Rhine and Moselle from Koblenz and back

Koblenz – St. Goar

Embarkation at 2:00 PM in Koblenz. Around 3:00 PM the ship sails south along the Rhine past Boppard into the UNESCO World Heritage Upper Middle Rhine Valley to St. Goar. The ruins of Rheinfels Castle are located above the small town. Opposite on the other side of the Rhine are the two castles Katz and Maus (Cat and Mouse) and a little further upstream the famous Loreley rock. First overnight stay on board in St. Goar.

St. Goar – Rüdesheim (30 km)

Your first bike ride follows the varied Rhine Cycle Route and leads to the famous Loreley rock on the opposite bank. After another ferry crossing, you continue through Oberwesel, Bacharach, and Trechtingshausen to Bingen, where you take the ferry to Rüdesheim. The stretch of Rhine between St. Goar and Bingen is the narrowest, steepest, and perhaps most dramatic part of the valley. In our view, the Loreley is a must-see. After that, you can enjoy a rich mix of castles, churches, historic squares, and charming streets. Along the way, you also pass allotment gardens, small beaches, and picnic spots that invite you to pause and take in the scenery.

Rüdesheim – Mainz (35 km or 43 km)

You may want to spend a little extra time in Rüdesheim this morning before heading toward Mainz, just like the ship. Today, you can choose between a flat ride along the Rhine and a more challenging route through the vineyards with more elevation. The Rhine route takes you past a protected nature area and through the medieval villages of Oestrich-Winkel, with its historic wine crane, and Hattenheim, known for its half-timbered buildings. The more demanding vineyard route climbs to the pilgrimage church in Rüdesheim and continues via Johannisberg Abbey and Castle, Schloss Vollrads, and Hallgarten before descending to Erbach. In lovely Eltville, the routes come together again and continue along the Rhine past Biebrich Castle to lively Mainz, on the opposite bank. The ship is moored near the historic center. After dinner, you can join a guided city walk.

Mainz – St. Goar | St. Goar – Oberlahnstein 30km or 45km

The ship leaves early this morning and sails downstream to St. Goar, where today’s bike route begins. Over breakfast, you can enjoy the romantic Rhine scenery from the water. Once again, you have the chance to visit the Loreley or climb up to Rheinfels Castle. In Boppard, you can take the cable car uphill for sweeping views over the broad bend in the Rhine and the Bopparder Hamm, the largest wine-growing area of the Middle Rhine. Another option is to ride the Hunsrückbahn, Germany’s steepest railway line, for one stop before beginning your descent through beautiful natural surroundings. The Roman fort of Bodobrica is a striking reminder of the region’s Roman past. Shortly before Oberlahnstein, you will see Marksburg Castle shining from its rocky perch near Braubach. It is well worth a visit. After dinner, live music and a polished dance floor await on board.

Oberlahnstein – Lehmen | Lehmen – Cochem 40km

Early in the morning, the ship leaves Oberlahnstein and the Rhine behind, passes the Deutsche Eck in Koblenz, where the Moselle flows into the Rhine, and continues into the Moselle Valley. Your bike ride begins in Lehmen, where the ship makes a brief stop for disembarkation. Today, you can choose between two routes: romantic Eltz Castle or rugged Thurant Castle. Both require good mobility. The route to Eltz Castle leads via Moselkern into the Eltz Valley and ends with a fairy-tale forest path of about 2 km. If you prefer, you can take the bus in Hatzenport. Thurant Castle in Alken can be seen on the opposite bank, active cyclists can reach it by bike, though there is also a path with steps. The last part of the route takes you via Treis-Karden to Cochem, where you may visit the imposing Reichsburg Castle or simply stroll through the shopping streets and relax at one of the many terraces. After dinner, you can join a wine tasting at the renowned Hieronimi winery near the ship.

Cochem – Zell 50km

Today’s ride takes you from Cochem to Zell, the furthest point of the tour. Before leaving, take some time to enjoy Cochem. Then follow the Moselle toward Bremm, where you can cycle up to a viewpoint overlooking the Calmont, the steepest vineyard in Europe, and the river’s narrow bend below. Continue on and enjoy the beautifully situated village of Beilstein. Your destination today is Zell, known for its Schwarze Katz wine. More active cyclists can climb to Marienburg Monastery after Alf and enjoy panoramic views over Zell and the broad bend in the Moselle before descending back to the ship. Overnight stay in Zell.

Zell – Lehmen | Lehmen – Koblenz 20km

Very early this morning, the ship sails from Zell to Lehmen. After a short stop, you disembark and begin your final day of cycling back to Koblenz. The route leads through the historic wine villages of Kobern-Gondorf and Winningen, where Germany’s first wine festival was once held. Along the way, you pass steep vineyard slopes and may see winegrowers at work during the harvest season. Back in Koblenz, you will have plenty of time to explore the historic center or take the panoramic cable car, together with your bike, up to Ehrenbreitstein Fortress. In the late afternoon, the ship moors in Koblenz again.

Koblenz

End of your journey. Disembarkation after breakfast, by 9.00 AM.