Asia is the sparkling star of the river cruising world that shows no sign of losing its sheen.
The prospect of sailing through exotic lands of gleaming temples, ancient tribes and authentic traditions is proving to be an alluring mix that increasing numbers of travellers are unable to resist.
AMERICAS
Tune into the musical heritage of America on voyages along Old Man River himself – the Mississippi – where itineraries take in Elvis’s heartland at Memphis and the jazz haunt of New Orleans.
A lesser known alternative comprises the Columbia and Snake rivers
that cut
through the contrasting terrain of Oregon and Washington State on sailings between Portland and Clarkston.
The tropical terrain of the Amazon River accounts for river cruises to South America, though rather than the Brazilian section to Manaus – which is so wide ocean cruise ships can pass through – river cruises tend to concentrate on stretches through Peru or Ecuador where river dolphins, brightly- coloured parrots and chattering monkeys liven up sailings.
With attractions that range from the Terracotta Warriors, the beautiful sight of the Three Gorges and the chance to spot pandas, it’s not surprising that cruises along the Yangtze River in China are the biggest seller, with sailings that start and finish with a few nights in Beijing and Shanghai.
The Mekong has been a big success story of recent years, with cruises between Siem Reap in Cambodia and Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam, though there are also cruises along the more remote Upper Mekong from Laos’s capital Vientiane to Luang Prabang or into Thailand.
India’s rivers are also attracting more interest with voyages along the Brahmaputra River through Assam and the holy river of The Ganges in west Bengal.
But the hottest river of the moment is the Irrawaddy in Burma, which offers a perfect taste of this unspoilt country, which is just waking up to tourism. Those wanting to delve deeper into its temple-covered landscape can also cruise the Chindwin River,
which stretches through Burmese tribal homelands to the Indian border.
ASIA
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