Rhine Castles & Mosel Wine Country by Bike & Boat

Day 1: Koblenz – St. Goar

Embarkation begins at 2:00 PM in Koblenz. Around 3:00 PM, the ship sets off upstream along the Rhine, passing Boppard and entering the UNESCO-listed Upper Middle Rhine Valley. This stretch of river is known for its steep slopes, medieval castles, vineyard terraces, and small towns tucked between the hills and the water. Your destination is St. Goar, where the ruins of Rheinfels Castle rise above the town. Across the Rhine stand Katz and Maus castles, and just upstream is the famous Loreley rock. St. Goar takes its name from the sixth-century priest who settled here and became known for offering food and shelter to Rhine boatmen. Legends surrounding him include miraculous feats on the river and even an encounter with the devil over a leaking wine barrel. The ship remains in St. Goar overnight.

Day 2: St. Goar – Rüdesheim
19 miles/30 km

Your first bike ride follows the varied Rhine Cycle Route through one of the narrowest, steepest, and most dramatic sections of the river valley. The famous Loreley rock rises on the opposite bank, a landmark that has inspired centuries of stories about the river’s treacherous currents and the legendary siren said to have distracted passing boatmen. After another ferry crossing, continue through Oberwesel, Bacharach, and Trechtingshausen toward Bingen. Here, look for the medieval Mäuseturm, or Mouse Tower, standing on a small island near the narrow Binger Loch passage. Together with nearby Ehrenfels Castle, the tower once played a role in monitoring river traffic and collecting Rhine tolls. From Bingen, take the ferry across the Rhine to Rüdesheim, one of the river’s best-known wine towns. Here, castles, churches, historic squares, and charming streets offer plenty to explore, while allotment gardens, small riverside beaches, and quiet picnic spots invite you to slow down and enjoy the scenery before returning to the ship.

Day 3: Rüdesheim – Mainz
22 or 27 miles/35 or 43 km

If you’d like to see a quieter side of Rüdesheim, take some time to explore this morning before the day-trippers arrive. When you set out for Mainz, you have a choice of two routes: a flatter ride along the Rhine or a longer, hillier route through the vineyards. The easier route follows the river through a protected natural area and the wine villages of Oestrich-Winkel, home to a historic wine-loading crane, and Hattenheim, with its half-timbered buildings. The longer option climbs through the vineyards, with gradients of up to 5%, passing the pilgrimage church above Rüdesheim and continuing via Johannisberg Abbey and Castle, Schloss Vollrads, and Hallgarten before descending toward Erbach. The two routes meet again in Eltville, a handsome Rhine town with a long history of wine production. From here, continue along the Rhine past Biebrich Palace to Mainz, on the opposite bank. The ship is moored close to the historic center, giving you time to explore the city’s squares, churches, and old streets. After dinner, you can join a guided city walk through Mainz.

Day 4: Mainz – St. Goar | St. Goar – Oberlahnstein
19 or 28 miles/30 or 45 km

The ship departs Mainz early this morning and cruises downstream to St. Goar. Over breakfast, watch the Rhine landscape you recently cycled through pass by from a different perspective. After disembarking in St. Goar, you can revisit the Loreley area or make the climb to Rheinfels Castle before continuing. Farther downstream, Boppard offers several possibilities. Take the chairlift above town for a bird’s-eye view of the great Rhine bend and the vineyards of the Bopparder Hamm, the largest wine-growing area in the Middle Rhine. Another option is a ride on the Hunsrückbahn, one of Germany’s steepest adhesion railways, for one stop before descending through the surrounding countryside. Boppard itself has roots stretching back to Roman times, and remains of the Roman fort known as Bodobrica can still be seen in town. As you approach Oberlahnstein, look across toward Braubach and Marksburg Castle, perched high above the Rhine. Unlike many castles in the region, Marksburg survived the centuries without being destroyed and remains one of the valley’s most impressive medieval fortresses. After dinner on board, the evening continues with live music and dancing.

Day 5: Oberlahnstein – Lehmen | Lehmen – Cochem
25 miles/40 km

Early this morning, the ship leaves Oberlahnstein and continues toward Koblenz. At the Deutsches Eck, where the Mosel meets the Rhine, the ship turns onto the Mosel and heads upstream into a noticeably different river landscape of tight bends, steep vineyard slopes, and small wine villages. The ship makes a brief stop in Lehmen, where you disembark and begin cycling. Today you can choose between routes featuring two very different medieval castles: Eltz Castle or Thurant Castle. Both options require good mobility. For Eltz Castle, cycle via Moselkern into the Eltz Valley. The final approach follows an approximately 2 km forest path before the castle suddenly comes into view above the trees. Hidden in its wooded valley rather than positioned high above the river, Eltz is one of Germany’s most recognizable medieval castles. If you prefer, a bus option is available from Hatzenport. Alternatively, head toward Thurant Castle in Alken, visible above the Mosel from the opposite bank. Strong cyclists can tackle the climb by bike, while another approach involves a path with stairs. The final section takes you through Treis-Karden and on to Cochem. Here, the Reichsburg Castle dominates the hillside above town, while below, narrow streets and riverside terraces offer a more relaxed way to spend the afternoon. After dinner, you can join a wine tasting at the renowned Hieronimi winery near the ship.

Day 6: Cochem – Zell
31 miles/50 km

Today you cycle upstream from Cochem to Zell, the furthest point of the tour along the Mosel. Before setting out, you may want to spend a little more time in Cochem, whether visiting the Reichsburg Castle or exploring the old town. Follow the river toward Bremm and the Bremmer Calmont, considered the steepest vineyard in Europe. If you’d like, cycle up to a viewpoint overlooking the vineyard and the remarkably tight bend of the Mosel below. Continue to Beilstein, a tiny riverside village of narrow lanes and historic buildings clustered beneath the ruins of Metternich Castle. Its Carmelite church is known for its Black Madonna, which has attracted pilgrims for centuries. After Alf, more energetic cyclists can climb toward Marienburg for broad views over the river and the surrounding hills before descending toward Zell. Your destination is best known for the wine called Zeller Schwarze Katz, or “Zell Black Cat,” a name you’ll see throughout town. The ship remains in Zell overnight.

Day 7: Zell – Lehmen | Lehmen – Koblenz
12 miles/20 km

Very early this morning, the ship departs Zell and cruises downstream to Lehmen. After a short stop, disembark with your bike for the final cycling stage back to Koblenz. Follow the Mosel through historic wine villages including Kobern-Gondorf and Winningen. The hillsides here reveal just how demanding Mosel winegrowing can be, with vines planted on slopes that in places seem almost impossibly steep. During the August and September harvest season, you may see winegrowers working among the vines. Winningen also has a particularly long tradition of celebrating its wine and is associated with Germany’s oldest wine festival. Back in Koblenz, you have time to explore the historic center or take the panoramic cable car across the Rhine—with your bike—to Ehrenbreitstein Fortress. Sitting high above the river opposite the Deutsches Eck, the fortress offers expansive views over Koblenz and the meeting point of the Rhine and Mosel. The ship arrives and moors in Koblenz in the late afternoon. Enjoy your final evening on board.

Day 8: Koblenz

Your bike and boat journey comes to an end in Koblenz. Enjoy breakfast on board before disembarkation at 9:00 AM.