Miltenberg to Cochem

This bike and boat tour in Germany is the perfect recipe for a successful holiday. By day, you bike the lovely bike paths of the Main River as the boat continues on to the next destination, welcoming you at the end of your cycling day.

Following the Main river that winds through the diverse countryside of Franconia and Hesse in serveral wide loops, the tour passes old cities and towns full of historical attractions. Cycling through charming vineyards, orchards and lovely meadows along the river provides for a unique perspective of German culture.

From Mainz, the route follows the Rhine downstream, passing by numerous fortresses. Apart from the beautiful landscape, you will see cultural highlights, art treasures, and can enjoy regional culinary specialities.

Looking for more, you can view all of our bike and barge tours in Germany here.

Day 1: Miltenberg
Day 2: Miltenberg - Aschaffenburg, 25 mi. (40 km)
Day 3: Aschaffenburg – Frankfurt-am-Main, 28 mi. (45 km)
Day 4: Frankfurt-am-Main - Mainz, 28, mi. (45 km)
Day 5: Mainz - Rüdesheim / Bingen, 22/31 mi. (35/50 km)
Day 6: Rüdesheim / Bingen – Koblenz, 25 mi. (40 km)
Day 7: Koblenz – Cochem, 25 mi. (40 km)
Day 8: Cochem

*All distances are approximate.

Day 1: Miltenberg
Individual arrival in Miltenberg and check in on board. While you enjoy a complimentary beverage, the crew will be introduced and the upcoming program presented.   Following dinner, there will be opportunity for a town walk. Miltenberg, once a strategic location on the ancient trade route from Nuremberg to Frankfurt, is a typical German village, with many cross-timbered houses. You can follow the paths of the Celts and the Romans as you walk along the red sandstone, meandering alleys and the market square. Miltenberg is also known for its fabulous wine. You can taste a glass in the oldest inn in Germany, “den Riesen.” 

Day 2: Miltenberg - Aschaffenburg, 25 mi. (40 km)
Your bike tour today leads through perfect sun drenched wine landscape. The red sandstone of the area is an ideal soil and the mild climate in the Main Valley provide the best conditions for viticulture. Following the river, you pedal through several small villages such as Groszheubach and Klingenberg,  famous for their fine red wines. Continuing via Bürgstadt to Freudenberg and further on to Aschaffenburg, there are museums, churches, and  the Johannisburg Palace, located on the banks of the Main River to enjoy. This castle will be the first thing you see as you enter Aschaffenburg, as it is the grandest of all Renaissance palace complexes. The upper levels of this castle serves as the town library where you can read scripts from past centuries, and the lower levels are art and science museums. Following dinner, a town walk is scheduled.

Day 3: Aschaffenburg – Frankfurt-am-Main, 28 mi. (45 km)
Cycling today will lead through villages such as  Kleinostheim and Dettingen. After crossing the River Main on a small ferry, the tour continues to the romantic city of Seligenstadt with its windings alleys, wood framed houses, and basilica. Further along the river, passing through Klein-Krotzenburg, Hainstadt, Kleinauheim via Steinheim to Hanau (where the famous Grimm Brothers were born), the barge awaits in in Frankfurt-am-Main 

Day 4: Frankfurt-am-Main - Mainz, 28 mi. (45 km)
Leaving Frankfurt to Mainz, still following the Main, the cycling itinerary continues to Mainz.  In the afternoon there will be time to explore this interesting city. Mainz’s inner city is its pride and joy, filled with spacious plazas, lovingly restored half- timbered houses and magnificent Baroque style churches. The ‘Old Town’ has a very charming and warm atmosphere.

Day 5: Mainz - Rüdesheim / Bingen, 22/31 mi. (35/50 km)
The beautiful first stage of the day's cycling leads through rolling vineyards and well-known wine villages. The Rhine flows gently, forming little islands and broadening its bed up to 800 m width! Before you reach Rüdesheim, there is opporturnity to visit the half-timbered town of Eltville and monastery Eberbach which are definitely worth seeing (+14 km). The Iris will remain in Rüdesheim, a historic city of winegrowers that began with the Romans. The old town, dating from the Middle Ages, and parts of the city's fortifications like the Adlerturm (eagle tower) are well preserved. There are many  traditional wine taverns in historic half-timbered houses to be visited! No tourist leaves this international well-known city without visiting the world-famous Drosselgasse, the heart of Rüdesheim's old town.. This cobbled street extends for 144 metres through the old winemaking town, and links Oberstrasse to the riverside. Following dinner, you can enjoy a town walk.   

Day 6: Rüdesheim / Bingen – Koblenz, 25 mi. (40 km)
The day begins with breakfast on board while the Iris cruises so that you can experience the view on the Loreley from the barge. You'll pass through the lovely banks of the middle Rhine to St. Goar. Pompous castles line the way as you pass the Loreley, the narrowest part in the romantic Rhine Valley. The Loreley is a 433 feet high slate cliff in the Upper Middle Rhine Valley. Here, the Rhine is up to 82 feet deep and only 371 feet wide. Because this area is so deep and narrow, it is one of the most dangerous places in the World Heritage Upper Middle Rhine Valley. Ships crossing each other here are directed by light signals. Cycling today first leads to the ancient city of Boppard. Here the Rhine takes an amazing turn at nearly 180 degrees. Boppard, also called "the Pearl on the River Rhine", is home to the most famous observation spot on the river which can be reached via a chairlift. It has always been a popular tourist attraction with precipitous vineyards, one of the nicest bank promenades on the Middle Rhine, and the oldest preserved Roman fort walls to the north of the Alps. Later you continue to the beautiful city of Koblenz, where the Rhine & the Mosel rivers meet.

Day 7: Koblenz – Cochem, 25 mi. (40 km)
Today begins with a sailing breakfast while cruising upstream on the Moselle river to Alken, where the biking begins to Moselkern. You will bike into the Eltztal and visit the castle Eltz. Lying romantically on a cliff, the castle is one of the very few that has not been destroyed once during its long history. Afterwards, pedaling on to Cochem, the barge will be anchored and waiting.  In Cochem you may want to pay a visit to the famous Reichsburg or stroll through the cozy streets in this romantic city. Enjoy dinner on board.

Day 8: Departure from Cochem

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Accommodations aboard the Comfort Plus vessel, the Iris

• Iris

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  Touring Bicycle

  Giant Touring Bike from the LIV collection … Lightweight, low-maintenance, and equipped with a belt drive, this touring bike is ideal for both daily and recreational use. Combining a synthetic belt… Read More

  Electric Bicycle

  Gazelle Ultimate C8 … • Stable and rigid step-through frame … • Integrated 500 Wh battery … • Bosch Active Line Plus motor … • Nexus hub and Gates belt drive … • Hydraulic disc brakes … • Front fork… Read More

  In 2005, the Iris was transformed from a cargo ship to a passenger ship. Her owner, Lenny Versteeg, has lovingly updated and maintained her throughout the years. The interior is fresh, tasteful, and comfortable. Read More