Germany Active Journeys Guided tour Cycling

Tour descriptions and distances Floating Adventures: Shores of the

Day 1 The countryside on both banks of the Mosel is gorgeous, and the cool wines are Metz delicious. The picturesque little towns have rich histories, and the conditions for cy- cling are excellent indeed. Here you find the perfect mix of ingredients for a fine Day 2 50 km bike and barge vacation. Metz—Konigsmacher

Day 3 50 km This tour takes us through a wonderful, varied region. We follow the river Mosel, Konigsmacher—Remich partly in France, partly in Luxembourg, and partly in Germany. The tour starts in Metz, France, and we bike through the charming French countryside with welcoming Day 4 45 km villages. The inhabitants are proud of their smooth wines and golden “Mirabellen” Remich— liqueur (plum liqueur). We visit the fort Hackenberg, an important part of the Maginot Day 5 35 km line. Saarburg— We continue into Luxembourg, where we spend the night in Remich. In Germany we Day 6 50 km will first follow the river to charming Saarburg, with its stunning waterfalls in the Trier—Bernkastel-Kues city centre. Then we visit Trier, the oldest city in Germany, with the dat- ing from the first century after Christ. Day 7 45 km Bernkastel-Kues After Trier we follow the Mosel downstream along endless vineyards and the en- Day 8 chanting old cities of Bernkastel and Cochem. It goes without saying that we will Cochem sample the local wines whenever we can.

Tour Details 2010

Dates: Jul 24, 31* Aug 21. 28* Sep 18

Length: 8 days / 7 nights Fast Facts Cost: $1950 per person Bike rental: included Includes: Highlights: • 7 nights accommodation, with all • Travelling though 3 countries in the Single Supplement: $450 meals included (breakfast and din- comfort of you barge - never packing Grade: Moderate ner on board, packed lunch avail- and unpacking each night able) • Riding each day with like-minded peo- * from Cochem to Metz ple Starts: Metz or Cochem • Guide, bike rental, and support • Mixture of singles, couples, families and friends

Active Journeys Contact: 1-800-597-5594 or 416-236-5011 Email : [email protected] Day 1: Metz Arrive in Metz, strategically located between Côtes de and the pla- teau Lorrain. These days, the rich medieval city is a traffic junction, a place of learning and especially a lively centre of trade. A visit to the St.Etienne Cathedral, one of the most beautiful gothic cathedrals in France, is a must. This cathedral sits in the middle of the old city center, where shopping is also good. Board the ship at 4 pm, and prepare to begin your floating adventure.

Day 2: Metz – Konigsmacher (50 km) Today our bike tour leads us through the French countryside to Fort Hacken- berg, part of the Maginot line. We ride on and find the barge in Konigs- macher.

Day 3: Konigsmacherr - Sierck-les-Bains – Remich (50 km) Today’s tour takes us through the beautiful valley of the Mosel, across the French border, and into Luxembourg. But first, we visit the castle of Sierck- les-Bains. Atop the hill is a castle from the 11th century, which was fought over in a battle in the 12th century. We stay in Remich, where the Mosel forms the border between Germany and Luxembourg. We may visit the small village of Nenning, where you can visit an old roman mansion. The nearly undamaged mosaic floor in the party hall is particularly beautiful.

Day 4: Remich – Saarburg (45 km) Today we follow the valley of the Mosel and Saar to the north and visit charming Saarburg. On the way we visit a , and taste the fresh Mosel white wine. Saarburg is an interesting old town situated in the most beautiful part of the Saar valley. Here the banks of the river are densely for- ested. The castle of Saarburg was built in the 10th century. In the middle of town we come across a waterfall of 20 metres high. At the foot of this water- fall there is an old mill, driven by the small river. In this part of town most of the old houses from the 17th and 18th century are still intact.

Day 5: Saarburg – Trier (35 km) Today we bike on to Trier, the oldest city in Germany. According to the Ro- mans, Trier was founded around 15 BC by Augustus Caesar under the name of Augusta Trevorum. As a trading town and administrative centre, Trier flourished during the late imperial age. This Roman golden age has left us with a respectable number of monuments, including the city gate Porta Ni- gra, which was built around 18 AD.

Day 6: Trier - Bernkastel-Kues (50 km) Today we cruise past and , which produce a number of beautiful white wines. Trittenheim lies ahead, after a sharp hairpin turn in the Mosel. It is surrounded by mountains, and covered with extensive vineyards. Our destination is Bernkastel-Kues. Bernkastel is a frequently visited, pictur- esque town, with the best wine regions of the mid-Mosel. We visit various cellars and enjoy the wines, and take in the pride of the town – the market square, with its gorgeous timber-framed houses.

Day 7: Bernkastel-Kues – Cochem (45 km) We follow the Mosel downstream, past Traben-Trarbach and . Traben- Trarbach is surrounded by woods and extensive vineyards, and is the major centre of wine trade in the Mosel region. Zell is beautifully situated on the Mosel, where the river meanders through the hills in many loops. The Hoherott and the Corrayer Berg are the best-known wine regions. Our final destination is Cochem, a cosy and characteristic Mosel town, with steep mountains, wooded hills, medieval fortresses and a picturesque city centre. The fortress now holds a fascinating museum.

Day 8: Cochem Tour ends after breakfast.

What to Expect Getting There What will the weather be like? The weather is nice and cool especially in the mornings and evenings. A sweater or fleece would be useful. It may rain in the spring so rain gear for • Metz can be reached by TGV cycling is highly recommended. from Paris on the new line to/ from Strasbourg How many hours of cycling a day? • Cochem has a train station You can cycle from 4 to 6 hours a day depending on your fitness level. which can connect you to There are several breaks during the day to get off the bicycle and walk most major European cities around. The route is completely flat with very little elevation gain or loss.

How fit do I need to be? The fitter the better, but even a fit beginner will enjoy this trip. The biggest issue may just be getting accustomed to sitting on a bike for hours a day, so get used to riding on a bike before coming out.

What are the accommodations like? Cabins are all fitted with 2 beds, a bathroom with sink, toilet and shower. The main common areas include the upper deck with the dining rooms and lounge. All barges have an outdoor deck to enjoy as well.

Extra Services How to book your holiday

We have a small selection of hotels in Europe • Contact our office to make sure there is space available. One of for your arrival or departure. our travel planners will walk you through the entire process.

• Download the reservation form from our site and send in com- Hotels in range from $100 per night to a de- pleted form by fax or email. Once this is done, your space is luxe property at $350 per night. confirmed and a pre-departure packet will be sent.

• A deposit is required immediately, and final payment is due 60 If you would like to spend a few more days in days prior to the trip departure. Terms & conditions are outlined Europe, please conatct our office with your in our Reservation Form. request and we will be happy to help you. At • Plan your air travel as soon as possible. the end of the journey, we can organize an extension for you to enjoy . • We encourage you to purchase travel insurance, either through us or a travel insurance provider directly.

We also offer a variety of options, so please • Ensure you are in proper health for the trip chosen. Contact us, feel free to contact us for more information. for more information on vaccinations, inoculations, and fitness requirements.