Dome cities and castle romance
Your voyage through the most beautiful wine-growing areas along the Rhine River begins in Koblenz. From this city, located on the meeting point of the Rhine and Moselle rivers, and surrounded by majestic vineyards and mystic castle ruins, your floating hotel sets sail for Mainz. On board the ship as well as on your bike tours, you pass through the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Middle Rhine Valley with its picturesque small towns, coloured half-timbered gable buildings and legendary castles. Short cycle tours through the idyllic landscape and plenty of time to discover each town, make this journey a special event for beginners and for people who enjoy pleasure.
Dates 2024:
MV Olympia
Arrival: Saturday
Duration: 8 days
Mainz-Strasburg:
June 08., July 06.
Strasburg-Mainz:
June 15., July 13.
Min.number of participants: 75 persons (until 3 weeks prior departure)
1st Day: Arrival to Mainz
Individual arrival to Mainz. Embarkation will be at 4:00 p.m. There may be time to explore the capital of Rhine-land-Palatinate with its lovingly restored half-timbered houses and the Romanesque Cathedral of Saint Martin.
2nd Day: Mainz – Nierstein, Cycle Tour approx. 17-26 km / Boat Tour Nierstein – Worms
A short cycle leg and plenty of time for one to indulge oneself: Cycle on the Rhine Cycle Route with its well-paved cycle ways directly alongside the Rhine to Nierstein. With almost 1,000 Hectare of viticulture area, Nierstein is home to the largest wine-growing community on the Rhine. Visit the historic Old Town with its medieval market square and the noble houses. In the afternoon, sail from Nierstein to Worms. Guests, who would like to cycle a longer stretch, can start the bike ride already in Mainz. (cycle tour Mainz-Worms approx. 60 km).
3rd Day: Worms – Mannheim, Cycle Tour approx. 26 km
In the Imperial city of Worms, set off for today‘s cycle leg. Enjoy riding through vast fields and meadows. The beautiful cycle trail across the Friesenheim Island offers a high contrast to the opposite Rhine bank dominated by the BASF plant. A few kilometres further on, you will reach the confluence of the rivers Rhine and Neckar in Mannheim, where your ship will already be waiting for you. Make the most of the afternoon, and take a stroll through Mannheim, the City of Squares, up to the Baroque castle.
4th Day: Mannheim – Heidelberg – Mannheim, Cycle Tour approx. 52 km
Today, follow the course of the marvellous Neckar River up to Heidelberg. The ancient Roman city of Ladenburg with its historic Old Town is worth a short stop-over. Visible already from afar, the ruin of the Heidelberg Palace towers over the Old Town. Stroll across the famous Heidelberg Sandstone Bridge, or through the winding lanes and charming squares of the Old Town. Your way back leads through the heart of the Electoral Palatinate along the Kurpfalzroute cycle way to Schwetzingen Palace. The palace garden is a perfect place for a short break before continuing along the Rhine Cycle Route to Mannheim, where you reach back to the buzzing city life.
5th Day: Mannheim – Speyer; Cycle Tour approx. 27 km
Alongside the numerous oxbow lakes of the Old Rhine leads the way to today’s destination – the cathedral city of Speyer. Enjoy the short bike ride through unspoilt nature, areas that are designated Natural Nature Reserves and natural flood plains. The Speyer Cathedral was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1981.
6th Day: Speyer – Germersheim, Cycle Tour approx. 22 km / Boat tour Germersheim – Lock Gambsheim
Along the old Rhine ox-bow lakes cycle through the unspoilt nature of the Palatinate region. Look forward to visiting the old fortified city of Germersheim with its numerous quaint lanes, corners and squares. Enjoy the boat tour to Gambsheim while having a fine glass of wine on deck or in the saloon, replaying the events of the day.
7th Day: Lock Gambsheim – Strasbourg, Cycle Tour approx. 18 km
On your last bike tour stretch, cycle in an easy pace directly alongside the river through the gentle Rhine plain until you reach the capital of the Alsace, the city of Strasbourg with its countless channels. Stroll to the Strasbourg Minster, the landmark of the city, through the picturesque Tanners’ Quarter with its small historic half-timbered houses and enjoy a piece of French joie de vivre while your journey slowly comes to an end.
8th Day: Departure from Strasbourg
After breakfast disembarkation at 9:00 a.m. Individual journey home.
ITINERARY Strasbourg – Mainz
1st Day: Arrival to Strasbourg
Individual arrival in Strasbourg. Embarkation from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm. On board, your captain, the crew and the tour manager will welcome you with a welcome drink.
2nd Day: Strasbourg – Gambsheim lock, Cycle tour approx. 18 km / Boat Tour Gambsheim lock – Germersheim
After breakfast, you will have the possibility to visit Strasbourg, the capital of the Alsace, with its numerous channels, the Strasbourg Minster and the TannersQuarter with its small historic half-timbered houses. Enjoy a piece of French joie de vivre before you begin your first cycle tour. Cycle directly alongside the Rhine River through the gentle Rhine plain until you reach the Gambsheim lock where your ship already awaits you to set sail for Germersheim. While sailing, enjoy a glass of wine on deck or in the saloon recalling the first impressions of your journey.
3rd Day: Germersheim – Speyer, Cycle Tour approx. 22 km
Todays cycle tour leads through unspoilt nature along the old Rhine oxbow lakes. Before, however, look forward to exploring the ancient fortified city of Germersheim with its numerous quaint lanes, corners and squares. Continue cycling through the Palatinate Region to reach the cathedral city of Speyer. In 1981, Speyer Cathedral was added to the UNESCO-World Heritage List.
4th Day: Speyer – Mannheim, Cycle Tour approx. 28 km
Enjoy a short cycle ride alongside the Old Rhine, past marvelous lakes, through untouched protected areas designated as National Nature Reserves and natural flood plains. You reach Mannheim, also called the “City of Squares” due to its lay-out in a grid-pattern. In these squares, countless places are well worth visiting as for example the famous Mannheim Baroque Palace – German largest Baroque palace complex and the water tower – the city’s landmark.
5th Day: Mannheim – Heidelberg – Mannheim, Cycle Tour approx. 52 km
Today the tour leads through the core of the Electoral Palatinate and thus partly along the Castle Road. Schwetzingen Palace and its palace garden are only two reasons to visit the charming town of Schwetzingen. From here, the route con-tinues via Plankstadt and Eppelheim to Heidelberg. Already visible from afar, the castle ruin of Heidelberg Palace towers over the Old Town. Admire the famous Heidelberg red sandstone bridge or stroll through meandering lanes and see the picturesque squares in the Old Town. The further way leads you on the other side of the Neckar via the Roman town Ladenburg back to Mannheim.
6th Day: Mannheim – Worms, Cycle Tour approx. 26 km
Today you leave Mannheim and drive past meadows and fields, following the course of the Rhine to the imperial city of Worms. On your journey through two millenniums of the city’s history, learn about emperors and kings, myths and legends of the Nibelung, Judaism and Martin Luther.
7th Day: Boat Tour Worms – Nierstein, Nierstein – Mainz, Cycle Tour approx. 17-20 km
With almost 1,000 Hectare of viticultural area, Nierstein is home to the largest wine-growing community on the Rhine. The historic Old Town with its medieval market square and noble houses is also well worth visiting. A short stretch that leaves plenty of time for one to indulge oneself: cycle on the Rhine Cycle Route on well-paved cycle ways directly alongside the Rhine from Nierstein to Mainz. Guests, who would like to cycle a longer stretch, can also choose to start the cycle tour already in Worms. (cycle tour Worms-Mainz approx. 60 km).
8th Day: Mainz
After breakfast disembarkation at 09:00am. Individual journey home.
Important Information
Schedule and program changes Basically, we reserve the right to make changes of routing and program. In case of flood or low tide, the shipping company reserves the right to bridge parts of passages by buses. In extreme situations, the ship-ping company reserves the right to cancel the journey on short notice. No legal right shall be constituted of both situations. The same applies for officially ordered – previously not announced – repair work on locks or bridges.
YOUR ACCOMMODATION:
ship MV Olympia
Comfortable and cosy river ship with family environment. The ship was refurbished in 2015/2016. The panoramic salon with bar in gentlemen club-style and the bright and friendly restaurant are waiting for you to pass relaxing hours here. A spacious, partly shaded sun deck and storage space for bicycles.
Passenger decks/cabins:
49 outside cabins, comfortable and cosy with en-suite bathroom, hair dryer, telephone, TV, individual air condition-ing/heating, fridge and safe.
Main Deck: 21x 2-bed-cabins (approx. 11m2), panoramic window (not opening windows)
Upper Deck: 22x 2-bed-cabins (approx. 11m2) + four 2-bed-cabins of bigger size at the stern of the ship (= 2-bed-cabins astern: per-ceptive engine and generator noise when ship is in motion and in locks, approx. 12m2, three of them feature twin beds) as well as two single cabins (approx. 9m2). Panoramic windows to be opened.
YOUR BicYcles:
7-speed unisex
E-Bikes
- Quality brand bicycles
- Trekking bikes with back pedal or freewheel
- 8-speed E-Bikes
- pannier bag
- Bike insurance
Please note: We recommend to wear a bike helmet. Please bring your own one. (not available on board)
ARRIVAL INFORMATION:
Parking
- Strasburg: Car parking in Strasburg is part of the City’s “sustainable mobility” policy; parking spaces in the city centre are very lim-ited. The rates are higher than average, like in every international large town. Outside the city centre there are several park & ride parking spaces. The parking garage „Gare Wodli“ at the central station costs 20 € per 24 h
- Mainz: Car Park at the central station (unguarded, cannot be booked in advance). Parking fee approx. € 55,- per week.
- Return to Strasburg by train from Mainz to or the other way in 3 hours, approx. € 30.- per person.
Train station
- Station: Strasburg or Mainz
return trip always recommended by train
Airport
- next airport: Strasburg (SXB) or Frankfurt (FRA)
- Seven nights in outside cabins with private facilities in the booked cabin category
- Program according to routing
- All charges for harbours, bridges and locks
- Room cleaning every day, changing of towels and bed cloths as necessary
- Welcome-Drink
- Full board consisting of 7x breakfast, 6x lunch package for cycle tours or snack on board (non-cyclists), 6x coffee or tea in the afternoon, 7x 3-course-dinner
- Daily meeting for the cycle tours
- Printed instructions and maps for daily individual bike tours (1 per cabin)
- GPS tracks
- Tour guide on board
MV OLYMPIA | |
2-bed cabin main deck | 1.199,- |
2-bed cabin single use main deck | 1.559,- |
2-bed cabin astern* upper deck | 1.349,- |
2-bed cabin upper deck | 1.399,- |
1-bed cabin upper deck | 1.449,- |
2-bed cabin single use upper deck | 1.819,- |
*Cabins at rear of the ship; perceptive engine and generator noise (when ship is in motion and in locks)
Discounts additional bed/children – not possible
Additional bookable
Rental bikes | ||
7-speed | 89,- | |
E-Bike | 199,- | |
Bringing own bikes upon request (limited) | 25,- |
Operator: SE-Tours
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