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Explore the mighty Amazon aboard the MV Tucano, an elegant 80 ft. riverboat that evokes the time-honoured river cruises of yesteryear.
Battambang, meaning “disappearing stick”, is named after a powerful staff used by a legendary Khmer king to achieve and maintain power and is Cambodia’s second city. Located on the Sangker River, 40 kms west of Tonle Sap Lake, it retains the character of a sleepy local market town and is still host to a good number of colonial buildings.
Tonle Sap is the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia. It forms a natural floodplain reservoir that is drained by the Tonle Sap River into the Mekong River near Phnom Penh.
Guilin, located in the north-eastern part of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, is one of the most-visited Chinese cities and has long been renowned for its limestone karst hills.
The Sanctuary M.S. Yangzi Explorer has introduced a new and improved standard of river cruising in China and is the definitely the most intimate and luxurious ship on the Yangtze River.
There are a host of different companies running cruises along the Yangtze River but in our opinion the Victoria Group operates the best quality and value cruises. The American owned company runs a number of different cruise ships along the Yangtze. All are excellently furnished and since 2002 undergone annual renovation and restoration.
After you’ve had your fill of Guilin’s honking cars, it’s time to escape 20km south to the backpacker focused town of Yangshuo. The town has been carefully preserved by the government to retain its high tourist appeal. For example buildings cannot be higher than six stories for fear that they block the karst landscape and, best of all, no taxis are allowed in to the centre.
The height of luxury and style on the mighty Napo River, the 148 foot MV Anakonda Riverboat was constructed in 2013 and offers unique cruises through the steamy rainforest of the Yasuní National Park and Cuyabeno National Reserve.
The MV Manatee Amazon Explorer is a comfortable 80 foot riverboat, custom built in 2002 for rainforest cruises. The Manatee offers 4, 5 and 8 day cruises along the mighty Napo River to explore the breathtaking flora and fauna of Yasuní National Park.
Cairo is one of the most densely populated cities in the world. Though some of its suburbs have spilled over onto the Nile’s west bank, its attractions lie on the eastern bank. Central Cairo is the heart of the modern city and boasts beautiful Nineteenth-century architecture.
Built to house construction workers involved in the completion of the hydroelectric dam, Akosombo is the location of the world's second-largest artificial lake, making that mark, until the Three Gorges Dam was completed in China.
Known as one of the holiest destinations in India, Varanasi sits on the banks of the sacred river Ganges and is the site where Hindu pilgrims come to bathe in the ghats in a ritual that washes away ones sins and cleanses the mind body and spirit.
Oasis Travel's favourite way to enter Laos and arrive in the wonderful town of Luang Prabang is to take the relaxing boat trip down the Mekong River, stopping overnight at the Luang Say Lodge. The trip may also be taken in the opposite direction at certain times of year.
Itinerary
For a truly unique experience in ancient rainforest but yet easily accessible from KL, Taman Negara is a great choice. Originally named King George V National Park, Taman Negara (National Park) is the first and the oldest official Protected Area in the country. It was gazetted to preserve the land's indigenous nature and was renamed Taman Negara after the nation gained independence in 1957.
Mopti's port is a dynamic place, where boats from up and down the river unload their cargo. You'll see slabs of salt from Timbuktu, dried fish, firewood, pottery, goats, chickens and much more.
Our favourite river cruising company in Burma, Pandaw, offers a range of longer cruises that ply the Irrawaddy and Chindwin Rivers for different durations on various boats. Onboard a Pandaw boat you will travel deep into the interiors of these little developed nations and explore a pristine eco environments inaccessible by anything other than a river boat.
Sister ship to the MV Aqua, the MV Aria was launched in April 2011, the latest luxury riverboat to offer unique cruises along the mighty Amazon River. Custom built by the eminent architect Jordi Puig, the 140 foot MV Aria merges a traditional riverboat design with a modern, sleek, contemporary finish.
Launched in 2009 on the back of the success of the Delfin I, now an exclusive 4 berth floating hotel, the Delfin II is a charming, wooden riverboat which offers cruises along the mighty Amazon River.
Constructed in 2012, the Queen Violeta is a comfortable 174ft Amazon River Boat which runs 3 and 6 night cruises from Iquitos up towards the natural wonderland of the magnificent Pacaya Samiria Natural Reserve.
This 20-meter-long rice barge has been carefully restored and sumptuously converted into an ultra-deluxe river cruiser often dubbed as Dubbed “The Orient Express of the River”.
Mekhala Cruises comprise three beautifully three restored rice barges that provide the setting for daily journeys between Bangkok and Ayutthaya, retracing the paths of former royal processions. Their journey is a fascinating insight into how life on the river has changed over this time.
The RV River Kwai is a newly built colonial style river cruiser based on designs used by the original Irrawaddy Flotilla which was founded in Burma in 1865 and by the 1920s was the largest privately owned fleet of ships in the world.
The winding stretch of the River Gambia lined as it is with a green belt of jungle riparian forest evokes the steamy Congo Basin rather than the Sahel. The centrepiece of this fantastic national park was first gazetted to protect Baboon Island and four smaller islets.
Located in the heart of the countryside near Cai Be, the Mekong Riverside Resort & Spa is an ideal spot from which to discover the region.
There are 34 rooms to choose from, all of which exude a tranquil atmosphere. All face the Mekong river from different angles. Some face both lakes and the river, some opposite the river and all have a balcony.
The charming town of Cai Be is situated in the heart of the Vietnam’s Mekong Delta region, approximately two hour’s drive from Saigon. The town is well known for its bustling floating market where you will find local traders buying and selling locally grown fruit and vegetables, the markets are at their busiest early in the morning and are well worth a visit.
Located on the banks of the Tien River, Mekong Lodge is an evergreen eco-tourist resort where cultural interest and natural architecture blended together. The lodge is carefully designed to blend in natural harmony with the green scenery, picturesque river, fruit orchards and floating markets.
The Mekong River is possibly the most scenic of the mighty rivers that run through Southeast Asia and nowhere more so than at its most southern point where it fans out to form the nine rivers that make up the delta flood plain. The area is the most agriculturally rich and is the centre of rice and food production, fishing and fruit growing.
The Mekong River is possibly the most scenic of the mighty rivers that run through Southeast Asia and nowhere more so than at its most southern point where it fans out to form the nine rivers that make up the delta flood plain. The area is the most agriculturally rich and is the centre of rice and food production, fishing and fruit growing.
Halong Bay is one of the world’s natural wonders and is renowned as one of the most stunning destinations in Vietnam, an absolute must on all itineraries! Halong Bay features more than one thousand limestone karsts and islands of various sizes and shapes.
The stylish Jayavarman is 190-foot long and has just twenty-six spacious cabins, including two large state rooms. The sophisticated design is a blend of French Colonial meets Indochine-inspired splendour. The name “Jayavarman” hails from the revered, wise and caring Buddhist King of the Khmer Empire in the 9th century.
Located 90 minutes by car from Saigon, My Tho is the gateway to the picturesque Mekong Delta Region. The tranquil atmosphere and scenic rural villages make it a delightful and authentic part of the delta to visit.
There is no river life as captivating and diverse as that found along the Mekong River. Indeed there is hardly a more striking cultural contrast as that between the vibrant Mekong Delta and the laid back calmness of Cambodia.
The Song Xanh Sampans offer an authentic way to see the Mekong Delta. The uniquely built sampans, are stylishly designed and inspired by the ancient traditional Indochinese river boats that have plyed the Mekong for many years. At first glance these luxury small boats look just like any other in the Delta but a real surprise awaits the guests!
In his search for ‘’the Smoke that Thunders” David Livingstone discovered one of the most majestic sights in the world and to this day, the spectacular Victoria Falls has the power to leave a man speechless with its beauty. It is beside this World Heritage Site that the quaintly colonial, Livingstone Town was born.
Mana Pools National Park is one of the most remote and beautiful areas in Zimbabwe. The core of some 1.7 million hectares of UNESCO World Heritage conservation estate, its views of the broad river, floodplains, riverine woodland and the mountains of the Rift Valley escarpment are spectacular. The river is wide, sandy, with islands and sandbanks protruding from its brown waters.
Nestled along prime Zambezi River frontage, in a private concession, the &Beyond Matetsi River Lodge is a safari oasis upriver from the majestic Victoria Falls.
When explorer David Livingstone first ventured into and named the town of Victoria Falls, he didn’t realise it already had a more fitting name – Mosai-Oa-Tunya, The Smoke That Thunders. The mighty Zambezi River drops off in spectacular fashion, creating a powerful spectacle that is the most notable of the seven natural wonders of the world.
Built in 1904, the historic Victoria Falls Hotel is an icon, its elegant colonial architecture leading out to sprawling terraces and lawns overlooking the Victoria Falls Bridge.
161 classic rooms and suites provide modern comfort and the tasteful echoes of the Edwardian past.
Victoria Falls Safari Lodge is positioned on an elevated plateau outside Victoria Falls, bordering the Zambezi National Park.
This traditional wood and thatch lodge enjoys spectacular views over endless stretches of pristine bush.
72 comfortable rooms have private balconies from which to gaze out over the landscape and waterhole, as the sun dips below the horizon.
“We had a brilliant time and thoroughly enjoyed experiencing and learning about the Vietnamese culture. The highlights of the trip for me were Saigon and Halong Bay where I could have easily stayed much longer! Many thanks for putting together such a fantastic itinerary!
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