Rhine and Moselle by Boat and Bike: Koblenz to Koblenz

Day 1: Koblenz – St. Goar
You will board in Koblenz at 2 p.m., and at 3 p.m. the ship will cast off and head south along the Rhine. Past Boppard the valley narrows into the UNESCO World Heritage Upper Middle Rhine Valley, and your first night on board will be spent at St. Goar. The ruins of Rheinfels Castle stand on the slope above the little town, the castles Katz and Maus face each other across the water, and a short way upstream lies the famous Loreley rock.

Day 2: St. Goar – Bacharach – Bingen – Rüdesheim (30 km)
Your first day in the saddle begins in St. Goar, on the Rhine cycle path. This is the narrowest and steepest part of the valley, and perhaps the most impressive. You will ride beneath the Loreley rock towards Oberwesel, then continue through Bacharach to Bingen. On a small island in the "Binger Loch" narrows stands the medieval Mäuseturm, a tower some twenty-five metres high that once worked together with Ehrenfels Castle opposite as a watchtower and a customs post for collecting Rhine tolls. At Bingen a ferry will carry you across the river to the wine town of Rüdesheim, your destination for the day.

Day 3: Rüdesheim – Mainz (35 km or 43 km)
If you rise early you may have Rüdesheim to yourself before the day's visitors arrive. From here you can choose between a shorter, flatter ride and a longer one with more climbing. The short route follows the right bank of the Rhine directly to Mainz. The long route turns uphill at Oestrich, on gradients of up to five per cent, to reach Eberbach Abbey, a former Cistercian monastery in Romanesque and early Gothic stone that is as famous for its wine-growing as for its architecture. Both routes cross the Rhine bridge straight into the old town of Mainz, where the ship is moored and where a guided city tour is included. The rest of the afternoon and the evening are yours.

Day 4: Mainz – Winningen | Winningen – Treis-Karden (40 km)
The ship departs Mainz at 6 a.m. and sails back down the Rhine Valley; early risers are rewarded with quiet views of the landscape they cycled the day before. At Koblenz the ship turns into the Moselle, passing the Deutsches Eck, and you will step ashore briefly at Winningen, where today's ride begins. Two routes are on offer. One leads to Eltz Castle by a scenic line through Moselkern into the Eltz Valley, finishing with a two-kilometre path through fairytale woods that many travellers remember as the highlight of the week; if you would rather avoid the final steep ascent, a bus runs from Hatzenport. The other heads for Thurant Castle at Alken, visible across the river, reached either by a demanding climb or by a path with steps. The final stretch continues through Moselkern and Müden to the tranquil wine village of Treis-Karden, where the ship is waiting.

Day 5: Treis-Karden – Zell | Zell – Bernkastel-Kues (45 km)
The ship leaves Treis-Karden early and reaches Zell around midday, where your bike tour begins. Some forty-five kilometres of Moselle follow, winding between vineyards and wine towns. A stop worth making is Traben-Trarbach, once the centre of the Moselle wine trade and still lined with elegant Art Nouveau buildings. The ride then runs on through unspoilt countryside to Bernkastel-Kues, famous for the half-timbered houses around its market square and for the historic St. Nikolaus Hospital, home to a valuable library. As always along the Moselle, wine and hospitality take centre stage. The ship remains docked here overnight.

Day 6: Bernkastel-Kues – Zell | Zell – Cochem (41 km)
Once again the ship sails early to Zell, and from there you will ride downstream towards Cochem. Along the way you can visit Beilstein, a small village known for its Black Madonna and its timeless charm, and look up at the Bremmer Calmont, the steepest vineyard in Europe and a striking sight for cyclists and wine lovers alike. In Cochem you will have ample time to explore: take in the view from the Imperial Castle, the Reichsburg, stroll the busy shopping streets, or settle on a terrace and watch local life unfold. After dinner on board you can join an optional wine tasting at the renowned Weingut Hieronimi, close to the mooring.

Day 7: Cochem – Lehmen | Lehmen – Koblenz (20 km)
At around 6 a.m. the ship sets sail for Lehmen, where you will disembark for the final cycling stage. The ride to Koblenz passes through historic wine villages such as Kobern-Gondorf and Winningen, where Germany's first wine festival was held. Take in the steep vineyard slopes and the way the growers work them, especially during the August and September harvest. In Koblenz you will have time to walk the historic old town, or to take the panoramic gondola, bicycle included, up to Ehrenbreitstein Fortress. The ship arrives in Koblenz in the afternoon and you will spend your last night on board.

Day 8: Koblenz
End of your journey: disembarkation after breakfast, by 9.30 a.m.