Set sail on an unforgettable European journey where adventure flows as effortlessly as the river itself. By day, cycle or hike past vineyards and castles, explore medieval villages and experience history up-close. By night, unwind in comfort aboard our intimate river ships.
The Backroads Difference
Traditional river cruises often offer fleeting shore excursions that only give you a glimpse of what lies beyond the banks. At Backroads, we dive deeper: our full-day adventures blend the excitement of active immersion with the relaxed pace of ship travel. Unpack and settle into boutique-style accommodations with on-ship dining and ample time to absorb the local culture and landscapes. With Backroads, you’ll enjoy all ship amenities plus the energy and expertise of our world-class Trip Leaders. From scenic rides to private cocktail receptions or small group dinners, every experience is elevated and personalized.
Discover a journey that blends adventure, flavor and culture. When you want to cross multiple borders, savor food, wine and history, take in breathtaking landscapes and vibrant local traditions, a Backroads Active River Cruise will move you, in every sense.
Cover More Ground
Danube River Cruise Bike Tour
Start: Prague, Czech Republic | End: Budapest, Hungary
Visit five countries (Czech, Germany, Austria, Slovakia and Hungary) and discover five different cultures in Central Europe as you cycle through remote villages, ride along the edge of Bavarian forests and pedal past world-class vineyards. See the immense baroque abbey in Melk, explore imperial Vienna, the center of the Hapsburg Empire, bike the serene beauty of Donau-Auen National Park and check out Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia. After an exhilarating day, relax in an elegant stateroom with ever-changing views of the Danube and wait for the grand finale: entering the city center of majestic Budapest. This tour combines the thrill of cycling with the indulgences of a full-service river cruise.
Bringing the family? The Danube River Cruise Bike Tour is also available for Families with Young Adults 20s & Beyond
Want to experience the exuberance of a Backroads-dedicated ship? Join the Danube Full Ship Celebration Bike Tour
Want more downtime to watch the world glide by from the deck? Join the Danube Easygoing E-bike Tour
Want to not only bike, but hike and kayak, too? Check out our Danube River Cruise Multi-Adventure Tour, also available for Families and Kids & Teens and Families with Teens & 20s.
Rhine River Cruise Bike Tour
Start: Basel, Switzerland | End: Amsterdam, Netherlands
Flowing under the watchful eye of medieval castles and fortresses, the Rhine River has played a pivotal role in history from the Roman Empire to World War II. Starting in cosmopolitan Basel, Switzerland, we’ll crisscross between countries to visit France on one side and Germany on the other. Bike the Route des Vins (Wine Route) to Strasbourg, then cross the river to wander Heidelberg, Germany’s own City of Love, whose castle houses the largest wine barrel in the world. Finally, go with the flow in the Netherlands and Amsterdam, a most quintessentially bike-and-water land.
On the Rhine River Cruise Multi-Adventure, you’ll not only bike, but hike the Black Forest and kayak the canals of Strasbourg, too.
Want to balance your energy with more me-time? Try the Rhine River Cruise Easygoing E-bike Tour.
Food and Wine
Bordeaux River Cruise Bike Tour
Start: Bordeaux, France | End: Bordeaux, France
Indulge in the refined pleasures of the world’s preeminent wine region on our Bordeaux River Cruise Bike Tour. Soak up the essence of France with full-day adventures along the Garonne and Dordogne Rivers: learn about the art of winemaking, taste macarons made from centuries-old recipes and cycle past troglodyte houses. And what trip to Bordeaux would be complete without chateaux and wine? You’ll lunch and taste at the historic Château de la Rivière and tour the narrow passageways of the impressive Citadelle de Blaye. Savor the unique sweetness of Sauternes and ride past the most celebrated wine AOCs in France, including Saint-Julien, Saint-Estèphe and Pauillac (home of Rothschild).
Provence’s Rhône River Cruise Bike Tour
Start: Avignon, France | End: Lyon, France
In the heart of southern France, meander along the Rhone River from the cultivated landscapes of Provence to the vineyard-clad hills of the Crozes-Hermitage region, ending in the foodie mecca of Lyon.
Along the way, we’ll enjoy a traditional Provencal lunch with a view of the elegant Pont du Gard aqueduct, a marvel of Roman engineering that has stood for nearly 2,000 years. Walk the same streets in Arles where Vincent van Gogh lived and painted. Bike in the Alpilles (Little Alps), taking a break to tour an old olive mill where you’ll sample their wares with lunch. Stop in historic Avignon and visit Châteauneuf-du-Pape, once home to the Pope and whose castle and vineyards date back to the 1300s. Cycle through the rolling hills and villages of Beaujolais to sip local wines and take in the vistas.
Heritage and Scenery
Portugal's Douro River Cruise Bike Tour
Start: Salamanca, Spain | End: Porto or Lisbon, Portugal
Glide from Spain across Portugal to the Atlantic Ocean through the Douro River Valley, the world’s first protected wine-producing region. Lush forests alternate with terraced vineyards and villages with cobblestone streets and baroque architecture; the steep, rugged terrain means many of these vineyards and historic villages are best accessed by boat. We’ll visit family-run farms for quintessential Portuguese lunches and have ample opportunity to sample Vinho Verde and Port wine. In Lamego, challenge yourself to climb the 600+ steps up to the Shrine of Our Lady of Remedies, where stopping along the way to admire murals made of azulejo tiles gives you a chance to catch your breath. End your journey with refreshing ride along the Atlantic coast and a walking tour around the charming old-world city of Porto.
Seine River Cruise Bike Tour
Start: Paris, France | End: Paris, France
The enduring Seine has seen history unfold from the middle ages through today, from Richard the Lionheart to Joan of Arc to the impressionists, Julia Child and brutal days of World War II. You’ll witness it too as you voyage past the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame all the way to the English Channel and back again. Sip an apéritif in Les Andelys, visit Rouen and the Jumièges Abbey, still imposing after 1,300+ years, see where Monet painted his Water Lilies and reflect on the now-peaceful beaches of Normandy. You’ll have a private tour of the former home of French kings at Château de Vincennes, hear from a local historian at the American Military Cemetery at Omaha Beach and soak it all in while drifting past white cliffs, rolling hills, thatched roof farmhouses and apple orchards.
Dutch & Belgian Waterways River Cruise Bike Tour
Start: Amsterdam, Netherlands | End: Amsterdam, Netherlands
Start and end your journey in Amsterdam, a city fundamentally defined by its relationship with water. You’ll be in awe as you bike past fields of flowers and the immense Keukenhof Gardens on flat, well-maintained public bike paths, a hallmark of bike travel in the Netherlands. We’ll cross IJsselmeer, the largest lake in the Netherlands, before continuing on to Zieriksee, a town full of historical details, including three medieval city gates, a holdover from its past as a naval power due to its strategic location along the coast. Passing into Belgium, encounter the canals of Bruges and Gothic architecture of Ghent, one of the country’s oldest cities. Relax in Antwerp and try out some Belgian beer, waffles and of course, chocolate. On our route back to the Netherlands, nibble some Gouda cheese while you take in the 19 windmills at the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Kinderdijk, visit urban Rotterdam and medieval Utrecht, with its unique double level canals, and contemplate the international political center of The Hague.
Bookend Cities
Paris. Budapest. Amsterdam. Porto. Prague. These grand cities epitomize the soul of Europe. With ready access to major airports and as a convenient start or end point of our Active River Cruises, your adventure doesn’t need to end when you step off the ship.
Float Farther Afield
Looking to explore beyond Europe? How about along the legendary Amazon or the longest river in Southeast Asia?
Galapagos, Andes & Amazon River Cruise Hiking & Walking Tour
Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos & Mekong River Cruise Bike Tour
Ready to Cruise?
Backroads Active River Cruises let you experience the thrill of the open road and the tranquility of the river, all in one unforgettable journey through landscapes and history.
