Some of the world’s great river systems – the Amazon, Ganges, Mekong, and St Lawrence – offer immersive wildlife, active, adventure and cultural experiences in remote locations, on par with those found other expedition cruise destinations.
Akvile Marozaite, chief executive of travel trade community the Expedition Cruise Network, has travelled on a variety of expedition cruises, including a St Lawrence river sailing with Ponant and Antara’s Artisans of Bengal itinerary on the Ganges.
She argues river expeditions can provide incredible alternatives for clients seeking adventure. Here’s why.
Rivers are unique eco-systems
The Amazon rainforest is often described as "the lungs of the Earth" while the world’s largest mangrove forest, Bangladesh’s Sundarbans, is home to the endangered Bengal tiger.
Aqua Expeditions and Antara Cruises undoubtedly bring clients closer to these extraordinary habitats.
Aqua offers guided hikes on which travellers can go in search of elusive big cats and spot pink dolphins, caimans and spider monkeys in the Peruvian Amazon, rivalling any remote land-based safari.
Antara’s sailing on the Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna river delta, meanwhile, provides opportunities to explore an eco-system home not only to tigers, but local and migratory birds, and reptiles, including estuarine crocodiles and invertebrate species.
Low-impact exploration cruising
River expeditions allow travellers to experience a destination at a slower pace, offering insight into life along the river and intimate glimpses of local cultures.
Many operators are deeply embedded in their communities, hiring local crew and sourcing supplies from regional businesses. This ensures tourism pounds directly benefit the places they visit. Antara Cruises is one such example.
When travelling to India, many think of overcrowded trains and the Golden Triangle. When I sailed with Antara, it was fascinating to see the line’s interpretation of expedition cruising.
We visited parts of the country where there were no visible signs of tourism. This meant we often had to use country boats to reach shore as there were no jetties.
A perfect add-on
River expeditions tend to be shorter in duration, making them an excellent addition to a longer trip.
Aqua Expeditions, for example, offers three-, four- and seven-night itineraries on the Mekong, allowing clients to combine an adventure-rich cruise with a broader exploration of southeast Asia.
Warm and cool options
If you think river expeditions are only in the tropics, think again.
For clients drawn to polar adventure, Ponant’s hybrid-powered ship, Le Commandant Charcot, now offers winter itineraries on Canada’s St Lawrence river. I believe it to be the only icebreaker currently operating in expedition cruising.
Its passengers can experience minus 30-degree temperatures in Canada and First Nations communities in winter, as well as access the temporary villages which are specifically built for ice fishing.
They can also experience dog sledding, ice canoeing, snowmobiling, seal-spotting on ice floes, and cultural immersions with First Nations communities – all while navigating the frozen waters.
Akvile Marozaite is co-founder and chief executive of the Expedition Cruise Network.
