East meets West Germany tour

Day 1: Embarkation in Berlin (Oranienburg – Tegel - Spandau)

Afternoon check in, afterwards Merlijn will start cruising. We’ll present you with 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 departure, your holiday will get underway, as you enjoy the scenery and dinner on board while gazing upon the inland lakes around Berlin. Your first delicious dinner will be served while enjoying the landscapes gliding by. Soon we’ll reach our anchor spot for the night, at one of the lakes surrounded by nature, perfect for a quiet night after a full day with new experiences.

*Please note: Berlin is a large city with many large districts. The center of Berlin is not accessible to Merlijn, which is why we have chosen a strategic embarkation point in one of the suburbs. One that is easily accessible by public transport or taxi, less than an hour's travel time from the center. We recommend that you plan your stay near the center before or after your trip, taking into account your travel plans and without considering the planned mooring location. The exact mooring location will be announced in the travel letter.

Also note that we will not visit Berlin during the tour, we strongly recommend traveling a few days earlier to see and visit Berlin.

Day 2: Potsdam. Bike tour 30-40 km

In the morning Merlijn will lift her anchors and start cruising while you have breakfast. Your guide will tell you all about cycling in a group and the traffic rules of Germany. Soon we’ll reach a mooring spot, the perfect start for your first bike tour. The crew will unload the bikes and a bike fitting will be held. After everyone is fitted on their bikes, the paddling begins. The route will take you to the city of Potsdam, passing historic sites, which are in abundance here, such as the Glienicker Bridge where you’ll cross the former West-East border, and the House at the Wannsee. After taking in all the sites and enough miles, your guide will bring you home at Merlijn. She will be waiting for you in Potsdam, the capital of the Brandenburg province.

Day 3: Potsdam extra day. Bike tour: 20-40 km

Potsdam, the capital of the Brandenburg province, is without doubt one of the most beautiful cities of Germany. For this reason, we have scheduled an extra day and night in this city. Merlijn will stay in port, offer you many options to spend the day on your own or with the group. Culture lovers can visit this historic city all day, water sports fans can enjoy one of the many lakes around Potsdam or just relax on Merlijn’s terraces! And of course your guide will organize a bike tour for the ones who like, cycling distance will be determined on the spot according to the abilities of the group.

Potsdam’s culture:

The best-known attraction is Sanssouci Castle (its name means ‘without concerns’). In addition to this former summer residence of Frederick the Great, with its famous Sanssouci Park (entrance included), there are many other interesting attractions that are certainly worth a visit, such as the historical city quarters, the Russian colony Alexandrowka, the Dutch Quarter, and the former Bohemian Weaver Quarters, exuding the atmosphere of a city heavily influenced by Europe.

In addition to its abundant culture, you’ll also discover the regional cuisine in one of Potsdam’s many restaurants, on your own.

Day 4: Potsdam – Brandenburg. Bike tour: 45-50 km

During breakfast, we will continue our trip, sailing to an insular city, the city of blossoming trees, and the starting point of our bicycle tour. It is surrounded by numerous lakes and tributaries of the Havel River. After a short visit, we will start cycling. Travel along spacious lowlands and spot some small “Märkische” villages (villages in the typical March style with timber-framed buildings). Soon we will approach Paretz, where Queen Louise enjoyed her summer resort, both in the local castle and Paretz Park.

Soon we will arrive at the cradle of the March region: the city of Brandenburg on the Havel River, where Merlijn awaits you. In the afternoon and after dinner, you will have the chance to discover the city of Brandenburg and it’s historical center. Maybe have a look at the St. Peter Cathedral, or the Steintorturm: this defence tower is 32.5 metres in height, and is the only defence tower in Brandenburg open to the public. Last but not least there’s the old Town Hall, an outstanding example of late Gothic brick architecture from the mid-15th century.

Day 5: Brandenburg – Burg. Bike tour: 50-55 km, or shorten to 35-40 km

Today, you will take your bicycle through two different German federal states: Brandenburg and the last state included in this trip, Saxony-Anhalt. Departing from Brandenburg, you will progress along the “Tour Brandenburg“ cycle path, which will lead you along the western side of the Havel Lake Plateau. Your bicycle tour will take you through endless forests with numerous ‘green’ views. In the meantime, Merlijn has left the Berlin-inland-lakes behind and afternoon you will cruise along the Elbe-Havel canal.

Day 6: Burg – Magdeburg. Bike tour: 35-40 km or extend to 50-55 km

After another delicious breakfast, you’ll cycle to Magdeburg which is the capital of the federal state of Saxony-Anhalt. The plan is to arrive there during the afternoon and have lots of free time to explore. On the way you will see the famous Magdeburg Water Bridge, where the ships on the Elbe-Havel Canal cross the Elbe on a navigable aqueduct. After admiring this hydrological piece of art, we cycle a part of the ‘Elbe-Radweg’, a beautiful bike path.

The city of Magdeburg is well known for its important historical heritage and the royal palace of Emperor Otto I, the first Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, crowned in 962. Enjoy this city in our modern time, and visit some of the various attractions on offer:

• Magdeburg Cathedral, the first cathedral designed and built in the Gothic architectural style on German soil, and one of the largest churches in Germany.
• Old Market square with the Golden Rider Statue, a gilded bronze copy of the first free-standing equestrian statue north of the Alps, which can be found right in the heart of the city centre. It was created in the year 1240 and presumably portrays Emperor Otto I.
• Old City Hall, the Hundertwasser Haus, green citadel and many more places of interest.

After your visit, we’ll cycle to Merlijn’s berth which is on the Midland-Canal & Elbe waterway junction, at a fair distance from the centre. Here you can see one of Germany’s oldest, working, ship lifts and the new ‘Rothensee’ lock.

For the real culture lovers, we suggest leaving your bike on board and spending the entire day in Magdeburg.  We can help you arrange transfers to the city and back to Merlijn.

Day 7: Magdeburg – Wolfsburg. Bike tour: 45-50 km

A last cruising breakfast and the bike tour will start, taking you through forested areas and little villages. Afternoon you will arrive in Wolfsburg, where you will find ‘Autostadt’: the home of Volkswagen. You can explore the museum on your own, and later there will be a 45 min. guided tour through the park. Afterwards, you can visit more sites in the Autostadt at your own pace. Merlijn is docked nearby, just walk over a bridge to cross the canal.

In the evening there will be a festive farewell dinner served onboard.

Note: For the car and technique lovers, we can recommend to visit Volkswagen Autostadt once more, after disembarking Merlijn. Spend the full morning at the facility before you travel on. Not a car fan? you can also visit the outlet centre of Wolfsburg.

Day 8: Wolfsburg

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