Book Now

Resort finder

Select the important options to find the best resorts for your ski holiday

Type of lodging

Slopes

Access to slopes

Other...

Select a resort you wish to visit

CONTACT US

Contact info

Alpine Adventures
  5300 NW 33rd Avenue, Suite 216
 Fort Lauderdale, FL 33306
1 954 564 6722
 1 800 755 1330
1 954 564 6721
info@alpineadventures.net


Contact Form

Your Name (required)

Your Email (required)

Subject

Your Message

Social Media:
Search:
MOSELLE CRUISE AND CYCLING TRIP

The countryside on both banks of the Moselle is splendid, the wines are delicious, and the picturesque little towns have rich histories. The conditions for cycling are excellent indeed. You follow the river Moselle, partly in Germany, partly in France, and partly in Luxembourg, along the endless vineyards and the enchanting old cities like Cochem and Bernkastel. Then, of course, there is Trier, once an imperial Roman city. You will see the remnants of this glorious past in Germany’s oldest cathedral, amphitheater, the emperor’s throne hall, and famous “black gate,” the remains of the ancient city wall. After Trier, you will bike along the river Saar to visit charming Saarburg, with the stunning waterfalls in the city center. Then onto tiny Luxembourg, the only Grand Duchy in Europe. On the last day, you cycle in France with her welcoming villages, where the inhabitants are proud of their sweet, smooth wines and golden “Mirabellen” liqueur. The tour ends in the city of Metz, with its splendid Gothic cathedral.

TRAVEL DATES: February 2 – 13, 2024

In addition to all the amazing scenery, this trip includes

  • (7) night/8 day cruise from Cochem Germany to Metz France
  • PRIVATE DELUXE CHARTER on MAGNIFIQUE III including Welcome reception with welcome drink
  • 7 Breakfasts, 6 Dinners (3-course)
  • Daily packed Lunches during the cruise
  • Daily afternoon coffee and tea
  • Daily briefings, Fully guided cycling tours (2 tour leaders, 2 groups)
  • Some short walking tours
  • Fees for ferries, Entrance Museum
  • Remagen, Entrance Burg Eltz
  • Winetasting at a local winery
  • GPS tracks, Use of a helmet, Use of a waterproof pannier bag ∙ Biodegradable water bottle
  • Use of bed linen and towels, Daily cleaning of the cabin, Climate controlled cabin, Wi-Fi on board
  • All Local Taxes
  • E-bike rental/helmet included, Standard bike optional ($180 less)
  • (1) nights in Cochem 4-star hotel w/breakfast
  • (2) nights in Paris 4-star hotel w/breakfast
  • Gratuities, alcoholic beverages & insurance not included
  • Price based on the currency of 1.12 US Dollars to the Euro. All prices are subject to change.

PACKAGE PRICE PER PERSON [DOUBLE OCCUPANCY]

  • LAND AND CRUISE $4,458
  • ASK ABOUT ROUND-TRIP AIR

Facts about the ship

Length: 67 m, Width: 7.2 m, Crew: 5, Cabins: 21, Passengers: 40 max

The Magnifique III meets the highest standards for comfort for bike and barge tours. The vessel sails under the Dutch flag and management on several tours in The Netherlands and Belgium.

The upper deck has a large, tastefully furnished salon with a restaurant area, a nice bar a lounge area with cozy sitting corners, a wide-screen TV, and large panoramic windows. There are also two TV screens showing the real-time movement and position of the barge. Wi-Fi is available. Large glass doors open to the beautiful partially roofed teak wood sundeck with chairs and tables on the aft deck. There is a cycle deck for bikes on the front deck. On the top deck, the barge has a whirlpool/Jacuzzi and some deckchairs to relax and enjoy the scenery while cruising.

The lower deck has fourteen beautiful twin cabins (12 m² – 129 sq.ft.) with two separate single beds. In most cabins and all suites, on prior request, the beds can be set together as a double bed.

All cabins have en-suite facilities with a shower, toilet, and basin. The cabins on the lower deck have portholes (fixed for safety reasons). The air conditioning in all cabins can be individually regulated. Furthermore, in each cabin, you will find a flat-screen satellite TV, a mini safe, and a hair dryer.

The upper deck has a large, tastefully furnished salon with a restaurant area, a nice bar a lounge area with cozy sitting corners, a wide-screen TV, and large panoramic windows. There are also two TV screens showing the real-time movement and position of the barge. Wi-Fi is available. Large glass doors open to the beautiful partially roofed teak wood sundeck with chairs and tables on the aft deck. There is a cycle deck for bikes on the front deck. On the top deck, the barge has a whirlpool/Jacuzzi and some deckchairs to relax and enjoy the scenery while cruising.

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.

Kevin Grossman, a world traveler put together this amazing package for your next vacation in Europe!

Call (+1) 407-468-9095
e-mail:kevin@alpineadventures.net