the Neckar River is a wine-soaked tributary that feeds the mighty Rhine, the grandfather of all European waterways. You will discover two rivers on this easy, well-marked bike route endorsed with 4**** by the German Cycling Association. You’ll see hilltop castles, sloping vineyards, medieval villages and legendary forests from the ship’s deck and bike path.
While this region boasts high-tech automakers (Porsche & Mercedes), nowhere has medieval charm and Renaissance architecture been so well-preserved. It’s where red-headed giants and robber barons, dwarf jesters and warrior brides named Brunhild still live in the mists of time. The ancient city of Worms is the heart of Germany’s national identity and the geographic setting in the epic saga The Song of the Nibelungs. No one has yet found the buried Rhine treasure nor bathed in dragon’s blood for some time, but Germans would never say never. Great storytellers like Tolkien, Goethe and Wagner tapped into this romantic Zeitgeist. Mark Twain left his mark on his famous trek to Heidelberg in his travel memoir, A Tramp Abroad. He wrote, “Germany in summer is the perfection of the beautiful.” Once you see it, we think you’ll agree.
The lovely wine village of Ruedesheim is a gem, and you get to sail through “the Mountains” of the Rhine, the Loreley.
The tour will start with two days upstream on the Neckar, to explore this lovely area before we follow the river(s) downstream!
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Day-to-day
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Heidelberg, arrival
You are welcome to check in at around 1.30 pm, your cabins will be ready, and we will start with an introduction talk. We will do the bike fitting and we will take you on a city walk.
Heidelberg is certainly worthwhile to be visited for a bit longer, so please consider arriving earlier and booking a hotel so you can explore the city and its castles before the trip starts!
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Heidelberg to Zwingenberg
Our first ride takes us further up the river Neckar. Our goal is to cycle to Zwingenberg. A lovely ride along the meandering Neckar, a town with a castle in the hills.
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Zwingenberg loop
Today we can follow the Necker a bit further up stream, and return to Zwingenberg in the afternoon. Our goal is to visit the Margarethen Schlucht and the Binauer Höhe. Or you just relax in Zwingenberg and stay on board, before we “set sail” and have an afternoon/evening cruise back in the direction of Heidelberg
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Heidelberg to Worms: cycling 45 k/28 ml
We drop you of in Heidelberg, and you cycle along the Neckar to one of the oldest cities of Northern Europe, the capital of the Kingdom of the Burgundians in the early fifth century! The Worms Cathedral is one of the finest examples of Romanesque Architecture. Not only Catholic, Worms is also known for its Jewish life in Europe during the Middle Ages, described on the UNESCO world heritage site, along with those in Speyer and Mainz.
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Worms to Mainz
Today you follow the course of the Rhine River to Mainz, where the Rhine River and the Main River join. Founded by the Romans in the 1st century as a military fortress, Mainz became an important trading hub in the Holy Roman Empire. During the reign of Charlemagne (768-814), it held a central position in the vast Frankish Empire and played a significant role in the development of Christianity. Mainz is also renowned as the birthplace of Johannes Gutenberg, who invented the movable type printing press and produced the first books, including the Gutenberg Bible, in the city. Despite extensive damage during World War II, many of Mainz’s historic buildings have been reconstructed.
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Mainz to Ruedesheim
Today bike paths pass by vineyards and reach Ruedesheim. The Romans already planted their vines here! Stroll through the “Drosselgasse”, famous for its entertaining music and taste some of the wines of this wine village. This tiny old “gasse” is only 144 meters long and has 37.508 paving stones. Visit the Asbach centre, home of Germans Brandy, produced locally since 1892. Are you not into brandy? They produce some great chocolate as well.
The old town, dating from the Middle Ages, and parts of the city’s fortifications like the Adlerturm (eagle tower) are maintained. Here you will find cosy traditional wine taverns in historic half-timbered houses.
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Ruedesheim - St. Goar - Boppard - Koblenz
Our morning starts with a great sail downstream the Rhine, through the narrowest part, where the current is high! Lights show us if ships are
coming down while our ship sails downstream. Lorelei, the siren of Germanic mythology, a beautiful creature, lured the sailors with her tempting songs, so they lost control of their vessel and put it aground. It is, in fact, a steep slate rock on the right bank of the Rhine in the Rhine Gorge. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site.The IRIS will drop us off at St. Goar; the bike ride first takes you to the ancient city of Boppard. Here the Rhine takes an amazing turn, nearly 180 degrees. Boppard has always been a visitors magnet with her precipitous vineyards, one of the nicest bank promenades on the Middle Rhine, and the oldest preserved Roman fort walls north of the Alps. Our tour ends in Koblenz, at the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle. Here we can stroll through the historical centre and have a beer at Deutsches Eck, where an enormous statue overlooks Rhine and Moselle.
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Koblenz, time to depart
After breakfast, before 9. am, it is time to say goodbye!
You can leave the luggage behind, to collect at 11.30 am at the latest.
Photos
Accommodations
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Our premium barge IRIS
One of the best: our premium barge IRIS, sailing since 2005. Fully air-conditioned, lovely front sundeck, lounge and dining-area and selfservice Bar. Delicious 3 course dinners and packed lunches. Lots of options at Breakfast. Want to know more about bike and barge? check here
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the cabin, twin or double
Your climate controlled cabin has two comfortable beds and lots of storage (for such a small cabin!). Ensuite your private bathroom. Hairdryer, towels, shampoo and showergel…it’s all there.
The beds can be put together to offer you a double cabin, or separated to offer a twin cabin. Size of cabin is the same.
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double bed cabin
just a picture to show the difference
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bathroom
Our new bathrooms have a nice shower, with shampoo and shower gel at hand.
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toilet
just a picture!
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your bathroom
Ensuite!
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the lounge
Snuggling up or enjoying a nice conversation ….just experience our lovely lounge area
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our self service bar
Based on the honesty system, we offer you a variety of local wines, beers, liquors and soft drinks.
Icecubes and coffee and tea are available 24/7 for free.
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service
Don’t expect uniforms, expect nice staff members, working as a team to give you the hospitality you deserve!
What’s Included on the Bike&Barge tour:
- 7 nights on board
- Bed linen and towels
- Breakfast
- 6 x dinner on board, glass of wine at dinner
- Packed lunches for bike trips
- Coffee and tea on board
- Tour guide (from 18 guests two guides)
- Cabins cleaned daily
- Climate-controlled cabins
- Helmets, panniers and waterbottle
What’s Not Included:
- Bike rental € 120,– per bike 2025
- E-bike € 250,– 2025
- Entrance fees for museums, monuments, etc.
- Travel and cancellation insurance
- Miscellaneous beverages and expenses on excursions.
- Gratuities for Staff and Guides, we suggest 8% of your booking costs