Germany: Mosel and Saar :: Boat-Bike Tours

Description
Program
Details
Ship

Germany: Mosel and Saar - Description

What could provide a more pleasant break than a trip to the Saar and the Mosel, two rivers which wind through enchanting countryside, where castles guard the route and you can visit market squares surrounded by timbered houses? Is it any wonder that Mosel wine has built up such a good name? The journey through the Mosel valley between Koblenz and Trier traverses some of Germany’s most beautiful countryside. Not only will you meet winegrowers and bottlers on the way, but also cyclists from all around the world. The history of this region goes back to the Roman times, in fact, to the beginning of our era. Beautiful timbered houses, vineyards, the Porta Nigra in Trier, the “German corner” in Koblenz and Saarburg (also known as “little Venice”) are but a few of the small highlights during this trip. The Mosel, with a length of 544 km, is the Rhine’s longest tributary and it is also the second most important shipping route in Germany. The Saar, which has the greatest abundance of water and a length of 246 km, is the Mosel’s longest tributary. The quality of the cycle paths along this route is excellent. Most of the path along the Mosel is paved or asphalted and does not have any gradients of note. This make the trip suitable even for relatively unpractised cyclists. You live and travel on board the MS PATRIA, which has been a favourite bike-boat holiday ship for many years. Until recently, the PATRIA has always been put to use in the Netherlands, but in 2011 it will make its way to the sailing regions of the Mosel & Saar and the Rhine & Neckar. The journey along the Mosel and Saar leads from Koblenz to Saarburg, and the return trip takes place the following week from Saarburg back to Koblenz. Subsequently, the PATRIA sails along the Rhine and the Neckar from Koblenz to Bad Wimpfen, and a week later it makes the return journey from Bad Wimpfen 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.

Mosel and Saar: Koblenz - Saarburg - Programme

Day 1 (Sat)

Koblenz: Arrival and embarkation

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

Day 2 (Sun)

Koblenz – Alken | Alken – Moselkern – Cochem (ca. 37 km / 22,2 miles)

You sail by barge to Alken. The bike tour starts here and brings you to Moselkern, and then on to Cochem. You can bring a visit to the Reichsburg (optional).

Day 3 (Mon)

Cochem – Zell on the Moselle, (bike tour ca. 35 km / 21 miles)

The bike tour will take us to Beilstein, also described as Rothenburg on the Mosel, which we explore during a tour. Today’s tour ends in wine city “Zell”.

Day 4 (Tue)

Zell on the Moselle – Bernkastel-Kues (ca. 41 km / 24,6 miles)

The bike tour from Zell brings us to the romantic city Traben-Trarbach, where the old architecture shows it’s best side. After that the middle aged market place of Bernkastel-Kues invites you for a rest. We will reach the barge after a tour through town.

Day 5 (Wed)

Bernkastel-Kues –Mehring (ca. 32 km / 19,2 miles)

In the morning we will visit the largest wine society along the Mosel. Then we cycle to Neumagen-Dhron, the oldest wine city of Germany. After the lunch break the tour goes on to Mehring.

Day 6 (Thu)

Mehring – Trier (ca. 35 km / 21 miles)

You will cycle via Pfalzel to Trier , where the barge is waiting for you. Trier is one of the oldest cities of Germany. It’s Roman roots are still visible by the impressive buildings as the Porta Nigra, the Konstantin basilica and the Amphitheatre.

Day 7 (Fri)

Trier – Wasserbillig (Luxemburg) – Saarburg (ca. 35 km / 21 miles)

Optional: a guided tour through Trier. By bike the tours goes along the Igeler Säule to Wasserbillig in Luxemburg. In the afternoon you will cycle along the old Saarschleife (the famous river bending of the Saar country) to Saarburg, also called “small Venice”. In its centre you will find a waterfall of 20 meters deep.

Day 8 (Sat)

Saarburg

After breakfast: disembarkation and 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: Mosel and Saar - Details

Included:

- Tour and accommodation on board 8 days / 7 nights (Sat.-Sat.) from/to Koblenz or Saarburg, 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 Saarburg;
- 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.) can be rented on request , in exceptional cases only. Requests with a minimum of 2 months before departure date and only valid after a written confirmation by the tour operator.
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.