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4.6/5 (11 reviews)

8-Day Moselle River Bike & Barge Scenic Exploration Tour

Pedal the heart of Europe with the ease of a bike & barge tour. Unpack once only in your private cabin and get ready to enjoy noble castles, Roman ruins, soaring cathedrals, and quaint villages plus food and wine from Germany, Luxembourg and France.

Start - End: Cochem - Metz

Total trip: 8 days

Average group size: 12 people

from USD 4,999/pp including taxes and fees

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Trip Inquiry - 8-Day Moselle River Bike & Barge Scenic Exploration Tour

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Trip Inquiry - 8-Day Moselle River Bike & Barge Scenic Exploration Tour

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Explore the Moselle Valley with vineyards, castles, riverside towns, and gentle cycling.

If you’ve never experienced a bike and barge tour, you’re in for a real treat. Along the Moselle River in Germany, harvest season is when this legendary wine valley truly comes alive — hillsides glow gold with ripening grapes, medieval Germany castles rise above the river, and village life revolves around the rhythm of the vineyards.

Your Floating Home on the Moselle

You unpack just once aboard the comfortable Iris barge, which becomes your floating home for the week as you explore the Moselle River region of Germany, Luxembourg, and France. Each morning, you wake up in a new riverside town and set off on scenic bike paths that follow the gentle curves of the Moselle River. These are routes that have connected castles, vineyards, and villages for centuries.

Ride Through Vineyards, Castles, and Village Life

As you ride through the heart of the Moselle River vineyards, you’ll pedal past half-timbered houses, Gothic church spires, and hilltop fortresses that define the classic landscape of Moselle River castles. Harvest season brings a special energy to the valley, with vineyards at their most colorful and welcoming villages offering opportunities to pause for a glass of crisp Riesling at family-run wineries.


While you’re cycling, your barge cruises ahead to the next harbor, so your cabin is always waiting when you return. Back on board, relax on the sun deck with a drink, share stories over meals inspired by local flavors, and enjoy the easy camaraderie that comes from traveling with a small group who appreciates both comfort and discovery.


This Moselle River bike and barge journey offers the perfect balance of freedom and ease — giving you the space to ride at your own pace while discovering Germany’s vineyards, castle-crowned hills, and one of Europe’s most enchanting river valleys, one pedal stroke at a time.

Trip Highlights

Day by day itinerary

Explore the route on the map below for this incredible tour through Germany's Moselle River Valley.

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Please meet at Iris Comfort Plus Barge in Cochem at 1pm. The Barge will be docked on the road called Uferstrasse, on the right bank of the Mosel River just downstream from the bridge called Skagerak-Brücke. Enjoy a welcome drink from the crew and leaders and an introduction to the week ahead. After your bike fitting and before dinner, walk together with the group through the town of Cochem — a cozy and characteristic Mosel (German for Moselle) River town, with steep mountains, thriving vineyards, wooded hills. Included is a visit to the medieval fortress and a picturesque town center with beautiful timber-framed houses.
Accommodation: Iris Comfort Plus Barge
Meals: Dinner

You have the chance to see the Black Madonna, a celebrated relic in the chapel of the Carmelite Monastery overlooking the valley. From here, your bike tour starts, and you follow the Mosel River upstream to Zell, a beautiful hamlet where the river slices through slate mountains in dramatic oxbows and S turns. The Hoherott and the Corrayer Berg are the best-known wine regions, and Zeller Schwarze Katz is a legendary Mosel Wine. You continue to Traben-Trarbach.

This little town features world-class Art Nouveau buildings and is the major center of wine trade in the Mosel region. From Traben, you can cruise on the barge or keep going and bike to Bernkastel-Kues. This is an old, picturesque town — with the best wine regions of the Mid-Mosel. The town has a charming market square with historic timber-framed houses. Walk to the castle for a beautiful view.
Accommodation: Iris Comfort Plus Barge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Biking: 30.5 miles (49.1 kilometers)
Elevation Gain/Loss: 966 feet (294 meters) ascent, 952 feet (290 meters) descent
Terrain: Easier

This morning, you leave the river and the vineyards behind, and a bus takes you (approx. 45 minutes) through the Eifel Valley to the city of Daun. From there, enjoy an outstanding bike ride along a former railway track that is now a cycling path. The ride includes stretches through tunnels, over bridges and along small lakes formed from volcano craters, known as maars.

After the last tunnel, take a break in a little town where you can have a well-deserved ice cream. This day is the highlight of our biking experiences.

Following dinner, stroll to the fascinating cellar of Josef Zimmermann for a wine tasting.
Accommodation: Iris Comfort Plus Barge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Biking: 39.4 miles (63.4 kilometers)
Elevation Gain/Loss: 1,449 feet (442 meters) ascent, 2,400 feet (731 meters) descent
Terrain: Easier

Upstream from Bernkastel, the valley opens up, and there are vineyards as far as the eye can see. Today, you enjoy a barge cruise past Brauneberg, Piesport and Trittenheim. Piesport produces a number of beautiful white wines — one of them is the famous Piesporter Goldtröpfchen. Trittenheim lies in a sharp hairpin turn in the Mosel. It is surrounded by mountains covered with vineyards. The Laurentius-Kapelle, with its early Gothic architecture, may be a thousand years old, and it sits right in the middle of the vineyards.

In Schweich, board the barge and cruise the rest of the way to Trier, an interesting and lively place — and the oldest city in Germany. According to the Romans, Trier was founded around 15 B.C. by Caesar Augustus under the name of Augusta Trevorum. As a trading town and administrative center, Trier flourished during the late imperial period. It included an imperial residence of Constantine the Great. A number of monuments still exist from this Roman Golden Age. Most authentic is the city gate Porta Nigra, which was built around 18 A.D. Trier also has some interesting churches, a cathedral, a colorful baroque city center and a rococo palace. You can join our group's walking tour of town and the Porta Nigra on Day 5.

Tonight, you are on your own for dinner and can select one of the many wonderful restaurants in Trier.
Accommodation: Iris Comfort Plus Barge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Biking: 34 miles (54.7 kilometers)
Elevation Gain/Loss: 1,077 feet (328 meters) ascent, 1,024 feet (312 meters) descent
Terrain: Easier

Today, follow the Saar river to our next destination, Saarburg. This 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 mid-10th century. In the middle of town is a wonderful 60-foot-high waterfall. At the foot of this waterfall there is an old mill, which is driven by the small river. This part of town is charming, and most of the old houses are from the 17th and 18th century.

After dinner, enjoy a walk through town.
Accommodation: Iris Comfort Plus Barge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Biking: 18.4 miles (29.6 kilometers)
Elevation Gain/Loss: 714 feet (218 meters) ascent, 601 feet (183 meters) descent
Terrain: Easier

From Saarburg, follow the Moselle Valley to the south toward Remich. Here, the Moselle forms the border between Germany and Luxembourg, a tiny nation about the size of Rhode Island. Don’t miss a taste of the Luxembourg Elbling wine, which is said to be softer than the German Riesling. You also have the opportunity to visit a unique Roman mosaic floor discovered in Nennig.
Accommodation: Iris Comfort Plus Barge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Biking: 34.9 miles (56.2 kilometers)
Elevation Gain/Loss: 1,068 feet (326 meters) ascent, 1,100 feet (335 meters) descent
Terrain: Easier

Today’s tour leads you through the beautiful Moselle Valley across the French-German border. First, pass the castle of Sierck-les-Bains, beautifully situated on the banks of the Moselle river. On top of the hill there is a castle from the 11th century, which was central in the battle between the duke of Lorraine and the archbishop of Trier in the 12th century. Cycle to Thionville, a versatile city with an eventful past. Thionville is known for its old steel industry. But the old city center shows its ancient roots in the ramparts, the beautiful St.-Maximin church, and the château de la Grange. Thionville is also part of the Maginot line, an enormous line of defense, built early in the 20th century against a possible German invasion.

Around lunch time, join the barge at Thionville and cruise, or you can bike all the way to Metz, our end point. Metz is known as “la ville jaune” (yellow city) — so called because of its yellow sandstone buildings. This city is strategically situated between Côtes de Moselle and the Plateau Lorrain. These days, the rich medieval city is a center of learning and a lively location for trade. A visit to the St. Etienne Cathedral, one of the most beautiful gothic cathedrals in France, is a must. It has epic flying buttresses and Marc Chagall stained glass windows. This cathedral sits in the middle of the old city center, where shopping is also excellent.
Accommodation: Iris Comfort Plus Barge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Biking: 21.6 miles (34.8 kilometers)
Elevation Gain/Loss: 740 feet (226 meters) ascent, 710 feet (216 meters) descent
Terrain: Easier

Your guided tour ends after breakfast. The leaders can help you arrange a taxi to the train station or into town. You can leave your luggage onboard until lunchtime and go and enjoy some more of Metz, like its lovely Cathedral and other architecture. And then, farewell and safe travels home.
Accommodation: Not applicable
Meals: Breakfast

Map

Inns

Barge Iris on bike & barge tour

Iris Comfort Plus Barge

Step aboard the Iris, a tasteful and comfortable barge designed to navigate the Netherlands' rivers and canals with ease. This Comfort Plus vessel carries just 24 guests, creating an intimate, welcoming atmosphere for your spring flower adventure.

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FAQs

From where the trip starts to what to pack, check out our Frequently Asked Questions about this bike tour in Germany.

On the first day of the tour, please meet aboard the Iris Comfort Plus Barge in Cochem at 1pm. The barge will be docked on Uferstrasse, on the right bank of the Mosel River just downstream from the Skagerak-Brücke bridge. You're welcome to book your pre-trip stay at any hotel in Cochem, though you'll need to make your own way to the barge by the designated time. Taxis and ride-shares are readily available throughout the city.

You spend the last night on the barge, docked at the Port of Metz in France. You can depart after breakfast on the final day.

Arrival: We recommend arriving in Cochem at least the day before your tour starts. Manyguests like to arrive a day or two early to accommodate potential flight delays and/or explore the city before the tour begins.

Departure: Flying out on the last day, we recommend departing from Paris in the afternoon, depending on your train arrival time from Metz to Paris. It’s a 1.5- to 2.5-hour train ride from Metz to Paris, depending on whether you take the TGV (fast) train. Plan your departure flight time accordingly based on your train arrival in Paris.

The Iris Barge accommodates up to 24 guests and offers a welcoming atmosphere for your Moselle River adventure. On the upper deck, the spacious lounge features a widescreen TV, cozy bar, and dining area with large windows framing views of the passing countryside. The sun deck offers a peaceful spot to relax and watch the scenery drift by. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the barge.

Between cycling excursions, your barge cruises to the next destination while you enjoy meals on board. You dine, sleep, and start each day with breakfast, then set off on your ride. At the end of the day, your floating home is waiting at the next harbor.

The Iris offers 12 spacious twin cabins, each measuring 10 m² (108 sq. ft.). Every cabin features two single beds (80 x 200 cm) that can be pushed together to create a queen bed (160 x 200 cm) or separated based on your preference.

Cabins include large rectangular fixed windows, private bathroom with shower and toilet, central heating and air-conditioning, mini safe, and hair dryer.

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What's included

  • 7 nights’ accommodation
  • 7 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 6 dinners
  • You’re supported from start to finish by our highly experienced guides and leaders
  • Industry leading Guest-to-Guide ratio (averaging 6:1)
  • All activities outlined in the itinerary
  • Delicious snacks and non-alcoholic drinks to keep you fueled
  • All necessary equipment (well-maintained and safe) for activities
  • Branded t-shirt and bag
  • Gravel bikes with drop handlebars, Hybrid with flat-bar handlebars, or E-Bikes - equipped with a front handlebar bag or rear carrier, branded water bottle, mirror, and flat pedals
  • Ride with GPS for navigation along with the detailed maps and itineraries
  • Transportation in our air-conditioned vans - safe, clean, modern, and comfortable!
  • Your queries answered by our knowledgeable Customer Care Team - only a call, chat, or email away
  • You’re “trip ready” with our Customer Care Team’s calls prior to your trip
  • “My Account” - your own online space with everything required for your adventure

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