Known for Gemütlichkeit (hospitality) and passion for life, Bavaria is also a stunningly beautiful region of Germany, rich in history, tradition, and culture. Blessed with mystical forests, crystal clear lakes, and snow-capped mountain peaks, the landscape is also dotted with small medieval towns, splendid castles, Unesco World Heritage sites, and historic ruins. The cities that you will visit during this bike and boat tour are infused with history but pulse with youthful energy.

Highlights:

• Idyllic villages
• Altmühl Valley Nature Reserve
• Röth-See National Park
• Bamberg, Regensburg, and Nuremberg
• Bavarian beer

We cannot think of a better way to experience Germany than a bike and boat tour in the Bavarian Region!

DAY TO DAY ITINERARY

Saturday: Bamberg

The crew of La Belle Fleur welcomes you on board around 2 P.M., where you find the ship in the cruise port of Bamberg. Bamberg a world-class city with its big baroque buildings, its cosy traditional German houses and its small alleys. It is here where you are going to test your bike in the green sites of the city. Afterwards you will explore the old city center with our tour guide.

Sunday:Bamberg –Erlangen (cycling appr. 45km)

After breakfast we start our tour through the canal valley to Hausen. From here we leave the canal and bike through the fields of the Regnitz Valley, where we bike a part of one of Germanys most beautiful bike routes“the Regnitz-Radweg”.During the day you will have all the time to enjoy one of the local “Biergartens” along the way, for a piece of pie or a beer. Also you will discover Erlangen “the beer city of Germany”, where we will spent the night.

Monday:Erlangen -Nürnberg-Hilpoltstein (cycling appr. 45km)

This morning the captain will start the engine early to bring us to Nûrnberg, a city with a lot of possibilities. You can wonder around in the medieval part of town or visit the remains of the second world war, including the buildings of the Nurnburger trials. After Nürnberg you will cycle along one of the oldest canals in the world. The original Main –Danube Canal from King Ludwigs time, with its 101 locks and beautiful sites. In the afternoon you leave the old canal and bike through the National Park Rothsee to Hilpoltstein, where you can enjoy the Bavarian landscape from the sundeck.

Tuesday: Hilpoltstein –Beilngries (cycling appr. 41km)

Todays tour brings you to Freystadt, where you can visit the town center and of course the pilgrim church of “Maria-Hilf-Wallfahrtskirche”, a baroque monument in the middle of the fields. In the afternoon you continue your tour to Beilngries, with its historical city center and their own local brewed beer.

Wednesday: Beilngreis –Riedenburg (cycling appr. 40km)

Today another national park is on the agenda, the “Altmuhltal”, here you bike along the valley and numerous times you will see remains of the old King Ludwig canal that used to flow through this valley as well. We end our bike tour in Riedenburg.

Thursday: Riedenburg–Regensburg (cycling appr. 48km)

The last day of cycling is featuring the final part of the Main Danube bike path, that will bring us to Kelheim, a small city that is situated at the crossing of the canal and the always blue Danube River, to the medieval town of Regensburg. We will enter the old and rich town of Regensburg through green fields and beautiful sites.

Friday: Regensburg

After breakfast you can participate in a city tour, or you can do some last minute shopping in this nice town. Around 12 o clock the crew of La Belle Fleur says to you goodbye!

NOTE: On alternate weeks this trip sails in the opposite direction!