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Rhine River Cruise – Shore Excursion Black Forest

As your Rhine river cruise motors past the landscape, the Black Forest calls. While most passengers herd themselves into standard ship excursions—shuttled off to cookie-cutter ‘Cuckoo Clock Villages’ discerning travelers choose a different path. Our private guided tours break you free from the big-bus road show. We bypass the crowded gift shops to unlock hidden local haunts. Step off the beaten path and breathe in the authentic Black Forest.

Location

Black Forest, Colmar, Alsace

Start / End

Breisach Cruise Ship

Activity

sightseeing, easy walking

Difficulty

easy

Duration

4-8 hours
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Overview

Itinerary

good to know

Map

Rhine River Cruise – Shore Excursion Black Forest

spring, summer, fall, winter
4-8 hours

Many of the Rhine River Cruises offer shore excursions to the Black Forest from the ports in Basel, Breisach or Strasbourg. But instead of joining the regular bus tours run by the cruise ship company taking you to the ‘Cuckoo Clock Village’ many travellers prefer a private tour. The advantages of a private tour of the Black Forest: you get to do and see things large bus groups can’t. You can void the most touristy places – if you want to. With us you can get off-the-beaten path and go where the locals go. And you can ask me as many questions as you like.

  • Find the hidden gems
  • Get the inside-scoop
  • Experience like a local
  • Tour with a private car/chauffeur
  • choose duration (half day, all day, several days)
  • choose activities & sights
How about a visit to a real Schnaps Fountain?

Meeting Point

Our driver/guide meets you at the cruise ship port in Breisach. Some of the Rhine River Cruises also stop in Basel and Strasbourg and tour the Black Forest from there. Our tours all start at the port in Breisach.

How many hours should I tour?

Depending on your cruise ship’s departure time in the evening a 6 hour tour might be ideal. Some people prefer a shorter 4 hour tour. Some others want to tour all day. No matter how many hours you can spend in our area, we try to create the perfect day for you.

I just want to book a driver, not a guide. Is this possible?

Yes! Although the majority of travelers prefer a tour with a private guide we also offer tours by car without a guide. And also transfers from A (Breisach) to B (Colmar, Freiburg, etc). Our drivers do speak English, but they are not guides. If you just a book a driver, they will drive you to the various stops, drop you off and pick you up again. We will provide you with the info on what to do at each stop. If you book a guided tour by car the guide will take over and tour with you. You do not need to worry about anything and not prepare anything. Our guide knows the area like noone else and can explain everything to you.

How many people can I bring on my private tour?

  • The minimum number of people in your group is 2
  • The maximum number in your group is 14.

We have different vehicles depending on the size of the group. We either tour in a standard car (example Volvo XC90 SUV), a minivan (example Mercedes bus) or a 18 seater bus. The larger the vehicle the more limited we are on roads we can take or places we can visit (for example – some local restaurants or cabins are not able to accommodate a party of 14).

Can I see the Black Forest and also Alsace, France during one tour?

We do not necessarily recommend it because there is a quite a bit of driving involved but yes – it can be done. You need at least 6 hours to cover both countries. Talk to us and let us know what you have in mind exactly. We can then figure out how many hours you need. And what is possible.

What we do not offer

We do not offer any World War Tours in Alsace, France.

We do not offer any e-Bike Tours.

We do not offer tours to Ravenna Gorge Christmas Market.

Next step: Fill out our questionnaire

Fill out our questionnaire here so we can get a better idea what your tour from Breisach Cruise Port can look like. We will check on availability, provide you with a sample itinerary and send you pricing.

Ready to book?

If you are ready to book a tour with us please fill out our booking request here

beergarden black forest
Views views views! We know where to find the beergarden with the best view.

Black Forest: stops & activities.

You get to pick and choose the stops to cover during your private tour of the Black Forest. We will provide itinerary suggestions. But we are completely open and flexible. We listen to your wants and needs – and then decide on the itinerary together with you. Get in touch via our questionnaire here and we figure out together what your ideal itinerary can look like.

Here are some examples of things to do and see in the Black Forest during your private tour from Breisach:

  • Visit to a waterfall
  • Visit to Freiburg- Germany’s sunniest city
  • Walk across a hanging bridge providing gorgeous views of the Black Forest
  • Shop for a cuckoo clock and take a picture at one of World’s Largest cuckoo clocks
  • Try an authentic piece of Black Forest cake at a local cake maker
  • Enjoy the day like a local: Visit a real beergarden
  • Shop like a local at the farmer’s market
  • Visit a working farm
  • Step into one o the most beautiful monastery churches in the region
  • Take a boat ride on a lake
  • Souvenir Shopping!
  • Go for a hike
  • Visit a cute Black Forest town
  • See what a Schnaps Fountain is all about
  • Taste the local wine
  • Climb up to a castle ruin
  • Attend a cake baking workshop. Or cook a local specialty!
  • Scenery scenery scenery!
  • Take a cable car ride up the mountain
  • Eat at a local restaurant

Is it for me?

If you do not see yourself buying a cookie-cutter tour or vacation package in which you are on a bus with 49 other tourists; stopping at every road-side attraction whether you want to or not, with hectic deadlines, eating when and where everybody else eats. Then my Guided Tour is for you!

Itinerary

It takes about 45 minutes to get from Breisach to the Black Forest. Therefore you need at least 4 hours to get a glimpse of the area.

Our recommended touring time is 6-8 hours.

Most of our itineraries are laied out for 6 hours. But if you have more or less time available, even better! In that case we can spend more or less time at the various stops. Or even add more stops.

Please talks to us about your specific requirements and we can custom-build a tour for you.

Have a look at our most popular tours. If you have anything specific in mind you don’t see covered in our regular tours talk to us! We know the Black Forest region like noone else and can most likely put a customized  tour together for you covering exactly what you want to see.

Sometimes you only have 4 hour available for touring from Breisach. Considering that it often takes 1 hour to drive into the Black Forest region suggest one stop during your 4 hour tour from Breisach.

Good to know: These tours can also be done without a guide – we set you up with a driver who drops you off at your stop. And then picks you up again.

Here are some examples of what is possible during a 4 hour tour:

  1. City of Freiburg – guided walking tour of town and time on your own
  2. Suspension Bridge Black Forest Line  & Waterfall
  3. Lake Titisee & Ravenna Gorge
  4. Colmar and Riquewihr in Alsace, France

 

Freiburg & Lake Titisee

A short drive will take you to Freiburg where you get to visit the famous farmers market. Our guide will show you some hidden places in the old town before you hop in the car again. A scenic drive on the Panorama Road will take you to the oldest monastery church in the area. From here it is a short drive to Lake Titisee where you have time to go for a boat ride, do some souvenir shopping. Or taste an authentic piece of Black Forest cake.

Tour Outline Example

  • 9 AM depart from Breisach
  • 10 AM arrival in Freiburg – 1 hour stay, visit to cathedral or farmers market
  • 11 AM Scenic drive on the Panorama Road with a stop at an old monastery church and several photo stops
  • 12.30 Lake Titisee – 1 hour 15 minutes stay
  • 1.45 PM departure
  • 3 PM arrive in Breisach

Town, Waterfall, cable car ride & Suspension Bridge

We will take you on a 1 hour drive up into Black Forest mountains.  Take a cable car up the mountain and option to walk up to sightseeing tower.  Here you get to walk across a suspension bridge above the treetops. You also get to spend time at a beautiful waterfall – one of the must-see falls in the Southern Black Forest. The walk to the waterfall can be easy (flat walk in) or more challenging – the guide will adjust to your fitness level.  On the way back to Breisach we will stop in the pretty Black Forest town Staufen – which is often overlooked by tourist – experience like a local! Taste some of the best Black Forest cakes available in the region. Or taste local wine and a specialty.

Tour Outline Example

  • 9 AM depart from Breisach
  • 10.15 AM: ride up cable car Schauinsland – 45 minutes
  • 11.15 AM arrival at the suspension bridge & waterfall walk – Black Forest Line  – 1 hour 15 minutes
  • 12.30 PM – departure and scenic drive
  • 1.30 Town of Staufen – cake & coffee or wine tasting/local specialty (not included) – 1 hour 
  • 2.30 PM departure
  • 3 PM arrive in Breisach
Extra fees (not included)
  • suspension bridge  (about 12 Euro pp)
  • cable car (about 12 Euro pp)
  • cafe/coffee or wine/local specialty (about 10-15 Euro pp)

 

Triberg Cuckoo Clock area

It is a bit of a drive to the centre of clock making but it can be done! You will have a chance to shop for an authentic cuckoo clock and visit the Triberg waterfalls – Germany’s highest falls. We will take you to one of World’s Largest cuckoo clocks and the Black Forest museum. No worries – the clocks will be shipped, you do not need to take them with you. Please note that visits to clock makers are not possible any longer. But our guide knows all about cuckoo clocks and can demonstrate them for you.

Tour Outline Example

  • 9 AM depart from Breisach
  • 10.45 AM arrival in clock area
  • 2.5 hour time in the clock area: time to visit Triberg waterfalls, Germany’s highest falls, the Black Forest Museum, cuckoo clock shop and some of worlds largest cuckoo clock houses
  • 1.15 PM departure
  • 3 PM arrive in Breisach
Extra fees (not included)
  • entrance Triberg waterfalls and Black Forest Museum  (about 12 Euro pp)
  • go inside worlds largest cuckoo clock (5Euro pp)

large cuckoo clock germany best place to buy a cuckoo clock

Guided half day hike 

Our driver will pick you up at your cruise ship and drive you to the Black Forest mountains. This is where our guide will wait for you to take you on a beautiful hike. There are several hikes to choose from, depending on your fitness level. And how many miles you want to hike. Often we can include a stop at a local cabin for lunch. Our 5 mile gorge hike is one of our most popular hikes because you really get it all: Besides the classic, dark Black Forest gorge hike next to waterfalls, you get a lot of Black Forest history, a few touristy things, the oldest chapel in the Black Forest, the areas largest cuckoo clock. The guided hike takes you down into a valley famous for its ancient mills that once made everything from rope to spoons. You will see how people thrived hundreds of years ago. Your local guide has lots of stories to tell. You are in for a real treat!

Tour Outline Example

  • 9 AM depart from Breisach
  • 10.30 AM arrival in hiking area
  • 4 hour time for a guided hike
  • 2.30 PM departure
  • 4 PM arrive in Breisach

 

Freiburg, Lake & Hike

This tour provides you with a lot of options: We will show you Lake Titisee where you have the option to do some shopping or just enjoy time at the lake. Then you get active on a hike through beautiful Ravenna Gorge. We end in Freiburg where you get to spend time at a beergarden – or in town.

Tour Outline Example

  • 9 AM depart from Breisach, scenic drive through the wine area and on the Panorama Road. We include a photo stop and a visit to one of the most beautiful monastery churches in the area
  • 11 AM arrival at Lake Titisee, 1 hour
  • 12 PM departure
  • 12.15 PM Ravenna Gorge Walk (or shopping for a cuckoo clock), 1 hour
  • 1.15 PM departure
  • 2 PM Freiburg, 1 hour 15 minutes
  • 3.15 PM departure
  • 4 PM arrive in Breisach

To see both places during one tour – Black Forest and Alsace/France – you need at least 6 hours. There is a bit of driving involved and we can only cover 1 stop in each country. If you have more hours available we can customize a tour for you and add-on more stops. Talk to us so we can figure out an ideal tour for you!

 

Tour Outline Example 

  • 9 AM Breisach meet
  • 9.45 AM visit to a Black Forest town (Freiburg or Staufen) – 2 hour stay
  • 11.15 AM depart
  • 12.15 AM arrive in Colmar – 2 hour stay
  • 2.15 PM depart
  • 3 PM arrive at Breisach

This is also a good tour to do on your own. In that case you would just book our driver – and not a guide. Or we can add-on a walking tour with a guide in Freiburg and Colmar.

Good to Know

  • What's included
  • Private Black Forest tour with a guide, driver & vehicle
  • Guides: Knowledgable, Professional English Speaking, Certified by the Black Forest Park Association, Members of the German National Tourist Guide Association (BVGD)
  • Drivers:  licensed & insured
  • Vehicle
  • Parking fees, Tolls and other road fees included
  • Distance & fuel costs included
  • Our driver meets you at your cruise ship in Breisach.
  • Our Vehicles: Safe and Clean Vehicles, all vehicles pass strict mechanical inspection by the German TÜV (Technical Security Association), special passenger transport insurance, air-conditioning, non-smoking, mobile phone charger on board, umbrellas on board, bottled water on board
  • What's excluded
  • Meals, drinks,  wine tasting fees
  • Entrance fees to monuments, museums, attractions
  • Accommodation
  • Lunch costs
  • Misc personal items (e.g. souvenirs)

Private tours of the Black Forest from your Rhine river cruise ship are available year round

Please contact us in advance* to find out if a tour can be organized on the day of your visit. (*We are usually not able to offer same-day tours as our tours are often booked-out far in advance)

Please email us your specific tour request (size of group, desired tour length, etc) so we can provide you with an exact price for your itinerary

Our prices are all inclusive. Our drivers are paid by the hour. If you enjoyed your tour, our driver certainly appreciates a tip – but it is NOT expected.

Our driver/guide meets you at your cruise ship port in Breisach.

Good to know: Some of the Rhine River Cruises also stop in Basel and Strasbourg and tour the Black Forest from there. Our tours usually start at the port in Breisach. Please email us with specific requests.

Be aware of scams. German law is very strict with reference to commercial transportation of passengers. It requires all commercial passenger transportation to be handled by licensed operators. Driver guides as well as transport services of any kind are required by law to have a commercial passenger transportation license and insurance coverage for cars and passengers.

If you see discounted rates for driver guides in Germany be aware!  You can easily tell whether a car is licensed to carry passengers or not. All licensed vehicles are supposed to display a number on the rear window of their car. (‘Ordnungsnummer’ in German). It is either a blue sticker (chauffeur service) or yellow sticker (cab service). If  you  don’t a sticker you are most likely touring with an unlicensed vehicle. The stickers are displayed in the right corner of the rear window:

 

You are in good hands with us. We are licensed and fully insured. ( Genehmigung nach §49 PBefG mit Mietwagen für die gewerbliche Personenbeförderung ).

 

Our Vehicles are

  • Safe and Clean Vehicles
  • All vehicles pass strict mechanical inspection by the German TÜV (Technical Security Association)
  • Vehicles have passenger transport insurance
  • Drivers have a passenger transportation license
  • Vehicle we use: Volvo & Mercedes. ( inquire about upgrading to luxury vehicles)
  • Air-conditioned vehicles
  • Smoking is not permitted in our vehicles
  • We strongly advise clients not to eat or drink on board
  • Mobile phone charger on board
  • Wi-Fi on board (some vehicles)
  • Umbrellas on board
  • Bottled water on board
  • Child safety seats included
  • Parking fees included
  • Tolls and other road fees included
  • Distance & fuel costs included

 

Where you will be touring

Breisach
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