By definition, an overnighter is a micro-adventure – a night under the open sky. The landscape between Havel and Elbe is perfect for a little bikepacking adventure with friends or alone. It’s an ideal place to extend your stay by a few nights to enjoy more days on the bike.

As it meanders to the mouth of the Elbe, the Havel flows through numerous lakes, forming a peaceful landscape. Whether at dusk, night or in the early morning hours, the scenery is worth exploring. The Westhavelland Nature Park is one of the darkest places in Germany, so you’ll see a unique starry sky on clear nights.

As the shadows lengthen and the light fades, you can camp for the night at a wild camping site or in a shelter. Surrounded by endless meadows and the two rivers, you’ll hear crickets chirping and geese quacking. Bats fly in the darkening sky as the sun goes down. The first stars appear at dusk and, as night falls, the Milky Way appears overhead.

This Collection contains five Tours that are suitable for your road bike or touring bike. You can ride them as a continuous round trip, or split them into two micro-adventures, each with an overnight stay. Some sections of the Elbe Cycle Path are a bit bumpy, but the nature is spectacular. To help you get started with your – perhaps first – overnighter, I have put together a packing list for you below.

Your Tour starts and ends at the Grunewald S-Bahn station in Berlin, away from the hectic city centre traffic. First, you’ll head over the Glienicke Bridge to Potsdam and the Havelland.

You’ll ride on asphalt cycle paths and country roads from Werder an der Havel to Brandenburg an der Havel, following the water. Through the Lower Havel lowlands, the largest contiguous wetland in Central Europe, you’ll pass the town of Rathenow, the Gülper See and Havelberg. The region around Lake Gülper is a nationally important bird migration area. Every year tens of thousands of geese, cranes, ducks and waders rest here during their exhausting journeys.

The calm Havel will soon flow into the stormy Elbe – a magical place where it’s worth taking a break before continuing on the Elbe Cycle Path. At Wittenberge you make a U-turn and ride back on the other side of the river towards Rathenow. The landscape changes gradually; wide meadows give way to forests and fields as you approach the finish line on quiet country roads.

Bikepacking essentials:
Tarp, tent/hammock, sleeping mat, sleeping bag, bicycle light, headlamp, power bank, charging cable, spare inner tube, repair kit or tubeless kit, mini pump, multi-tool, first aid kit, waterproof coat, water, food.