Itinerary

Day 1: Cochem, Germany

On the day of our arrival, we’ll spend the night at a hotel in Cochem, before boarding the ship the next day.

Day 2: Cochem

Embarkation and check-in is at 2 p.m. in Cochem. After a welcome meeting with the crew, the tour leader will take you for a walk through this cozy and characteristic Moselle town, with steep wine-clad mountains, wooded hills, an impressive castle, and a picturesque square with beautiful timber-framed houses and cafes. A visit to Cochem’s majestic Reichsburg Castle is on the program.

Day 3: Cochem – Zell (39 km/24 mi.)

Following breakfast, you’ll cycle to Beilstein, one of the best-preserved historical villages on the Moselle. The ruins of Castle Metternich sit towering above the village, and you’ll have the opportunity to explore them. After leaving Beilstein you’ll pass Europe’s steepest vineyard – with slopes inclining up to 60 degrees – at Bremmer Calmont. Today’s tour ends in the wine village of Zell on the Moselle, well known in the industry for the wine Zeller Schwarze Katz. In Zell, we recommend taking the opportunity to get to know the good wines of the Moselle Valley.

Day 4: Zell on the Moselle – Bernkastel-Kues (45 km/27 mi.)

Today you’ll cycle from Zell to the romantic village of Traben-Trarbach, located on the Moselle’s left bank and famous for its Jugendstil (Art Nouveau) architecture. From there you pass through the wine city of Kröv – well-known for its popular Kröver wine – to Bernkastel-Kues, your destination for the night. The grand half-timbered houses that surround Bernkastel-Kues’s marketplace date back to the Middle Ages, and are a photographer’s delight. You’ll reach the barge in Kues after a tour through town.

Day 5: Bernkastel-Kues – Neumagen – Schweich (28 km/18 mi. or 54 km/34 mi.) | Schweich – Trier

From Bernkastel, the valley opens up and vineyards expand as far as the eye can see. Today we cruise past the heavy-hitters in the wine world: Brauneberg, Piesport, Trittenheim. Piesport is beloved by the Brits for the “little golden droplets.” Trittenheim lies in a sharp hairpin turn on the river surrounded by mountains coated with grapes. Around lunchtime, you will arrive in Neumagen, already in Roman times an important center of wine production. You can decide to join the barge from here or continue by bicycle to Schweich, where again the barge will be waiting for you. Once on board you will cruise to Trier, the oldest city in Germany. Trier was founded around 15 before Christ by Caesar Augustus under the name of Augusta Treverorum. As a trading town and administrative center, Trier flourished during the late imperial age. This Roman golden age has left us with a respectable number of monuments. Most authentic is the city gate Porta Nigra, which was built around 18 after Christ.

Day 6: Trier – Saarburg (28 km/18 mi.)

In the morning your tour leader will take you into Trier and walk you around in Roman history. There is also time to discover and enjoy Trier on your own.
After lunch, you will hop on your bicycles and follow the Mosel and Saar river to our next destination, Saarburg. Saarburg is an interesting old town situated in the most beautiful part of the Saar valley. Here the banks of the river are densely forested. The castle of Saarburg was built here in the middle of the 10th century. In the middle of town, you come across a waterfall 20 meters high. At the foot of this waterfall, there is an old mill, which is driven by the small river. In this part of town most of the old houses from the 17th and 18th century, which give Saarburg such a picturesque look, are still intact. Today there is no dinner on board. You can select one of the local restaurants in Saarburg.

Day 7: Saarburg – Remich (45 km/27 mi. or 53 km/32 mi.)

Today there are 2 cycling options. One is easy, but a bit longer along the rivers. The shorter option is a bit more challenging, through the hills. Whatever your choice is, the cycling will lead you into the Grand Duchy Luxembourg. Here the Moselle forms the border between Germany and Luxembourg. Luxembourg is a small country, but its capital (also called Luxembourg) is an important finance center and EU administrative city. On the way, at the Luxembourg side, we visit a wine cooperative, specializing in the so-called “Cremant”, say the Champagne of the
Moselle. Close to Remich you can admire a Roman mosaic floor. The tile floor which lies in its original place, was once the centerpiece in a palatial Roman villa. The scene (in 3 million individual tile pieces) reveals scenes from gladiator games in the amphitheater.

Day 8: Remich – Schengen | Schengen – Thionville (30 km/18 mi.) | Thionville – Metz

While having breakfast you will cruise to Schengen, where your cycling tour will start. The “Schengen agreement” is something everybody in Europe has heard of, whereas almost nobody knows that it is named after this little town in Luxembourg at the 3-country border. Soon we will cross the Luxembourg-French border and experience the outcome of this agreement: no border controls. We pass the fortress of Sierck-les-Bains, one of the palaces inhabited by the powerful Dukes of Lorraine. The route is lovely through the French countryside and friendly villages. Around lunchtime you will arrive in Thionville, the center of the steel industry until the 1980s. That might sound modern and industrial, but the city is ancient. The historic center shows us the medieval ramparts, lovely gardens, old streets, and St.Maximin Basilica. Here the ship is waiting to pick you up to cruise to Metz, another ancient city strategically situated on a Roman trading route. St.Etienne Cathedral is the 3rd largest Gothic church in France with flying buttresses and Marc Chagall stained glass windows. Metz is full of stunning architecture, flowers, and great cafes.

Day 9: Metz

End of tour. Disembarkation after breakfast, at around 9:30 a.m.

Day 9-11: Paris

After leaving the boat we’ll transfer via bus to Paris (approx 3.5 hours), where we’ll spend two nights in the Hotel Mercure Paris Alesia before flying back to the US.

Grindelwald, Switzerland

The famous mountain village of Grindelwald is embedded in a unique Alpine landscape at the foot of the Eiger north face. It is the diversity of the glacier village that makes it so attractive.
Grindelwald’s main ski regions, First, Kleine Scheidegg — Männlichen, and Murren — Schilthorn, are accessible by the Swiss Mountain railways. Skiers can enjoy more than 210 km of groomed slopes at any one of these resorts. A total of 30 ski lifts allows skiers to ski at altitudes of up to 2,500 m/8,202 ft. Grindelwald offers unique skiing experiences especially that of the Lauberhorn slope which was popularized by the World Cup ski circus. Over the mountains between Grindelwald, Wengen & Lauberhorn, and there’s no stopping winter sports enthusiasts.
THE MOST MODERN TERMINAL IN THE ALPS – The brand-new state-of-the-art terminal (Grindelwald Terminal), with direct railway connection in Grindelwald, is the heart of the V-Cableway. The tri-cable gondola Eiger Express to the Eiger Glacier and the 10-person aerial gondola to Männlichen start here. The terminal also offers a shopping centre with top international brands, quality Swiss products and a sports shop. The Eiger Express, which transports you from Grindelwald Terminal to the station Eigergletscher in 15 minutes, guarantees a spectacular gondola ride complete with stunning views of the north face of the Eiger. Once at the destination, the Panoramahalle delivers incredible views of the mountain landscape of the Bernese Oberland.
Even the journey to Eigergletscher on the ultra-modern tri-cable aerial cableway is memorable. Savor the outlook from one of 44 cabins (each seating 26) and marvel at the mighty north face of the Eiger from close quarters. A train now runs directly from Interlaken Ost to Grindelwald terminal, base station for the Eiger Express cableway. This one simple change cuts the journey time to Jungfraujoch – Top of Europe (and the ski slopes) by 47 minutes, giving you more time to explore this spectacular world of mountains.
The Jungfrau experience includes traveling to Europe’s highest railway station at an altitude of 2,061 m/6,762 ft called Kleine Scheidegg. From there you take the cogwheel train to the summit of the Jungfrau at 3,454 m/11,332 ft from where you will have spectacular views of the surrounding mountains and on a clear day can see into Germany and France. And looking west you will see the largest Glacier of Europe, the Aletsch Glacier. As one of the Bernese Oberland’s ultimate excursions, the Jungfraujoch is truly an unforgettable experience for visitors.
Finally, your hotel cannot be any closer to the Grindelwald Train Station. You will have direct access to the Swiss Rail system for convenient day trip excursions to Interlaken, Lauberhorn and beyond!

Lucerne, Switzerland

Lucerne, the gateway to central Switzerland, sited on Lake Lucerne, is embedded within an impressive mountainous panorama. Thanks to its attractions, its attractive shopping and the beautiful lakeside setting, the town is a destination for many travel groups and individuals on their journey through central Switzerland. Complete with gable paintings, the covered, medieval Chapel Bridge forms the centerpiece of Lucerne’s townscape and is considered to be one of the oldest, covered wooden bridges in Europe. A further landmark of the town is the Museggmauer, a wall which, with the exception only of one of its towers, has been preserved in its original, well-fortified state.
Historic houses decorated with frescoes line the picturesque town squares as they do the ‘Weinmarkt’ square in the car-free old town. Lucerne is a city of town squares and churches. The Jesuit church dating from the 17th century is regarded as Switzerland’s first sacral Baroque building and the twin towers of the Hofkirche form an integral part of the townscape. The figure of a dying lion which was hewn from the face of rock in remembrance of the heroic death of Swiss guards killed during an attack on the Tuileries in 1792 is one of the best-known monuments in Switzerland. And with its 112-metre-long Bourbaki panorama, Lucerne possesses one of the world’s few maintained, mammoth circular paintings.

Hotel Kreuz & Post

The 4⭐ Hotel Kreuz & Post, rich in tradition is located in the center of Grindelwald, the Bernese Oberland. Just a few steps from the train station, bus, gondolas, & lifts. Since many years our Hotel Kreuz & Post has been an institution in Grindelwald, enchanting gourmets, hedonists, nature lovers, alpinists and sports lovers from all over the world.
The exceptional location in the heart of the village Grindelwald, next to the famous railway station for the Jungfraujoch and besides beautiful shops, as well the long tradition, the Alpine charm, the genuine hospitality of your Hosts Martin and Helena and the first-class service are only a few of the many highlights which will make your stay with us unforgettable.

Juniper Springs Resort

Juniper Springs Resort is Mammoth’s premier slope-side condominium hotel. Offering spacious condos and townhouses with kitchens, private balconies, and gas fireplaces, this resort delivers all the comforts of home in a family-friendly resort environment. Nestled at the base of Mammoth Mountain, Juniper Springs Resort also offers convenient ski-in, and ski-out access to the slopes, ski school, and all the amenities of Eagle Lodge. In the summertime, you’ll enjoy easy access to hiking and biking, plus the majestic Sierra Star Golf Course nearby.

Hotel Alberg (4-star)

The hotel offers:

• Comfortable rooms
• Wellness area with indoor pool
• Restaurant for the guests
• Wine cellar
• Hotel hall and bar lounge
• Parking spaces
• Après Ski
• Hut entertainment
• Night life

Location: village Centre

• Just a few minutes walk to the ski lifts
• One of the most famous ski resorts and the largest one in Austria
• Rail station in St. Anton