Tour description

Day 1 Meet Barge in Day 2 35 km To Day 3 40 km To Day 4 40 km To Floating Adventure Alsace Day 5 30 km Alsace which borders Switzerland to the south and Germany to the east. So hard to nail To Niderviller in terms of its character, it proudly guards its own distinct identity, language, cuisine, Day 6 40 km history and architecture – part French, part German, 100% Alsatian. Here the candy- To Lagarde coloured towns and villages look as though they've popped up from a children's bed- time story, the gently rolling countryside, is nothing short of idyllic. Day 7 50 km

To Nancy Alsace runs west to east from the pine-clad Vosges mountains through some of the Day 8 most beautiful vineyards in France, to the mighty Rhine river and the border with Ger- End of Services many. On this bike and boat adventure, we follow the impressive Rhine River all the way to Nancy. Along the route, we explore Wingersheim, the self-proclaimed capitol of all things hops and beer.

Certainly lots to discover on this cycling trip.

Tour Details 2020

From Strasbourg: June 6, 20, Jul 4, 18 Fast Facts From Nancy: May 30, Jun 13, 27, Jul 11 Includes : E-Bike Info : Cost: $1850 per person Single Cabin: $2195  7 nights accommodation, with all  meals included (breakfast, 6 packed E-bike rental: $300 Bike Rental: $175 lunches and 6 dinners on board)  Limited supplies on boat, reservations Length: 8 days / 7 nights  Tour guide that cycles with group recommended upon booking  Route notes daily (1 per cabin) Grade: Moderate with some hills  3 city walks  Ferry fares

Acve Journeys Contact: 1-800-597-5594 or 416-236-5011 Email: info@acvejourneys.com ITINERARY Day 1 Strasbourg Strasbourg itself is one of the many fine cities of France; its his- toric centre, with its magnificent gothic cathedral, is among the most visited in France, and the Petit France quarter, on the banks of the river Ill, is particularly worth a visit. Embark after 2PM. If you arrive early in the afternoon you can try out your bike with a short ride too the village of Kehl in Germany. Then in the evening, there is a guided walk in town.

Day 2 Strasbourg – Wingersheim 35 km Start of the week with a leisurely and flat ride through the Parc Pourtalés. Then we discover villages like and Ho- erdt where you can already see the appreciate the colourful Tu- dor style buildings. We moor the barge near Wingersheim.

Day 3 Wingersheim – Dettwiller 40 km First a ride along the canal to Hochfelden to the famous Meteor brewery which was founded in 1640, and a family business over 7 generations. Today it brews a wide range of products, each with a unique character, that allow you to rediscover the pleasures of beer. Worth a visit. Later we visit the old Jewish cemetery in Et- tendorf. Around lunchtime we will be in Bouxwiller, considered to be one of the most beautiful cities in Northern Alsace. It is known for its architectural and historical treasures. It has kept its charm of yesteryear with its timbered houses, its remarkable oriel windows and winding narrow streets.

Day 4 Dettwiller - Saverne 40 km Today we ride through the hilly area of Parc Regional Vosges du Nord. Along nice quiet roads towards la-Petite-Pierre, a picture perfect village with beautiful castle. On the way back to Saverne we pass by Graufthal with its mediaeval cave houses.

Day 5 Saverne – Niderviller 30 km A morning visit to the Haut Barr castle near Saverne is a must. This can be done by bike, on foot (1.5 hours) or taxi. After this morning program we ride mainly through the woods on the bike path along the canal and through the Vallée des Eclusiers to Niderviller. In Arzviller you can see the incline/elevator for ships that transports ships to the next level. A magnificent piece of engineering.

Day 6 Niderviller – Gondrexage – Lagarde 40 km Time for a morning cruise along the Rhine-Marne Canal. In about 4 hours the barge travels from Niderviller to Gondrexage. Here you disembark and make an easy flat ride through the nearby wetlands. You continue along canal on the traffic free bike path to Lagarde.

Day 7 Lagarde – Hénaménil - Nancy 50 km Again a morning cruise, now to Hénaménil where you leave the boat for your last ride of the week. First we visit the city of Lune- ville with its stunning cathedral. This city was heavily fought over in 1914 and has an impressive French cemetery and necropolis. We can also visit the local museum on the Battle of Leomont Hill nearby. In St-Nicolas-Port the cathedral is worth a visit before we enter Nancy, city of museums, parks and lovely squares.

Day 8 Nancy, end of tour after breakfast Disembark before 10 AM.

What to Expect Getting There

What will the weather be like? To Paris Charles de Gaulle by plane. The weather is nice and cool especially in the mornings and evenings. A sweater or fleece would be useful. It may rain so rain gear for cycling is highly recom- Then you can a speed train to Stras- mended. bourg ( apx 2 hours). How many hours of cycling a day? You can cycle from 4 to 6 hours a day depending on your fitness level. There are At the end take the train back to Paris several breaks during the day to get off the bicycle and walk around. The route or Strasbourg. is a bit hilly, moderate fitness required.

How fit do I need to be? The fitter the better, but even a fit beginner will enjoy this trip. The biggest is- sue 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 is the barge like? The 16 passenger boat is cruising in France. It has a spacious lounge and bar area with comfortable sofas and arm chairs and separate dining room, all with large picture windows. The lounge opens to the sundeck at the bow with a fixed awning and tables and chairs. On the lower deck are 9 comfortable cabins, 5 with twin beds split level, and 3 with French beds ( small doubles) and 1 single cabin, all with an ensuite bathroom with shower, sink and toilet.

What are the bikes like? We have a large selection of unisex bikes with 21 gears with upright handlebars, handbrakes, equipped with 1 pannier bag, 1 water bottle and lock. Helmets are available on board, however, we do recommend you bring your own.

How to book your holiday

 Contact our office to make sure there is space available. One of our travel planners will walk you through the entire process.

 Download the reservation form from our site and send in com- pleted form by fax or email. Once this is done, your space is confirmed and a pre-departure packet will be sent.

 A deposit is required immediately, and final payment is due 60 Not Included: days prior to the trip departure. Terms & conditions are outlined in our Reservation Form.  Transfers to/from barge  Beverages on board  Plan your air travel as soon as possible.

 Gratuities (at your discretion)  We encourage you to purchase travel insurance, either through  Entrance fees and excursions (not mentioned us or a travel insurance provider directly.

in itinerary)  Ensure you are in proper health for the trip chosen. Contact us,  Lactose/Gluten-free diets add $100, vegan for more information on vaccinations, inoculations, and fitness diets not available requirements.