Bamberg - Aschaffenburg 2024

Bamberg to Aschaffenburg

The Main valley boat and bike tour is a friendly, gentle cycling tour along the flat land of the river through the ever changing countryside of the Bavarian region, famous for the good wines and many historic towns and villages.

Absolute highlight of the tour is the city of Bamberg a UNESCO World Heritage City that not only embodies a thousand years of art and culture, but also remains vibrant and young at heart. The bike tour follows the river, encountering many traditional half-timbered houses within the various small villages. The region of Bavaria will impress you with its wealth of idyllic vineyards as you sail to the tranquil town of Hassfurt, where many 15th and 16th century monuments are of note.

The lively little town of Kitzingen is a wine trade center. It has a reputation for producing some unique and flavorful white wines. The trek to the wine town of Volkach is filled with picturesque rolling vineyards, orchards and quiet river meadows. Historic Marktbreit is one of the region’s most beautiful villages with splendid houses and narrow alleys. The tour will also bring you to Würzburg, Germany’s Baroque city where you will visit the Residenz Palace and gardens in rococo style, listed on the list of UNESCO World Heritage Site. And then there is Aschaffenburg where you can visit the famous Johannisburg.

The ship – Your sailing hotel
In between cycling excursions, you cruise along with the ship, which travels to a new destination every day. You dine, sleep and eat breakfast on board. You’ll receive a packed lunch every day, and you can usually choose between a longer or shorter bike ride. It’s also possible to spend a day on board if you like. There are rental bikes on board, but you can also bring your own if you mention it when booking (on request).

Day 1: Embarkation: Bamberg

Individual arrival and embarkation as from 4 p.m. in Bamberg, where you will stay for the night. Like Rome, the city was built on seven hills and one therefore likes to call it the “Franconian Rome”. If you arrive early, you may still have the time to experience the fascinating heritage of world culture. The fishermen’s quarter of “Little Venice”, a row of residences from the 17th century, is also worth seeing. If you like beer, you have to drink a nice cool beer here. There are still eleven independent breweries in the city!

Day 2: Bamberg – Haßfurt | Haßfurt – Schweinfurt (30-40 km/18-24 mi.)

Today you will start sailing to Haßfurt with it’s beautiful historic inner town. It is situated between two nature area’s and you will find several interesting religious buildings over here, like the late Gothic “Ridderkapel” (Knight’s chapel) and the parochian church with paintings of Tilman Riemenschneider. From here, you will continue cycling. The tour will take you to the former emperor’s city of Schweinfurt.

Day 3: Schweinfurt – Stammheim – Kitzingen (32 km/19 mi. or 60 km/36 mi.)

Today’s cycling tour will take you to Kitzingen. In this historical wine trading city you will also find the German Fastnachtsmuseum (carnival museum). Here you will get an impression of the history of carnival; you will find information about the medieval Franconian customs too in this museum. In Kitzingen, the old and former beer breweries have changed to wine production, as the historic cellar equipment will show you. Some of the Kitzinger restaurants serve typical Franconian dishes like Sauerbraten mit Kloß (beefstew and potatoes) or Karfpen Blau (fish). If you prefer to cycle a short tour, you can sail till Stammheim and start cycling from there.

Day 4: Kitzingen – Würzburg (40 km/24 mi.)

Würzburg, homing several points of interest, is awaiting you at the end of today’s tour. Visit the Würzburg Residenz, considered one of Germany’s most important castles, which is on the UNESCO World Heritage since 1981, enjoy the magnificent view from the fortress Marienburg or visit the Sint-Kilianusdom. Würzburg is the center of Franconian wines and is, due to the presence of several universities, also lively in the evening.

Day 5: Würzburg – Karlstadt | Karlstadt – Lohr (30 km/18 mi.)

In the morning the Allure cruises to Karlstadt, where you will arrive around 10.30 hr. The romance of an old town and the idyll of a village – Karlstadt has both. Explore the more than 800 year old buildings in the by walls, towers and Gates surrounded old town. From Karlstadt you will cycle to Lohr am Main, your goal of today. Typical for the beautiful old town are the historic Franconian timbered buildings. Lor am Main is the gateway to the lower Spessart mountains. Some people say it was the place where Snowwhite used to live…. Buildings like the castle Lohr (Kurzmainer Schloss) emphasize the enchanting character of the city.

Day 6: Lohr – Wertheim | Wertheim – Freudenberg (30 km/18 mi.)

In the morning you will cruise with the ship from Lohr tot Wertheim, which has a castle with the same name as a landmark. The historical market place, with what probably is the narrowest house of the Franconian land, is the center of town. Here starts today’s bike tour to Freudenberg. High above the Main river and the town of Freudenberg, Freudenburg Castle is enthroned at the foot of the Franconian Odenwald forest. Freudenburg is well known among castle connoisseurs for its striking keep.

Day 7: Freudenberg – Aschaffenburg (50 km/30 mi.)

The highlight of today’s bicycle tour is Miltenberg with its 1200 built Mildenburg. You will cycle on the “Kosmosradweg”(planet-cycle track) from Erlenbach to Kleinwallstadt. Along this track you will find information about the universe. The floodplain forest between Nilkheim and Niedernheim is pleasant to ride on in the summer. All along the river you will find benches or rest areas where you can rest or even take a swim. Your destination for today is the beautiful and quiet university city of Afschaffenburg, which offers numerous magnificent buildings. Johannisburg Castle, built with red sandstone, is one of the most important and most beautiful Renaissance buildings in Germany. The lively center with narrow streets offers many half-timbered houses and numerous wine bars and cafes.

Day 8: Disembarkation: Aschaffenberg

After breakfast: disembarkation till 9 a.m. and end of the tour.

Good to know

• Cycling route distances in the travel program are approximate.
• On some days you can choose between a longer and a shorter cycling route. Please note that on the shorter routes you may not be able to visit all the highlights mentioned.
• If you prefer not to cycle on a particular day, you’re welcome to stay on board and relax while the ship cruises to the next landing place.
• The tour itinerary and route are subject to possible changes due to nautical, technical or meteorological reasons, or other unforeseen events.
• On the arrival day, you can leave your luggage on board the ship from 11.00 am.

Included

• 8 days/7 nights
• Program according to itinerary
• Full board-Plus-Arrangement: 7 x breakfast buffet Packed lunches or noontime snack 7 x 3-course dinner Coffee and tea on board during breakfast and in the afternoon
• Welcome drink
• Use of bed linen and towels
• Daily cleaning of the cabin
• Daily briefings by the skipper (board tour guide, English & German speaking)
• Maps and information material (German) for cycling tours (1 set per cabin)

• Use of a helmet (2 per cabin)
• Wi-Fi

Not Included

• Drinks
• Coffee and tea on board at other hours
• Bicycle rental or E-bike rental including pannier bag
• Personal insurances
• Gratuities (at your discretion)
• Entrance fees and excursions
• City maps
• Fees for ferries
• Transfers to/from the docking place
• Parking fees

Extra

• Rental bicycle: € 89 per week/person (with hand brakes or backpedal brakes)
• Rental E-Bike: € 199 per week/person (with hand brakes or backpedal brakes, only on request, limited number of e-bikes available, early bookings strongly recommended.
• Helmets: We recommend that you wear a bicycle helmet. Please bring your own bicycle helmet (not available on board).
• Own bicycles/E-bikes: € 29 (only on request and limited available)
• Information material cycling tours: Only available in German, but the crew speaks English and is willing to explain the tour in English. The cycling tracks are well signposted.

Transfer by train: Between Aschaffenburg and Bamberg, there is a good train connection. Please visit one of the following websites for timetables, tickets or more information www.omio.com or www.trainline.eu.

Parking possibilities (subject to change, stand May 2023):

• Aschaffenburg: Parking Luitpoldstraße: Luitpoldstraße 9, approx. €10/day
• Bamberg: Tiefgarage Centrum-Nord/Georgendamm 2a (walking distance to docking place), approx. €15/day or Park & Ride on the outskirts of the city with low parking rates, cheap tickets and quick bus links to the center (for example: P&R Heinrichsdamm).

Minimum number of participants: 18 guests (must have been reached within 21 days prior to departure).