5 Luxury River Cruises Beyond the Ordinary

A Floating Country House

Burgundy with Marguerite, A Belmond Boat

Belmond’s newest barge, the beautiful Marguerite, launches this August with itineraries that cruise through Pontailler-sur-Saône, St Léger, Lyon, and Auxonne. Every journey emphasises slow, luxurious travel in the classic Belmond style, with days spent sailing along the Saône and Burgundy’s historic canals, with time dedicated to cultural immersion and unhurried exploration.

By no means expect traditional cruising. Instead, think of this as an elegant boutique hotel that moves: one moment a quiet canal paired with morning pastries, the next gliding beside a grand chateau where you’ll stop for a private lunch, and sunset cycling along canalside trails as the crew readies a bespoke wine selection from Burgundy’s UNESCO-listed Climats vineyards for an evening tasting under the stars.

Onboard Marguerite, A Belmond Boat

Marguerite’s interior design takes cues from the Burgundy landscapes. Floral motifs, pale yellow hues and stained glass draw from fields of golden Marguerite daisies, accented by polished wood and carefully selected furniture. The four double suites are sublime, each with private bathrooms and wide windows offering light-filled panoramas, while allowing eight guests to share this beautifully conceived space. The communal areas include an open-plan salon and an outdoor deck with a heated plunge pool. The food is a real highlight, with seasonal menus curated by chef Dominique Crenn of 3 Michelin-star Atelier Crenn.

A Hybrid Safari on Water & Land

Botswana’s Chobe River with AmaWaterways

The mere mention of the word safari conjures the most lucid of daydreams: dust rising over a golden savannah, prey kicking up a sandstorm as lions approach. But AmaWaterways’ Iconic Africa itinerary reveals a very different perspective. Linking Cape Town, the Chobe River, Victoria Falls, a private safari reserve, and Johannesburg, this immersive cruise places one of Africa’s richest wildlife ecosystems at its heart: Botswana’s Chobe River. But don’t think of this as a typical cruise. The Iconic Africa itinerary is a thoughtfully designed hybrid safari, offering a slow-paced water safari alongside thrilling game drives, and luxurious overnight stays in iconic cities such as Cape Town and Johannesburg.

Sailing The Chobe aboard the Zambezi Queen

You’ll spend your first few days exploring Cape Town, the Cape of Good Hope and Robben Island, before travelling to Victoria Falls, from where you’ll sail out on the Zambezi Queen. Tender boat safaris introduce you to the rich ecosystem of the Chobe River, spotting elephants and hippos in the shallows, before heading to land for guided game drives and insightful visits to local communities.

Aboard the Zambezi Queen, each of the 14 staterooms features a private balcony overlooking the river, ensuring the stunning African wilderness remains a constant companion throughout the experience.

Life On The Mekong

Heritage Line’s Lower Mekong Cruises

The Mekong is arguably one of the world’s most iconic rivers, flowing as it does from its origins high on the Tibetan Plateau before passing through Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, and Cambodia, and meeting the South China Sea in southern Vietnam.

The river reveals itself in villages that rise on stilts above the water, floating markets bustling with traders hawking colourful fruits and vegetables, and saffron-robed monks who begin each morning as they have for centuries.

Travelling Along The Lower Mekong

Heritage Line offers several Mekong itineraries, but 360’s Travel Designers suggest the longer trips that focus on the southern river, allowing time to properly experience life from Vietnam to Cambodia. A 7-day cruise is ideal, particularly aboard the Jahan, a luxurious, neo-Victorian riverboat that blends British colonial elegance with Indian-inspired design elements — a nod to the art and architecture that influenced ancient Khmer and Cham cultures in the Mekong Delta.

Highlights include cycling through peaceful riverside villages, exploring narrow canals aboard traditional sampans, visiting Buddhist monasteries, and discovering the contrasting cities of Phnom Penh, once known as the “Paris of the East”, and Ho Chi Minh City, where soaring neon-lit skyscrapers stand alongside elegant French colonial architecture.

The River of Pharaohs

The Oberoi Philae, Egypt

The Nile, the River of Pharaohs, the Father of African rivers, has shaped so much of human history. For thousands of years, it sustained one of the world’s greatest civilisations, its annual floods nurturing the temples, cities and monuments that continue to define modern Egypt. To truly begin to understand this leviathan of a river, we suggest exploring it the way it was meant to be explored… from the water.

The Oberoi Philae Experience

The Oberoi Philae combines the intimacy and ambience of a boutique hotel with the timeless romance of classic Nile travel. Spacious suites and understated interiors provide a tranquil retreat between expertly guided excursions to some of Egypt’s most significant ancient sites, including the Valley of the Kings, Karnak and Luxor Temples, Kom Ombo and Philae Temple — the ancient sanctuary from which the Oberoi Philae takes her name — as this itinerary unfolds between the treasures of Luxor and the vibrant Nubian culture of Aswan.

Highlights of this trip include visits to the remarkably preserved Temple of Dendera and explorations brought to life by Egyptologists, revealing the stories behind intricate hieroglyphics. Quieter days are spent on deck as feluccas drift past lush palm groves, farmers tend strips of fertile riverbank, and water buffalo cool themselves in the shallows. Evenings are atmospheric, with exceptional dining inspired by both Egyptian and international cuisine, paired with sweeping views of the Nile.