Bike & Boat on the Moselle & Saar

You arrive in Koblenz, beautifully situated where the Moselle meets the Rhine. Boarding the MS Switzerland takes place from 4:00 PM, after which you can settle into your cabin and get acquainted with your floating hotel for the week. Koblenz is one of Germany's oldest cities, and its most famous landmark is Deutsches Eck, the pointed headland at the confluence of the two great rivers. Here begins a week where the bicycle takes you between wine villages and historic towns while the ship follows along the Moselle and Saar. After departure, a welcome briefing with a drink is held, followed by dinner.

The morning begins with breakfast on board while the ship cuts through the Moselle's waters to Alken. Here you disembark and begin the trip's first cycling stage. The route goes through the gentle river landscape to Moselkern and further along the Moselle towards Cochem. It's a pleasant introduction to the area: easy cycling, water alongside the trail, and vineyards on the steeper slopes around you. The destination is Cochem, a classic Moselle town with half-timbered houses, winding alleys, and the stately Reichsburg above the town. Those who don't want to cycle the first day can instead stay on board and discover Cochem in the afternoon.

After breakfast, you leave Cochem by bike and follow the Moselle southward. A lovely stop along the way is little Beilstein, whose well-preserved historic center is nestled between the river and the vineyards. Take a stroll before continuing. Further along, you pass Bremmer Calmont, known for its extremely steep vineyards that rise dramatically above the Moselle. The cycling trail itself down by the river is considerably gentler. Today's destination is the wine village of Zell an der Mosel, where the wine tradition is very much alive. The evening is perfect for trying some local wine at a stube before dinner on board.

You continue the delightful journey through the Moselle Valley's wine landscape towards Traben-Trarbach, an elegant little town where magnificent Art Nouveau architecture tells of the time when the wine trade created great fortunes here. The river winds further between steep, vine-covered slopes, and the cycling path follows the river's gentle curves. Towards afternoon you reach Bernkastel-Kues, one of the Moselle's most atmospheric places. The medieval marketplace is surrounded by richly decorated half-timbered houses and narrow alleys where it's easy to linger a while. After a walk through Bernkastel, you make your way across to Kues, where the ship awaits.

Today's slightly longer but still easy-cycling stage continues along the Moselle through a landscape where the vineyards are never far away. Those who prefer can take a rest day on board. You pass Piesport, considered one of the Moselle's oldest wine-growing villages. Here you have the opportunity to explore the area's Roman wine cellars and famous vineyards on your own. You then continue to Neumagen-Dhron, which claims the title of Germany's oldest wine town and whose history stretches back to Roman times. After a break, the cycling continues along the river towards Riol/Mehring, where the MS Switzerland awaits and dinner is served on board.

A shorter cycling day leaves plenty of time to discover the trip's historical heavyweights. From Riol or Mehring, you follow the Moselle via Pfalzel to Trier, one of Germany's oldest cities. The Romans left an unusually clear mark here, and several structures have survived through the centuries. Most famous is the monumental city gate Porta Nigra, but the Konstantin Basilica and the Roman amphitheater also testify to the city's significance in antiquity. After today's short stage, the ship awaits in Trier, and the rest of the day can be devoted to the city's historic center, squares, and cafés.

The last cycling day also offers a new country. From Trier you follow the river southward to Wasserbillig and cross the border into Luxembourg. The journey then continues along the Saar towards Saarburg. The town is sometimes called "little Venice," but has a very distinct character of its own with baroque houses, old fishermen's houses, and above all the approximately 20-meter-high waterfall right in the center. After 39 easy cycling kilometers, it's time to park the bike for the last time and enjoy the closing evening on board. A fine finale to a week that has connected three rivers, two countries, and two millennia of history.

After a final breakfast on board, it's time to say farewell to the now beloved MS Switzerland and Saarburg. Disembarkation takes place around 9:00 AM, after which you continue your journey home on your own.