Mosel by bike and Standard boat - Patria

The Moselle Valley by bike and boat from Koblenz on the MS Patria

This is one of the most popular destinations for cycle tourists and for good reason! The Moselle and Saar valleys lie in breathtaking regions. You will enjoy the diversity of these enchanting landscapes as you explore fairy-tale castles, award-winning vineyards and medieval towns and villages. Discover Germany by bike and by boat on the MS Patria.

Main points of interest of the stay :

• Cycle smoothly among stunning vineyards
• Discover Roman history in Trier
• Taste the fine Riesling wines of the region

Day 1 - Embarkation in Koblenz

Your boat is waiting for you in Koblenz, where the crew will welcome you from 4 p.m. First night is spent in this fascinating and historic city, which was a strategic city with a prosperous economy for centuries. You can take the opportunity to visit the old castle of Ehrenbreitstein which dominates the right bank of the Rhine, the castle of Alte Burg from the 12th century or the old town of Koblenz.

Day 2 - Koblenz - Alken | Alken - Moselkern - Cochem. 29 km.

The MS Patria sails to Alken where you will take charge of your bikes for the first time. You cycle to Cochem via Moselkern. It is a charming little town with its half-timbered houses, old town and Reichsburg Castle.

Day 3 - Cochem - Beilstein - Zell sur Moselle. 39 km.

After breakfast, you take your bike to Beilstein, one of the best-preserved historic villages along the Moselle. You will have the opportunity to explore the ruins of Metternich Castle. Leaving Beilstein you pass through Europe's steepest vineyard, with an incline between 50 and 55 degrees at Bremmer Calmont. The village of Zell is your final destination for the day. In the evening, you have the opportunity to visit a local winemaker and participate in a tasting of local wines (optional, bookable on board the boat).

Day 4 - Zell sur Moselle - Bernkastel Kues. 43 km.

Your first stop for the day is the romantic village of Traben-Trarbach located on the left bank of the Moselle, famous for its "Art-Nouveau" style architecture (international modernist artistic movement). Next up is the wine town of Kröv and the popular Kröver wine. Arrival is near and you stay in Bernkastel Kues for the night. The large half-timbered house in the market square dates from the Middle Ages and is a treat for amateur photographers.

Day 5 - Bernkastel Kues - Piesport - Mehring. 47 km.

The theme of the day is viticulture in the Moselle valley. Piesport is the oldest community of winegrowers in the Moselle. You can take a guided tour of the historic cellars and vineyards (optional, bookable on board the boat). You then discover Neumagen-Dhron. The village is widely recognized as the oldest producing wine in Germany. After lunch another wine village, Mehring, famous for its white wine, welcomes you for the night.

Day 6 - Mehring - Trier. 26 to 29 km.

Trier (Trier in French) is certainly the highlight of this tour. The city is often heralded as the oldest city in Germany. For sure, the Romans invested it as early as 16 BC Therefore, the legacy of the empire is very visible in this city and gives it an undeniable charm. Monuments such as the Porta Nigra, the Basilica of Constantine (Aula Palatina) or the Roman Amphitheater are a must see!

Day 7 - Trier - Wasserbillig - Saarburg. 38 km.

You cycle along the river to Saarburg via Wasserbillig (Luxembourg). Saarburg is nicknamed "little Venice". At its center is a waterfall 20 meters high.

Day 8

End of the tour after breakfast disembarkation around 9:00 am

Day 1 : embarkation in Saarburg

The MS Patria awaits you in Saarburg where the crew will welcome you from 4 p.m. You have the opportunity to visit Saarburg, a very welcoming city with the Saar Castle dating from 964, its 20 m high waterfall in the heart of the city and its many historic buildings.

Day 2 : Saarburg - Saarschleife - Igele Säule - Wasserbillig (Lux) - Trier. 26-64 km.

After picking up the bikes, you cycle towards the picturesque Saar loop and then you arrive at the Igele mausoleum. You then go through Wasserbillig (Luxembourg) to end in Trier. If you are interested, you can take (optional, bookable on the boat) a guided tour of Trier. The city, considered the oldest in Germany by many historians, is marked by the heritage of the Roman Empire which took over the place from 16 BC You will have the opportunity to discover monuments such as the Porta Nigra, the Basilica of Constantine (Aula Palatina) or the Roman Amphitheater.

Day 3 : Trier - Pfalzel - Mehring. 26 km.

After breakfast, you get on your bike to the charming villages of Pfalzel then Mehring. Both are known for their white wines and form the largest concentration of winegrowers in the Moselle-Saar-Ruwer region. In the evening, take the time to stroll through the village.

Day 4 : Mehring - Piesport - Bernkastel-Kues. 47 km.

Neumagen-Dhron, your first stop for the day is the first village to produce wine in Germany! As for Piesport, the next stage is the first village to have produced wine along the Moselle. A guided tour of Roman cellars and vineyards is possible. Bernkastel Kues is your final destination with its half-timbered houses and market square to discover. In the evening, a visit to a local winegrower and a tasting of Moselle wines are possible (optional, bookable on the boat).

Day 5 : Bernkastel-Kues - Traben-Trarbach - Zell. 43 km.

Traben-Trarbach is a romantic village, located on the left bank of the Moselle and known for its "Art-Nouveau" style architecture (international modernist artistic movement). Further on, but still along the Moselle, Zell awaits you. The village is well known by wine lovers for the production of its "Zeller Schwarze Katz".

Day 6 : Zell - Beilstein - Cochem. 39 km

Your bike takes you today to Beilstein, nicknamed the "sleeping beauty of the Moselle". It is one of the best preserved historic villages on the Moselle. The ruins of Metternich Castle are worth exploring. Cochem, your destination for the day is a very charming and picturesque village with its half-timbered houses and Reichsburg Castle.

Day 7 : Cochem - Alken | Alken - Koblenz. 29 km.

You reach Alken by bike, one of the oldest towns on the Moselle, where the boat awaits you. The MS Patria then sails to Koblenz which has been for centuries an important economic center and a strategic city. Highlights are Ehrenbreitstein Castle which dominates the right bank of the Rhine, the 12th century castle Alte Burg and the old town.

Day 8 : Koblenz

End of the tour after breakfast.

General information :

• 8 days and 7 nights
• Comfort level of the barge : Comfort
• Spoken languages on board : German and English
• Child prices : please contact us

Dates :

Departure from Koblenz on Saturdays

From 10/04 to 09/10

• Season A : 10/04
• Season B : 09/10
• Season C : 24/04
• Season D : 08 and 22/05, 19/06, 03 and 31/07, 14 and 28/08, 25/09

Departure from Saarburg on Saturdays

From 17/04 to 16/10

• Season A : 16/10
• Season B : 17/04
• Season C : 02/10
• Season D : 01, 15 and 29/05, 26/06, 10/07, 07 and 21/08, 04/09

Included :

• Full board stay (picnic lunch)
• Travel documents : we will provide you with the information relating to the progress of your stay as well as the itinerary upon validation of your reservation, subject to change.
• Guided line tour

Not included :

• Transport to the place of departure
• Personal expenses
• Visits

Options :

• Bike rental
• Personal bike location (mandatory if no rented bike)
• Theft insurance for rented bikes
• Cancellation insurance
• Extra night(s) at the start or end of the tour in a hotel in Amsterdam

Level :

1 2 3 4 5 6

Ground :

Flat, very smooth roads and paths. 90% program on cycle paths.

Weather :

Temperatures in the Moselle valley are relatively mild. It can be very hot in summer, with dry weather.

Technicality :

0 to 50 km of cycling per day, or about 3 to 5 hours of cycling.

Bibliography :

- Guides about Moselle by bike
- Hiking maps about Germany

Participants :

On board, you will meet an international community of all ages, men, women, single or couples with children. We offer aboard this boat 65 places maximum in cabins of 2 and 3 people.

Accompaniment :

People responsible for your bike and boat holidays are : 
On board, the captain and his mate. They are responsible for the smooth running of the vacation on the boat, and bring the boat from stage to stage. The cook prepares the meals.
A daily briefing about the course is planned. A roadbook per cabin with maps and instructions is distributed.

Meals :

Breakfast : on board, you will find a substantial and dutch breakfast, worthy of a cyclist.
Lunch : after the breakfast, you will prepare by yourself a “lunch” (sandwich, fruit, snack, drinks).
Snack : after the daily route, you will find, when you arrive on the boat, various drinks such as tea and coffee prepared for your return, with a cake.

Dinner : at least three very good quality dishes. After dinner, you will have a choice of coffee and tea.
Other drinks, such as wine, beer, lemonade and mineral water, are not included but can be purchased on board at a reasonable price.

Bike :

At the beginning, on Saturday afternoon, a bike corresponding to your height, will be assigned to you. After a test ride, you will sign a receipt. The bike (7 or 24-speed bike) will be at your disposal all week until Friday afternoon, when the bike is handed over. The bike will be fitted with panniers as well as an anti-theft device, a container and a tire repair kit. There is no helmet on board.
If you take your own bike, it cannot be insured against theft by our company, you will have to make the necessary arrangements with your usual insurer. Do not forget your anti-theft. The return of your bike will be at your expense.

Transport : 

In the direction Koblenz - Saarburg : 

By train : the connection between Paris and Germany is quite good. You can get there easily with Deutsche Bahn.
By road : Koblenz is 5 hours 45 minutes from Paris on the A4.
By plane : Frankfurt Airport is the closest to Koblenz with regular direct flights.

In the direction Saarburg - Koblenz :

By train : TGV and Eurostar station to Trier, then “local” train to Saarburg.
By road : Saarburg is 445 km east of Paris. A31 between Luxembourg and Nancy or A4 between Paris, Luxembourg and Trier, to Saarburg.
By plane : Metz airport.

Your vehicle : 

We strongly advise against parking cars on the streets of Koblenz and Saarburg. You can park your vehicle in Koblenz in one of the car parks on the outskirts of the city, or in the city center near the Moselle, and in Saarburg in the station car park.

Cancellation insurance :

In order to guarantee the refund of costs in the event of cancellation of your stay, you can take out cancellation insurance. To learn more, please click here.

Boat description : click here.