13 spectacular river journeys to book now

From its source high on the Tibetan plateau, the Mekong River snakes nearly 5,000km through China and South-East Asia, acting as both a border and source of bounty for Burma/Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam. Transindus’s Laos Mekong Cruise on board a luxurious Pandaw vessel traces the curves of the river as it navigates upstream from the Lao capital, Vientiane, dominated by the gilded pagoda of the 16th-century Pha That Luang temple. Exploring at a relaxed pace, you’ll watch the landscape become more lush and mountainous, discovering Lao village life and the legacy of the French colonial era in the stately villas and magnificent golden-roofed wooden temples of Luang Prabang, and the Buddha statues lining the Pak Ou Caves nearby.

More information: Transindus. Tailormade, two departures per month September–March; 10 nights from £3,575pp, excluding international flights.

While sun-loving tourists flock to The Gambia’s beaches, a voyage along its namesake river offers insights into West Africa’s natural beauty and rich cultural heritage. Gambia Experience’s Rivers of West Africa cruise navigates these waters, as well as those of the Sine and Saloum in neighbouring Senegal, on board a modern, comfortable boat. On various excursions, watch for clawless otters and Pel’s fishing owls in Baobolong Wetlands, meet the chimps of River Gambia National Park, and admire the diverse birdlife of Senegal’s Sine-Saloum Delta. There are also shades of dark and light to discover, with relics of the slave trade evident on Kunte Kinteh and Gorée islands, plus the ancient Wassu stone circles and the vibrant music scene of Senegal’s capital, Dakar.

More information: Gambia Experience. Six departures January-February 2025; 7 nights from £2,245pp, excluding flights.

Shallow-bottomed wooden boats have plied the Nile for many centuries – images of such vessels adorn the walls of pharaonic tombs. But the elegant dahabiyyas that became fashionable among moneyed Victorian tourists offer a different level of luxury – and the opportunity to explore ancient temples between Luxor and Aswan in relative peace away from the crowds. Audley’s tailormade cruises on board the Hadeel Dahabiyya visit such little-known sites as the ruins of El Kab island and Gebel el-Silsila temple, as well as big-hitters including Edfu and Kom Ombo. Itineraries also allow time in the Egyptian capital to explore the Pyramids of Giza and the bazaars, mosques, palaces and fortifications of Islamic Cairo.

More information: Audley Travel. Tailormade; 10 nights from £7,995pp, including flights.

It’s believed the first wines in France were produced in what’s now Provence in the 6th century BC. So it’s apt that Viking’s Lyon, Provence and the Rhineland cruise starts in that southern region of France at Avignon, renowned for its fairytale medieval papal palace. This varied voyage also takes in the Roman remains of Arles and Vienne, the vineyards of Beaujolais and Burgundy, the gastronomy of Lyon and Strasbourg, the majestic cathedrals of Cologne and Basel, the magnificent landscapes of the Black Forest, the castles guarding the Rhine, and Amsterdam’s canals and museums. Naturally, there are ample opportunities to sample the complex reds and crisp whites produced along the route.

More information: Viking. Eight remaining departures July–November; 14 nights from £5,890pp, including flights.

Heading out from a safari camp in search of wildlife is one of the greatest thrills of African travel – anticipating the beautiful, mysterious and captivating creatures you might encounter. But what if you could simply step out of your cabin and watch wildlife float past? That’s the joy of houseboat safaris on the Chobe Princess, an intimate vessel plying the Chobe River on two- or three-night journeys past elephant herds, chuckling hippos, troops of baboons and other monkeys, grazing buffalos and zebras, possibly lions or leopards on the floodplains and kaleidoscopic birdlife. Tenders bring wildlife-lovers even closer to the action – perfect for photographers. Safari Consultants can tailor-make a tour incorporating a Chobe cruise plus stays at exceptional camps in the Okavango Delta and Makgadikgadi area.

More information: Safari Consultants. Tailormade, best May–October; 9 nights from £6,300pp, excluding flights.

The history of Bengal, much of it played out along the meanders of the Hooghly River, stretches into the distant past – before the British made Calcutta (now Kolkata) its capital and merchants grew rich on indigo, opium and rice from India’s fertile north-east; before the Mughal Empire built palaces and mosques; before Hindu devotees founded distinctive terracotta temples; and even before the great city of Gaur rose to prominence in the Middle Ages. These are among the highlights of Jon Baines Tours’ A Cruise Through History Along the Hooghly on board the elegant ABN Rajmahal. En route, historian and novelist Katie Hickman and expert guide Abhishek Chordia share insights into the rich literary and musical heritage of the region.

More information: Jon Baines Tours. 6 January 2025; 11 nights from £3,985pp, excluding flights.

The rainforest along the Ecuadorian Amazon is full of life, from the early morning jungle symphonies to the nocturnal wildlife in the evenings. Explore the Ecuadorian Amazon on an immersive cruise on board the Manatee, which takes just 30 passengers, floating along the Napo River through Yasuni National Park, a protected animal reserve. On excursions, you can meet local communities protecting pink river dolphins, and learn the culture and traditions of Secoya and Kichwa. From observation towers, look over the tree canopy for woodpeckers, parrots and eagles, or on walks, spot caimans, piranhas and capybaras. Back on board, enjoy cooking classes, learn handicrafts or stargaze from the hot tub.

More information: Latin Routes. Flexible dates; 7 nights from £4,399pp, excluding flights.

The world’s largest tropical wetland, spanning 150,000 sq km across south-west Brazil and into Bolivia and Paraguay, is a lush wilderness of giant waterlilies and waterways teeming with wildlife. Explore this magical landscape on board a traditional Brazilian houseboat for intimate water-level sightings of tapirs, yacare caimans, capybaras and the world’s largest parrot, the hyacinth macaw. On Naturetrek’s Wildlife Cruise to the Remote Pantanal National Park, you’ll roam the ‘jaguar zone’, boasting the best hit rate for close encounters with the biggest cat of the Americas, and then board the Panoramico to search little-visited reaches of the national park for black howler monkeys, giant otters and diverse birds.

More information: Naturetrek. 16 October; 10 nights from £8,695pp, including flights.

In centuries past, gold flowed along Colombia’s Magdalena River, looted during the Spanish conquest. Today, the treasures are cultural, historical and natural: Palenque, the first free settlement granted to formerly enslaved people in 1713; the intricate handicrafts of lively little Santa Bárbara de Pinto; the 16th- and 17th-century architecture of Mompós, famed for its music scene and fine filigree gold and silverwork; and the kingfishers, herons and caimans of the Ciénaga de Pijiño lake. Journey Latin America’s Magdalena River Cruise also takes in Cartagena’s cobbled streets, the carnival atmosphere of Barranquilla and the Caribbean beaches of Tayrona National Park.

More information: Journey Latin America. Tailormade, two departures per month, launching January 2025; 12 nights from £4,200pp, excluding flights.

The Brahmaputra River starts in the Himalayas in Tibet, becoming India’s widest river as it flows through the Assam valley on its way to join the River Ganges. The Brahmaputra River and Darjeeling tour sails from Silghat to Jorhat in Assam, taking in some of the region’s diverse landscapes, culture, wildlife and riverside communities. There are two nights in Mumbai, three nights in Darjeeling and two nights in Kolkata before the seven-night cruise. On board, watch local life along the river banks and admire the jungle-covered hills, before taking an open jeep safari to search for the one-horned rhinoceros or Bengal tiger. You will also visit monasteries, temples and tea estates.

More information: Distant Journeys. 9 March 2025; 16 nights from £5845pp, including flights.

As the River Rhine runs from the Swiss Alps through Germany to the North Sea, it passes some of Europe’s historic music venues, and Martin Randall Travel’s Music along the Rhine cruise will take you to some of these for a curated series of eight private concerts. As you glide from Amsterdam through Germany to Basel, Switzerland on the Amadeus Cara, you will hear performances by orchestras like the Baden-Baden Philharmonic and the Consone Quartet in historic venues like Felix Meritis, Amsterdam; Beethoven-Haus Bonn; and Schloss Johannisberg. On board, there are daily talks by a musicologist and there’s also time to explore the cities and castles along the way.

More information: Martin Randall Travel. 8-15 May 2025; 7 nights from £3,800pp, excluding flights.

While Prague is a highlight of the Czech Republic, a trip on two wheels outside the city, along the Vltava River, will take you past historic buildings and scenic countryside, before meeting the River Elbe. The Prague and Beyond Boat and Bike Tour brings your floating hotel with you in the form of the MS Florentina river cruiser. Daily briefings, with maps and route information, will set you off in the right direction each morning to cycle along flat pathways, country roads and forest trails. Back on board later, you can enjoy afternoon tea and soak up the river views as you glide along to your next destination.

More information: Freedom treks. Weekly departures June 29 to August 3; 7 nights from £899pp, excluding flights and bike hire.

The wild, mighty Congo surges over 4,000km through a region still largely without roads, where the wide, ribboned river represents larder, playground and highway combined. This is Africa in the raw. Undiscovered Destinations’ Congo River Expedition tackles the 1,000km stretch from Mbandaka to Kisangani in the Democratic Republic of Congo on board an 18m-long wooden boat, traversing rainforests, camping alongside the water each night and buying supplies from villages en route. There’s also time in the capital Kinshasa to meet the rescued apes of Lola ya Bonobo sanctuary.

More information: Undiscovered Destinations. 2 August 2024, 1 August 2025; 28 nights from £8,245pp, excluding international flights.