Embarkation and check-in is at 2pm in Cochem. After a welcome meeting with the crew, the tour leader will take you for a walk through this cosy and characteristic Moselle town, with steep wine-clad mountains, wooded hills, the majestic Reichbsburg Castle which we will visit and a picturesque square with beautiful timber-framed houses and cafes.

Meals:  D

Following breakfast, we will cycle to Beilstein, one of the best-preserved historical villages on the Moselle. The ruins of Castle Metternich sit towering above the village, and you’ll have the opportunity to explore them. After leaving Beilstein we'll pass Europe’s steepest vineyard – with slopes inclining up to 60 degrees – at Bremmer Calmont. Today’s tour ends in the wine village of Zell on the Moselle, well known in the industry for the wine Zeller Schwarze Katz. In Zell we recommend taking the opportunity to enjoy the wines of the Moselle valley.

Meals:  B,L,D

Today we'll cycle from Zell to the romantic village of Traben-Trarbach, located on the Moselle’s left bank and famous for its Jugendstil (Art Nouveau) architecture. From here we pass through the wine city of Kröv – well-known for its popular Kröver wine - and continue to Bernkastel-Kues, our destination for the night. The grand half-timbered houses that surround Bernkastel-Kues’s marketplace date back to the Middle Ages, and are a photographer’s delight. After touring the town, we make our way to the barge.

Meals:  B,L,D

From Bernkastel, the valley opens up and vineyards expand as far as the eye can see. Today we cruise past the heavy-hitters in the wine world: Brauneberg, Piesport, Trittenheim. Trittenheim lies in a sharp hairpin turn on the Brauneberg, the river surrounded by mountains coated with grapes. Around lunchtime we arrive in Neumagen, an important centre of wine production. You have the choice to join the barge from here or continue by bicycle to Schweich, where the barge will again be waiting. Once on board we cruise to Trier, the oldest city in Germany. Trier was founded around 15 BC by Caesar Augustus under the name of Augusta Trevorum. As a trading town and administrative centre, Trier flourished during the late imperial age. This Roman golden age has left a respectable number of monuments. Most authentic is the city gate Porta Nigra, which was built around 18 AD.

Meals:  B,L,D

After breakfast our tour leader will take us for a walking tour of Trier to discover the Roman history. After lunch, hop back on the bikes and follow the Moselle and Saar rivers to our next destination, Saarburg. Saarburg is an interesting old town situated in the most beautiful part of the Saar valley. Here the banks of the river are densely forested. The castle of Saarburg was built in the middle of the 10th century. In the middle of town we come across a waterfall 20m high. At the foot of this waterfall there is an old mill, which is driven by the small river. In this part of town most of the old houses date from the 17th and 18th century, which give Saarburg such a picturesque look. Today there is no dinner on board, you are free to enjoy one of the local restaurants of Saarburg.

Meals:  B,L

Today we have two cycling options. One is easy, but a bit longer cycling along the rivers. The other is shorter but more challenging, as you cycle through the hills. Whichever you choose, the cycling will lead you into the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. Here the Moselle forms the border between Germany and Luxembourg. Luxembourg is a small country, but her capital is an important finance centre and EU administrative city. On the way, we visit a wine cooperative, specialising in “Cremant”, the Champagne of the Moselle. Close to Remich we can admire a Roman mosaic floor. The tile floor which lies in its original place, was once the centrepiece in a palatial Roman villa and reveals scenes from gladiator games.

Meals:  B,L,D

While having breakfast we cruise to Schengen, where our cycling starts. The “Schengen agreement” is something everybody in Europe has heard of, whereas almost nobody knows that it is named after this little town in Luxembourg at the 3-country border. Soon we will cross the Luxembourg-French border. We pass the fortress of Sierck-les-Bains, one of the palaces inhabited by the powerful Dukes of Lorraine. The route is lovely through French countryside and friendly villages. Around lunchtime we arrive in Thionville, the centre of the steel industry until the 1980s. That might sound modern and industrial, but the city is ancient. The historic centre has medieval ramparts, lovely gardens, old streets and St Maximin basilica. In the afternoon we’ll head back to Schengen, where we’ll enjoy our final dinner together, then spend the night on board the boat.

Meals:  B,L,D

After breakfast, you’ll say goodbye to the crew and board a bus to Metz. On arrival, check into the hotel, with plenty of time to explore the city at your leisure. In the afternoon, you can join a guided tour of the city with a local guide. You’ll see the St Etienne Cathedral, the third-largest Gothic church in France with flying buttresses and Marc Chagall stained-glass windows. You’ll have the evening to yourself to explore more of the city and try one of the local French restaurants before saying goodbye to your fellow travellers. Your tour leader will accompany you today on the journey to Metz.

Meals:  B,L

On your final day, check out of the hotel after breakfast.

Meals:  B