An 8-day, 7-night guided bike and boat tour tracing the Main River from Aschaffenburg to Bamberg. Six days of easy, flat cycling take us past vineyards, half-timbered wine towns, and the baroque Residenz Palace in Würzburg, with the option of a longer or shorter route on most days. Every night is spent aboard the Princesse Royal, a 16-cabin river ship, with breakfast, a packed lunch on riding days, and most dinners included. The trip ends in Bamberg, a UNESCO World Heritage city known for its seven hills and historic breweries.
We board the Princesse Royal in Aschaffenburg from 2 pm. Once we’re settled into our cabins, there’s time to wander the university town’s streets and wine bars before dinner, with a stop at Johannisburg Castle, the red sandstone residence of the former prince-bishops of Mainz, worth a look on the way.
Meals: Dinner
Accommodation: Princesse Royal ship
The ship gets underway as we have breakfast, and today’s ride follows the river along the Planeten-Radweg cycle route, through floodplain forests with a choice of the left or right bank for part of the way. We arrive in Freudenberg in the afternoon, with views of Freudenberg Castle above the town.
Cycling: 48 km (29 mi)
Meals: Breakfast, packed lunch, dinner
Accommodation: Princesse Royal ship
Today’s route winds through idyllic Main valley landscapes, past Wertheim Castle at the confluence of the Main and Tauber rivers, and onward to Lohr, said to be the childhood home of the woman who inspired the Snow White legend. A shorter or longer option is available for the day’s ride.
Cycling: 40 km (24 mi) or 45 km (27 mi)
Meals: Breakfast, packed lunch, dinner
Accommodation: Princesse Royal ship
We continue toward Würzburg, a city whose old walls, towers, and gates date back over 800 years. The afternoon is dedicated to the Residenz Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of Europe’s finest baroque residences, along with the Marienburg fortress overlooking the city and the Old Main Bridge below it.
Cycling: 30 km (18 mi)
Meals: Breakfast, packed lunch, dinner
Accommodation: Princesse Royal ship
The ride today takes us along the Main Cycle Path through vineyard-covered hills, passing through the towns of Ochsenfurt and Marktbreit before reaching Kitzingen. Along the way, we stop at the German Fastnacht Museum, dedicated to the region’s traditional carnival customs.
Cycling: 40 km (24 mi)
Meals: Breakfast, packed lunch, dinner
Accommodation: Princesse Royal ship
Today’s route runs through more of Franconia’s wine-growing country, with a stop in Dettelbach, a picturesque wine town, and a visit to the pilgrimage church at Volkach. A shorter or longer option is available before we reach Schweinfurt.
Cycling: 40 km (24 mi) or 60 km (37 mi)
Meals: Breakfast, packed lunch, dinner
Accommodation: Princesse Royal ship
Our last full day of riding brings us to Bamberg by way of Haßfurt, with a shorter or longer route option along the way. Bamberg is a UNESCO World Heritage city built, like Rome, on seven hills—we spend the afternoon and evening exploring its Little Venice fishermen’s quarter and, for those interested, sampling from among its eleven historic breweries.
Cycling: 35 km (21 mi) or 40 km (24 mi)
Meals: Breakfast, packed lunch, dinner
Accommodation: Princesse Royal ship
We disembark in Bamberg after breakfast, by 9:30 am, bringing a week of vineyards, river towns, and history along the Main to a close.
Meals: Breakfast
Included:
Add-ons (pricing shown at checkout):
Not included:
In order to join this Aschaffenburg-Bamberg bike and boat tour, just basic fitness is required. The most you’ll cycle within a day is up to 60 km (37 mi), on flat, easy terrain, with a shorter route option available on most days. Note that on shorter routes you may not be able to visit all the highlights mentioned.
If you’d prefer to cycle independently and at your own pace, you’re welcome to complete the routes on your own using our detailed cycling map and the handy Ride with GPS app. For more detailed information, check out the day-by-day itinerary—keep in mind that cycling route distances in the itinerary are approximate.
Hybrid bike and e-bike rentals are both available, so you can choose your effort level, and it’s also perfectly fine to spend a day aboard the ship instead of riding if you’d rather rest.
If you prefer not to cycle on a particular day, you’re welcome to stay on board and relax while the ship cruises to the next landing place.
Want to see what else is there in the area? Discover more Germany bike tours here!
Here’s a list of the equipment you need to bring:
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Yes, hybrid bikes and e-bikes are both available to rent for this Aschaffenburg-Bamberg bike and boat tour and can be added to your booking at an additional cost during checkout. Bike insurance is included in the price.
Hybrid bike — a lightweight aluminum-frame bike fitted with highly responsive handbrakes, at least seven speeds, and a gel seat that adjusts for height. A lock is attached to the frame, and the wheels run on puncture-resistant tires.
E-bike — built on the same lightweight frame, with highly responsive handbrakes and at least seven speeds, plus a 400Wh battery offering three levels of power assistance. The gel seat adjusts for height, a lock is attached to the frame, and the tires are puncture-resistant.
Bringing your own bike — you’re welcome to bring your own bike or e-bike, as long as it doesn’t have mirrors or other parts that stick out. Space on board is limited, so reserve a spot in advance—you can tell us you’re bringing your own bike at checkout (charging included if bringing an e-bike). Damage to or theft of your own bike isn’t covered.
Group sizes and pricing
Aschaffenburg-Bamberg bike and boat tours can be arranged for larger groups. Contact us to make arrangements.
Min. age requirements
If your group has participants under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.
Yes, of course! Non-cycling guests are more than welcome to join. The price stays the same, as all inclusions are identical apart from the guided cycling tours themselves. Our tour guides can give you tips on how to enjoy your holiday without taking part in the daily rides—and while the boat travels between harbours, you can simply relax and enjoy the peace and quiet on board. It’s a lovely option for mixed groups!
The price for this Aschaffenburg-Bamberg bike and boat tours is based on twin-share cabins, but a single occupancy cabin can be arranged at an additional fee. You can add it to your booking at checkout.
Solo travelers are welcome to join, but securing a single occupancy cabin for themselves is mandatory—you’ll be able to add it to your booking at checkout. It’s not possible to join as a solo traveller and share a cabin with another guest.
The starting point of this Aschaffenburg-Bamberg bike and boat tours is Aschaffenburg. To get there, most people fly into Frankfurt Airport (FRA). From there, you can take a shuttle service, public transport, or rent a car to reach the ship’s dock.
You will meet your guide and board the Princesse Royal at 2 pm on Day 1 in Aschaffenburg.
We highly recommend that you cover all your bases with insurance. To make your booking and traveling experience as carefree as possible, you’ll be offered to simply insure your trip with Redpoint at checkout.
Redpoint—the official 57hours insurance partner—tailors protection packages for adventure travel, offering a comprehensive travel program, even in remote locations! Trip cancellation, natural disasters, pandemic coverage, medical evacuation, primary medical expenses—regardless of the travel interruption that may happen, Redpoint will have you covered.
The price of the tour includes the 5 euro SGR Insolvency Protection. This is mandatory consumer contribution called the SGR insolvency protection guarantee scheme.