Historical towns and legendary landscapes from Bad Wimpfen to Koblenz
MS PATRIA: Explore the valleys of Neckar and Rhine by bike and boat
Is the Neckar more picturesque at Marbach, the birthplace of the writer and poem Schiller, or perhaps at the Odenwald, which the river flows through? Maybe you prefer "Father Rhine", which is associated with the famous Nibelungen saga, the Lorely rock, and numerous museums in Mainz or the famous city of Heidelberg? After you have returned home, you will enjoy browsing your photos: of course Heidelberg with its magnificent 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 revives your pleasant memories. What more could you expect from such a wonderful trip? The quality of cycling tracks is very good: usually you will cycle on paved tracks along the rivers without any gradients of note. This makes the trip also suitable for relatively unpractised cyclists. You will live and travel on board the MS PATRIA, which has been a favourite ship for bike-boat holidays for many years.
MS PATRIA:
On the Neckar and Rhine, the 68 meters long MS PATRIA, which can accommodate a max. of 68 guests, is your sailing home. The ship is modernized for boat bike tours and provides 15 cabins on the main deck and 19 cabins on the upper deck. All cabins are small and practicable (approx. 7 qm), with two beds standing in a right angle, with window (to be opened on the upper deck, but for safety reasons fixed on the main deck), shower + toilet, individually regulated air conditioning in all cabins on the main deck, as well in the restaurant and salon. This authentic ship has a nice salon with bar and large windows in front of the top deck and a separate restaurant on the main 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 management and had its sailing area in The Netherlands for many years. As from 2011 its sailing area is in Germany and it is a very popular ship for combined boat and bike tours.
Eight day self-guided tours (Sat.-Sat), beginning of June till mid of September from Bad Wimpfen to Koblenz; Total of 210 cycling kilometres (approx. 130 miles) in 6 days
Tour details:
Day 1 (Sat): Bad Wimpfen
Embarkation as from 16:00 hours, the crew will welcome you on board. You will spend the evening and first night in Bad Wimpfen.
Day 2 (Sun): Bad Wimpfen - Eberbach (bike tour ca. 45 km / 28 miles)
By bike to Neckarzimmern, from here you can go on foot or by bike to the castle Burg Hornberg, where Götz von Berlichingen once lived. Continue your bike tour to the old picturesque town of Eberbach. A real 'Eberbacher' will greet you at the pier in a traditional uniform will take you for a night watch through the romantic old town (excursion, bookable on board).
Day 3 (Mon): Eberbach - Heidelberg (bike tour ca. 36 km / 22 miles)
The first destination: Hirschhorn, the "Pearl of the Neckar valley". You cycle through the Odenwald to Neckarsteinach, then via Ziegelhausen to Heidelberg. A walk through town and a visit to the castle are highly recommended. Optional guided city tour (bookable on board).
Day 4 (Tue): Heidelberg - Mannheim (bike tour ca. 26 km / 16 miles) | Mannheim - Nierstein by ship
You start you bike tour in Heidelberg, cross the Neckar and have a perfect view of Heidelberg and its castle. Further on by bike to Mannheim and leave the valleys of the Neckar behind. The ship is waiting for you in Mannheim and takes you during lunch to Nierstein. In the evening you have the chance to join a very special excursion. Explore the vineyards with a tractor wagon including a wine-tasting and diner at the local winegrowers (bookable on board). Guest, who will not participate, will have dinner on board.
Day 5 (Wed): Nierstein - Mainz (bike tour ca. 17-26 km / 10-16 miles)
From the biggest vine growing community on the river Rhine you cycle to Mainz. Romance, Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque - today you will explore the city of Mainz
Day 6 (Thu): Mainz - Rüdesheim (bike tour ca. 34 - 37 km / 21 - 23 miles)
Picturesque houses and the beautiful landscape along the way from Mainz to Rüdesheim make your bike tour an experience. The heart of Rüdesheim's old town is a meeting place for locals and visitors from all over the world. Overnight stay in Rüdesheim or in Bingen on the other side of the river.
Day 7 (Fri): Rüdesheim - Boppard (bike tour ca. 45 km / 28 miles) | Boppard - Koblenz by ship
Cycle on the left river bank to Boppard and enjoy the panoramic view of the unforgettable Upper Middle Rhine Valley, a UNESCO Word Heritage site. On your way you will pass castles and burgs alongside the celebrated Rock of Lorely. In the afternoon, the MS PATRIA takes you to Koblenz where the rivers Rhine an Moselle meet.
Day 8 (Sat): Koblenz
After breakfast you will disembark: End of tour.
(Changes reserved)
Important information:
Your journey to Bad Wimpfen and from Koblenz will be individual
- Basically, we reserve the right to make changes of routing and program. If there is low or high water and a route cannot be shipped, the captain reserves the right to change the route in view of your safety (this cannot be accepted as a reason for free withdrawal)
- The interior of the ship is a non-smoking zone: smoking is only allowed on the sun deck.
- Embarkation: Guests may bring their luggage on board as from 10:00 hours, boarding will take place in the afternoon from 15:00 hours to 17:00 hours
- Disembarkation: After breakfast by 09:00 hours
- Bicycles on board: Unisex bicycles with normal mount (ladies model), 7 gears, hand brake and pedal brake and pannier bag, limited number of freewheel hub bikes. E-Bikes are only available after prior request (by booking) and confirmation and at limited number Please indicate your body height by booking. Own bikes can be brought at your own risk (limited number of own bikes, no responsibility for lost and damages)
- Cycle tours: All distances are "approximate distances" of recommended bike tours. When a guest does not want to cycle one day, she/he can skip the bike tour and relax on board while cruising to the next harbour
- The bike tours: are individual, at your own pace, without a tour guide, but with daily briefings on board and detailed bicycle maps and directions. Nearly all cycle tours can be classified as being easy
- Excursions: The excursions mentioned in the programme are all optional (surcharge - not included in the tour price) and can be booked directly on board at the tour guide
- Luggage: we recommend: rainwear, bicycle helmet, sunhat and sneakers
- Diet: (i.e.: lactosefree, glutenfree) possible on request and for an extra charge of EUR 25,-. Must be booked at least 14 days prior to departure (to be paid directly on board)
- Travel documents: EU-nationals need a valid passport.
Characteristics:
Operator:
Participants:
from 40
Tourtype:
individual
Children:
yes
Regions:
Baden-Württemberg, Heidelberg, Hesse, Koblenz, Main, Mainz, Mannheim, Moselle, Neckar, Odenwald, Palatinate, Rheingau, Rheinland-Pfalz, Rhine, Rüdesheim, Taunus
Countries:
Germany
Benefits:
- 7 nights' accommodation in an outside cabin with shower/toilet in the booked cabin category from Bad Wimpfen to Koblenz
- Full board: breakfast, packed lunch for bike tours or noontime snack, coffee and tea in the afternoon, three-course dinner
- Use of bed linen and towels (change of towels daily possible)
- daily cleaning of the cabin
- Welcome drink and speech on the first evening
- All port and lock dues
- Daily bike tour meeting
- On-board tour guidance
- 1x book with route maps for individual tours per cabin
- Rental bike insurance
Start date: on request
End date:
Duration:
Price:
Click to order
Startdate
Middate
On request
Additional costs:
- All other costs: on request (bikehire, cabin categories, additional nights, transfers and so on)