‘Kölle alaaf’ takes place once a year in the famous city of Cologne on the Rhine. But it’s not only during carnival time that everyone talks about Cologne. The Cologne dialect also brings cheerfulness, pragmatism and is an expression of one’s own culture. By bike you will explore the Lower Rhine from Rotterdam via Dordrecht, Gornichen, Rhenen, Emmerich, Dusseldof and on to the cathedral city of Cologne. The geographic and linguistic proximity to the Netherlands has ensured that bicycles have always been regarded as a classic means of transport. So you experience a place made for cycling as you wind through the maze of rivers, canals and waterways.
Details of the bike and boat trip from Rotterdam to Cologne
Aboard the MS Olympia, you set sail on the Lower Rhine. On the eight-day bike and boat tour you will enjoy the comfortable ambiance of this cosy ship. After boarding you sail to Rotterdam. Over the next few days you cycle past windmills from the 18th century. In Dordrecht you explore the oldest city in Holland and admire the historic buildings, the inner city ports and the quintessentially Dutch landscape. In the evening, aboard the you can enjoy a secluded spot in the lounge to reminisce about your day on the bike.
Highlights at a glance
National Park De Biesbosch: On day three you reach one of the worlds few freshwater tidal areas. An intricate maze of rivers with crystal clear water and small islands is waiting for you!
Cologne, the cathedral city on the Rhine: In addition to Cologne Cathedral, which is world famous, there are many more sights to admire. The old town with its historical charm, quaint streets and traditional houses is especially worth a visit!
Useful information about the bike and boat trip from Rotterdam to Cologne
The combined bike and boat trip offers you a varied picture of industry and idyllic countryside. The tour not only visits interesting cities such as Rotterdam, Wesel, Emmerich and Cologne but also provides an insight into how the Dutch and German influences intermingle. Over eight-days you will travel on cycle paths of the highest quality. The route mostly runs on paved roads, without significant gradients. So this tour is ideal for entry-level and hobby cyclists!
Have you always wanted to travel by boat but at the same time travel on two wheels across the mainland? Then with the bike and boat trip from Eurobike you have killed two birds with one stone. Book this combined trip now!
Embark the boat in Rotterdam between 3 and 5pm. Enjoy your first evening on board or have a stroll through the city of Rotterdam where Europe’s largest port is located.
Today you start by cycling along the Maas River until you reach Kinderdijk, which boasts the most famous windmills in the Netherlands. The 19 windmills, which date back to the 18th century, are beautifully preserved and are listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Continue the cycle tour and after a short while, you reach today’s destination - Dordrecht. Holland's oldest town is located on an island that is bordered by large rivers and that is characterised by numerous historic buildings, city ports and a fantastic atmosphere.
On today’s cycle trip, you leave behind the lively cities and dive into the quietness of nature. Pass through the national park of De Biesbosch, an adventurous labyrinth composed of rivers with crystal clear water and small islands. It is one of very few tidal freshwater zones worldwide.
Leave the fortified city of Gorinchem behind and enjoy a bike ride through the unspoilt nature. Follow the River Linge, a tributary of the Rhine until you reach today’s destination Wijk bij Duurstede. This place is located on the edge of the "Utrecht Hill Ridge“. This is a tree-covered ridge of low sands created, which was created during the last glacial period.
Whilst you are having breakfast, the ship will set sail. After a short trip, you reach Rhenen – the starting point for today's cycle ride. Cycle along the Lower Rhine past the embankment foreland until you arrive in Arnheim. A detour to the city centre transports you back in time due to its narrow lanes and picturesque buildings!
In the early morning, the ship takes you over the German-Dutch border. You start today’s cycle ride in Emmerich and you cycle past the Reeser Schanz nature reserve and the Roman city of Xanten. Today’s destination is Wesel, a hanseatic city with numerous remnants of the Prussian past. It is situated on the confluence of the Lippe and Rhine rivers.
In the morning you will already have reached Düsseldorf where you will start your last cycle tour along the well-developed adventure trail "Rheinschiene“. This is a particularly attractive section where historic old towns and idyllic nature are interspersed with industrial heritage. The towns located directly on the Rhine, often boasting well preserved medieval town walls and towers, are well worth a detour. Eventually you will reach the Cathedral city of Cologne where the vivid riverbank of the Rhine invites you for a stay. Enjoy a cosy evening on board or have a Kölsch, the typical beer from Cologne, in one of the numerous pubs.
After breakfast it is time to disembark. Please do so after 9am.
Tour character
This tour is predominantly flat and runs along good quality cycle paths, which are mainly asphalted. You even cycle along the Rhine dikes . The characteristics of the tour mean that it is suitable for novices as well as confident cyclists.
Comfortable and cosy river ship with family environment. The ship was refurbished in 2015/2016.
Beds: 96Crew: 21Length: 88,50Width: 10,50
MS Olympia
A comfortable and cosy riverboat with a friendly atmosphere. The highlights of the MS Olympia include the spacious, partially covered sundeck with seating and storage space for bicycles.