Germany - Luxembourg - France - Three Country Mosel and Saar Bike and Barge Tour 2019 Individual Self-guided 8 days / 7 nights The countryside on both banks of the Mosel is splendid, the cool wines taste delicious, the picturesque little towns have rich histories and the conditions for cycling are excellent indeed. Here you will find the perfect mix of ingredients for a fine bike and barge vacation. This tour takes us through a wonderful, varying region. We follow the river Mosel, partly in Germany, partly in France and partly in Luxembourg, along the endless vineyards and the enchanting old cities like Cochem and Bernkastel. It goes without saying that we will taste the local wines whenever we can. Then, of course, there is Trier, the oldest city of Germany with the Porta Nigra, a Roman gate, dating from the first century after Christ. After Trier we will follow the river Saar to visit charming Saarburg, with the stunning waterfalls in the city center. We continue into Luxembourg and France with their welcoming villages, where the inhabitants are proud of their sweet, smooth wines and golden Mirabellen liqueur (plum liqueur). Our final goal is the city of Metz with her splendid cathedral
Itinerary Day to Day Day 1: 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. You can visit the castle or have a glass of local wine. Day 2: Cochem Beilstein Beilstein Traben-Trarbach Traben- Trarbach Bernkastel Kues 28 km or 51 km During breakfast the ship will sail to a beautiful little place called Beilstein. There you will have the chance to see the Black Madonna in the chapel of the Carmelite Monastery high on the hill. Your first cycling day follows the Moselle upstream to Zell. The ship makes a short stop here, so if you want you can already board and continue the cruising way. Zell is beautifully situated on the Moselle, where the river meanders through the hills in many loops. Zeller Schwarze Katz (black cat) is a legendary Moselle Wine. You continue to Traben-Trarbach. This little town features world class Art Nouveau architecture that proves its great importance in international wine trade during the 19th century. From Traben you sail to Bernkastel-Kues, This frequently visited, old and picturesque town produces the best wines of the Mid-Moselle. Pride of the town is the market square, with its picturesque timber-framed houses. A walk to the castle offers a beautiful view. Day 3: Bernkastel-Kues, Daun excursion 62 km This morning you leave the river and vineyards behind. You will be shuttled by bus up into the Eifel region to the city of Daun. From there, we take an exhilarating bicycle ride along a former railway track that is now a cycling path. The ride includes stretches through tunnels, over bridges and by small lakes formed from volcano craters, known as maars. After the last tunnel we have a break in a local little town were you will love to have an ice-cream on the terraces, well deserved!
Day 4: Bernkastel-Kues Neumagen Schweich Schweich Trier 28 km or 54 km 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 Trevorum. 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 5 (Wed): Trier Saarburg 28 km 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 of 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 of Saarburg. Day 6: Saarburg Remich 45 km or 53 km 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 her 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, specialized 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 7: Remich Schengen Schengen Thionville Thionville Metz 30 km 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 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 8: Metz End of tour. Disembarkation after breakfast, till 9:30 a.m.
Route Technical Characteristics: Tour Profile: Easy. The bike tours are individual, at your own pace, without a tour guide, but with detailed bicycle maps and directions. When a guest does not want to cycle one day, she/he can skip the bike tour and relax on board while cruising to the next harbour. Distance: 221-278 km Travel Season: Departures from Cochem: July 6; August 3, 2019 Departures from Metz: August 10 and October 19, 2019
Price per Person: Double Occupancy Twin cabin 1265.00 Twin cabin for single use 1645.00 E-bike with free wheel (must be booked in advance, limited number) 165.00 Surcharge for Specialty Diet (Gluten Free, Lactose Intolerance and Vegan) no charge for vegetarian 50.00 Services Included: 8 days / 7 nights on board, 2 person cabin with private shower and toilet, air conditioning and central heating Full board (7x breakfast, 6 x packed lunch or lunch (on board), 6 x 3 course dinner Daily cleaning of the Cabin Free WIFI on board Use of touring bike, 8 speed and cycle bag Information and guided cycling tours Daily cycling route discussion Tourist tax Bus transfer to Daun Entrance Reichsburg Cochem Not Included: Personal insurances Gratuities (at your discretion) Drinks and expenses on excursions (not mentioned under included)
The cruise ship MS QUO VADIS The ship is comfortably furnished; cosy and you will feel well on board. MS QUO VADIS was put into service in April 2006 and has 12 comfortable outside cabins with shower/wc, two single beds and air condition (windows cannot be opened). Furthermore, the ship offers a tasteful restaurant with an open salon with corner seats, a small bar and a sundeck with sun sails. You will find interesting cycle tours and a warm hospitality on board MS QUO VADIS. Your tasty dinner will be freshly prepared daily (organic food are generally used, and often freshly homemade bread is served). Regularly live music (there are a guitar and a piano on board). The captain and his crew are looking forward to meeting you.
Bikes Hybrid Bike VSF Fahrradmanufactur T-50 Shimano Nexus 8-speed, frame size 45 cm, 50 cm and 55 cm, aluminium, 15.8 kg. Very comfortable trekking bike with 8 gears, hydraulic rim brake including brake booster and Schwalbe Greenguard tires. Suitable for short and long trips. Equipped with safety lock, gel saddle with quick release Electric Bike Vitality Eco 3 Active 400Wh Shimano Nexus 7-speed CB / HS22 Frame size 45 cm, 50 cm and 55 cm, aluminum, 25 kg with Accu. V and coaster brake and V-brake with free hub ORTLIEB s far travelled classic model made of robust polyester fabric, 100% waterproof. With its QL2.1 system it is quickly mounted and taken off the bike rack. 3M Scotchlite reflectors, integrated inner pocket, shoulder straps, 12.5 liter capacity. Assisting people in realizing their touring dreams worldwide is our passion. www.okcycletours.com THIS IS A PARTNER TOUR FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT OK Cycle & Adventure Tours Inc. 666 Kirkwood Ave - Suite B102 Ottawa, Ontario Canada K1Z 5X9 Toll Free 1-888-621-6818 Local 613-702-5350 TICO Ontario Registration No: 50022848