Strasbourg to Mainz 2024

Bike and Barge Strasbourg to Mainz

Bike and barge along the Rhine from Strasbourg (Kehl) to Mainz. The Rhine Cycle Route provides fine views over the Rhine, which has often been immortalised in story and song, as well as over untouched riverside forests with rich varied fauna and flora.

Dome cities and castle romance at Rhine and Neckar with Bike and Barge from Strasbourg to Mainz

The cycleway also leads through picturesque towns, villages and winegrowing areas. The region boasts a wealth of popular touristic destinations and cultural sites as well as of culinary specialities. You cannot miss a short detour to the Neckar River and to Heidelberg, a marvellous city steeped in history. Words are useless to describe the beautiful landscape, the unique cultural sites and the regional delicacies: you simply have to experience them yourself!

M.S. Olympia

Description of the cabins
The 48 comfortable cabins offer enough space for a maximum of 94 guests. On the lower deck there are 20 twin cabins (about 11 sq. m.) and on the upper deck 24 twin cabins (about 11 sq. m.), 4 larger cabins in the rear area of the ship (12 sq. m., 3 of them with a double bed, during the trip amplified noises are perceptible) and 2 single cabins (about 9 sq. m.). All cabins have a bathroom with shower, toilet, and hairdryer; a telephone, TV, individually controlled air conditioner / heating, refrigerator, safe and panoramic windows. The windows on the upper deck can be opened.

Day 1: Arrival to Strasbourg

Individual arrival in Strasbourg. Embarkation from at 4:00 pm. On board, your captain, the crew and the tour manager will welcome you with a welcome drink.

Day 2: 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 Tanners` Quarter 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.

Day 3: Germersheim – Speyer, Cycle Tour approx. 22 km

Today`s cycle tour leads through unspoilt nature along the old Rhine ox-bow 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.

Day 4: 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 layout 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.

Day 5: 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 continues via Plankstadt and Eppelheim to Heidelberg. Already visible from afar, the castle ruin of Heidelberg Palaace 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.

Day 6: 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.

Day 7: Boat Tour Worms – Nierstein, Nierstein – Mainz, Cycle Tour approx. 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).

Day 8: Mainz

After breakfast disembarkation until 09:00am. Individual journey home.

Included

• 7 nights in outside cabins on MS Olympia with private facilities and air condition
• Programme according itinerary
• Port fees included
• Captains greeting and Welcome drink
• Daily cabin cleaning, Changing of towels and bed cloths if wanted
• Full meals: 7x breakfast, 6x light lunch on board (non cyclists) or packed lunch for cyclists, 6x afternoon coffee break, 7x dinner

• Daily meeting for the cycle tour

• GPS tracks
• Tour guide on board
• Printed instructions and maps for daily individual bike tours (1 per cabin

Services not included:

• Journey to Strasbourg and from Mainz
• shuttles
• entrance fees and excursions
• bike rental
• ferry fares
• travel insurances
• parking fee
• drinks on board
• tips.

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• Rental bike fee 7-gear-Unisex: € 89,-
• Rental bike fee 8-gear-E-bike: € 199,-

Bikes:

• 7-gear-Unisex-trekking bikes und 8-gear-E-Bikes (brand: Velo de Ville - special SE-Tours edition)
• With hand brake and pedal brake or hand brakes only (subject to availability, please indicate as a non-binding customer request by the booking)
• Pannier bag and rental bike insurance included.
• E-Bikes on a limited number only
• Please indicate your body height by the booking
• We recommend to wear a bike helmet. Please bring your own bike helmet
  (no onboard selling)

Important:

• Embarkation: between 3:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m.
• Disembarkation: until 9:00 a.m.
• Bike Hire on Board: smooth-running 7 speed - unisex- city bikes with hand- and back pedal brakes or with free-wheel hub (please indicate upon booking) and pannier bags. Electric bikes (limited availability – timely booking required)
• To bring your own bike: on request only – due to lack of space on sundeck. Storage of bikes inside the ship is not possible.
• Cycle Tours: unguided. You will cycle between 30 and 55 km per day. The kilometres indicated for the suggested cycle tours are approximate.
• Cycle routes/ level of difficulty: The quality of the cycle ways along the route is excellent. Most of the stretches are paved or asphalted, and lead alongside the Rhine dikes without any gradients of note. This makes the trip suitable even for unpractised cyclist.
• Optional Excursions: tour legs and the ship‘s time in port permitting, an optional excursion programme will be organised. Excursions can only be booked and paid (in cash) aboard the ship.
• Luggage on board: We recommend waterproof rain gear, bike helmet, sun hat and sports shoes. We would like to ask you to do without hard-side luggage, as storage space in the cabin is very limited!
• Alterations of schedule or programm: Subject to change. If a route cannot be shipped as a result of low or high water or bad weather, the captain reserves the right to change the route in view of your safety (this will not be accepted as a reason for free withdrawal).
• Travel documents: EU-citizens (without special situations like dual citizenship, main residence abroad or a limited-validity passport) are required to have a valid passport or ID-card, not expiring within six (6) months of the return of your cruise. We kindly ask non-EU citizens, EU-nationals with multiple citizenship or anybody who has to respect special legal entry requirements for the country to visit, to inform about visa and entry documents at the competent embassy.

This trip is not suitable for guests with reduced mobility.