Rhine: boat & bike

Bike & boat on the Middle Rhine

Experience the UNESCO World Heritage Upper Middle Rhine Valley with its diverse wine villages and countless castles, castle ruins and palaces on this charming bike & ship tour with the MS Olympia. The journey will take you from the impressive Mainz Cathedral through the Rhine Valley to the cathedral city of Cologne. Following the Rhine Cycle Path, you'll pass through lovely vineyards near Eltville, explore Eberbach Monastery (+ 14 km) and marvel at the Loreley Rock near St. Goar, from where you'll enjoy a beautiful sweeping view of the countryside. Look forward to charming places to stay with a variety of sights, activities and also the culinary arts will not be neglected thanks to excellent wine creations and the Rhenish culinary art. The enchanting Rhine awaits you!

Your boat: MS Olympia

MS Olympia is a comfortable and cozy river ship with a family atmosphere. The ship was renovated in 2015/ 2016. The panorama salon with bar, furnished in English club style, and the bright and friendly restaurant invite you to spend relaxing hours on board. Look forward to the spacious, partially covered sun deck with seating, which also serves as a storage space for bicycles. In total, the MS Olympia offers 49 comfortable outside cabins for max. 96 guests. On the main deck there are 21 two-bed cabins with a size of approx. 11 sqm, on the upper deck 22 two-bed cabins, which are also approx. 11 sqm in size, as well as 4 larger cabins in the aft part of the ship (12 sqm). 3 of them are equipped with a double bed. In these cabins increased noises are perceptible during the journey. Here are also the 2 single cabins, which are about 9 square meters. All cabins have shower/WC, hairdryer, telephone, TV, individually regulated 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 Mainz

Arrive early, because there is a lot to discover in Mainz! Visit the Mainz Cathedral and the Gutenberg Museum before embarking between 3:00 pm and 5:00 pm. On board, the captain, crew and your on-board tour guide will give you a warm welcome.

2. day Mainz - Rüdesheim 32 km

Today your bike & ship tour starts with the first bike stage from Mainz to Rüdesheim through the UNESCO World Heritage Upper Middle Rhine Valley. With views of numerous Rhine islands, the bike route leads along gentle vineyards and slate cliffs to famous wine-growing towns. Among other things, the impressive half-timbered town of Eltville awaits you. Plan a detour to Eberbach Monastery, which is well worth seeing (+ approx. 14 km). Once in Rüdesheim, we recommend a visit to a wine tasting and a stroll through the famous Drosselgasse. Also worth seeing is a visit to the Niederwald Monument, which you can reach in a relaxed manner by cable car.

3. day Rüdesheim - St. Goar/St. Goarshausen 32 km

Today, your bike route will take you past medieval castles and half-ruined fortresses. You will pass the Mäuseturm, the famous castles Rheinstein and Reichenstein, as well as Burg Hohneck and Sooneck. Before you reach your today's stage destination St. Goar, you will pass the world-famous rock Loreley, which you should climb on the hiking trail. Once at the top, you will be rewarded with a fantastic view of the narrowest point in the romantic Upper Middle Rhine Valley. Also located here is the worthwhile Loreley Visitor Center, which provides insights into the exciting history of the region and the myth of the Loreley.

4. day St. Goar/St. Goarshausen - Koblenz 38 km

Continuing to follow the narrow Rhine valley, today you will drive through the famous and turbulent wine-growing town of Boppard. Indulge in a wine tasting or take the chair lift far above the Rhine, to the Vierseenblick, where a fantastic view of the Rhine Valley awaits you. The well-preserved Marksburg Castle and Stolzenfels Castle are on the way to the Deutsches Eck in Koblenz, your destination today.

5. day Koblenz - Andernach 25 km

Today's stage from Koblenz to Andernach takes you first to Neuwied and Engers Castle, which is well worth a visit. Let yourself drift leisurely along the flat Rhine cycle path and escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Once you arrive in Andernach, one of the oldest cities in Germany awaits you with its famous cold-water geyser, which emits a water fountain up to 60 meters high, making it one of the highest in the world. Also discover the Round Tower or make a detour to the wine village of Leutesdorf, which you can easily reach by ferry from Andernach.

6. day Andernach - Bonn 45 km

After breakfast, you will cycle in a relaxed manner towards your today's stage destination Bonn. On the way, it is worth visiting Drachenburg Castle, which is located on the Drachenfels overlooking Königswinter and can be reached via a ride on one of Germany's oldest cogwheel railroads. Alternatively, Sea Life with its wide variety of sea creatures is an option. Continue on the leisurely Rhine Cycle Path to Bonn, where the former federal capital awaits you with its numerous sights, museums and its Rhenish cozy, yet also international flair.

7. day Bonn - Cologne 37 km

On the last stage of your bike & ship tour, the bike path once again runs directly along the charming banks of the Rhine. Before you reach Cologne, you can take a break on the leisure island of Zündorfer Groov with its extensive Rhine meadow landscape. As you continue, you will arrive in the lively carnival capital of Cologne, where you should take time for a tour of the old town. There are a variety of interesting museums and sights, such as the famous Cologne Cathedral, as well as the modern part of Cologne at the Rheinauhafen with its crane houses. You should also not miss to taste a Kölsch beer or two in one of Cologne's numerous breweries and thus enjoy a pleasurable end to your trip.

8. day Departure Cologne

Today your bike & ship trip ends after breakfast and disembarkation until 09:30am.

Please note:

Program changes in principle reserved. If e.g. due to low water, high water or bad weather a route cannot be sailed, the skipper reserves the right to change the route for your safety (this is not a reason for free cancellation).