Ludwigsburg to Mainz

Day 1: Arrival to Mainz 
Day 2: Mainz – Nierstein, 16 mi. (25 km)
Day 3: Nierstein – Worms (34 miles/55 km)
Day 4: Worms - Ladenburg (26 miles/42 km)
Day 5: Ladenburg - Heidelberg (9 miles/15 km or extend to 28 miles/45 km)
Day 6: Heidelberg - Eberbach (20 miles/32 km)
Day 7: Eberbach - Heilbronn (34 miles/55 km or short tour 11 miles/18 km)
Day 8: Heilbronn – Marbach - Ludwigsburg (34 miles/55 km)
Day 9: Ludwigsburg | Departure following breakfast, by 9 am

Day 1: Arrival to Mainz | Check-in 3:30-4 pm
You will be welcomed on board at 3:30 pm with a complimentary beverage. You will also be introduced to the crew and your guide and have a tour introduction and safety briefing.  The afternoon is free, allowing you to explore Mainz. Mainz has beautiful squares, half-timbered houses and impressive baroque churches. Behind Rococo Façades and in Baroque houses hide inviting elegant boutiques, café’s, and ‘Weinstuben’. And of course there’s the famous Cathedral of Mainz you shouldn’t miss. Dinner and overnight in Mainz.

Day 2: Mainz – Nierstein, 16 - 19 mi. (25 - 30 km)
In the morning there will be more time to explore the beautiful city of Mainz.  Your first bike tour will start from here and leads you along the Rhine river, enjoy the beautiful and always changing views from the saddle of your bike! In Nierstein you will board the Merlijn to drop your bikes, change clothes and enjoy a wine tasting. Dinner on board and an overnight stay in Nierstein.

Day 3: Nierstein – Worms, 31 - 34 mi. (50 - 55 km) 
After breakfast, the bike tour to Worms starts and quickly takes you away from the Rhine, through vineyards and at times, rolling terrain.  Beautiful nature will be your reward! Worms is famous for its Cathedral and Marten Luther. In the afternoon you will have time to explore this interesting city. After dinner you may want to have a look at the famous Nibelungen Tower, which is located directly at the Rhine river, close to the Merlijn.

Day 4: Worms - Ladenburg, 25 - 28 mi. (40 - 45 km) 
After another delicious breakfast onboard your bike tour will start. You will cycle partly on the Rhine River and partly on the Neckar River. The Merlijn will await you in the town of Ladenburg. After dinner your guide will show you this lovely quintessential German town.

Day 5: Ladenburg - Heidelberg, 9 mi. or extend to 28 mi. (15 km or extend to 45 km)
The Merlin will sail to Heidelberg, a beautiful city where the culture lover can indulge, but also the shopping fanatic will be well satisfied. Of course there will also be a cycle tour offered, short or long. In the afternoon, look around for your favorite restaurant, because tonight you can try the local gastronomy during dinner on your own,

Day 6: Heidelberg - Eberbach, 19 - 22 mi. (30 - 35 km)
Today you will bike through the southern part of the Odenwald. From Heidelberg to Eberbach you will pass Hirschhorn, one of the pearls on the Neckar river. Hirschhorn has a charming castle, a Carmelite Monastery and an interesting Market Church.

Day 7: Eberbach - Heilbronn, 12 mi or 31 mi. (20 km or 50 km) 
The longer route begins in Eberbach and leads along the Neckar River.  You will make a short loop to the castle of Guttenberg, considered one of the most beautiful castles in the Neckar Valley. The cycling can conclude in Bad Wimpfen where the Merlijn awaits. Back on board, you will enjoy an afternoon cruise while you navigate to Heilbronn. Choosing the short tour, you cruise with Merlijn all morning and cycle the last section to Heilbronn. If you want to cycle the entire way, from Eberbach to Heilbronn, you may.

Day 8: Heilbronn - Marbach - Ludwigsburg, 31 - 34 mi. (50 - 55 km) 
Enjoy your last sailing breakfast onboard the Merlijn. The ship will stop briefly for you to disembark and begin cycling along the Neckar River through a lovely landscape of vineyards and forests. Roman history comes alive in the ruins of the Vicus Castle, located on a hill above the town of Benningen.  Continuing, you pass through Marbach, a charming city on the Neckar river where the famous writer Schiller was born. You board the Merlijn once again in the afternoon to sail to your final destination of Ludwigsburg. After farewell dinner onboard you will have the chance to stroll through the city.

Day 9: Ludwigsburg 
Disembarkation by 9 am.

Day 1: Arrival in Ludwigsburg | Check-in at 3:30 pm | Merlijn sails to Marbach at 5 pm
Day 2: Marbach - Besigheim - Heilbronn, 26 mi. (42 km)
Day 3: Heilbronn - Neckarzimmern - Eberbach, 34 mi. (55 km)
Day 4: Eberbach - Heidelberg, 20 mi. (32 km)
Day 5: Heidelberg - Ladenburg -  Worms, 26 mi. (42 km)
Day 6: Worms - Nierstein, 34 mi. (55 km)
Day 7: Nierstein - Mainz, 16 mi. (25 km)
Day 8: Mainz | Departure following breakfast, by 9 am

Day 1: Ludwigsburg - Marbach
Check-in on board begins at 3:30 pm. After official embarkation, as you enjoy a complimentary beverage, you will enjoy meeting the crew, learning about the Merlijn and the tour, and being informed regarding the safety during your tour.  At 5 pm, the boat will sail to Marbach, a charming city on the Neckar River while you enjoy your dinner. After dinner, there will be a chance to visit the city, where the famous writer Schiller was born.

Day 2: Marbach - Besigheim - Heilbronn, 26 mi. (42 km)
While you enjoy your breakfast, the Merlijn sails to Besigheim. Your bike tour starts here along the Neckar river and leads to Benningen. Roman history is evident here in the Castle Vicus. Dinner on board and overnight stay in Heilbronn.

Day 3: Heilbronn - Neckarzimmern - Eberbach, 34 mi. (55 km)
The biking begins in Neckarzimmern and it will be just a short distance to the castle of Hornberg. This castle is considered one of the most beautiful castles in the Neckar valley. After 1259, the bishop of Speyer had his quarters here and in the 16th century, it became the house of Berlichingen. The tour ends in Eberbach where the Merlijn is waiting. Enjoy dinner and an overnight stay in Eberbach.

Day 4: Eberbach - Heidelberg, 20 mi. (32 km)
Today you will bike through the southern part of the Odenwald. From Eberbach, you will pass Hirschhorn, one of the pearls on the Neckar river. Hirschhorn has a charming castle, a Carmelite Monastery, and an interesting Market Church. In the afternoon you will be offered a city tour through Heidelberg, a charming city between the Neckar river and the foothills of the Odenwald forest. After the tour, you will enjoy your dinner in one of the many restaurants in Heidelberg.

Day 5: Heidelberg - Ladenburg -  Worms, 26 mi. (42 km)
The Merlijn sails during breakfast to Ladenburg, where the bike tour to Worms starts leading partly along the Neckar and partly along the Rhine rivers, ending in Worms. Worms is famous for its Cathedral and Marten Luther. In the afternoon you will have time to explore this interesting city. After dinner, you may want to have a look at the famous Nibelungen tower, which is located directly on the Rhine river, close to the Merlijn.

Day 6: Worms - Nierstein, 34 mi. (55 km)
After breakfast, the cycling begins and soon leads you away from the Rhine, through vineyards on rolling paths. Lovely landscapes will be your backdrop and your reward. In Nierstein you will board the Merlijn to change and drop your bikes, and enjoy a wine tour through the mountains including wine tasting. The Merlijn will overnight in Nierstein.

Day 7: Nierstein - Mainz, 16 mi. (25 km)
After breakfast your bike tour leads you along the Rhine river, the ride is not too long which gives you a good opportunity to pay a visit in the afternoon to the city of Mainz, the capital of Rhineland-Palatinate. Farewell dinner and overnight stay in Mainz.

Day 8: Mainz | Departure following breakfast by 9 am
All good things must come to an end. Check-out after breakfast and either extend your stay in Mainz or onward travel home.