The Daily Telegraph - Saturday - Travel
Take the river less travelled for a wilder cruise
Tigers, elephants, bohemian artists’ haunts, outings in ‘skipjack’ boats and canoes… these are not your classic sailings, says Steve Newman
River cruising is changing. More and more of us are discovering how practical, affordable and relaxing a voyage down a beautiful waterway can be, and the world’s shipyards have responded in kind, churning out an armada of new vessels to cope with rising demand.
This is wonderful, in many ways – but it does also mean that many of the most popular routes are congested as never before. However, there is a silver lining: as a result, many cruise lines are now expanding their offerings, looking to more unusual rivers in less-visited regions, and compiling fascinating, adventurous itineraries that delve deep below the surface and bring fresh perspectives.
If you have ticked off the usual river cruise options and fancy striking out into (almost) uncharted waters, the sailings outlined below might be exactly what you are seeking.
Rio Napo Ecuador
The Gambia River West Africa
Sailing 250 miles up a west African river in a luxurious megayacht worthy of the A-list is a unique experience to say the least. Among the wonders that await on a cruise like this are islands made entirely of clamshells and mysterious stone burial grounds thousands of years old.
Rarely visited small villages and towns dot the riverbanks, allowing passengers to experience the pace of everyday life in the Gambia, while canoe excursions deep into the shallow side rivers provide plenty of opportunities to get up close to the abundant wildlife you might expect. Variety Cruises (020 8324 3117; seafarercruises.co.uk) offers the
10-day Rivers of West Africa cruise from £3,167 per person. The price includes flights from the UK, transfers, and two nights in Dakar. Calls at Dakar, Banjui, Kantaur, Gambia River National Park, Kaur, Tendaba and Jannanbureh.
Departs January 16 2025.
If the idea of having an adventure in the midst of nature appeals, but you are not keen to forgo your creature comforts, the Ecuadorian jungle may – somewhat unexpectedly – be just the place for you. This cruise visits the most biodiverse place on earth, Yasuní National Park, a record-breaking World Biosphere Reserve that is home to almost 600 species of bird and 150 types of amphibian, among other creatures. Grab your binoculars and board canoes for one of the Amazon rainforest’s most spectacular shows as macaws, parakeets and parrots gather to put on a show.
Rainforest Cruises (00 1 888 215 3555; rainforestcruises.com) offers the eight-day Anakonda Napo River cruise from £5,195 per person. The price includes domestic flights, transfers, night glamping in the jungle, WiFi, gratuities and port charges. Calls at Quito, Coca, Providencia, El Retiro, Pañacocha, Turín, Tiputini and Rocafuerte. Departs November 13 2024.
Chobe River Southern Africa
This cruise offers a chance to see Africa’s “Big Five” from the comfort of a private boat safari. As you drift sedately down the Chobe River, you are likely to see elephants gathering to drink, while hippos and crocodiles bask in the sun on the riverbank. There is an exclusive picnic and safari inside Chobe National Park itself, plus a visit to Kruger National Park and a two-night stay near the majestic Victoria Falls.
Panache Cruises (0800 520 2250; panachecruises.com) offers the 12-night Wildlife and the Falls cruise from £11,492 per person. The price includes flights, some excursions, beer and wine with lunch and dinner, daily cocktail hour and WiFi. Calls at Johannesburg, Chobe River, Chobe National Park, Victoria Falls, Kruger National Park. Departs November 10 2024.
Taking in the “Historic Triangle” of Williamsburg, Yorktown and Jamestown on a round-trip sailing from Washington DC, this cruise offers a wonderful opportunity to get to grips with the region’s historical significance and natural beauty. You will visit the must-see sights of the capital, plus George Washington’s home at Mount Vernon, Arlington National Cemetery and Harriet Tubman’s Underground Railroad exhibit, as well as sailing on a “skipjack” (a traditional fishing boat) through the Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge. American Cruise Lines (0800 021 3172; americancruiselines.com) offers the 11-day American Revolution cruise from £6,499 per person. The price includes flights, overseas transfers, a one-night pre-cruise hotel stay in Washington, beer and wine with lunch and dinner, WiFi, gratuities and port charges. Calls at Washington DC, Annapolis, St Michaels, Cambridge, Norfolk, Williamsburg /Yorktown and Mount Vernon. Departs October 9 2024.
The Vltava River Czechia
The Vltava is often referred to as “The Czech National River”, winding as it does through Bohemia and the Czech capital, Prague. This cruise offers the chance to explore the city’s cobbled streets, Prazsky hrad (Prague Castle) and the Old Town Square, home of the Astronomical Clock, a masterpiece of 15th-century science and technology.
From there, it is onwards to market town Stechovice, where you will visit the art nouveau-style Church of Saint John the Baptist, built in 1911, then onto Melnik, for a tour of one of the most beautiful Renaissance castles in all of Bohemia. Finally, the cruise heads for Dresden – the Florence of the Elbe – where museums and monuments await. CroisiEurope (01756 691269; croisieurope.co.uk) offers the seven-day Prague, Dresden and the Castles of Bohemia cruise from £1,414 per person. The price includes return flights, all meals, drinks and port fees. Calls at Prague, Stechovice, Melnik and Dresden. Departs July 31 2024
Brahmaputra River Tibet, India and Bangladesh
Sailing below the Himalayan mountain Kingdom of Bhutan, this cruise begins in the sprawling Indian city of Guwahati, where you will have the chance to visit ancient Hindu temples, before stopping at three separate National Parks to search for tigers and the Indian rhinoceros. Look out for the almostblind Brahmaputra river dolphins on the way to Majuli Island – renowned for its colourful manuscript painting and masks. Meanwhile, the waterfalls and botanical gardens of Jeypore, “The City of the Freshwater Lakes”, showcase frenetic India’s lush, natural side.
Fred Holidays (0800 988 3369; fredholidays.co.uk) offers the 10-night Full Brahmaputra cruise from £4,321 per person. The price includes return international flights, transportation throughout, and internal flights from Jaipur to Kolkata. Calls at Guwahati, Silghat, Kaziranga, Majuli, Dibru Saikhowa, Jeypore and Dibrugarh. Departs October 14 2024.
Magdalena River Colombia
On this cruise, you will venture deep into Colombian culture, soaking up colonial architecture in Cartagena, one of South America’s oldest cities, then exploring the historic Unesco World Heritage centre of Mompox, which grew from the conquistadors’ gold and silver bullion storage. You will finish in Barranquilla – home to musicians, writers and painters and, as such, awash with fascinating museums and cultural sites. If a week doesn’t seem long enough, you are in luck – this sailing comes with the option of adding a pre-cruise trip to Medellín and Cartagena, or a postcruise excursion in Panama City. AmaWaterways (0800 520 2250; amawaterways.co.uk) offers the seven-day Wonders of Colombia cruise from £5,240 per person. The price includes return flights, WiFi and a wellness programme. Calls at Cartagena, Mompox, Magangue and Barranquilla. Departs January 18 2025.