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The Rock of the Loreley

Cologne – Mainz, MS Olympia

Romantic and Indulgence along the Rhine

8 Days / 7 Nights
Easy
The Rock of the Loreley

The Rhine is a mighty river that combines its importance as a trade route with breathtaking natural beauty. Over the course of eight days, as you journey from Cologne to Mainz aboard the comfortable MS Olympia, you’ll encounter numerous other ships along the way. Historic landmarks, such as Katz and Maus Castles, and natural wonders like the legendary Lorelei, line the route. In charming villages adorned with half-timbered houses, you’ll savor regional wines, and in Koblenz, a cable car ride offers stunning views.

Your floating hotel, the MS Olympia, welcomes you in Cologne where you’ll have plenty of time to explore the old town and its famous cathedral while raising a glass of Kölsch to toast the start of your vacation. The first cycling stage takes you to Bonn, a city rich in art and culture. The route continues past Drachenburg Castle to Andernach, home to the spectacular cold-water geyser. On day four, you’ll arrive in the picturesque town of Koblenz, where the Moselle and Rhine rivers meet at the iconic Deutsches Eck.

The Upper Middle Rhine Valley captivates with its idyllic landscapes and a wealth of castles and fortresses. Along the way, you’ll visit St. Goar and Rüdesheim before arriving in Mainz. The final leg of your journey leads through Eltville and showcases the breathtaking scenery along the Rhine. Soon, the vibrant carnival city of Mainz comes into view, where you’ll conclude your adventure in the charming old town.

  • The beauty of the Upper Middle Rhine Valley: This valley is renowned for its stunning landscapes, steep vineyards, romantic villages, and numerous historic castles built along the river. In 2002, the Upper Middle Rhine Valley was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, highlighting its significance as a cultural landscape. The region is famous for its winemaking, particularly its exceptional Rieslings, cultivated on the steep slopes of the Rhine’s riverbanks.
  • Andernach‘s natural wonder: The Andernach Geyser is the world's tallest cold-water geyser and a mesmerizing natural phenomenon. Located on the left bank of the Rhine, it erupts regularly, reaching heights of up to 60 meters. These stunning eruptions result from underground water coming into contact with carbon dioxide, which, combined with geothermal processes, creates intense pressure.
  • The charming cathedral city of Mainz: Key attractions include the Mainz Cathedral, an impressive Romanesque structure, and the Gutenberg Museum, dedicated to the inventor of the printing press. The city is especially famous for its vibrant carnival celebrations. Year-round, you can enjoy the many bars and eateries that contribute to Mainz's unique charm.

The paths along the Rhine are mostly flat, giving you the freedom to explore the surrounding cliffs and vineyards at your own pace. You’ll ride no more than 45 kilometers each day, with your floating hotel always nearby. The MS Olympia offers a comfortable stay, complete with a charming sun deck and plenty of space to unwind.

Rivers and coastlines define the landscapes of Germany’s regions, offering stunning waters at every turn. A bike and boat tour through Germany is a one-of-a-kind experience – come and see for yourself!

Itinerary at a glance

Individual arrival to Cologne and embarkation at 04:00 pm. Enjoy the evening on board or with a Kölsch beer in one of the pubs with a view over the river Rhine.

Before starting your first cycle tour, take the opportunity to stroll through the Old Town. Afterwards you start your cycling tour 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.

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 is 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 meter.

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. Tickets for the cableway are available on board.

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, as well as the city 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 worth visiting.

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, as well as the city 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 worth visiting.

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.

Disembarkation after breakfast until 9:00am.

Other variations of this tour

Difficulty level

Easy

The cycle paths on this tour are in top quality. Most sections are either paved or asphalted and run alongside the Rhine dikes. There are not any noteworthy hills. This makes the tour suitable for novice cyclists too. 

Prices & Dates

Prices per person in EUR

Our rental bikes

The different types of rental bikes at a glance

Unisex Rental Bike - Symbol photo
Unisex bike

High-quality unisex touring bike with comfortable low entry

Available gear options can be found in the price table

E-Bike rental bike - Symbol photo
Unisex Electro bike

High-quality unisex electric bike with comfortable low entry

Services & Information

Further details about this tour

Included

  • Program according to itinerary from Cologne to Mainz
  • 7 nights in outside cabins in the booked cabin category
  • 1 welcome drink
  • Full meals (7x breakfast, 6x packed lunch for cyclists or lunch snack on board, 6x afternoon coffee break, 7x 3-course-dinner)
  • On board tour guide incl. daily tour briefing
  • Daily cabin cleaning, change of bed linen and towels as needed
  • 1 route book per cabin
  • All harbour, lock and bridge fees
  • GPS-data

Optional

  • Bringing your own bike/electric bike:  €29,- (on request only, limited)

Arrival / Parking / Departure

  • Cologne main station is about 2 km away from the pier
  • Car park/parking garage - Globus-garage (secure, must be booked in advance) – approx. 6 km from the pier in Cologne, 

Things to note

  • Minimum number of participants: 75 persons
  • Further important information according to the package travel law and additional information about your bike and boat trip can be found here!
  • This tour is a partner tour.

Services & Information

Further details about this tour

Included

  • Program according to itinerary from Cologne to Mainz
  • 7 nights in outside cabins in the booked cabin category
  • 1 welcome drink
  • Full meals (7x breakfast, 6x packed lunch for cyclists or lunch snack on board, 6x afternoon coffee break, 7x 3-course-dinner)
  • On board tour guide incl. daily tour briefing
  • Daily cabin cleaning, change of bed linen and towels as needed
  • 1 route book per cabin
  • App for navigation and GPS-data
  • All harbour, lock and bridge fees

Optional

  • Bringing your own bike/electric bike:  € 39,- (on request only, limited)
  • Helmets € 40,-/week, reservation necessary and to be paid for at the time

Arrival / Parking / Departure

  • Cologne main station is about 2 km away from the pier
  • Car park/parking garage - Globus-garage (secure, must be booked in advance) – approx. 6 km from the pier in Cologne, 

Things to note

  • Minimum number of participants: 75 persons
  • Further important information according to the package travel law and additional information about your bike and boat trip can be found here!
  • This tour is a partner tour.

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Melanie Spitzwieser

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Melanie Spitzwieser
Travel Specialist
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