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East meets West Germany tour

‘Following in Theodor Fontane’s footsteps”

August 17 - 24 / 2024

Departure date: 17 august 2024
Average biking distance per day 25 to 50 KM / Level: Easy

Highlights

After plotting out this trip we needed a new slogan, because Bike & Barge didn’t match this overall theme, so we’ve named it ‘Bike & Culture”, representing its perfect blend of biking and culture!!

‘Bike & Culture’ your way from west to eastern Germany. Cycle the cultural Transromanica & Brandenburg tour route, before sailing on with us to explore the cultural highlights on offer at Magdeburg, Brandenburg and Potsdam. Follow in Theodor Fontane’s footsteps, and visit small villages in typical March style. Explore the cradle of the Prussians, and cruise the Midland Canal, the Havel River, and the lakes surrounding Berlin.

East meets West Germany tour | ‘Following in Theodor Fontane’s footsteps”
Departure port: Berlin/Spandau Destination: Wolfsburg Travel time: 8 days Countries: Germany Average biking distance per day: 25 to 50 KM / Level: Easy
After plotting out this trip we needed a new slogan, because Bike & Barge didn’t match this overall theme, so we’ve named it ‘Bike & Culture”, representing its perfect blend.
€ 2.145,- p.p.
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9 cabin(s) available

Day-to-day itinerary

Day 1: Berlin

Check in: 3:30 PM – Merlijn will be docked in Berlin overnight. At 4 PM, we will offer a welcome drink and introduce the crew. We’ll also inform you about the tour and the ship, and give you a safety briefing. After dinner, there will be time to take a walk through the city of Spandau.

Day 2: Berlin – Potsdam
Day 3: Potsdam extra day
Day 4: Potsdam – Werder – Brandenburg
Day 5: Brandenburg – Genthin
Day 6: Genthin – Burg – Magdeburg
Day 7: Magdeburg – Calvörde – Wolfsburg
Day 8: Wolfsburg

Your Bike & Culture cruise will include:

  • 7 nights on board Merlijn
  • welcome drink
  • daily cleaning of your cabin
  • supply of bedding, towels, facial tissues, hand soap, soap, shampoo, sewing kit, vanity kit, bathrobe & slippers.
  • culinary care: 7 x breakfast buffets, 6 x packed lunches and 6 x 3-course dinners
  • coffee, tea and iced water
  • services of a tour guide
  • daily information about the trip of the next day
  • use of 27-speed bicycle, including a waterproof pannier, towel and universal helmet
  • we will provide you with your own water bottle
  • GPS tracks on most routes
  • canal, bridge & harbour fees.
  • all ferry fares en route
  • entrance and guided tour of Volkswagen Autostadt
  • entrance to Sanssouci castle or similar

 

Your Bike & Culture cruise does not include:

  • 1 x dinner
  • drinks other than those mentioned
  • inbound and outbound journey
  • city maps (though a few are available on board)
  • bike maps
  • insurance
  • gratuities

 

For your comfort, we rent out electric bikes at € 30 each per day, reservations in advance are advisable.

 

The general terms and conditions of Merlijn de magie van water B.V. apply to all bookings, offers and agreements. Please find them on our website under ‘Terms & Conditions’.

Merlijn complies the General Data Protection Regulation to protect your privacy. Please find them on our website under ‘Privacy statement’.

We reserve the right to modify schedule and/or program. If (part of) the route is not navigable due to weather conditions and/or other nautical reasons and/or is closed off due to circumstances and/or for safety reasons, the operator and/or the captain has the right to change the schedule. This includes changing the location of departure and/or arrival and temporarily suspending departure. Nautical and/or meteorological reasons are understood to mean, among others, weather conditions, the tide, obstruction of waterways/shipping lanes, and the condition of the ship. Closed off due to circumstances and/or safety reasons are understood to mean, among others, terrorism, diseases, natural disasters. Changes in schedule and/or program do not give the customer the right on free cancellation.

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12 january 2024

What a phenomenal experience! We absolutely loved staying onboard the Merlijn, and the itinerary took us through some of the most charming towns along the Moselle as we made our way through France, Luxembourg, and Germany, led each day by our fantastic guide Lia. Wed booked our trip over a year in advance and my knee had significantly deteriorated in that time, so thank goodness for the e-bikes which made the rides a breeze. Cristinas culinary skills were showcased nightly in what were essentially 5-star meals something we looked forward to after a day of riding in the cool, damp fall weather. The accommodations were comfortable, always tidy, and being part of such a small tour was an absolute delight. We cant wait to join Coen, Cristina, and the rest of the crew again in the future.