Itinerary

Day 1 (Saturday):
Arrival in Heidelberg

Individual arrival at Heidelberg. You can visit the world-famous castle that sits high over the Neckar or meander through the narrow lanes of the old part of town.

Day 2 (Sunday):
Heildelberg to Zwingenberg, 30 to 33 miles (48 to 53 km)

You leave Heidelberg and follow the famous "Bergstraße", the smallest viticulture area of the republic. One of the highlights of today is the market place of Heppenheim, with its timber-framed houses. Pass Bensheim and you reach the 700-year old town Zwingenberg.

Day 3 (Monday):
Zwingenberg to Mainz, 36 to 39 miles (57 to 62 km)

You leave the Bergstraße, cycle through the flat land along the Rhine and board the ferry over the Rhine at Gernsheim. Through meadows you reach the first foothills of the Platine vineyards, opportunity to visit the German viticulture museum in Oppenheim. Overnight in an old vine-growing estate near Mainz.

Day 4 (Tuesday):
Mainz to Bingen, 24 miles (38 km)

Before you set off to cycle along the Rhine you can visit in Mainz the impressive Chagall windows in the St. Stephans church or the Gutenberg museum. You can visit the picturesque village Eltville on the right Rhine bank. From here a detour leads you to a high-altitude valley of the Rhine area to the monastery in Eberbach, founded in 1116. Overnight in Rüdesheim-Assmannshausen or in Bingen.

Day 5 (Wednesday):
Bingen to Koblenz, 40 miles (65 km)

Passing castle Reichenstein and the pictorial castle Sooneck you arrive in the very old wine village Bacharach. You see Kaub with the castle Pfalzgrafenstein on the island in the Rhine and pass the mythical Loreley. Soon you arrive in Boppard where, if you are tired, you can shorten the stage to Koblenz with the ship.

Day 6 (Thursday):
Departure from Koblenz

Leave the rented bikes in the hotel and start the journey home.

Alternative 7 days/ 6 nights:
Extra night in Boppard

Saturday to Tuesday: see itinerary above

Day 5 (Wednesday):
Rüdesheim or Assmannshausen/Bingen to Boppard, 25 miles (40 km)

Cycle through the romantic middle Rhine valley with its vineyards, Reichenstein Castle and the old wine village of Bacharach. End the day in the attractive town of Boppard.

Day 6 (Thursday):
Boppard to Koblenz, 15 miles (25 km)

Continue along the Rhine past Marksburg Castle to Koblenz where the Rhine and the Mosel rivers meet. For impressive views over the surrounding area, take the aerial ropeway up to the Ehrenbreitstein fortress.

Day 7 (Friday):
Departure from Koblenz

Leave the rented bikes in the hotel and start the journey home.