Rhine cruise (1) downriver

Individual arrival in Strasbourg. Embarkation at 04:00 p.m. On board, your captain, the crew and the tour manager will welcome you with a drink.

After breakfast, you will have the possibility to visit Strasbourg, the capital of the Alsace, with its numerous channels, the Strasbourg Minster and the Tanners` Quarter with its small historic half-timbered houses. Enjoy a piece of French joie de vivre before you begin your first cycle tour. Cycle directly alongside the Rhine River through the gentle Rhine plain until you reach the Gambsheim lock where your ship already awaits you to set sail for Germersheim. While sailing, enjoy a glass of wine on deck or in the saloon recalling the first impressions of your journey.

Today`s cycle tour leads through unspoilt nature along the old Rhine ox-bow lakes. Before, however, look forward to exploring the ancient fortified city of Germersheim with its numerous quaint lanes, corners and squares. Continue cycling through the Palatinate Region to reach the cathedral city of Speyer. In 1981, Speyer Cathedral was added to the UNESCO-World Heritage List.

Enjoy a short cycle ride alongside the Old Rhine, past marvelous lakes, through untouched protected areas designated as National Nature Reserves and natural flood plains. You reach Mannheim, also called the “City of Squares” due to its layout in a grid-pattern. In these squares, countless places are well worth visiting as for example the famous Mannheim Baroque Palace – German largest Baroque palace complex and the water tower – the city’s landmark.

Today, follow the course of the marvellous Neckar River up to Heidelberg. The ancient Roman city of Ladenburg with its historic Old Town is worth a short stop-over. Visible already from afar, the ruin of the Heidelberg Palace towers over the Old Town. Stroll across the famous Heidelberg Sandstone Bridge, or through the winding lanes and charming squares of the Old Town. Your way back leads along the Neckar River to Mannheim, where you reach back to the buzzing city life.

Today you leave Mannheim and drive past meadows and fields, following the course of the Rhine to the imperial city of Worms. On your journey through two millenniums of the city’s history, learn about emperors and kings, myths and legends of the Nibelung, Judaism and Martin Luther.

With almost 1,000 Hectare of viticultural area, Nierstein is home to the largest wine-growing community on the Rhine. The historic Old Town with its medieval market square and noble houses is also well worth visiting. A short stretch that leaves plenty of time for one to indulge oneself: cycle onthe Rhine Cycle Route on well-paved cycle ways directly alongside the Rhine from Nierstein to Mainz. Guests, who would like to cycle a longer stretch, can also choose to start the cycle tour already in Worms (cycle tour Worms-Mainz approx. 60 km).

After breakfast disembarkation until 09:00a.m. Individual journey home.