River cruising holidays guide

There’s something distinctly refined about river cruising holidays that it’s rare to find elsewhere. Drifting peacefully along, watching scenes of everyday life and lush scenery pass by from the deck, perhaps with a cool drink in your hand, the hours and days seem to blend into each other without complaint.

It’s easy to think of a river cruise as essentially a floating hotel, but the experience goes far beyond that. Culturally immersive, atmospheric and of course a convenient way to get off the beaten track into the natural world, on a river cruise you might not always have a lot of space to move around but the sense of freedom you get cannot be denied. Find out more in our river cruising holidays guide.

You may be cruising the Nile by sail-powered felucca or houseboat, admiring the majestic Three Gorges of the Yangtze aboard a large, modern ship with all mod-cons, waving to villagers or watching for crocodiles from converted groundnut boats and rice barges, or riding in motorised canoes along narrow channels where larger vessels cannot pass; river cruises come in all sizes and styles.

Onboard amenities vary from the basic to the luxurious, and you may be travelling either with a large crowd of other passengers, just a few, or perhaps have the entire boat to yourselves. Know what to expect before casting off and you’re far more likely to enjoy smooth sailing.

A river cruise might last the duration of a holiday – as is generally the case with cruises on the Nile, or the Kerala backwaters – or it may form a short part of a wider itinerary. Yangtze Three Gorges cruises typically last for a few days in the middle of a China tour, while in West Africa you will be on water some of the way, overlanding the rest.

Itineraries can be affected by weather, river traffic and water levels, but if you join a small group tour then fixed departures are usually set to the best times of year to sail. Some trips however, such as Kerala backwaters cruises, can be tailor made, allowing you to select your dates and also curate your own itineraries. Fancy stretching your legs today? Then take a wander through a nearby village. Or perhaps you’d prefer just to moor up for a while, and help the crew with some fishing while the aroma of Keralan curry swirls out of the kitchen.