This 15-day bike and boat tour connects two of Germany’s most fascinating cities: the maritime port city of Hamburg and the capital, Berlin. Between them, you’ll discover a quieter side of northern Germany, with rivers, canals, lakes, heathland, historic towns and wide-open landscapes. By day, you explore actively by bike. In the afternoon or evening, the Clair de Soleil follows along the waterways, so you only unpack once.
This journey is not about racing from one famous sight to the next. It is a relaxed way to experience Germany beyond the big-city highlights: cycling through peaceful countryside, stopping in smaller towns, seeing impressive locks and ship lifts, and arriving each day at a new place without the logistics of moving hotels. Along the way, you’ll encounter many layers of German history, from Hamburg’s heritage as a powerful trading port to medieval towns, royal palace landscapes in Potsdam and places connected to Germany’s complex 20th-century history.
This tour is especially well suited to travelers who enjoy active days at an easy pace, appreciate smaller ships and a personal atmosphere, and like the idea of combining guided cycling with time to explore independently. It is also a good fit if you are curious about Germany beyond the best-known cities, but still want the comfort of a clear daily program, an experienced tour leader and the option to stay on board when you prefer a quieter day.
The route includes a varied mix of experiences: Hamburg’s Speicherstadt warehouse district and Elbphilharmonie, the historic salt town of Lüneburg, the Lüneburg Heath south of Hamburg, Volkswagen’s Autostadt in Wolfsburg that provides a unique look into Germany’s automotive culture, the island town of Werder, Potsdam’s UNESCO-listed palace landscapes and Berlin’s unique mix of history and urban life. You’ll also see striking examples of water engineering, including the Scharnebeck ship lift, the Old Elbe Tunnel and several lock systems along the route.
Nature is never far away. Peaceful stretches through heathland, moors, canals and Havel lakes give the journey a calm, spacious feel, while stops such as the Weißes Moor nature reserve and Peacock Island near Berlin add memorable moments along the way. The result is a varied, down-to-earth bike and boat tour through northern Germany: active, comfortable and always close to the water.
Your floating hotel
The premium ship Clair de Soleil is your floating hotel throughout this bike and boat tour. With a maximum of 28 guests, the atmosphere on board is personal and relaxed. Between cycling stages, the ship brings you comfortably from place to place, so each day offers a new destination without the need to pack and unpack.
On board, you enjoy breakfast and dinner, overnight stays in your cabin and time to relax after the day’s ride. During breakfast, you can prepare your own packed lunch for the cycling stage ahead. If you prefer to take a break from cycling on a particular day, you are welcome to stay on board and enjoy the passing scenery from the sun deck.
Guided cycling
The daily bike rides are accompanied by an experienced multilingual tour leader. During the daily briefings, you’ll receive the information you need for the next day’s route and program.
If you prefer to cycle independently and at your own pace, you can also ride on your own using the detailed cycling map, GPS tracks and/or printed route descriptions available on board.
| Cabins | Prices p.p. |
|---|---|
| Twin cabin lower deck | € 4.039,- p.p. |
| Rental E-bike | € 574, per trip p.p. |
Clair de Soleil
28 guests max
28 beds
45 x 6,6 m
Private charter on request
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Berlin and the Green Lake District
8 days
Clair de Soleil
