The quality of the cycle ways along this route is excellent. Most of the way is paved or asphalted and does not have any gradients of note. This makes the trip suitable even for unpractised cyclists.

Day 1: Mainz
Individual arrival in Mainz and embarkation from 4 pm. There may be time to visit the old town of Mainz with its lovely alleys and public squares.

Day 2: Mainz – Rüdesheim, approx. 32 km
Today you will discover why the river Rhine and its surroundings are part of the UNESCO world cultural heritage. Beautiful islands, steep slate rocks and vinyards shape the region around Rüdesheim. By bike you will pass Eltville with its fortress "Kurfürstliche Burg" and finally arrive in Rüdesheim. Here we recommend a visit at the famous street "Drosselgasse".

Day 3: Rüdesheim – St. Goar/St. Goarshausen, approx. 32 km
Today you will cycle along the Rhine through the Upper Middle Rhine Valley, passing romantic castles and ruins. These buildings include the fortresses Reichenstein and Rheinstein. The famous rock of the Loreley will also be on your way to St. Goar, your destination for today. From the top of the rock you will have a beautiful view of St. Goar and St. Goarshausen.

Day 4: St. Goar/St. Goarshausen – Koblenz, approx. 38 km
Boppard and the Marksburg are possible destinations today on your way to Koblenz with its famous "Deutsche Eck" (German corner), where the rivers Moselle and Rhine are merging. From the fortress Ehrenbreitstein, which you can reach comfortably by cableway, you will enjoy a fantastic view over the splendid landscape of the Rhine.

Day 5: Koblenz – Andernach, approx. 25 km
Your path will lead you through Neuwied with its castle Engers to Andernach, your destination for today. This city is like Koblenz one of the oldest cities of Germany. Here you will find the famous cold water gush spring, whose water fountain of 50 to 60 meters is said to be the highest in the world. In Andernach you can enjoy sights like the Round Tower or visit the wine village Leutesdorf, which you can reach from Andernach by ferry.

Day 6: Andernach – Bonn, approx. 45 km
On your way to Bonn it is worthwhile to visit in Königswinter castle Drachenburg on the Drachenfels (steep slope) or the Sea Life with its various marine inhabitants. Finally you will reach Bonn. The former capital of Germany is both cosy and yet cosmopolitan. Numerous global organisations still have their headquarters here and provide the city of Beethoven with international flair.

Day 7: Bonn – Cologne, approx. 37 km
Before you reach Cologne by bike, there is the possibility for a nice rest at the leisure island Groov amidst a vast landscape of the Rheinaue wetland in the Cologne suburb Porz-Zündorf. In Cologne you should join in a walking tour of Cologne’s Old Town and Cathedral to explore the city’s must sees (optional). Also worthwhile are museums like the Ludwig Museum or the Chocolate Museum at the river Rhine as well as the modern parts of Cologne, which can be found at the port of the Rheinaue wetland with its crane houses. The breweries with their famous beer "Kölsch" show a relaxed side of this big city.

Day 8: Cologne
Disembarkation after breakfast until 9 am. Individual departure.

Day 1: Cologne
Individual arrival to Cologne and embarkation from 4 pm. Enjoy the evening on board or with a Kölsch beer in one of the pubs with a view over the Rhine.

Day 2: Cologne – Bonn, approx. 37 km
Before you start cycling today you should take a stroll through Cologne’s Old Town to explore the city’s must sees like the famous Cathedral. Then you will cylce to the city of Beethoven, Bonn. This federal city and former capital of Germany still has international flair. On your way it is worthwhile to visit the leisure island Groov amidst a vast landscape of the Rheinaue wetland in the Cologne suburb Porz-Zündorf. In Bonn there are museums like the House of History or the Bundeskunsthalle courting for visitors’ attention and the House of Beethoven, the Rheinaue as well as the Bundesviertel with the path of Democracy are equally worth a visit.

Day 3: Bonn – Andernach, approx. 45 km
You will continue towards Andernach by bike today. Königswinter with its castle Drachenburg on the Drachenfels (steep ascent) as well as the Sea Life with aquariums for more than 6.000 sea inhabitants are worth a visit. Your destination for today, Andernach, is famous for the world´s biggest cold water gush spring with its impressive fountain of 60 m.

Day 4: Andernach – Koblenz, approx. 25 km
On your way to Koblenz you will find castle Engers in Neuwied. At the famous "Deutsche Eck" (german corner) the river Mosel merges with the river Rhine. Another place of interest is the fortress Ehrenbreitstein which you can also reach by cableway across the Rhine in Koblenz.

Day 5: Koblenz – St. Goar/St. Goarshausen, approx. 38 km
You continue your journey by bike up the river Rhine through the UNESCO world heritage site Upper Middle Rhine Valley. You will pass the romantic fortress Marksburg, the only hilltop castle of middle Rhine which has never been destroyed. You will cycle through the city of Boppard with its fortress Kurfürstliche Burg, before you will reach St. Goar. Here you will find the ruins of fortress Rheinfels, which is the biggest of its kind along the Rhine. The fortresses Katz und Maus (cat and mouse) in St. Goarshausen on the other side of the Rhine are also very impressing.

Day 6: St. Goar/St. Goarshausen – Rüdesheim, approx. 32 km
Again you will pass very beautiful Rhine castles like Burg Reichenstein and Burg Rheinstein. You will cycle past the famous rock Loreley before you reach Rüdesheim. Treat yourself to a ride on the cable car up to the Niederwald monument. Here you will have a beautiful view over the old town of Rüdesheim and the river.

Day 7: Rüdesheim – Mainz, approx. 32 km
On your final cycling stage you will find the Rhine at its best. The city Eltville am Rhein with its emblem, the castle "Kurfürstliche Burg", is on your way. Mainz, your destination of today, presents itself with numerous impressive buildings. You may want to visit its cathedral Hoher Dom St. Martin, one of the proud imperial cathedrals of Germany, or the castle Kurfürstliches Schloss. In the old town you will find attractive alleys and squares like the Augustinerstraße and the Kirschgarten with its lovely timber framed houses and wine restaurants.

Day 8: Mainz
Disembarkation after breakfast until 9 am. Individual departure.

Due to changing wind and weather conditions as well as organizational requirements we reserve the right to make changes of routing and program.