Heidelberg to Koblenz

Day 1 (Saturday): Arrival in Heidelberg.

Individual arrival at Heidelberg. You can visit the world-famous castle that sits high over the Neckar, drive with the mountain railway to the Königstuhl Mountain or meander through the narrow lanes of the old part of town. Finish the day in one of the traditional student restaurants of the old University 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. Enjoy the mild climate of the so-called Riviera of Germany, where almonds, figs, peaches and Kiwis are cultivated. 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. As you wander through the small lanes below the mountain church you will find numerous small restaurants, in which you can try the good wine.

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 and vegetable fields you reach the first foothills of the Platine vineyards, following them through the numerous wine villages. Opportunity to visit the German viticulture museum in Oppenheim. In Nierstein you have the opportunity to take a boat ride on the Rhine. Overnight in an old vine-growing estate some kilometres before Mainz or directly in 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 either follow the cycle track on the left bank of the Rhine through fields and meadows or 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, that was side-scene for the film "The name of the rose". Then you will reach one of the most well known wine towns of the world: Rüdesheim where you will find the "Drosselgasse" with its wine houses. From the monument Niederwalldenkmal, which you reach with a chair lift, you have a gorgeous view over the Rhine Valley. Your overnight accommodation is booked in Rüdesheim-Assmannshausen or in Bingen on the opposite Rhine bank.

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

The romantic central Rhine Valley forms a rural highlight of your journey. The river flows between defiant castles and sunny vineyards through the slate mountains of the Rhine valley. Pass 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 mythic Loreley. Soon you arrive in Boppard where, If you are tired, you can shorten the stage to Koblenz with the ship. The cycle track leads you to Spay and Rhens with its richly carved, multicoloured-painted timber-framed houses. From the opposite bank the fabulous Marksburg, one of the most splendid castles on the Rhine, greets you. Then you reach Koblenz, the last town of your journey. Visit the "Deutsche Eck" a corner at the source of the river Mosel, drive up with the cable car to the impressive fortress Ehrenbreitstein in the evening or join the numerous friendly natives, who populate the famous vine village.

Day 6 (Thursday): Departure from Koblenz.

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