Rhine, Moselle & Saar 3-river tour in Germany

Check in: 3:30 PM – 4 PM. There is a welcome aboard drink and crew introduction. We’ll also inform you about the tour and the ship, and give you a safety briefing. After dinner, there will be time to stroll through the city and enjoy a splendid view over the Saar valley. In the charming city itself, you’ll be impressed by the narrow alleys, framework houses, and Baroque constructions, as well as colourful seamen’s houses and fishermen’s dwellings. There is an overnight stay in Saarburg.

After breakfast, you will start your bike trip to Trier, by following the river Saar ‘downstream’. At Konz, the Saar meets the Moselle river. In the afternoon, there is enough time for a visit to the city, and there will be a tour by a local guide. Trier was once the capital of the Western Roman Empire, a Roman government seat, and is well known for its enormous Roman city gateway, the Porta Nigra, and its Roman Baths.

Today we have a different day (than the average bike and barge day) in store for you. The Merlijn will stay docked in Trier for another full day and we offer several choices today. Those who came 100% for the cycling can get ready to enjoy one of the cycling highlights on this trip! Where most routes lead along the river, today's route is entirely through the mountains and free nature, and even then mostly downhill! To achieve this, you go in the morning, together with your bicycle, by bus into the mountains and then follow an old railroad line, which has recently been transformed into a bicycle path, towards the Mosel. This ride will take most of the day…

Those who also deserve some rest during this vacation, want to go shopping or see more culture, will also find something to their liking. Leave the bike onboard for the day and walk into Trier to enjoy everything this city has to offer. A rich history, nice stores and plenty of terraces. Our guide will be happy to help you with your plans for the day.

While enjoying your breakfast, the Merlijn will sail from Trier to the holiday resort of Mehring, where your bike tour will start. The Romans fell in love with this landscape more than 2000 years ago and built splendid country villas here. After visiting Neumagen-Drohn, you will cycle on to Bernkastel-Kues, where magnificent timber framework houses line the oldest market square in Europe. After a visit to this charming city, you’ll board the Merlijn and together we’ll depart for Traben Trarbach. At night, you’ll be offered a wine-tasting session at the Storck Winery.

During breakfast, we’ll head for Zell, famous for its ‘Zeller Schwarze Katz’ vineyard. Here, your bike tour starts, and you’ll cycle along the meandering Moselle and visit many charming villages, such as Alf and Sankt Aldegund: here you can visit a cellar with lots of liqueurs, wines and Mosel-made mustards, before heading to Bremm and finally Beilstein. After exploring this interesting medieval village, that has managed to remain intact, you will bike to Cochem, where the Merlijn will await you.

After breakfast, you will start biking from Cochem into the Eltztal. Here you will park your bikes and put your hiking shoes on. After a hike of approx. 40 minutes, you will reach the beautiful castle of Eltz. With its romantic clifftop location, the castle is one of the very few that has remained intact throughout its long history. After your visit, you will bike to Koblenz, where the Merlijn will be docked. At night, you have the opportunity to try the local German cuisine, because you will be dining out.

During breakfast, Merlijn will be taking you to Oberwesel. Today is one of the highlights of the trip: sailing through the ‘Romantic middle Rhine’ and passing by the Lorely; you might even hear her singing… this part of the Rhine is steeped in history, myths and legends. In Oberwesel, your bike tour will start, following the Rhine gorge further from the river banks. At the end, you will reach Bingen, which is worth a stop and visit, after which you’ll cross the river by ferry to reach the charming and famous city of Rüdesheim with its ‘Drossegasse’. You might want to take the cable car up to the mountain for a spectacular view of the Rhine. We will stay here overnight.

Today’s cycle tour starts from Rüdesheim, and goes along the River Rhine, as you pass by cosy little towns such as Oestrich-Winkel and Eltville. Don’t forget to stop at a traditional German bakery for a ‘Berliner’: a donut-like sweet treat stuffed with jam! The tour ends in Mainz, the capital of Rhineland-Palatinate. Mainz's Old Town is the pride and joy of the city scene. Spacious squares, lovingly restored half-timbered houses and magnificent Baroque churches lend the old town its "gemütliches" (charming) character. Merlijn awaits you here, and in the evening, a farewell dinner is served on board.

After breakfast, it is time to say goodbye and continue your European trip or leave for the airport.