Since time immemorial, humans have been building settlements where land meets water. Sustenance, commerce, exploration, defense – the reasons vary, but oceans, rivers, and lakes have always played a large part in human history, and each civilization has produced their own culture and crafts to support their waterborne pursuits. Across our 45-plus small group tours, you'll only find a few trips where we don't take to the water for at least an afternoon cruise. Almost no tour would be complete without exploring the waterways of the destinations we visit.
Below, we highlight only a handful of the most interesting adventures we enjoy on the water during our small group tours. To explore all of the unique modes of transportation we use, read our two previous posts: On the Ground on an Odysseys Tour and In the Air on an Odysseys Tour.
Sampan ride along the Ngo Dong River in Tam Coc, Vietnam
Sampan rides: On Exploring China, Journey through Vietnam, and Southeast Asia Odyssey, we embark traditional low-slung sampan boats to explore the slow-moving rivers and canals of this region. Whether it's the mighty Mekong, northern Vietnam's Ngo Dong River (above), or the canals of Zhujiajiao in Shanghai, these hand- (and sometimes foot-) powered craft offer the perfect way to interact with these stunning and historic environments.
Odysseys guests enjoying a private cruise on Türkiye's Turquoise Coast
Private Turquoise Coast cruise: On Legendary Türkiye, we board a private yacht for a Turquoise Coast “Blue Voyage” cruise along the stunning coastline that Antony is said to have given to Cleopatra as a wedding gift. Visit secluded coves (including Aquarium Cove, with its waters of brilliant blue and green), have the opportunity to swim and snorkel, and enjoy lunch on board.
We cruise mystical Ha Long Bay on two small group tours.
Junk Ha Long Bay cruise: On both Journey through Vietnam and Southeast Asia Odyssey, we explore fairytale-like Ha Long Bay and its 2,000 islands and outcroppings aboard a traditional Vietnamese "junk." It's an unforgettable day on the water as we spend time exploring this breathtaking waterway surrounded by limestone cliffs, secret grottoes, and hidden caves.
The ghats along the Ganges River in Varanasi
Ganges River ghat cruise: The waters of the Ganges are sacred to Hindus, and we may see pilgrims bathing in the waters as we visit several ghats (steps) via boat during our Mystical India tour.
Aerial view of Isola Bella in Lake Maggiore, which we explore on our Northern Italy tour
Lake boat rides: Many of our small group tours to Europe feature lake cruises, including our trips to Switzerland, Italy, Slovenia, Scotland (where we cruise Loch Ness), and England. For a full breakdown of the lake cruise on our Northern Italy tour, explore our blog post here: Island Hopping on Lake Maggiore.
Duoro River cruises: On both Discovering Portugal and Across Spain & Portugal, we enjoy a cruise along Portugal's famed Duoro River, followed by a visit to a port lodge for a tour and tasting of this fortified wine exclusive to the region.
Manarola, Cinque Terre, Italy
Mediterranean excursions: We take to the water to explore several different parts of the Mediterranean on a number of tours, including Northern Italy, Sicily in Depth, Portrait of Italy, Journey through Greece, and Ancient Greece. All are highlights, but it's hard to beat a day cruising the coastline of Italy's famed Cinque Terre (above).
Odysseys guests cruising in for an up-close look at a glacier on Patagonian Frontiers
Patagonia adventures: On our two distinct trips to Patagonia, we enjoy overnight cruises, day cruises, and up-close encounters with the stunning natural scenery in this remote region. Perhaps most memorable of all are our two rides via inflatable Zodiac boat to visit Pia and Aguilar Glacier.
Tortuguero canals
Placid river explorations: On Costa Rica's Natural Heritage, we take a float safari through the jungles of the Tempisque River, and guests on the pre-tour option to Tortuguero enjoy a canal ride (above) to their rainforest lodge. And on Jewels of Colombia, we embark canoes for a tour through the Rosario Islands, an archipelago of 27 white-sand islets off the coast of Colombia.
Our privately chartered Galapagos yacht (background) and the inflatable Zodiacs we take to reach each island
Private Galapagos cruise: During our four-night stay in the Galapagos Islands on Machu Picchu to the Galapagos, we enjoy the services of the Santa Fe (above), our privately chartered yacht, on which we cruise to various islands for onshore excursions.
Feluccas in Aswan
Nile River felucca sail: It's an iconic silhouette on a legendary waterway. On both Egypt & the Eternal Nile and Exploring Jordan & Egypt, we embark the classic Nile felucca for a leisurely sail along the river, traveling as the locals have done for thousands of years.
Guests on our Africa's Wildlife tour enjoy a Sundowner cruise on the Zambezi River
Zambezi River cruise: The photo above says it all. Safaris aren't just for dusty savannas. Our sunset cruise on Africa's Wildlife offers time to relax, unwind, and take in the extraordinary surroundings from the deck of your private vessel.
Inside our semi-submersible vessel at the Great Barrier Reef
Great Barrier Reef rides: We take a boat from Cairns out for our daylong excursion to the Great Barrier Reef on Exploring Australia & New Zealand, but the real fun begins once we arrive at the reef. That's when we embark semi-submersible vessels for a chance to see the reef from an incredible underwater perspective.
Harbor cruises in Sydney, Port Arthur, and Auckland: We cruise harbors both major and minor on all three of our tours to the Lands Down Under, giving us a chance to see these coastal cities in a new light.
New Zealand's stunning Doubtful Sound
"Sound of Silence" cruise: During New Zealand Adventure, we embark a catamaran for a three-hour cruise through Doubtful Sound, known as the "Sound of Silence" for the remarkable serenity that prevails here. Animals we may spot include dolphins, fur seals, and Fiordland crested penguins. Surrounding us: rugged mountain peaks, rainforest, and waterfalls.
The water provides an essential perspective on so many destinations, and as you can see, there's an endless variety of options with which to explore the world's waterways with Odysseys. We hope to welcome you soon on an Odysseys Unlimited small group tour.
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