Germany: Rhine and Neckar - Description

FROM KOBLENZ TO BAD WIMFPEN OR V.V.
You start your trip at Bad Wimpfen, in the “Ländle” and sail along the Neckar and Rhine to Koblenz. It may be difficult for you to choose between the two rivers! Is the Neckar more picturesque at Marbach, the birthplace of the writer Schiller, or perhaps at the Odenwald, which the river flows through? Maybe you prefer “Father Rhine”, which is associated with the Nibelungen, Worms and the numerous museums in Mainz? The stretch of cycle path along the left bank of the Rhine between Bingen and Koblenz passes through the Rhenish Massif, which was fashioned by castles. You can make your own choice! You will enjoy looking back on this trip when going through all your photos: the Dom in Worms, the Nibelungentor, Heidelberg Castle, the narrow streets of the old town centers of Eberbach and Koblenz, which are just a few of the highlights of this trip along the Rhine and the Neckar. Every photo brings back pleasant memories. What more could you expect from such a wonderful trip? The journey along the Neckar and Rhine leads from Koblenz to Bad Wimpfen, and the return trip takes place the following week from Bad Wimpfen back to Koblenz. Subsequently, the PATRIA sails along the Mosel and the Saar from Koblenz to Saarburg, and a week later it makes the return journey from Saarburg back to Koblenz. All four programmes are provided over a period of four weeks. A series of such routes therefore allows a perfect match with a particularly diverse 14-day bike-boat holiday.

Rhine and Neckar: Koblenz-Bad-Wimpfen - Programme

Day 1 (Sat)

Koblenz: Arrival and embarkation

Embarkation as from 4 PM; the crew will welcome you on board. You will spend the evening and First night in Koblenz.

Day 2 (Sun)

Koblenz - Bingen | Bingen – Rüdesheim – Mainz (ca. 37 km / 22,2 miles)

You sail by barge downstream the river Rhine from Koblenz to Bingen. From there we cycle via the world known place Rüdesheim to Mainz, that offers a lot of entertaining museums.

Day 3 (Mon)

Mainz – Nierstein | Nierstein (ca. 20 km / 12 miles)

The many picturesque houses along the way through Mainz make your bike tour an experience. The tour goes to Nierstein, where your have your lunch on board. You will explore the vineyard while sitting on a tractor. After that we will have a wine-tasting and diner at the winegrowers.

Day 4 (Tue)

Nierstein – Worms (ca. 40 km / 24 miles)

We cycle via Oggenheim to Worms, which you can explore during a tour. Cathedral-city, Nibelungen-city and Luther-city, Worms has many names and all are right.

Day 5 (Wed)

Worms –Mannheim – Heidelberg (ca. 55 km / 33 miles)

Via the Nibelungenbridge you cycle to Lampertheim and Mannheim and further to Celtic city Ladenburg. We will end this tour in Heidelberg, this old city draws tourists from all over the world. We offer you a tour through this city.

Day 6 (Thu)

Heidelberg – Eberbach (ca. 38 km / 22,8 miles)

A bike tour from Heidelberg via Ziegelhausen to Neckargemünd. Our tour goes through the Odenwald to Neckarsteinach and we will reach Eberbach, the old Staufercity with narrow alleys.

Day 7 (Fri)

Eberbach – Bad Wimpfen (ca. 40 km / 24 miles)

The first stop of today’s bike tour is Burg Hornsberg in Neckarzimmern. Bad Wimpfen, the destination of this tour, looks like a dream village of the Middle ages.

Day 8 (Sat)

Bad Wimpfen

After breakfast you will disembark: End of tour.

In italics printed parts will be covered by ship.
All distances are “approximate distances” of recommended bike tours.
The tour details are barring changes, a.o. as a result of nautical, technical or meteorological reasons.

Germany: Rhine and Neckar - Details

Included:

- Tour and accommodation on board 8 days / 7 nights (Sat.-Sat.) from/to Koblenz or Bad Wimpfen, cabin in the booked category;
- Full board (7 x breakfast, 6 x picnic lunch during bike tours, 7 x three course dinner);
- Use of bed linen and towels (change of towels daily possible); daily short cleaning of the cabin;
- Welcoming drink and -speech on the first evening;
- Wine tasting at a winery;
- Tour leader (multilingual) with daily briefings of the bike tours, some short city tours, during the day the tour leader is cycling the daily bike tour and reachable on his cell phone;
- Printed instructions and detailed maps for the daily bike tours;
- daily coffee and tea till 4 PM.

Not included:

- Transfers to/from the docking place in Koblenz or Bad Wimpfen;
- Reservation costs €15,00 (obligatory surcharge);
- Rental bicycle, other transfers, parking fee, entrance fees & excursions, fees for ferries;
- Drinks on board, personal insurances, gratuities (at your discretion).

Rental bicycles etc.:

The bicycles on board are mostly unisex touring or trekking bikes with normal mount (ladies model), with 7 or 8 gears , hand brake and/or pedal brake and pannier bag.
Other bikes (e.g. E-Bikes, children’s bikes, tandems etc.) are unfortunately not available on this tour.
A rental bicycle is optional. Guests are also allowed to bring their own bicycles (at no extra cost). However, the crew or tour operator are in no way responsible for any damage, loss or theft of such bicycles. In Germany bikers are not obligated by law to wear a bike helmet. Bike helmets are not available on board.

Background information:

The General Conditions (travel conditions) of CCH Tours B.V. (incl. Boat Bike Tours) apply to cycling cruises, as well as to confirmation and cancellation of such tours. We would be pleased to send a copy of these conditions on request. These conditions constitute an essential part of the travel agreement when booking a tour.
In principle, children are very welcome on board. However, before booking, we advise you to satisfy yourself that your child is able to manage a cycle trip of 30-45 km/ 18-27 miles. Guests are allowed to bring their own children’s bikes or child seats. Of course you may stay one or more days on board (children under the age of18 years must be under supervision). Children’s discount on request.

The interior of the ship is a no-smoking zone: smoking is only allowed on the sun deck. As a safety measure, a statutory smoking ban applies in all cabins; this means that all cabins and rooms on board are no-smoking zones

MS Patria

On the Mosel and Saar is the 68 Meter long MS Patria, which can accommodate a max. of 68 guests, your sailing home. The ship is modernized for boat bike tours and has 34 cabins. This are only twin cabins (approx. 7 M², 2 single beds next to each other) with window (the windows on the upper deck can be opened, but for safety reasons those on the lower deck are fixed), shower + toilet, individually regulated air conditioning in all cabins on the lower deck, as well in the restaurant and salon. 15 Cabins on the lower deck and 19 cabins on the upper deck (supplement). This authentic ship further has a nice salon with bar and large windows in front of the top deck and a separate restaurant on the lower deck. On the partially covered sun deck there are sitting places (tables + chairs) for all guests and a cycle shed. . The ship sails under Dutch Flag and had it’s sailing area in The Netherlands for many years. As from 2011 it’s sailing area is in Germany and it is a favorite ship for boat & bike tours.