The Best River Cruises in Asia in 2016

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Taking a river cruise on the historic waterways of South-East Asia and India is becoming increasingly popular among travellers who like to mix a sense of adventure with well-organised trips and top-quality shipboard accommodation. You don’t have to fly for 24 hours to get there – a big plus for Aussies – and while more companies are operating river cruises in these regions it’s a great time to go now before they become too touristy. The best river cruises in Asia await in 2016!

Cruising the Mekong, which flows through Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos, offers an unforgettable insight into the vibrant cultures, history and cuisines of these diverse countries. APT has river- and land-based trips that range from eight to 24 days and include eight days’ cruising on the Mekong between Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam) and Siem Reap (Cambodia); the longer trips take in Thailand and China as well.

The company’s newest ship, the luxurious 124-passenger AmaDara, joined AmaLotus in August this year. A special feature of APT’s Mekong cruises is cuisine designed by renowned restaurateur, cookbook author and TV chef Luke Nguyen, whose extended family still lives in Vietnam.

Your cruise takes you past floating villages and picturesque countryside; along the way you’ll discover temples, visit remote communities and explore the moving history of Cambodia’s capital, Phnom Penh. Siem Reap is the gateway to the spectacular ruins of Angkor Wat, which date back to the ninth century – allow yourself at least a day here to wander around the huge complex.

A cruise on Myanmar’s Irrawaddy River between Yangon and Mandalay opens up a whole new (old) world. APT’s boutique ship RV Samatha accommodates up to 60 passengers in beautiful balcony suites, from where you can view the rich riverside life of this formerly closed country.

Tropical Yangon (Rangoon) was once Burma’s capital – today it’s the country’s biggest city. The ancient golden Schwedagon Paya pagoda complex attracts thousands of visitors and a day in Yangon reveals a fascinating mix of colonial and modern architecture. Mandalay is the country’s second-largest city, as well as its economic and religious hub. Browse markets and workshops for traditional crafts, visit the Royal Palace and marvel at the number of saffron-clad Buddhist monks walking and cycling around the busy streets.

Away from the hustle and bustle of the cities, the Irrawaddy reveals a landscape studded with pagodas, villages where people live as they have for centuries, the ancient temples of Bagan and the charming floating gardens of Inle Lake.

A cruise on India’s holy river, the Ganges, is an ideal introduction to this fascinating, complex country. The brand-new, 56-passenger RV Ganges Voyager is a luxurious vessel that was custom-built to navigate the Lower Ganges; its suites all have balconies and the East India Dining Room offers a choice of delicious local cuisine and Western-style dishes.

APT’s Lower Ganges land-cruise holidays include a seven-night, round-trip cruise from Kolkata (formerly Calcutta), a vast, sprawling city that was India’s capital under the British Raj. Among the many highlights of a week on the river are tours of ancient temples and Mogul palaces, visits to villages where craftsmen practise centuries-old trades, and a day in the French-colonial town of Chand Nagar.

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