Rhine Valley starter loop

Flat, well signed and starting right at a train station. This gentle two-night loop is about as friendly as a first bikepacking trip gets, with vineyards, river paths and two easy overnight stops.

You're never far from a village, a café or a train home, and the route follows a waymarked cycle path almost the whole way. The climbs are short and the surface is mostly smooth, so you can concentrate on the experience instead of the effort.

• Riverside start: roll out of the station straight onto a car-free path.
• Vineyard terraces · a gentle, scenic climb with a big payoff view.
• Campsite by the water · a relaxed, well-equipped stop for your first night.
• Castle loop back · quiet lanes and one easy hill to finish.