Mosel Wine Festival
Wednesday 25th August - Tuesday 31st August 2010
| Duration |
6 Nights / 7 Days or (
4 nights / 5 days )* |
| Tour Area |
Mosel & Rhine Valleys / Eiffel Region - Germany |
| Status |
Escorted Tour (E) |
| Accommodation |
4-Star Hotel |
| Mileage |
150 - 250 miles per day |
| Approx Tour Mileage |
1000 miles |
| Roads |
Combination of Motorway, A and B Roads |
| Skills |
Suitable for intermediate rider, perhaps first time
abroad |
Great Roads, scenic River Valleys, fairy-tale Castles and the Cochem
Wine festival
Once again, at the request of our customers, we return
to the Mosel Valley for one of our favourite events, the annual Cochem
Wine Festival. Accommodation is at a 4 star hotel across the river in the
district of Cond, known as the “sunny
side” of
Cochem. Our stay at the hotel includes a package of trips and entertainment
arranged specially for the Festival weekend. However, for
those that wish, there will be plenty of time to ride some fantastic
roads and enjoy the beautiful scenery of the area. The tour price is
based on using the overnight Hull - Rotterdam ferry ** - for anyone wishing
to use an alternative crossing, we will adjust the costs
accordingly.
This Wine Festival is the highlight of the Mosel Valley calendar, concluding
on the Sunday night with a fantastic firework display which illuminates
the valley and Cochem Castle in a spectacular flaming light extravaganza.
The Rhineland is one of our favourite parts of Germany, set
in the southwest corner of Germany, the area is dominated by the two river
valleys of the Rhine and Mosel. With
a climate perfect for wine growing, the steep river valley walls are dotted
with vineyards, producing some of the finest wines in the world. As
you ride the riverside roads, you pass through numerous chocolate box villages,
their half-timbered buildings unchanged since medieval days.
Towering above, are fairytale Castles, built hundreds of years ago to
impose tariffs on passing river traffic; today they offer a fascinating
look into the past, as well as giving spectacular views of the valleys
below. Overdosed on scenery? Then time to leave the valley behind
and take the well-surfaced twisting roads to the heights above. There
really are some great biking roads in this area, with everything from long
sweeping bends across open farmland, to demanding forest hairpins. Want
more? Time then to ride a legend, with a visit to the famous Nurburgring racing
circuit - no wonder this is the playground for so many European bikers.
Tour Format
Day 1: Wednesday 25th August Today,
you should make your own way to Hull, where we will catch the P&O overnight
ferry to Rotterdam. It is possible to board early evening,
which allows plenty of time to relax and enjoy the onboard facilities. A
2 berth en-suite cabin is included in your package
(alternative crossings available - see below).
Day 2: Thursday 26th August (250 miles) An
8.30am arrival means we get a good start for our journey across Holland
and into Germany. Our destination is the Rhineland, and, in particular
Cochem whic is a lovely little town on the banks of the Mosel. This will
be our base for the next 4 nights.
Days 3, 4, 5: Friday 27th - Sunday 29th August For
the next 3 days, your time is your own, to explore this, one of Germany’s
most romantic regions, which attracts many visitors with its vineyards,
river valleys and fairy-tale castles. Set on the banks of the Mosel
Valley, Cochem is a popular tourist town overlooked by the magnificent
Reichsburg Castle. The town's other attractions include an historic
mustard mill - still in use today -
a chairlift to the nearby Pinnerkreuz where you can enjoy a drink whilst
taking-in the fantastic Mosel views, and of course a wide range of shops,
bars and restuarants. Needless
to say, it being the Wine Festival week, the town will be the centre of
attention with its stalls offering food and wine throughout the
day, and long into the night. Be
prepared for plenty of noise as impromptu bands wander the streets with
their own brand of music!
Motorcycling is not completely forgotten, as, during your
stay, we will be having organised rides-out. We have selected a
number of routes which take you to some of the popular tourist attractions
and on some of the best biking roads in the area. Although
at the time of writing the dates are not yet available
for 2010, the Nurburgring is
generally open at some point over the weekend. For those interested,
there is the opportunity to ride around the circuit or just to sit and
enjoy the spectacle of watching others testing their skills to the limit!
Highlights of the weekend are:
Friday - Evening Dinner
Dance with
complimentary drinks, live music and disco.
Saturday - A visit to the hotel's
own Vineyard,
and picnic followed by an afternoon
cruise up the Mosel.
Evening Dinner
Dance with complimentary drinks, live music and disco.
Sunday - Cochem town square is one of the most popular
biker meeting places in the area, and, on Sunday afternoon, is the place
to be. Sit and relax in one of the many bars as you soak-up the atmosphere
and prepare yourself for the evening’s incredible Fireworks
Display - our hotel has some of the best seats in town!
Day 6: Monday 30th August Today,
we say goodbye to those taking a Channel crossing, whilst
we take a leisurely ride back to Rotterdam for the late afternoon ferry. Having
safely stowed our bikes, time to make for the bar and enjoy another evening’s
entertainment on this overnight ferry.
Day 7: Tuesday 31st August The
ferry docks at 0800 hrs, just time to have breakfast and bid farewell before
making our way home.
Accommodation
An en-suite cabin is included on both legs
of your ferry crossing from Hull. Once in Germany, your accommodation
is a 4 star hotel in Cond, which - being on the eastern bank of the Mosel
- retains the evening sunshine, earning it the nickname of being the “sunny
side” of Cochem. One of two sister hotels, the hotel enjoys
an enviable riverside location, being quiet, yet within easy walking distance
of this popular tourist town. Secure undercover parking for your bike is
included.
All rooms are twin-bedded and en-suite with shower, TV,
mini-bar and safe. Your
stay includes excellent buffet breakfasts and 3 course evening meals. As
it is the Wine Festival, your stay also includes a package of extras,
including a Walking Tour through the Vineyards followed by
Lunch, an afternoon Boat Cruise on the Mosel, and a Dinner Dance on both
the Friday and Saturday evenings with complimentary drinks.
You could not be in any better spot as the Wine Festival
comes to a close on the Sunday night with a truly magnificent Firework
Display which takes place just in front of the hotel, illuminating the
town, Reichsburg Castle, and the surrounding valley with an ear-shattering,
spectacular finale.
| Tour prices are inclusive of the following |
| * Return overnight Hull - Rotterdam ferry with
2 berth en-suite cabin (departs 2100hrs - returns
0800hrs) ** |
| * 4 Nights' en-suite accommodation at 4 star
hotel |
| * 4 Buffet evening meals, 2 with complimentary
drinks |
| * 4 Buffet breakfasts |
| * Full use of the hotel's leisure facilities |
| * 2 Evenings with live music & disco |
| * Secure undercover parking |
| * Walking Tour of vineyard followed by picnic
lunch |
| * Afternoon boat trip on the Mosel river |
| * Maps and route instructions as appropiate -
Garmin routes available |
| * Services of experienced Tour Guide |
| Not included |
| * Meals onboard ferry |
| Tour Cost |
|
| Two persons, one bike, shared room |
£650 each |
| One person, one bike, shared room |
£675 each |
| One person, one bike, single room |
£755 (based
on single hotel room and cabin share on ferry) |
| Deposit £95
each |
|
** Ferry Choice
The tour is priced using the P&O Hull-Rotterdam Ferry. Should you wish
to use an alternative crossing, please contact us and we will adjust the
costs accordingly.
Note*: -
If your time is limited, you can reduce your tour by two nights by travelling
Dover to Calais on Thursday 26th, returning on Monday 30th August - tour costs
will be adjusted accordingly.
Insurance
On all European tours (including Southern Ireland) we require clients to take-out
some form of Personal Travel and Accident/Breakdown cover. This is
essential for repatriation of yourself and your motorcycle in the event of an
accident or medical emergency. We recommend Gold Cover
Insurance Services Ltd, a company that have specialised in travel insurance for
many years and is used by many Motorcycle Tour Operators.
GOLD COVER INSURANCE
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