Cruising the Rhine is a dream come true for many. Do it from the saddle of your iron horse or the deck of the Iris.
Your adventure starts in Amsterdam. What more should we say? Bikes. Canals. Tall, beautiful people who speak fluent English. Those hazy cafés. Cozy bars and superb Indonesian food. World-class art, museums and breweries. Great 2nd-hand shops and bookstores. And it’s prettier than a Dutch Master’s painting.
The biking is flat and easy along Father Rhine, the greatest waterway in the world. Much more than a shipping highway, the river is the pulsing economic vein of Germany and Europe. Around every bend, legends spring to life…the plunging Lorelei cliffs, deadly Bingen Reef, the fabled site where Rheingold is buried…to name a few ancient places that touch our souls and connect us with great literature, music and history. And what about those mighty Teutonic cities…Düsseldorf, Cologne, Bonn where the old blends into new. Medieval villages, rural farms and gardens tended to perfection all exist alongside sparkling modern cities. It’s diverse and exciting.
And then….along the river with 3 names! Is it Mosel, Moselle or Musel? Depending on where you are, here we are on the German part of this river, so we call it Mosel.
We visit one of the most authentic family-owned castles in Europe! Hidden in the hills, it has been untouched by wars and fires, and just extended through the ages. it is very well kept and the oldest part is open for a great guided visit. OK, it is a walk to get there and back, but it is certainly worth the effort.
Our tour ends at Cochem, one of the most touristic villages along the Moselle. Or you can book the next trip which takes you further upstream to Metz in France!