
Rhine River Cruise Bike Tour
Rhine River Cruise Bike Tour
8 days
7 nights
Activity Levels 1-3
Small Luxury Ship
2025: May-Sep2026: May-Sep

From $5,830 - $12,130 /person
Includes port fees
Basel to Amsterdam through Switzerland, France, Germany & the Netherlands
A four-country journey has never been this relaxed. And when you're this content, you'll want to say yes to everything. Bike through the lush Black Forest? Yep. Hunt for the Lorelei between Rhine Valley vineyards? Ja. Sip brews at a biergarten, see Strasbourg's soaring Gothic cathedral and cruise through Amsterdam's canals like a local? Oui, jawoord and anchors aweigh!
Highlights
- Savor a rich and ever-changing tableau as you cruise the Rhine's mighty waters and pedal some of its most scenic stretches
- Explore the romantic streets of baroque Heidelberg, medieval Strasbourg and impeccably preserved Riquewihr
- Bike the evocative Route des Vins in Alsace, where you can pause to taste world-class Gewürztraminers and Rieslings
- Cruise through the picturesque Rhine Gorge, admiring its multitude of fortress ruins and castles

StartBasel, Switzerland
EndAmsterdam, Netherlands
* Start/End locations may vary. Do not book flights until your trip details are confirmed.
Itinerary

Days 1-3
Cycle from a quaint village in the Black Forest toward the vineyards of the Rhine Valley • Enjoy superb riding and wine along Alsace's famous Route des Vins • Pedal to the beautiful medieval villages of Riquewihr and Eguisheim • Soak up magical views in Strasbourg and admire the Gothic cathedral on a guided city walk • Spin along meadows and forests with views of France and Germany.





Nights 1-3
A custom-designed ship featuring stylish private staterooms, panoramic windows, full balconies, an onboard team of classically trained chefs and inviting areas to socialize with fellow passengers. An Andrew Harper’s Hideaway Report Readers’ Choice cruise line. (pool)

Days 4-5
Bike to Heidelberg, a stunning German city dominated by impressive castle ruins • Meander its cobblestone streets, strewn with gorgeous buildings made with red limestone from the former fortress • Follow in the footsteps of Romans along the famed Weinstrasse (wine route) • Unwind at a local biergarten with a few new friends and a refreshing beer or Radler • Pedal past fairy-tale towns, castles and vineyards through the Rhine Gorge, a spectacular World Heritage site • Take part in a wine tasting and enjoy a picnic lunch at a local family-owned winery.





Nights 4-5
A custom-designed ship featuring stylish private staterooms, panoramic windows, full balconies, an onboard team of classically trained chefs and inviting areas to socialize with fellow passengers. An Andrew Harper’s Hideaway Report Readers’ Choice cruise line. (pool)

Days 6-8
Enjoy a glimpse of modern Germany in Düsseldorf, one of the country's largest cities, full of clean, green park-like public spaces • Try a mug of locally brewed Altbier ("Old Beer") and learn about the local Brauhaus (brewery) culture • Amsterdam's lovely waterways, arched bridges and crooked canal houses are delightful • Two-wheel it through the serene Dutch countryside • Embark on a traditional canal boat cruise along the city's intricate channels.





Nights 6-7
A custom-designed ship featuring stylish private staterooms, panoramic windows, full balconies, an onboard team of classically trained chefs and inviting areas to socialize with fellow passengers. An Andrew Harper’s Hideaway Report Readers’ Choice cruise line. (pool)
What's Included
See moreStraight Talk
We want to make sure you're on the trip that's right for you. Every Backroads trip is unique and this one is no exception.
The ships we sail on are like a floating luxury hotel, so you can visit a new destination each day without touching your suitcase once you’ve settled in. Our ships are custom‐designed with a variety of inviting spaces that offer plenty of room for both relaxing and socializing. These ships are vastly smaller than most cruise ships, with up to just 150 passengers on our river trips and up to only 250 on our ocean trips.
We sail with up to 30 Backroads guests per group. Occasionally there may be more than one Backroads group onboard and you may cross paths with the other group on routes or at restaurants. When this occurs, each group will have their own dedicated onboard Backroads leaders.
If you’re new to Backroads active cruise trips, there are a few things you need to know. Our cruises are smaller, and much more intimate than a typical cruise. They are also quite lively, social experiences, shaped by both our Backroads group and the larger ship community. Additionally, even with an itinerary subject to fixed nautical schedules that may occasionally limit our time on shore, we get out and explore far beyond the cruise norm. If you love meeting new people, enjoy the ease of unpacking once, and don’t mind a set schedule of port departure times, you’ll love our approach to active river and ocean cruising. Nobody does it like we do.
On our active cruises, we seek out diversity by including regionally authentic and creative meals for onshore lunches, picnics and the occasional onshore dinner. On-ship meals, though delightful, are meant to appeal to a wide cross section of passengers and may at times feel more conventional for some, and less reflective of the region than on Backroads hotel trips.
Our daily itinerary is based on scheduled sailing and port arrival times and as a result some days have more opportunities for exploring on land while other days have more sailing time. Every river has its own unique temperament and for centuries water levels have shifted due to rain, temperature and agriculture. High water levels may mean the ship cannot pass under a bridge, low water levels result in slower sailing, and a disabled lock can also lead to some extra cruising time. Should any unforeseen change happen during your river cruise, we will work closely with AmaWaterways’ captain and staff, who are very experienced in going with the flow. Depending on the situation, we may use a bus or our bikes to get to the next destination and use a land-based hotel if needed, in which case our leaders will adjust the rides and activities as necessary.
In contrast to our land-based trips, which have similar room categories, the AmaWaterways ships offer a wide range of stateroom categories. The top-tier staterooms often fill fast, so book as early as possible if this is important to you.
Most port conditions require that ships tie up alongside each other, in which case you may need to walk through another ship to access our ship. This is a part of river cruising due to its popularity. You may experience obstructed views from your stateroom when the ship is double-docked, but as soon as we set sail again your beautiful views will be restored.
Accommodations
Small Ships, Big Adventures
Our small ships feel more like boutique retreats, offering an experience a world away from the typical large cruise.
Ship may vary based on departure. Any variations will be displayed when selecting a departure under Dates & Prices.
Nights 1-7
A custom-designed ship featuring stylish private staterooms, panoramic windows, full balconies, an onboard team of classically trained chefs and inviting areas to socialize with fellow passengers. An Andrew Harper’s Hideaway Report Readers’ Choice cruise line. (pool)
Gallery














#MyBackroadsTrip
Bikes
Choose Your Perfect Bike
Our bikes are designed and built with specific cyclists and riding styles in mind, so we can always offer you a perfect ride. Please note that bike requests are subject to availability and prioritized based on the date they're submitted.

Included in your trip price
- Ideal for avid cyclists
- Redesigned for 2024
- Next gen titanium frame with carbon wheels
- Responsive, efficient and comfortable
- Drop handlebars only

Included in your trip price
- Suited for a wide range of cyclists
- Comfortable ergonomic seat
- Long wheel base adds to the bike's control and stability
- Upright handlebars only

Included in your trip price
- One of the lightest e-bikes available
- Provides plenty of power and more than enough battery
- Lower top tubes for easier mounting and dismounting
- Upright handlebars only
- Limited availability on Unplugged Bike Tours; learn more
Min. age to ride e-bike: 16+
Review Snapshot
by PowerReviews
Reviewed by 24 customers
Great tour of the Rhine River
Our group had a wonderful experience biking from Basel to Amsterdam. The daily bike routes were challenging and very scenic. From the vineyards of Alsace, to the Rhine Gorge and all the castles and the lush farmlands and canals of Nederlands, this trip had it all. Our leaders took care of every detail and made the trip fun, interesting, and so enjoyable.

Excellent active river cruise
Everything was great: from the engaging, knowledgeable and fun leaders, to the cultural and physical activities. I also enjoyed the ship: food was delicious, staterooms are comfortable. One thing to be aware of before going on trip is double-decking, and Backroads did a nice job at setting these expectations beforehand
Amazing scenery, great bike routes, superb accomodations
We thoroughly enjoyed the rides - really felt like we got to know the countries we were riding through. The staff was outstanding - seemed to always appear when we needed them. Enjoyed using the GPS system - gave us some autonomy and confidence that we wouldn't get lost.

Best vacation ever!
The biking tour was so well thought out. The bike paths were spectacular. I will never forget this trip. I am looking to take another biking tour next summer/
We had a great time.
Everything was first class. The people, food, and equipment (electric bikes are great, hadn't been on a bike in over a year still rode 25+ miles a day). Everything is taken care of for you. Just show up and have great time.

Top notch in every aspect
Superb Backroads team, all rides and events well organized, cruise ship accommodations A1.

Fantastic trip. Biking, cruising, gourmet meals!
Excellently run trip. The guides were fantastic, encouraging and fun. They did all the work; guests just enjoyed the experience. The GPS on the bikes guided us along and we could enjoy the lovely scenery. No getting lost! Ama Waterways boat was fantastic and gourmet meals all the way. My room had a "rain shower"...ahhh! and a balcony/terrace with table and chairs so I could watch 40 German castles go by as we traveled the Rhine.
Was like a dream!
Leave it to Backroads to find the best local experiences (canal cruise, pub lunches, winery picnic, etc), the most scenic routes, the best leaders and support staff, and thoughtful touches like yummy local snacks. For the convenience of only unpacking once there is a trade off as the rooms on the ship are pretty standard so you don't get the fabulous accommodations common to non-river cruise trips.
Magical experience not to be missed
We did this tour in September 2021. In spite of pandemic challenges, Backroads and AmaWaterways did an excellent job to ensure a safe and fabulous trip. The routes were beautiful and our Backroads team were absolutely wonderful. From castles to vineyards to ferries to medieval towns, every day was breathtaking. Don't miss this one!

Best way to experience about the Rhine River!
The bike rides and options were perfectly figured out to maximize our time for viewing the countryside and experiencing culturally significant sites, that often included lunch!
Dates & Prices
Dates & Prices
Click on dates for pricing, itinerary variations and to book your trip.
Note: Your stateroom will be assigned based on availability. Please contact us if you are interested in booking multiple Stateroom Categories for your party, selecting a specific stateroom, or Single Supplement pricing.
Please Select a Group Size
Group size is required to show per-person pricing. Your group size can be approximate and can change.