The Main River doesn’t get the same fame as the Rhine, but that’s part of its charm—terraced vineyards, half-timbered wine towns, and centuries-old castles unfold at a pace nobody’s rushing to interrupt. On this guided bike and boat tour, we cycle quiet riverside paths through Franconia by day—from Aschaffenburg’s university-town streets to Würzburg’s baroque Residenz—while our ship carries us on to the next stop each evening, all the way to Bamberg, a UNESCO World Heritage city built, like Rome, on seven hills. There’s a jacuzzi waiting on deck and a three-course dinner in the dining room by the time we’re back aboard. It’s an easy, unhurried way to see a side of Germany many travelers miss entirely.
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.
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:
Got everything you need? Grab your gear through Active Junky and earn cash back on top outdoor brands — plus a $10 bonus on your first $25+ purchase. Shop now at Active Junky!
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.
Secure your spot with a 30% deposit upon booking! The remaining 70% of the trip price must be paid 90 days prior to departure at the latest. If booking within 90 days of departure, the full amount is required at the time of booking.
Check your inbox.
Schedule a call with our adventure experts and let us help planning your dream adventure.
At the end of May 2019 20 cycling friends from Perth and Portland Oregon boarded the Allure in Bamberg For an 8 day trip to Aschaffenburg. The moment we boarded we were made to feel welcome by the crew. We were all in our 50 s, 60,s and 70 s and one was 80 who rode every day ! Martien the Captain, Alv our chef extraordinaire, Lea our bike guide, Angeline who helped all the crew and Krys the deckhand. Every staff member went out of their way to make our trip special. The meals that Alv prepared for us every day were outstanding and varied, in fact some of the best meals we had while travelling through Germany. Every day was fun filled cycling through the glorious German countryside with our friends and at the end of the day a welcome drink, coffee, tea and cake. The scenery of all the little towns we visited were very beautiful and the area we biked through was mostly flat. A couple of ladies didn t ride and so we enjoyed relaxing days on the deck of the Allure reading books, enjoying the wonderful scenery we passed and even managed a few walking laps around the boat! We have now embarked on 2 trip with Eurosail with our cycling friends, this trip from Bamberg to Aschaffenberg and in 2014 from Brugge to Amsterdam. The cabins with our own en-suite are more than big enough for the short amount of time you spend in there. It s a great way to spend quality time with family and friends without having to pack and unpack every night. Russ & Cherie, Perth, West Australia