Saar–Moselle: bike & boat

Moselle and Saar by bike and ship

Cycle along the neat Saar-bike trail. Discover Saarburg, the “Little Venice” of the Saar and visit the castle and the old Saar-loop before reaching the Moselle with the historical Roman town Treves. You should not miss out on a visit of the Roman thermal baths, the Porta Nigra and the historical town centre. The Moselle-bike trail will impress you. You will roll along green vineyards and visit well-known places along the Moselle like Traben-Trarbach, Zell and Bernkastel-Kues. Further highlights of your tour will be impressive passages on the ship’s sundeck or a side trip to Burg Eltz, which will definitely not disappoint you! The last stage of your trip is Koblenz with the “Deutsche Eck”.

MS Olympia

The MS Olympia is a comfortable and cozy riverboat with a family atmosphere. The ship was renovated in 2015/2016. The panorama saloon with bar, furnished in the English club style, and the bright and friendly restaurant invite you to spend relaxing hours on board. Look forward to the spacious, partly covered sun deck with seats, which also serves as a parking space for bicycles. In total, the MS Olympia offers 49 comfortable outside cabins for a maximum of 96 guests. On the main deck there are 21 two-bed cabins with a size of approx. 11 square meters, on the upper deck there are 22 two-bed cabins, which are also approx. 11 square meters, and 4 larger cabins in the rear part of the ship (12 square meters). 3 of them are equipped with a double bed. In these cabins, noise can be heard more intensely while driving. Here are also the 2 single cabins, which are about 9 square meters. All cabins have a shower/toilet, hairdryer, telephone, TV, individually adjustable air conditioning/heating, refrigerator, safe and a panoramic window. The windows on the upper deck can be opened, all other windows cannot.

1. day Arrival in Saarburg

Embarkment starts at 3 p.m. Captain and crew give you a warm welcome at 6 p.m.

We recommend discovering the Old Town on your own. The small town is situated below the fortress of the Saarburg by the Saar. Vineyards and woods surround Saarburg. The Leukbach flows through it and established the basis for the early heydays of the local community life. “Little Venice” is how the ensemble of romantic rows of houses and small bridges crossing the creeks on the butter market was already referred to by the Berlin architect Schinkel.

2. day Saarburg - Wasserbillig (Luxembourg) - Trier 38 km

Your first bike tour starts afetr breakfast and leads you to the old Saar-loop. You can do a side trip to Wasserbillig in Luxembourg where the Sauer river flows into the Moselle. The ship will already be waiting for you in Trier. In Trier you can participate in a guided city tour organized by your tour guide. Here, you will have the unique chance to follow 2000 years of history step by step. Visit the Porta Nigra, a Roman town gate of gigantic size, the basilica, the Roman thermal baths or the electoral palace.

3. day Trier - Mehring 26 - 29 km

In a comfortable pace, you cycle to Mehring on the even Moselle bike trail. There, on an acclivity above the Moselle, excavations of the Villa Rustica, a Roman manor, can be visited.

4. day Mehring - Bernkastel–Kues ca. 47 km

After breakfast, your route takes you to Neumagen-Dhron, the oldest winegrowing place by the Moselle. Marvel at the rock relief of the wine ship and at its beautiful remake. Later on you will cycle to Trittenheim and from there to Piesport with its worthwhile Roman wine press. The community, known as the biggest winegrowing establishment in the Moselle-Saar-Ruwer-region, is surrounded by vineyards, woods and meadows. Already the Romans came here to enjoy the stunning landscape with its natural prosperity. The famous winegrowing town Bernkastel-Kues will be reached after a short time of cycling through the vineyards. Neat small towns lie on both sides of the Moselle. Noble half-timbered houses seam the steep market place in Bernkastel. Enjoy the incomparable atmosphere of the picturesque Old Town full of history.

5. day Bernkastel-Kues - Traben Trarbach - Zell 43 km

Today’s route leads through the famous winegrowing area "Kröver Nacktarsch“. You will be tempted to stop and taste the various wines. In Traben-Trarbach, it is time to take a relaxing break in order to explore the beautiful town. The next stop will be in Enkirch, whose half-timbered houses and narrow streets invite to walk around. You will not be back on your bikes for long before the next big winegrowing area comes up. The route leads past vines of the “Schwarze Katz” (black cat), into the middle of the small but beautiful town.

6. day Zell - Beilstein - Cochem 39 km

Behind a narrow curve in the course of the Moselle lies the small winegrowing town Bremm with its winding lanes. Here you are going to pass the steepest vineyard in Europe, the “Calmont”. Another highlight of the day surely is Beilstein, whose heavenly townscape has served as the scenery for five movies. A perfect place for a nice break. Today’s destination is Cochem. The perfectly restored Old Town and the impressive castle watching over the town make Cochem the most frequented town by the Moselle. Your ship is waiting for you by the bridge over the Moselle with a great view over town and castle.

7. day Cochem - Koblenz, recreation on board or 50 km

Today you can look forward to a day of relaxation on board. Enjoy the passing Moselle landscape from the sun deck and stroll in the afternoon in Koblenz along the "Deutsches Eck", where it is well known that the Moselle and the Rhine converge. Experienced cyclists can alternatively cycle from Cochem to Koblenz and pay a visit to Eltz Castle.

8. day Koblenz departure

Your journey back home starts after breakfast.

Please note:

All bike and ship trips may underlie spontaneous changes of the route due to certain weather conditions. For this trip exist special terms of cancelation.
The journey from May 6 to May 13 2023 starts in Bonn!

Worth knowing about the Saar - Moselle boat & bike tour

Please find more information about the Saar - Moselle boat & bike tour below. If you have any further questions feel free to contact us by phone: 0049 - (0)6421 - 886890.

Arrival Saarburg

The pier in Saarburg is about 3 km away from the main station. Detailed information you will receive with your travel documents two weeks prior to departure.

Parking in Saarburg / Koblenz

Parking Saarburg:
Unguarded parking lot for the duration of your trip close to the pier (approx. 25 Euro/week/car, no reservation possible, payable on site).

Parking Koblenz:
Parking in a public multi-storey car park near the pier costs around € 125 per week. Free Park & ​​Ride parking spaces are available outside of Koblenz. From there you can take the bus / train into the city. No reservation possible, payable on site.

Embarkation

Embarkation on the MS Olympia in Saarburg and Koblenz is possible from 3:00 p.m to 5:00 pm.

Luggage

For lack of space please abstain from hard-top cases, storage space is limited.

Optional excursions

If the bike stages and lay times allow, an excursion program will be put together, which can only be booked and paid for on board. Depending on the group of participants, the excursions may be offered bilingual German-English.

Condition of cycle paths

The quality of the bike paths is good The Moselle cycle path usually runs on paved roads without significant gradients.

Available rental bikes

We provide 7-speed gear shift unisex bikes with hand and pedal brake by KTM and a pannier. A limited number of freewheel bikes and electric bikes is available.

Own bikes

You can travel with your own bike, by prior appointment (exclusion of liability for damage, loss and theft). Due to the limited space on the sun deck, you can only bring your own bike on request and only to a limited extent.

Transfer back to the starting point of the journey

By train in 2 hours: approx. 25,- € per person.

Deck schema

2-bed-cabin

Restaurant

Sun deck

Changes

Subject to changes. If a route cannot be traveled due to low or high water or bad weather, the skipper reserves the right to change the route for your safety. This is not a free reason to withdraw.

Extra costs which are not included in the travel price

Arrival and departure, transfers, rental bike, optional excursions, entrance and sightseeing fees, city maps, insurance, tips and personal expenses.
A fuel surcharge, which may apply due to the sharp rise in fuel prices, is not included in the cruise price and must be paid in cash on arrival on board the ship. We will inform you of the amount of the surcharge, if any, in the travel documents approx. 3-4 weeks before arrival.

7 days hotline service

Just in case the bike chain is broken, flooding makes it impossible to continue your tour or any other nasty surprise: you can reach us seven days a week and we will do anything to help you as fast as possible.

Passport and visa requirements, health regulations

For EU citizens, there are no special passport or visa requirements and no health formalities to be considered for this trip.

Corona travel information:
Before booking your trip, please inform yourself about the measures in place to contain the Corona pandemic.

Information on current decisions of the German Federal Government can be found here:
https://www.bundesregierung.de/corona-these-rules-and-restrictions-apply

Current information on entry requirements to Germany can be found here:
https://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/en/coronavirus

You can also find more information on our website at:
Corona virus and holiday planning

Travel insurance

The tour price already includes the statutory insolvency insurance. In addition, we recommend that you take out travel cancellation insurance upon receipt of your travel confirmation in order to protect yourself against financial disadvantages in the event of travel cancellation, interruption of travel, illness or accident.

Saarburg

Saarburg was founded in 964 by Count-Siegfried of Luxembourg with the construction of the castle high above the river Saar. Today, the romantic medieval town is a state-recognized resort. The idyllic small town is surrounded by forests and vineyards, and the Leukbach flows through it. A special attraction is the 20-meter-high waterfall in the middle of the city, which rushes down between half-timbered houses and baroque buildings and drives the mill wheels of the former Hachenberger mill. Saarburg's old core and the picturesque suburbs have charming corners, and invite visitors to explore the steep and winding streets.

Saarburg

Saarburg Castle

The once proud and powerful castle, one of the first and most beautiful mansions of the West, was built by Count Siegfried of Luxembourg in 963. After changing history, the castle was only a ruin used as a quarry in the middle of the 18th century. Parts of the dilapidated wall ring and buildings collapsed. In 1860, the city acquired the castle and secured it in the 1890s. 107 steps lead to the viewing plateau, in the upper part of the mantle tower, which was established in 1896. At the top, you should enjoy the wide view of the Saas Valley. Since 2005, a new castle lighting has been providing an impressive setting high above the city. The Burganlage is freely accessible.

Saarburg Castle

Wiltingen Saar Loop

Wiltingen is the center of the Riesling cultivation on the lower Saar with world-famous vineyards such as the Scharzhofberg. The picturesque altar of the Saar, also called Wiltinger Saarbogen, is today designated as a nature reserve.

Wiltingen Saar Loop

Loop Treetop Path

Trier, Porta Nigra

The Porta Nigra (Latin for Black Gate) is a former Roman city gate. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is a famous landmark of the city. The name Porta Nigra comes from the Middle Ages. Another name in the Middle Ages was Porta Martis (the Gate of Mars). The city gate was built around 180 AD as a northern access to the city of Augusta Treverorum (Augustus city in the land of Treverer), today's Trier.

Trier, Porta Nigra

Imperial Baths Trier

The Kaiserthermen in Trier are the remains of a large Roman bathing complex, which can still be viewed as an impressive ruin. It has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site together with the other sights worth seeing in the city of Trier. The complex was built around 300 AD as a monumental representation building of the Emperor Constantius Chlorus and his son Constantine, who had made Trier their residence.

Imperial Baths

Mehring, Villa Rustica

The Villa Rustica in Mehring is a Roman mansion (Villa Rustica) in Mehring on the "Roemischer Weinstrasse". Between 1983 and 1987 the Herrenhaus was liberated, conserved and partly reconstructed. Today we can see the main front with the corner risers and the portico, a heated living room with mosaic and parts of the bathroom.

Mehring, Villa Rustica

Bernkastel-Kues old town & wine museum

Bernkastel-Kues is a well-known wine-growing center on the Mittelmosel. The city is a state-approved resort. In Bernkastel, the mediaeval market square with its gabled facades dating from the 17th century, among which is the narrow pointed spire dating back to 1416, is particularly interesting. Around the St. Michaelsbrunnen from 1606 grouped a number of well-preserved buildings and also the Renaissance town hall from 1608.

Bernkastel-Kues

Wine Museum

Beilstein & Metternich castle

The small settlement has one of the best preserved historical sites on the Moselle and is therefore also called miniature Rothenburg or 'Sleeping Beauty of the Moselle'. The village is dominated by the ruins of Metternich Castle, which once belonged to the princes of the same name.

Beilstein

Metternich castle

Reichsburg Cochem

The Imperial Castle in Cochem is more than just a castle! The old walls, which throne majestically over the Mosel River valley, are an invitation for every history and culture enthusiast to enjoy a beautiful afternoon in one the highest hill castles on the Mosel river. Soaring over Cochem on a mighty crag, the largest castle on the Mosel charms the eye with its delicate bays and imposing battlements. The medieval castle, which was heavily damaged while in the possession of the electoral princes of Trier during a war of succession, was bought and lovingly restored in the neo-gothic style associated with German castle romanticism in the 19th century by the Counselor of Commerce Louis Ravené. Guests will be delighted by the impressive interiors of rooms such as the Knight’s Hall, the Dining Hall, the Trophy Room and the Bower.

Reichsburg Cochem

Fortress Ehrenbreitstein

At 118 metres above the Rhine, the fortress has the most fantastic views over Koblenz and the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle rivers. The Ehrenbreitstein Fortress, the second largest preserved fortress in Europe, was constructed in its present form between 1817 and 1828. Its origin dates back to the year 1000. Today the fortress is home to the Landesmuseum Koblenz with its diverse exhibitions (e.g. the technical history and archaeology of the country, fortress history with over 20 exciting stations, multimedia presentations and much more), and is also home to the Ehrenmal des Heeres army monument and the Koblenz youth hostel.

Koblenz, Fortress Ehrenbreitstein