The planet’s 7 continents are separated by the seas, however the magnificent rivers of the world are what tie these continents collectively.
And whereas oceans may be what involves thoughts when most individuals consider taking a cruise, river cruises provide a option to expertise the magic of being on the water AND immersion in a given vacation spot.
River cruises mean you can discover the innards of a spot, offering the surroundings of a global practice journey, the bustle of actual cities and cities, and the novelty of being on a small ship.
One may hardly get extra deep into the coronary heart of the USA than by floating down the Mississippi River.
The remainder of the world isn’t any completely different: The Nile, the Amazon, and the Mekong Rivers have lengthy outlined the coronary heart of their respective continents.
Read on for our information to the greatest river cruises for your World Travel Bucket List, together with an summary of the prime points of interest and actions that make every one really particular!
READ MORE: The 20 Best Small Ship Cruises for Your World Travel Bucket List
Best River Cruises in the World Guide
- Amazon River (Peru)
- Chobe River (Botswana)
- Douro River (Portugal)
- Kerala Backwaters (India)
- Magdalena River (Colombia)
- Mekong River (Southeast Asia)
- Nile River (Egypt)
- Rhine River (Western Europe)
- Rhone River (France)
- Upper Danube River (Eastern Europe)
READ MORE: 10 Great Travel Expeditions for Your World Travel Bucket List
1. Amazon River (Peru)
Peru is choc-a-bloc with wonderful points of interest for vacationers to see, notably the Andean city of Cusco and the historical marvel of Machu Picchu. Cruising the Peruvian Amazon is a killer river journey to begin off our record.
While many individuals consider Brazil each time the Amazon River comes up, the huge waterway reaches all the method throughout South America, and truly begins in Peru!
Amazon river cruises take guests into the world’s largest rainforest, which has an insane quantity biodiversity. And as a result of Peru is the supply of the Amazon River, it arguably provides the waterway at its most pristine.
Amazon Rainforest animals abound, together with hoatzins (and a whole lot of different chook species), spider monkeys, caiman, sloths, anacondas, and the well-known pink dolphins.
READ MORE: The Amazon in Peru: 10 Great Reasons to Visit the Rainforest
2. Chobe River (Botswana)
The Chobe River programs by way of Chobe National Park, which is taken into account one in every of the most unspoiled pure areas on the African continent.
It’s famed for its huge inhabitants of elephants, in addition to herds of buffalo and prides of lions. Not to say all the different African animals, similar to zebras, baboons, giraffes, hippos, and crocodiles.
A Chobe River cruise is sort of a high-end African safari on the water– luxurious and comfy, with gourmand meals and first-class facilities.
Meanwhile, animal encounters happen each day whereas touring into the depths of the Botswana wilds. Cruise ships even have smaller tour boats (even canoes!) to take passengers nearer to the unbelievable wildlife.
READ MORE: The 25 Best National Parks in Africa for Wildlife Safaris
3. Douro River (Portugal)
The Douro River in Portugal has been working as an aquatic freeway for millennia.
Frequently known as “the River of Gold,” it’s been well-liked since the days of the Roman Empire. But today world vacationers are falling for it yet again.
The Douro meanders for 125 miles, from the Atlantic Coast east to the border with Spain. Along the method, it cuts by way of gorgeous valleys suffering from photogenic vineyards and pastoral surroundings.
It culminates at Porto, a maritime metropolis with an outdated city listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. At the different finish of the river, Salamanca is Spain’s oldest college city, with its personal marvelous buildings.
READ MORE: The Top 20 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the World
4. Kerala Backwaters (India)
The Kerala Backwaters in India are linked with lakes, lagoons, and canals.
These waterways are lined with palm bushes and the water itself is famously emerald inexperienced. In reality, Kerala was deemed by National Geographic as “the Green Venice of the East.”
Aside from being stunning, Kerala’s 44 rivers and myriad backwaters play a significant half in the socioeconomic construction of Southern India.
Consequently, the shore is lined with fascinating structure, genuine villages, and legendary historic websites, similar to locations on the spice commerce route.
Travelers may also see lush rice paddies and tons of avian species.
READ MORE: The 15 Best Places to Visit in India for Nature Lovers
5. Magdalena River (Colombia)
Connected to the Caribbean Sea, the Magdalena River has a splendidly heat tropical vibe and comfy passenger ships with luxurious extras like heated swimming pools, health facilities, and rooms with balconies.
It’s a improbable option to discover the northern reaches of Colombia!
Highlights on these cruises sometimes embrace touring the walled metropolis in Cartagena, visiting the Palenque (the first ‘free” city in the Americas), and the colonial village of Mompox.
Nueva Venecia is a floating metropolis that may solely be navigated by boat. Culture and historical past make this stunning journey a a lot deeper expertise.
READ MORE: The Best Things to Do in Cartagena, Colombia
6. Mekong River (Southeast Asia)
The Mekong River is steeped in mystical historical past, with deep non secular roots, historical structure, and trendy tourism.
Popular Mekong Cruises primarily run by way of Cambodia and Vietnam, providing guests an opportunity to discover one in every of the most essential rivers in Southeast Asia in-depth.
Tours of the Lower Mekong dip into critical historical past and marvel, together with the temples of Angkor Wat in Cambodia.
Oudong paints a revealing image of native Buddhism. Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam is each historic and a hub for up to date glitz and glamour in the area.
And in fact the space’s delicacies is out of this world!
READ MORE: Top 10 Ancient Archaeological Sites for Your World Travel Bucket List
7. Nile River (Egypt)
The stats of the Nile River are not any thriller: It’s the longest river in the world, and attending to cruise down it’s a privilege for anybody fascinated by historical past and archaeology.
Add in the proven fact that the Nile runs the size of one in every of the most fascinating nations on the planet, Egypt, and it is a river cruise you don’t need to miss.
Nile cruises tour both southbound from Cairo (close to the Great Pyramids) to Aswan (close to the Aswan High Dam), or vice versa. Along the method, there are sometimes stops in Luxor’s Valley of the Kings and the Temple of Khnum in Esna.
The greatest time to take this journey (in phrases of climate) is between October and April, however observe that this window comes with a lot bigger vacationer crowds.
READ MORE: The 20 Safest Countries in Africa to Visit
8. Rhine River (Western Europe)
It’s arduous to beat touring down a serious river in Europe in phrases of cultural publicity.
The Rhine River programs by way of France, Switzerland, Germany, Austria, and the Netherlands.
In reality, this river defines a lot of the Franco-German boundary, in addition to the Swiss-Austrian and Swiss-German borders.
Amazing journey locations alongside the banks of the Rhine embrace stunning Rüdesheim, historic Cologne, the UNESCO-endorsed Strasbourg, and the canal-laden Amsterdam.
Many Rhine River cruises provide alternatives to hike in the Black Forest and float by way of valleys of vineyards.
READ MORE: The 30 Best Places to Spend Christmas in Europe
9. Rhone River (France)
For foodies seeking to get the greatest France has to supply in phrases of meals and wine, a river cruise down the Rhône River is the proper alternative.
It provides a deep dive into Provencal delicacies, and wiggles by way of a few of France’s greatest wine areas, the place there are alternatives to go on excursions to the native vineyards.
Sites alongside the method will embrace Roman ruins, walled cities from Medieval instances, and each wild and cultivated Mediterranean landscapes.
Passengers may also see phenomenal structure, particularly cathedrals and castles, from centuries previous.
READ MORE: The 15 Best Hidden Gems in Europe to Avoid Crowds
10. Upper Danube River (Eastern Europe)
Along with the River Rhine, the Danube River is one in every of Europe’s most essential uniting waterways, working by way of quite a few completely different nations.
The most sought-after Danube River cruise covers the Upper Danube, which passes by way of 3 European capitals– Budapest, Bratislava, and Vienna.
This route consists of the Wachau Valley, the place fruit and schnapps are produced in little villages. These and different native treats— river fish, regional wines, and cultural performances— will typically function on Danube River cruise itineraries.
From late November by way of December, many river cruise traces provide particular Christmas Market cruises on the Danube, for a wholly completely different expertise! –by Jonathon Engels
