DESTINATION ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
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Rhine River Cruise Family Bike Tour - Teens & Kids
Regal Waterways from Basel to Amsterdam
Around each river bend lies a new extraordinary landscape waiting to be discovered by bike. Charming Swiss countryside, rolling Rhine Valley vineyards, fairy-tale Black Forest trails and tidy Dutch canals. History unfolds before you as your family cruises down the Rhine. A tale of kingdoms, Romans, pirates, beauty and trade. Four magnificent countries sharing one captivating waterway. What else can be found just around the river bend? Your family's greatest journey.
THIS ITINERARY: 8 days, 7 nights
ACCOMMODATIONS: Small Luxury Ship
Switzerland, France, Germany & the Netherlands
Start Basel, Switzerland / End Amsterdam, Netherlands
Start/End locations may vary. Do not book flights until your trip details are confirmed.
- Cruise through the stunning Rhine Gorge, where fairy-tale castles and fortress ruins are sprinkled along the water's edge
- Bike with your family through a kaleidoscope of landscapes along some of the Rhine's most stunning stretches
- Discover picturesque Heidelberg, medieval Strasbourg and beautifully preserved Riquewihr
- Unwind at family-friendly biergartens and follow in the footsteps of Romans along the famed Weinstrasse (wine route)
8 Days Small Luxury Ship
DAYS 1-2 Families cycle from a quaint village in the Black Forest toward the vineyards of the Rhine Valley | Enjoy superb riding and wine tasting along Alsace's famous Route des Vins | Kids step back in time with a fascinating falconry demonstration | Pedal to the beautiful medieval villages of Riquewihr and Eguisheim.
DAY 3 Soak up magical views in Strasbourg and admire the Gothic cathedral on a guided city walk | Kids explore the many waterways of Strasbourg on a fun kayaking tour | Pedal along meadows and forests with views of France and Germany.
DAY 4 Bike into Heidelberg and discover its red sandstone castle | Adventure awaits for youngsters with an exciting scavenger hunt | Adults and kids follow in the footsteps of Romans along the famed Weinstrasse (wine route) | Unwind in a local biergarten with a few new friends and a refreshing beer or Radler.
DAY 5 Pedal past fairy-tale towns, castles and vineyards through the Rhine Gorge, a spectacular World Heritage site | Linger in postcard-perfect Koblenz, a 2,000-year-old town famously set where the Rhine and Moselle Rivers converge | The younger set takes on an exhilarating ropes course.
DAY 6 Sail to Bonn, the former capital of West Germany and the birthplace of Ludwig van Beethoven | Kids are in for a tasty treat—a chocolate dessert making activity | Feel dwarfed by Cologne's Gothic cathedral and learn about the local Brauhaus (brewery) culture.
DAYS 7-8 Amsterdam's lovely waterways, arched bridges and crooked canal houses are delightful | Two-wheel it through the serene Dutch countryside, where magnificent 17th-century merchant estates abound | Embark on a traditional canal boat cruise along the city's intricate channels.
A luxurious custom-designed ship featuring stylish private staterooms, panoramic windows, French balconies, an onboard team of classically trained chefs and inviting areas to socialize with fellow passengers. (pool)
Dates & Prices
The earlier you book, the more choice you'll have and the lower your price. And you can always change your mind — you won't be charged to transfer to a different trip before your final payment is due. View cancellation policy
Please note: Due to the multiple stateroom options available on this trip, reservations can only be made by contacting one of our Trip Consultants on 800-462-2848 or via email.
Click on dates for specific ships, pricing, and itinerary variations. Price is per person, double occupancy.
Activity Level: 1-3
Every Backroads trip is designed to appeal to a wide variety of interests and fitness levels. Several routes and a range of levels are offered each day so you can choose how much or how little activity you want to do. Learn more about how we determine activity levels.
Daily Route Options
What's Included
Available Bike Options
The key to a stellar day's ride is a bike that's perfectly in tune with your cycling style… Backroads has you covered with the best bike fleet in the world! Read on for your available bike options for this trip.
This custom-designed titanium bike is lightweight and responsive, featuring Shimano Ultegra Di2 electronic shifting, 11-speed compact gearing, a premium Mavic Ksyrium Pro wheelset and a full carbon fork.
A proven classic, our most popular custom-designed titanium bike is suited for a wide range of cyclists. It features a comfortable ergonomic seat and a long wheel base that add to the bike’s control and stability.
Our newly redesigned titanium e-bike is a lightweight yet powerful machine unique in the world of e-bikes. It provides plenty of power to flatten the hills and more than enough battery range to cover the distance.
Ride like a pro with the top-of-the-line carbon Cannondale Synapse Hi-Mod Red ETAP AXS. Delivering phenomenal acceleration and handling in a light and powerful package—it’s built for hard-core riders.
$400 rental fee
This hand-built frame features Co-Motion's custom-designed cro-moly steel tubeset, powerful Avid disc brakes, Shimano Ultegra drive train, and a custom, upgraded wheelset. For experienced tandem riders.
$400 rental fee
Backroads is the only travel company to manufacture its own line of kid's bikes. While the wheels might be small, the performance is big—it's the perfect choice for kids. On our Family Trips, you'll find 20" and 24" bikes.
The Burley Kazoo trailer bike, for children up to 85 pounds, attaches to an adult bike with your child providing some of the pedal power for a real team effort! It's ideal for kids who aren't yet ready for bike touring.
Also Included
- All breakfasts, 7 lunches, 7 dinners
- Expert Backroads Trip Leaders, on ship and on shore
- Off-the-beaten path exploration
- Access to all ship amenities
- Impeccable and personalized service from ship staff and Backroads Leaders
- Exclusive activities that amplify your appreciation and understanding of the local culture
- Exclusive biking routes with multiple options at varied paces
- Gratuities on ship and on shore handled by your Backroads Leaders
- Exploring lesser known routes away from busy ports
- Dedicated support vans
- Custom Titanium bike
- Easy-to-use route directions so you're free to explore independently
- Private walking tours with expert guides
- Access to all ship activities and excursions
- Wine included with all onboard meals
- Private cocktail/wine receptions
- Off-ship lunches in genuine settings
Straight talk
We want to make sure you're on the right trip and that you have the best experience possible. Every Backroads trip is unique and this one is no exception.
The ships we sail on are like floating luxury hotels, 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 inventive 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.
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 usual 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 rest assured that as soon as we set sail again your beautiful views will be restored.
As I pedaled along the riverside bike path on a clear and sunny day, I couldn’t let go of the feeling that something about this riding just felt d...
