Mosel Bike Tour Reviews
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★★★★★ Anne Jesse 2 days agoTop Notch Tour of the Mosel Valley
· · Mosel & Saar by Bike & Boat
This was the most wonderful way to experience the Mosel River area. Our cabins on the Princesse Royal were quite comfortable and spacious, including the private bathroom. The boat was beautiful and accommodating, and the meals were perfect for bicyclists. We appreciated the option to cycle on our own, but could join either group if we chose. The guides were energetic, helpful and entertaining. And the rest of the staff were very accommodating and friendly. And we were so impressed with our fellow travelers on the boat. Apparently they have hit the sweet spot with marketing and attract the most interesting types of cyclists.
- What was the date of your tour?
- August 2025
- How many tours have you completed?
- I have been bike touring for over 30 years and have bike toured in 58 countries.
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- First-time bike tourists, Solo travelers, Families with teens
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
- Countries included in this tour?
- Germany
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★★★★★ Patrick M 7 days agoGreat experience
· Mosel Bike Path: Dreamy Mosel Valley from Trier to Koblenz
TL;DR summary - We had a great time and didn't realize biking the Mosel Valley was a bucket-list sort of vacation until we did it. One other item I would note is that this tour is listed as "family-friendly", but it's really geared to adults only.
The longer version - Overall, we had an excellent experience. I personally found the bike riding from the industrial area outside of Trier to Cochem as some of the most enjoyable bike riding I've done in my life. We generally stuck to the path near the Mosel and had lots of opportunities to enjoy small towns, get off the beaten path to hike/bike climb to beautiful views, and enjoy the scenery of the vineyards and hills around the Mosel. If I have the opportunity to bike around this area again, I'd jump at it.
The local tour operator was great. We had some issues on the road, and they were able to help us out including bringing a replacement bike and driving people from one stop to the next. They went above and beyond in my expectations.
I feel like there were some communication breakdowns between BikeTours and the local operator/hotel/vineyard that caused us some unneeded stress and center around having two kids as part of the biking party.
1. We were provided a biking option that didn't work - Prior to booking with BikeTours, I inquired about options for my 8 year-old daughter since this tour was labeled as "family friendly". BikeTours offered a Follow-me as the only option beyond a regular bike (a tandem and Tag-along were not options). I have one, and it worked well on other bike rides with my daughter when she was a little smaller so I was fine with it. When I followed up a couple weeks prior to the trip, BikeTours didn't have a Follow-me booked. I had to find the old email thread and send it over to BikeTours to show them what we had agreed to prior to the booking. Upon our arrival in Trier, the local tour operator had the Follow-me set up but seemed skeptical that it would work very well. They were right as the amount of weight on the back tire and back bike were too heavy to keep the bikes stable. My daughter ended up biking all by herself, and we never used the Follow-me. It would have been much better if we could have spoken with the local operator directly since they own the bikes to understand our options. BikeTours was a complicating and unnecessary middle-man.
2. We were booked at an Adults-only hotel. As best as I have been able to figure out, we booked this trip prior to an updated contract between the hotel and operator. I'm guessing the hotel changed over to adults-only recently but BikeTours did not communicate ages of my party to the hotel. The hotel was very accommodating and let us stay, but it was definitely awkward.
3. My two kids were booked for wine-tasting - again, the vineyard was accommodating and pulled out a couple grape juices for my kids to try, but it was definitely geared for adults. SHOW MOREWith that said, the local people made it work and the trip was still fun. It checked boxes for my brother and sister-in-law and for my family. However, I don't think BikeTours should mark this trip as "family friendly" - maybe more "family doable". The bike path is very flat and in good condition. The daily lengths are not super long. There are plenty of places to stop and get ice cream or other treat. Plus there is wine - lots and lots of it. But ultimately, this is a tour designed for adults, not for kids.
This is the second time we have used BikeTours. The first time was excellent all around (we did a family bike tour along the Danube - Linz to Vienna). This one was mostly good. Aside from the issues noted above, biking directions were clear, hotels were great, the route was spectacular, and booking was relatively painless.
SHOW LESS- What was the date of your tour?
- August 2025
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- First-time bike tourists, Solo travelers
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
- Countries included in this tour?
- Germany
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★★★★★ Mary Giblin 4 weeks ago
"Moselle Valley by Bike: A Well-Organized and Scenic Trip"
· Mosel Bike Path: Dreamy Mosel Valley from Trier to Koblenz
We recently completed a cycling trip from Trier to Koblenz, passing through the Moselle Valley. The experience was excellent overall—well-organized, scenic, and relaxing.
The bikes we hired were in good condition and comfortable for long days of riding. The bike paths along the Moselle were easy to follow, mostly flat, and well signposted, making navigation simple even without GPS.
Accommodation throughout the trip was high quality. We especially liked the Kessler-Meyer Wellness Hotel in Cochem, which had great facilities and a comfortable atmosphere. Another highlight was the Hotel Richtershof in Mülheim, which offered a very good wine list and a relaxing setting. In Koblenz, we stayed at the Mercure Hotel, which was conveniently located near the river and a short walk from the Deutsches Eck.
One of the highlights of the trip was a wine tasting in Traben-Trarbach, where we had the chance to sample local Rieslings. After reaching Koblenz by bike, we took the ferry along the Rhine and cycling back to the city—an enjoyable way to see a different stretch of river scenery.
The only small issue we encountered was that the bikes weren't waiting for us at the starting hotel in Trier. However, the rental company responded quickly, and the bikes were delivered within a few hours.
Overall, this was a smooth and enjoyable trip. The combination of good bikes, quality hotels, and a scenic, easy-to-navigate route made for a great experience.
- What was the date of your tour?
- July 2025
- How many tours have you completed?
- 2
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- Somewhat easier
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- First-time bike tourists, Solo travelers, Families with teens
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
- Countries included in this tour?
- Germany
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★★★★★ Arnold and Elmari Botha 1 month ago
Wonderful experience in a scenic environment!
· Mosel Bike Path: Dreamy Mosel Valley from Trier to Koblenz
What was good:
- The hotels were first class in terms of location, breakfast, cleanliness and facilities
- The bicycles were in an excellent condition
- The Mosel is almost too beautiful to be true, with the winding river, vines, castles and picturesque villages
- The wine tasting was a very pleasant experience
- The roads were mostly dedicated cycle paths, fairly flat and in a good condition
- The Rhine cruise was a nice bonusWhere the tour can be improved upon:
- The instructions and directions for the Rhine cruise was totally absent - we did not know where to go
- The location of the wine tasting was also a bit obscure and hidden in the fine print
- We received vouchers for Trier but did not know what they were for and we arrived too late to use them
- The directions were not always clear and we got lost a few times (eg on Day 1 the notes say "You'll find the Hotel Moselblick here", but in fact one should take a turn-off BEFORE the hotel.)
- The road works in Trier also confused us and it took us an extra hour to find the right path. (We met other cyclists who were confused as well)
- Most of the coffee shops and restaurants in the smaller towns were closed in the afternoon, which was disappointing and threw our plans in disarray!
- On Day 2 our luggage only arrived at the hotel after 6 pm despite it being a short route. As a result we had to attend the wine tasting in our cycling clothes.
- On Day 4 I cramped badly and phoned the Service Hotline to be picked up and taken to the hotel, but we were told that Pedalo does not provide that service, despite promises in the upfront communication that it does. What would have happened if one of us fell badly and broke an arm or damaged the bicycle, or if a torrential thunderstorm broke out? Surely there must be a rescue vehicle on stand-by?
- The info pack was insufficient in the absence of a personal briefing sessionDespite these points, it was a wonderful experience (albeit a bit expensive) and we would recommend it strongly to couples, families or friends.
Just a warning: Although I was reasonably fit and an experienced cyclist, I suffered on the long days. Cycling 60+ kilometers on normal touring bicycles is not a trivial exercise (especially in wind or rain), so please come prepared with properly padded cycling shorts, hydrate frequently, and get e-bikes if possible.
- What was the date of your tour?
- July 2025
- How many tours have you completed?
- 1
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- Somewhat harder
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- First-time bike tourists, Solo travelers, Families with teens
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
- Countries included in this tour?
- Germany
-
★★★★★ M.Mark 2 months ago
A river bike ride
· Mosel Bike Path: Dreamy Mosel Valley from Trier to Koblenz
Great place for a bike ride along a river and through wine country. Visiting towns along the way a nice bonus. Not much of altitude gain was also a plus.
- What was the date of your tour?
- June 2025
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- First-time bike tourists, Solo travelers, Families with teens
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
- Countries included in this tour?
- Germany
-
★★★★★ David and Cherie 3 months ago
Highlight of our European trip
· · Mosel & Saar by Bike & Boat
What a fantastic experience. Exceeded all our expectations. Cycling on an e-bike was almost effortless (although after a couple of days we were glad we brought our padded gel seats). The cycling was mostly flat and mostly on dedicated cycle paths. Very rarely wrre you on the road with the cars.
The food was a class above what we were expecting. Breakfast was plentiful and dinner was delicious and well presented.
We received a discount for our room (#227) as it was at the rear of the boat and was affected by engine noise. To be honest the noise when moored was no worse than most aircon units. Our room was also 1 sq metre larger than most others which meant we had a double bed (as opposed to two singles) and had plenty of room for our clothing and luggage in the twin wardrobes and drawers.
Julia, the cruise director, was fantastic at explaining the ins and outs of each up,-coming day and organising the additional shore excursions.
Being the first week of May there were many shops, cafes and restaurants along the way that weren't open but we always found somewhere to stop and rest. It also meant the roads and cycleways were not so busy, as the would be in the holiday season.
Overall a great blend of history, scenery and relaxation. Looking forward to our next trip.- What was the date of your tour?
- May 2025
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- Somewhat easier
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- First-time bike tourists
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
- Countries included in this tour?
- Germany
-
★★★★★ Jack and Denise Gary 10 months agoThe absolute Best Guided bike and barge trip.
· · Metz and Cochem Classic Version
The very best way to see the Mosel , our guides were exceptional, so knowledgeable and caring.
The Iris barge was the best, the rooms were perfect. The crew were like friends on the first day.
The food was really great.
We would recommend this trip to every one.- What was the date of your tour?
- October 12, 2024
- How many tours have you completed?
- I have taken 19 bike tours in Europe
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- First-time bike tourists, Solo travelers, Families with teens
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
- Countries included in this tour?
- France, Germany
-
★★★★★ Hung Kang 10 months agoLand of Castles and Wine
· · Metz and Cochem Premier Version
We went on the bike-boat tour in mid-October towards the end of the boat's sailing season. The weather had been rainy the week before, but the towns and castles on the route were captivating when the sky cleared up. The bike paths in Germany and Luxembourg were wide and easy to navigate with the help of our guides. We enjoyed learning of the interesting history of castles and the Roman introduction of wine growing in the Moselle region. Some of the towns had more tourists than I expected for the time of the year, but the number of tourists subsided in the evenings.
We had a good number of café stops on the bike for rest breaks and rehydration. The delicious meals on board were artfully and expertly prepared by the resident chef and served by a friendly and helpful crew.
Our room was small with 2 single beds on opposite sides of the room and had a small attached bathroom with a shower. We didn't mind the small size much since much of the day was spent on the bike. The beds were comfortable, and the room was made every day by the crew.
We visited many castles, as there seems to be at least 1 for each city we visited. One excursion that we paid extra for was a Wine Experience tour in Bernkastel-Kues, Germany. The tour described the different wines in the Moselle region and provided tasting samples of varieties. The tour included fun novelties such as the mirror room and the social media ready Wine Queen prop.
We enjoyed meeting and riding with the 28 other guests on the boat. Many were experienced bike tourists, and all had a good time sharing their experiences.- What was the date of your tour?
- 15 October 2024
- How many tours have you completed?
- 5
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- First-time bike tourists, Solo travelers
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
- Countries included in this tour?
- France, Germany
-
★★★★★ Constance Cornwell 10 months ago
The beautiful Mosel
· · Metz and Cochem Classic Version
The crew was outstanding, the guides knowledgeable and caring. Had 18 bike riders, split in two groups, which were a good size. A nice mix of biking and sightseeing. Loved every minute!
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★★★★★ Helen Seton 10 months ago
What a great bike ride
· Mosel Bike Path: Dreamy Mosel Valley from Trier to Koblenz
We really had a splendid tour. The hotels were comfortable and the trail well marked. The scenery and historic villages were beautiful.
- Countries included in this tour?
- Germany
-
★★★★★ CAROLYN DAVIES 11 months ago
Cycling Mosel
· · Mosel & Saar by Bike & Boat
Enjoyable riding. With an e-bike there was plenty of time to see some local sites along the way. Didn’t find the Guibo app to work well, preferred analog maps! More directions/addresses to local monuments would have been helpful.
- What was the date of your tour?
- Sept 2924
- How many tours have you completed?
- 4
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- Somewhat easier
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- First-time bike tourists
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
- Countries included in this tour?
- Germany
-
★★★★★ Kim Wasik 11 months ago
Biking, Vinyards, and Castles
· · Mosel & Saar by Bike & Boat
Biking along the beautiful Mosel River with a view of the Reisling Vinyards, and a warm reception aboard our floating hotel was a wonderful experience.
- What was the date of your tour?
- Sept 7 2024
- How many tours have you completed?
- 4
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- First-time bike tourists, Solo travelers
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
- Countries included in this tour?
- Germany
-
★★★★★ Timothy Linehan 11 months agoA Sampler of Riding Along German Rivers
· · Germany's Riverside Heritage and Culture by Bike and Boat
Great barge, crew, and food. Knowledgeable, helpful guides.
While there were interesting sights along the Main, and the Rhine, I found the riding along the Mosel to be the most scenic - and the least affected by traffic noise, etc.
- Countries included in this tour?
- Germany
-
★★★★★ Darlene Ballestero Pirotte 11 months agoFantastic crew and passengers!
· · German Wine Country along the Saar & Mosel Rivers
The crew on the Zwaan were amazing! Captain Reinold was gracious and did an excellent job at navigating the boat through the locks and moorings. Sabine the assistant did an amazing job at making us comfortable on the boat. How she managed to do many jobs with ease was a skill to admire. Theo the chef introduced us to many dishes from around the world that were delicious . Piet the bike guide showed us many different sites and managed to keep us together as a group even though we had various abilities. So grateful we had pleasure of pedaling and sharing meals with the other guests! They each brought something unique to the table. This trip was an amazing adventure that we will remember and share with family and friends. Thank you for an awesome adventure!!
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- First-time bike tourists
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
- Countries included in this tour?
- Germany
-
★★★★★ Darlene Ballestero Pirotte 11 months ago
Fantastic crew and passengers!
· · German Wine Country along the Saar & Mosel Rivers
The crew on the Zwaan were amazing! Captain Reinold was gracious and did an excellent job at navigating the boat through the locks and moorings. Sabine the assistant did an amazing job at making us comfortable on the boat. How she managed to do many jobs with ease was a skill to admire. Theo the chef introduced us to many dishes from around the world that were delicious . Piet the bike guide showed us many different sites and managed to keep us together as a group even though we had various abilities. So grateful we had pleasure of pedaling and sharing meals with the other guests! They each brought something unique to the table. This trip was an amazing adventure that we will remember and share with family and friends. Thank you for an awesome adventure!!
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- First-time bike tourists
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
- Countries included in this tour?
- Germany
-
★★★★★ Elizabeth Schlosser July 26, 2024
Charming tour
· Mosel Bike Path: Dreamy Mosel Valley from Trier to Koblenz
Good bikes, lucky it was cool weather for most of the trip, charming hotels . We had some small problems following the maps, the day into Koblenz was boring along a highway.
- What was the date of your tour?
- July, 2024
- How many tours have you completed?
- 3
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- Somewhat easier
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- First-time bike tourists, Solo travelers, Families with teens
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
- Countries included in this tour?
- Germany
-
★★★★★ Clair Robbins July 22, 2024
A great trip through Germany!
· Mosel Bike Path: Dreamy Mosel Valley from Trier to Koblenz
The tour was beautiful, great scenery and easily bike able! We used the luxury package and were very impressed with the accommodations. Four out of the five hotels exceeded our expectations. Overall we had a great time biking, trying wine, and visiting castles. We found the pacing to be good. A nice amount of biking each day with time to explore along the way. Only a few pieces were stress. It was difficult to navigate the final city due to ongoing construction. And our last day involved a boat trip and it was difficult to coordinate getting the tickets for the boat. That being said, it was an amazing trip and we would go again!
- What was the date of your tour?
- July 2024
- How many tours have you completed?
- This was the first one
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- Somewhat easier
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- First-time bike tourists, Solo travelers, Families with teens
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
- Countries included in this tour?
- Germany
-
★★★★★ Peter Wiedenbeck July 10, 2024
Wonderful week of biking in a beautiful place
· Mosel Bike Path: Dreamy Mosel Valley from Trier to Koblenz
I’d like to give a 4-1/2 star rating because, although it was wonderful and we definitely recommend it, there is still room for improvement
Pros: Wonderful route – the vast majority of the time you are biking on paved dedicated bike paths along the river, separate from the roadway and train tracks. There are a few areas where the bike path is adjacent to the road (especially along the Rhine from St. Goar to Koblenz) and at least one short stretch on packed dirt through the woods. Most of the routes are extremely well-marked. You have to be watchful for turns in towns, where it can be easy to miss the small sign with the arrow to turn, especially when looking at all the sites in the towns. We did better when we stopped at each signpost and made sure we were headed the right way. The Hotels were all very nice and had generous breakfast buffets, which made for a great start every morning. Note that hotels in Germany don’t have AC and often don’t have fans. I had a spray bottle to mist myself while riding and that helped at night, too. Next time, I’ll bring a small fan to help on those hot nights. We didn’t opt for the dinner plan, but did eat in the hotels several times and had excellent meals and service. The organized wine tasting was fun and we did a few more on our own. Luggage transfers all went very well. We added an extra hotel night at each end (Trier and Koblenz), which we would do again. Trier has an amazing amount of Roman history and fabulous restaurants. The extra day also gave us time to ride the other way (upstream on the Mosel) to Saarburg. In Koblenz, we spent an entire day at Ehrenbreitstein Fortress (take the cable car up and across the Rhine to get there). The map book was very helpful and detailed the type of trail for each section. But, oops, one page on the Rhine was replaced by a duplicate page along the Mosel. The specific directions packet included detailed distances between towns and possible sites to see. But…. See cons below.
Cons: Bikes: we had conventional bikes (not ebikes), and they could have been better maintained. The chains were a bit dry and downshifting often didn’t work. That was not a huge issue on the flat trail, but in towns, it was a problem. The odometer on one of the bikes quit working after 3 days. The seats are not touring seats – they are wide and therefore chafed. Despite doing lots of riding in prep and wearing padded shorts, we were painfully chafed by the end of the trip. We couldn’t figure out how to use the pump without letting out air, but were able to use a pump at one of the hotels. Detours: Our biggest issue is that it is clear the route was not checked early in the season and the directions adjusted. There was a lot of construction in many of the towns that invalidated the directions in the packet. Construction that clearly would be going on all summer. For example, Day 1, leaving Trier, the booklet says: “Start at Kaiser-Wilhelm bridge and cycle along the left bank of the Moselle” Well, the bike path itself is being reconstructed beneath the bridge - it is down to dirt, covered with equipment and bike path entrance blocked off. No detour signs giving you an alternate route. It took us an extra 10 km of going one way then another over a frustrating hour before we were on our way. Not a great start to the trip. There were similar long-term construction issues in at least two other places (Karden and Koblenz). If the route had been checked, a single sheet in addition to the bound booklet could have provided alternate ways to leave town/get to hotels with much less frustration.
All that said, it was a wonderful experience and we highly recommend it. It is beautiful country, well-maintained bike paths, lovely vineyards and great wine. Being able to have the hotel reservations and luggage transfers all done for us was a pleasure. When there was an issue with the ferry to St Goar, customer service was very responsive and got things straightened out right away. Transportation to Trier and from Koblenz was very easy to arrange on the regional German trains. SHOW MORE- What was the date of your tour?
- June 2024
- How many tours have you completed?
- This was our first
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- First-time bike tourists, Solo travelers, Families with teens
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
- Countries included in this tour?
- Germany
-
★★★★★ Bruce April 29, 2024
Very cold & windy, a bit of hail and even snow; still a great trip
· Mosel Bike Path: Dreamy Mosel Valley from Trier to Koblenz
We've enjoyed many self-guided bike trips in Europe and this is a great one with normal weather.
Bike Tours highly professional staff slightly modified the standard tour to meet our request, which was promptly and accurately accomplished. The Radreisefreunde representative, a very pleasant person, met us at the first hotel and supplied the bikes. We rode them around the hotel area before confirming they were the right size and in proper working order. We selected one "uniframe" (sloped top tube) bike and one with a horizontal (AKA men's) top tube. Both were 21 speeds and very suitable for the flat bike trip. The standard "Mosel bikeline" booklet for Metz to Koblenz was supplemented with a custom booklet for us, Trier to Koblenz, the portion, we biked. The supplemental booklet provided more details and is very much a worthwhile addition. Thank you!
All hotels were very clean, well located in the core of each city and allowed easy access to sites, restaurants, etc. Staff were universally welcoming. Special mention as to the Gästehaus Weingut Seminarshof restaurant in Trittenheim...it is located in the same hotel where we stayed. Two related pictures are attached. Mmmmm!
Breakfast were included and were pretty much same, same. Most of the food was good, especially fresh breads/rolls. The coffee....well, if you're accustomed to the good stuff, downgrade your expectations offered at most hotels.
The trip is on dedicated bike paths, shared bike/pedestrian paths and a little along shoulders of roads or on very quiet roads. The route is generally well signed and it's pretty obvious how to proceed. However, per usual, we got lost a handful of times and realized such quickly and course corrected.
We supplemented the booklets using our cell phone and an e-sim from Airalo, with O2 the actual German cell coverage firm. When switching on the service, it instantly connected and provided fast worthwhile assistance to the route and hotels. We used it sporadically each day and 1GB of data ($5.00USD) was more than enough, can be tipped up easily or buy a larger package up front. All hotels supplied free WiFi. Note: the Airalo e-sim we used is data only, no local phone number is included.
Had the weather been much better, we would have lingered at more cafes along the route, as we enjoy delicious treats mid-day and good coffee.
- What was the date of your tour?
- April 2024
- How many tours have you completed?
- 10
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- Somewhat easier
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- First-time bike tourists, Solo travelers, Families with teens
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
- Countries included in this tour?
- Germany
