Merzig to Koblenz

Germany, Luxembourg Bike + Boat Tour

Along the Saar & Mosel Rivers…

Beginning in Merzig, not far from the French border, you will bike along the Saar River, with its stunning landscape. One of the highlights of the tour is the famous Saar-Loop, a notorious bend in the river. While biking or sailing during the day, you will have the opportunity to visit quaint German towns along the way. At night you will also be able to explore the cities, many with picturesque half-timbered houses, baroque churches, and remains from the Roman Empire. You will also spend a night just over the border in Wasserbillig, Luxembourg. Eventually you will catch up with the Mosel River. You will also find Trier a pleasant highlight. The tour ends in Koblenz, a truly admirable city, where the Mosel & Rhine Rivers meet. The city consists of the Aldstadt (old city) and the Neustadt (new city). The Aldstadt is the shape of a triangle, with 2 sides consisting of the Rhine & Mosel rivers, and the third side is covered by endless hills topped with fortresses. While the old city is closely built, the new city is more roomy with an attractive view of the Rhine.

Where You’ll Stay

September 8, 2012, aboard the Comfort Plus class boat, the Merlijn.

What’s Included

• 6 nights accommodations
• Breakfasts, lunches & dinners
• Tour guide
• Daily cleaning service
• 7-speed hybrid bicycle
• Daily briefing of routes
• Guided city tour of Trier

What’s Not Included

• Individual arrival to the barge

Tour Dates

• Merzig to Koblenz (7 day tour): September 8, 2012.

Skill Level

Easy guided tour. Biking takes place on good asphalted bike paths and country roads. Daily biking distances range from 16 to 27 miles. The routes follow the flow of the rivers and are therefore mainly flat with only a few slight climbs.

Tour Boats

• Merlijn

Day-To-Day Itinerary

1. Arrival in Merzig.
2. Merzig - Saarburg, 20 mi. (32 km)
3. Saarburg - Wasserbillig, 22 mi. (35 km)
4. Trier - Traben Trarbach, 26 mi. (42 km)
5.  Traben Trarbach - Cochem, 23 mi. (37 km)
6.  Cochem - Koblenz, 22 mi. (35)
7.  Departure from Koblenz

*All distances are approximate. The above planned itinerary is subject to change due to changing wind and weather conditions and other unforeseen circumstances having to do with mooring requirements, etc.

Please note: This tour is also offered  with a reverse itinerary from Koblenz to Merzig. See dates for availability.

SATURDAY: Arrival in Merzig.
Your sailing hotel awaits you in Merzig. Embarkation starts at 4 pm. The crew will welcome you on board and while you enjoy a welcome drink you will get information about the ship, the tour, and the bicycles. After dinner there is time for a stroll through the city. Merzig gives you a chance to have a look at fascinating architecture dating back 8 centuries. You may also want to visit some museums. The “Wolfspark” is a highlight, situated north of downtown; it was established in 1977 by Werner Freund, the internationally known ethnologist.

SUNDAY: Merzig - Saarburg, 20 mi. (32 km)
Today’s tour takes you through the wonderful Saarland region. More than any other region, it symbolizes the "rendezvous in Saarland", a beautiful junction of water and land. From Merzig it’s about 10 km to the excellent viewpoint over the landscape, and the Saar loop, at the “Cloef”. This point invites you to take a break. Near Orscholz you will pass the Saar-loop, the renowned river bend of the Saar. Form here you will bike further on to Saarburg, passing the village Mettlach, well known for the Villeroy & Boch products. In Saarburg you may complete your trip with a city tour and enjoy a splendid view over the city and the Saar valley. In the charming city itself you’ll be impressed by the narrow alleys, framework houses, Baroque constructions as well as colorful fishermen and sailor houses. The master architect of Berlin, Karl Friedrich Schinkel, already named the ensemble of romantic houses and small bridges on the Buttermarkt “Little Venice” in the 19th century.

MONDAY: Saarburg - Wasserbillig, 22 mi. (35 km)
After breakfast you will continue your trip by following the Saar river ‘downstream’. At Konz the Saar meets the Mosel river. Here is where you begin biking towards Luxembourg. Today's biking will end in Luxembourg in the city of Wasserbillig. The bike trip takes you through a beautiful landscape along the Mosel river, on very good German bike paths. A ferry in Wasserbillig will bring you to the left bank of the Moselle river where you continue your bike tour to Trier.Before we reach the city of Trier you will pass the Igeler Saule, a very ancient monument from the Roman times.  In the afternoon you will enjoy a guided city tour through this magnificent city. Trier was the Roman capital of the western part of the Roman Empire and there are many reminders of this such as the Porta Nigra and the Roman Baths.The Porta Nigra is a magnificent 2nd-century Roman city gate.  It was given its name (which means "black gate") in the Middle Ages because of its weathered color. The oldest defensive structure in Germany, it was erected in about 180 AD when the Roman city was surrounded by walls.  The Porta Nigra is the only one of four Roman gates that still stands in Trier; the others were gradually pillaged for their stone and iron. The Porta Nigra survived because it was used as the humble residence of a hermit monk named Simeon for seven years (1028-35). After his death he was buried in the gate and the structure was transformed into the two-story Church of St. Simeon (lay church on the bottom, monastery church on top).Tonight you will have the opportunity to dine on your own in one of the many local restaurants.

TUESDAY: Trier - Traben Trarbach, 26 mi. (42 km)
Enjoy your breakfast while cruising from Trier to the holiday resort Mehring. The Roman poet Ausonius sang of the beautiful landscape. The Romans fell in love with this landscape more than 2000 years ago and built splendid country villas here. Later on you will bike to Bernkastel-Kues, where magnificent framework houses line the marketplace. From here, we will cruise together to Traben Trarbach, the city of art nouveau. After dinner you may want to join a wine tasting at a local winery.

WEDNESDAY: Traben Trarbach- Cochem, 23 mi. (37 km)
The day starts with a sailing breakfast, cruising up to Zell an der Mosel, famous for it's vineyard Zeller Schwarze Katz. Along the meandering Mosel River, you will bike through many charming villages, such as Alf, Sankt Aldegund - here you can visit a cellar with lots of liquers, wines and Mosel-mustards-Bremm and finally, Beilstein. After exploring this interesting medieval village, that has never been been destroyed so far, you will bike to Cochem, where the Merlijn will await you.

THURSDAY:  Cochem - Koblenz, 22 mi. (35 km)
Your last sailing breakfast this morning takes you to Moselkern  where you begin to bike to the  castle of Eltz.. Situated high on a cliff the castle is one of the very few that has never been destroyed during its long history.  The final destination of your tour is Koblenz. The Merlijn will be docked close to the Alstadt and the German corner.

FRIDAY: Departure from Koblenz
Individual departure.

Daily itineray for Koblenz to Merzig:

1. Arrival in Koblenz
2. Koblenz - Cochem, 22 mi. (35 km)
3. Cochem-Traben Trarbach, 23 mi. (37 km)
4. Traben Trarbach -Trier, 26 mi. (42 km)
5. Wasserbillig - Saarburg, 22 mi. (35 km)
6. Saarburg - Merzig, 20 mi. (32 km)
7. Departure.

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Questions? Call us! 877-965-2064 or e-mail us