Cruise and bike along the Rhine in this 9-day unique voyage from Basel to Amsterdam, aboard the splendid MS Lafayette. Discover Northern Europe as you bike through its vineyards, beautiful landscapes and quiant villages. Pass by impressive buildings, antique castles and stunning cathedrals, and explore charming and exotic cities. Taste some of Europe's most famous wines and enjoy pleasant nights accompanied by on board entertainment.
Highlights
Discover the quaint villages and romantic legends of the Rhine valley
Pedal through Durgerdam, a charming village in North Holland
Bike around Strasbourg and its Grande Île, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
Visit Eguisheim and taste the famous Alsatian sparkling wine
Involves minimal physical effort and is typically associated with leisurely activities. Activities are low-intensity or last less than a few hours each day.
Board the MS Lafayette at 6:00 p.m in Amsterdam. Meet the crew after comfortably settling into your cabin and attend to a welcome cocktail. Enjoy dinner on board and remain in port overnight.
Spend the day biking towards the inlands and Edam. Enjoy a picnic lunch and set sail along Lake Markermeer and through the coastal village of Durgerdam. Once you get back to Amsterdam, take your time to explore the canal-crossed capital at your own pace. Return to the ship and enjoy an evening of dancing as the ship leaves for Wesel.
Biking itineraries: to Edam 30.6 km/19 mi. (107 m/351 ft. elevation gain) - to Katwoude 53.1 km/33 mi. (183 m/600.4 ft. elevation gain) - to Amsterdam 75.6 km/46.9 mi. (244 m/800 ft. elevation gain).
Cruise to Emmerich Am Rhein for an excursion to the Open-Air Museum in Arnhem. Here, the architecture and daily life in the former Dutch provinces are represented by 80 authentic farms, mills, and workshops. During your visit, the ship cruises to Wesel. Return to the ship and spend the afternoon cruising to Dusseldorf. Tonight, enjoy dinner and an evening of entertainment on board.
Cruise to Cologne before biking around the city, admiring the clever combination of modern and ancient architecture. Visit the cathedral, built between 1248 and 1880, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Then continue through the magnificent countryside landscapes towards Konigswinter, where you must board the ship for lunch. This afternoon, cruise the Rhine toward Koblenz, arriving in the early evening. After dinner, use your free time to stroll through town to see the famous “Deutsches Eck.” The ship remains in port overnight.
Biking itinerary: to Dusseldorf 55 km/34.1 mi. (274 m/899 ft. elevation gain)
Begin to cruise to Mainz. Throughout this part of the cruise, you can see numerous castles nestled among the famous vineyards, and the legendary Lorelei rock. Arrive in Mainz during the afternoon. Then head to Bingen where your bike tour begins—bringing you to the most picturesque part of the river. Cross the magnificent region which claims the most castles in the world. Enjoy a picnic lunch, and see the infamous Lorelei Rock again: the subject of many myths and legends. Continue to bike to Worms and board the ship. Cruise to Strasbourg during the night,
Biking itineraries: to Bingen am Rhein 24.7 km/15.34 (213 m/698.8 ft. elevation gain) - to Lorelei 49.9 km/31 mi. (396 m/1,289.3 ft. elevation gain) - to Koblenz 62.8 km/39 miles (488 m/1,601 ft. elevation gain)
Arrive in Strasbourg in the early morning. Spend the morning on your bike discovering the city of Strasbourg and its Grande Île, classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Pass by the European Parliament and ride through the Orangerie Garden, the city’s oldest park. Continue your tour on the Forts Trail—which connects the ancient forts around the city—crossing the Grande Île and the historic heart of the Alsatian capital. Go past impressive buildings, including the cathedral. This afternoon, cruise toward Breisach through the magnificent wine-producing region. Tonight, you have your gala dinner followed by an evening of dancing. Arrive in Breisach during the night.
Today explore the countryside in the very heart of the Wine Route. Bike through vineyards, beautiful landscapes and villages with half-timbered houses. Enjoy a picnic lunch in Ribeauvillé before continuing on the tour. Stop in Riquewihr, listed as one of France’s most beautiful villages and enjoy a wine tasting. Following your tour, return to the ship on your bike or by minibus—as you wish! Then cruise towards Basel. Tonight enjoy dinner and an evening of entertainment on board.
Biking itineraries: to Ribeauvillé 37 km/23 mi. (213 m/699 ft. elevation gain) - to Riquewihr 41.8 km/26 mi. (366 m/1,201 ft. elevation gain) - to Breisach 78.9 km/49 mi. (549 m/1,801 ft. elevation gain)
This morning leave on a minibus for the south of Alsace. Once you arrive in Ensisheim, get on your bike and ride to Colmar. During the trip, see the Chateau du Haut-Kœnigsbourg, built during the second half of the 13th century. Stop in Colmar to enjoy some free time visiting the quintessential neighborhood of “Little Venice", then enjoy a picnic lunch. In the afternoon, continue biking on the famous Alsatian Wine Route. Stop in Eguisheim, listed as one of France's most beautiful villages, and taste the famous Alsatian sparkling wine. Following your tour, return to the ship. Tonight’s dinner is followed by an evening of dancing. Remain in port overnight.
Biking itineraries: to Colmar 33.8 km/21 mi. (137 m/449 ft. elevation gain) - to Eguisheim 43.5 km/27 mi. (213 m/699 ft. elevation gain) - to Rouffach 54.7 km/34 mi. (305 m/1,000 ft. elevation gain)
Day 9: Basel | Disembark
1 Breakfast
This morning enjoy one last buffet breakfast on board before disembarking at 9:00 a.m.
This itinerary is no longer available. For other trip ideas, please visit Germany River Cruises.
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Prices for are estimated based on inflation. Contact us to confirm pricing and availability for your desired departure date.
Main Deck-Cat A
29 cabins (27 double-occupancy cabins, 2 single cabins) equipped with a TV, telephone, bathroom with a shower and toilet, towel, a safe, independent air-conditioning, electricity 220V, and Wi-Fi.
Main Deck- Cat B
4 double cabins
equipped with a TV, telephone, bathroom with a shower and toilet, towel, a safe, independent air-conditioning, electricity 220V, and Wi-Fi.
Main Deck- Cat C
8 double cabins
3 double cabins
2 single cabins
equipped with a TV, telephone, bathroom with a shower and toilet, towel, a safe, independent air-conditioning, electricity 220V, and Wi-Fi.
Upper Deck-Cat A
14 cabins with large picture windows (11 double-occupancy cabins, 2 single cabins, 1 cabin for persons with disabilities) equipped with a TV, telephone, bathroom with a shower and toilet, towel, a safe, independent air-conditioning, electricity 220V, and Wi-Fi.
Upper Deck-Cat B
1 double cabin
1 PRM cabin
2 single cabins
equipped with a TV, telephone, bathroom with a shower and toilet, towel, a safe, independent air-conditioning, electricity 220V, and Wi-Fi.
Notes
20% discount on children between 2-10 years
30% discount for 3rd person in triple cabin
Initial deposit is 30%, and most travelers will call our office and pay the deposit with a credit card.
Final payment is due 100 days prior to departure by bank transfer or credit card. All final payments by credit card may be subject to a surcharge and maximum of $20,000 charge
The trip might have been the absolute best of our lifetime (thus far). We particularly want to commend our guide Peter in the Guilin area-he was so incredibly attentive, energetic, enthusiastic-and absolutely dedicated to ensuring that our meals were 100% vegetarian.
