Make your way to Metz where the boat is waiting for you. Embarkation and check-in is at 2 p.m. Settle into your cabin and then meet your fellow travellers, crew and bike guides for a welcome meeting where you will learn more about the coming week. Metz is a fascinating town with a beautiful cathedral and a rich history thanks to its location on an old Roman trading route. After dinner your guides invite you to join them for a guided stroll around this historic town. The boat remains at her mooring in Metz overnight

A breakfast cruise delivers us downstream to the town of Thionville where we start our first ride. After admiring the city’s medieval ramparts and winding cobbled streets we set off through the glorious french countryside. Our route leads us through some charming sleepy villages and we also pass the impressive fortress that stands guard over the riverside town of Sierk-les-Bains.

A little further on we pass from France into Luxembourg. The only indication you have passed from one country into another is a very small sign on the side of the path – there are no border or passport controls at all. This frictionless travel between many countries in mainland Europe came into being in 1985 with the signing of the Schengen Agreement. Funnily enough, the next village you cycle through is the unassuming village of Schengen itself where this historic agreement was signed.

In the village of Nennig we stop to admire the remains of a palatial Roman villa. We then rejoin the boat at her mooring in the peaceful little town of Remich where she remains for the night.

In this region, the river Moselle marks the border between Luxembourg and Germany. Our ride starts off on the German side (the eastern side) before switching to the Luxembourg side further downstream. Here we stop to visit a winery that specialises in the ‘Cremant’ sparkling wine. Afterwards we have a choice to make as there are two options. You may opt to go with the group who will continue to follow the river (first the Moselle and later the Saar). This is the easier but slightly longer option. Alternatively you may prefer to join the group that will leave the river and cut across country via a network of quite hilly country lanes. This is a tougher route but shorter in distance than following the river. Either way, both routes will deliver you to the charming and picturesque old town of Saarburg. In the centre of this splendid, quaint town we can admire the 20 meter waterfall and ancient water-mill. The boat remains moored in Saarburg overnight

After breakfast we set off with the bikes following the course of the river Saar back to where it meets the Moselle. We then follow the Moselle downstream to the historic city of Trier. As today’s ride is relatively short we should arrive around lunchtime and the rest of the afternoon is yours to explore this fascinating place which is in fact Germany’s oldest city. Founded in 15BC by Caesar Augustus the town flourished and quickly grew. There are many ancient relics and monuments in the city but none more famous than the Porta Nigra city gate which was built around 18AD. The galley on board is closed this evening so you are free to make your own arrangements at one of the many fine restaurants in Trier. The boat remains moored in Trier for the night.

A breakfast cruise downstream delivers us to the town of Schweich from where today’s ride will start. We now enter the ‘Romantic Moselle’, the affectionate nickname of this beautiful wine region. The scenic cycle path leads us through some of the most famous wine villages on the river including Trittenheim, which enjoys a truly stunning location on a majestic bend in the river, Neumagen-Drohn and Piesport. Eventually the cycle path leads us to the town of Bernkastel-Kues with its charming market square surrounded by beautiful half-timbered buildings. The boat remains moored in Bernkastel-Kues for the night.

Today we continue to follow the riverside cycle path through the beautiful wine region. The Moselle valley is more narrow now and regiments of terraced vineyards adorn the steep hillsides that sweep down to the riverbank. We visit Traben-Trarbach, a town famous for its Jugendstil Art Nouveau architecture. A few more meanders of the river deliver us to the prety wine village of Zell an der Mosel. Here there are plenty of opportunities to get to know the many good wines that are produced in this region. The boat remains moored in Zell for the night.

Our final ride offers some truly stunning scenery and as such provides a fitting finale to our Moselle cycling adventure. The valley gets even tighter now and the terraced vineyards seem to cling to the steep hillsides. Near the village of Bremm we can look up at some of the steepest vineyards in Europe with an average pitch of 60 degrees. A little further on we reach Beilstein, one of the best-preserved medieval villages on the Moselle. Castle Metternich stands guard above the village and the view from the ramparts is definitely worth the climb. A couple more bends in the river and we arrive in Cochem – journey’s end. Cochem is a beautiful old town overlooked by terraced vineyards and an impressive looking castle. Again, we highly recommend the climb to Reichsburg Castle to enjoy the view along the river. Our final night aboard is spent in this perfect little village.

After breakfast it is time to disembark and head for home or your next adventure.