The planet’s 7 continents are separated by the seas, but the magnificent rivers of the world are what tie those continents together.
And while oceans might be what comes to mind when most people think of taking a cruise, river cruises offer a way to experience the magic of being on the water AND immersion in a given destination.
River cruises allow you to explore the innards of a place, providing the scenery of an international train ride, the bustle of real cities and towns, and the novelty of being on a small ship.
One could hardly get more deep into the heart of the USA than by floating down the Mississippi River.
The rest of the world is no different: The Nile, the Amazon, and the Mekong Rivers have long defined the heart of their respective continents.
Read on for our guide to the best river cruises for your World Travel Bucket List, including an overview of the top attractions and activities that make each one truly special!
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 amazing attractions for tourists to see, particularly the Andean town of Cusco and the ancient wonder of Machu Picchu. Cruising the Peruvian Amazon is a killer river trip to start off our list.
While many people think of Brazil whenever the Amazon River comes up, the massive waterway reaches all the way across South America, and actually begins in Peru!
Amazon river cruises take visitors into the world’s largest rainforest, which has an insane amount biodiversity. And because Peru is the source of the Amazon River, it arguably offers the waterway at its most pristine.
Amazon Rainforest animals abound, including hoatzins (and hundreds of other bird species), spider monkeys, caiman, sloths, anacondas, and the famous pink dolphins.
READ MORE: The Amazon in Peru: 10 Great Reasons to Visit the Rainforest
2. Chobe River (Botswana)
The Chobe River courses through Chobe National Park, which is considered one of the most unspoiled natural areas on the African continent.
It’s famed for its vast population of elephants, as well as herds of buffalo and prides of lions. Not to mention all the other African animals, such as zebras, baboons, giraffes, hippos, and crocodiles.
A Chobe River cruise is like a high-end African safari on the water– luxurious and comfortable, with gourmet meals and first-class amenities.
Meanwhile, animal encounters occur daily while traveling into the depths of the Botswana wilds. Cruise ships also have smaller excursion boats (even canoes!) to take passengers closer to the incredible 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 highway for millennia.
Frequently called “the River of Gold,” it’s been popular since the days of the Roman Empire. But these days world travelers are falling for it all over again.
The Douro meanders for 125 miles, from the Atlantic Coast east to the border with Spain. Along the way, it cuts through stunning valleys littered with photogenic vineyards and pastoral scenery.
It culminates at Porto, a maritime city with an old town listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. At the other end of the river, Salamanca is Spain’s oldest university town, with its own 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 trees and the water itself is famously emerald green. In fact, Kerala was deemed by National Geographic as “the Green Venice of the East.”
Aside from being beautiful, Kerala’s 44 rivers and myriad backwaters play a vital part in the socioeconomic structure of Southern India.
Consequently, the shore is lined with interesting architecture, authentic villages, and legendary historic sites, such as destinations on the spice trade route.
Travelers will 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 wonderfully warm tropical vibe and comfortable passenger ships with luxurious extras like heated pools, fitness centers, and rooms with balconies.
It’s a fantastic way to explore the northern reaches of Colombia!
Highlights on these cruises typically include touring the walled city in Cartagena, visiting the Palenque (the first ‘free” town in the Americas), and the colonial village of Mompox.
Nueva Venecia is a floating city that can only be navigated by boat. Culture and history make this beautiful journey a much deeper experience.
READ MORE: The Best Things to Do in Cartagena, Colombia
6. Mekong River (Southeast Asia)
The Mekong River is steeped in mystical history, with deep spiritual roots, ancient architecture, and modern tourism.
Popular Mekong Cruises primarily run through Cambodia and Vietnam, offering visitors a chance to explore one of the most important rivers in Southeast Asia in-depth.
Tours of the Lower Mekong dip into serious history and wonder, including the temples of Angkor Wat in Cambodia.
Oudong paints a revealing picture of local Buddhism. Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam is both historic and a hub for contemporary glitz and glamour in the region.
And of course the area’s cuisine 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 no mystery: It’s the longest river in the world, and getting to cruise down it is a privilege for anyone fascinated by history and archaeology.
Add in the fact that the Nile runs the length of one of the most interesting countries on the planet, Egypt, and this is a river cruise you don’t want to miss.
Nile cruises tour either southbound from Cairo (near the Great Pyramids) to Aswan (near the Aswan High Dam), or vice versa. Along the way, there are typically stops in Luxor’s Valley of the Kings and the Temple of Khnum in Esna.
The best time to take this trip (in terms of weather) is between October and April, but note that this window comes with much larger tourist crowds.
READ MORE: The 20 Safest Countries in Africa to Visit
8. Rhine River (Western Europe)
It’s hard to beat traveling down a major river in Europe in terms of cultural exposure.
The Rhine River courses through France, Switzerland, Germany, Austria, and the Netherlands.
In fact, this river defines much of the Franco-German boundary, as well as the Swiss-Austrian and Swiss-German borders.
Amazing travel destinations along the banks of the Rhine include beautiful Rüdesheim, historic Cologne, the UNESCO-endorsed Strasbourg, and the canal-laden Amsterdam.
Many Rhine River cruises offer opportunities to hike in the Black Forest and float through valleys of vineyards.
READ MORE: The 30 Best Places to Spend Christmas in Europe
9. Rhone River (France)
For foodies looking to get the best France has to offer in terms of food and wine, a river cruise down the Rhône River is the right choice.
It offers a deep dive into Provencal cuisine, and wiggles through some of France’s best wine regions, where there are options to go on excursions to the local vineyards.
Sites along the way will include Roman ruins, walled cities from Medieval times, and both wild and cultivated Mediterranean landscapes.
Passengers will also see phenomenal architecture, especially cathedrals and castles, from centuries past.
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 of Europe’s most important uniting waterways, running through numerous different countries.
The most sought-after Danube River cruise covers the Upper Danube, which passes through 3 European capitals– Budapest, Bratislava, and Vienna.
This route includes the Wachau Valley, where fruit and schnapps are produced in little villages. These and other local treats— river fish, regional wines, and cultural performances— will often feature on Danube River cruise itineraries.
From late November through December, many river cruise lines offer special Christmas Market cruises on the Danube, for an entirely different experience! –by Jonathon Engels
