Hello all,

I will be in the Mosel valley for a day and half this October. I wanted to see if everything I wanted to do can be done in my timeframe.

Day 1
-Drive from Cochem to Burg Eltz for the 9:00AM tour.
-Return to Cochem to catch a boat to Beilstein.
-Take self-guide walk around Beilstein town, then climb to Metternich Castle ruins.
-Return to Cochem on the boat.
-Tour Mustard Mill (Historische Senfmuhle)
-Chair lift to the Pinnerkreuz
-Overnight Cochem

Day 2
-Climb to Cochem’s Reichburg Castle for the 9:00AM tour.
-Drive to Traben-Trarbach check out Bruckentor and climb to Gravenburg Castle ruins.
-Drive to Bernkastel-Keus self-guide walk around town, then climb to Burg Landshut ruins.
-Drive from Bernkastel-Keus to Koln for the nights lodging.

Can this itinerary be done in the time allotted? I wish I could add more time, but I can’t. Should I skip the Mosel cruise on day 1 and drive from Burg Eltz to Beilstein using the short cut in Rick Steves book. That should free up some time

Thanks for the help,
Jim

I don't think that it can be done.
Even it is possible, I never will run from one place to other like you plan.

IMO Mosel valley is a place when you can enjoy the landscape, old towns, castles and not a place where you have to check your watch every minute.

May I suggest:
- first day: Burg Elz, then Beilstein.
- second day BernKastel Keus, then a stop to visit Koblenz and then continue to Cologne.

You will love Mosel valley!

<Can this itinerary be done in the time allotted?>

I don't see any way that you can do Day 1 as you have it listed. The boat to Beilstein is an hour and returning is almost an hour. The Senfmühle closes at 1800 and the Pinnerkreuz also closes at 1800. Driving to Beilstein would be a better option. Day 2 - no problem...

We had a couple of days staying in Beilstein last October. We didn't make it to BernKastel Keus because there was just nowhere to park. It was a nightmare there, so we gave up on it. Be a bit flexible in your plans to allow for such problems.
I would agree with Adrian's suggestion to overnight in Beilstein rather then in Cochem. You could then do the mustard mill etc before heading for Beilstein, which is only a short drive away.
Do allow some time to just take in the scenery, and the autumn colours.

Hi Jim,
We stayed along the Mosel for 4 nights last October. We loved Cochem. Just an opinion here... if you need to cut something, I'd cut Bernkastel. We loved the town, but it is very much like Cochem in my opinion and if pressed for time, seems redundant.
Burg Eltz... a must see!

www.worldisround.com/home/pja1/index.html

Paul