England Small River Cruises

This exciting river cruise vacation has it all! Begin in Amsterdam with a cruise through the city’s enchanting canals. Then, head north to explore the unique harbor town of Volendam, Edam with its world-famous cheeses, and Arnhem, where you can choose between guided sightseeing and a visit of the WWII Airborne Museum Hartenstein. Enjoy guided sightseeing in Cologne and Strasbourg, see the Deutsches Eck at Koblenz, the Roman ruins at Trier, Reichsburg Castle above charming Cochem, and the unique Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum in Rüdesheim. Also, visit the Gutenberg Museum in Mainz, sail past the legendary Lorelei rock and through the dramatic Rhine Gorge, sample the area’s celebrated wines in Bernkastel, and enjoy excursions to majestic Heidelberg and to Germany’s legendary Black Forest.

This exciting vacation lets you sample the natural wonders of Ecuador, including the Galápagos Islands and the Amazon Jungle. From Quito, fly to Coca and travel by canoe to your Amazon lodge for a 3-night stay that include a rainforest canopy walk, a guided night tour, a cruise through the flooded forest, and visit of Kapok Tree Tower. Return to Quito for guided sightseeing, have your photo taken at the “Center of the World,” and spend time at leisure in Guayaquil. Fly over the Pacific to San Cristobal Island, where you’ll embark on an exciting 4-day cruise among various Galápagos Islands. Then, spend two nights on Santa Cruz Island at the Finch Bay Hotel, where an expert Naturalist introduces you to indigenous plant and animal species found only in the Galápagos. Also visit the Charles Darwin Research Station and choose from a menu of à la carte activities—a remarkable adventure!

Experience China in depth on this mesmerizing river cruise vacation. Visit world-famous historical sites in Beijing, Xi’an, Shanghai, Guilin, and Hong Kong, including the Forbidden City, Great Wall, Sacred Way of the Ming Tombs, Terracotta Warriors, Yu Yuan Gardens, Reed Flute Cave, and Stanley Market. Attend special cloisonné and lacquer workshops, a noodle-making demonstration, a calligraphy class, and tour a silk factory and a tea farm. Enjoy a Peking Duck welcome dinner, as well as “The Tang Dynasty” dinner show and Peking Opera performances. Marvel at the Three Gorges Dam site on your magical 3-night Yangtze River cruise, and at the fascinating scenery on a Li River day cruise in Guilin. The one-of-a-kind port city of Hong Kong rounds out your journey with a cable car ride up Victoria Peak and a sampan ride on the harbor.

See the best of China and Thailand on this mesmerizing vacation. Visit world-famous historical sites in Beijing, Xi’an, Shanghai, Guilin, and Hong Kong, including the Forbidden City, Great Wall, Sacred Way of the Ming Tombs, Terracotta Warriors, Yu Yuan Gardens, Reed Flute Cave, and Stanley Market. Attend special cloisonné and lacquer workshops, a noodle-making demonstration, a calligraphy class, and tour a silk factory and a tea farm. Enjoy a Peking Duck welcome dinner, as well as “The Tang Dynasty” dinner show and Peking Opera performances. Marvel at the Three Gorges Dam site on your magical 3-night Yangtze River cruise, and at the fascinating scenery on a Li River day cruise in Guilin. On to the one-of-a-kind port city of Hong Kong, with a cable car ride up Victoria Peak and a sampan ride on the harbor. Then, fly to Bangkok for three overnights and sightseeing that features the Grand Palace, Wat Phra Keo, and the Temple of the Reclining Buddha.

Fantastic treasures await on this cruise vacation of Peru and the Galápagos Islands. Enjoy a walking tour of Lima; guided sightseeing in Quito and Cuzco, former capital of the Inca Empire; and an excursion to Otavalo’s famous Indian market. Also visit ancient Puca Pucara, the Temple of Sacsayhuaman, the Inca fortress of Ollantaytambo, and mystical Machu Picchu. Then, fly to Baltra Island for a fantastic 4-day Galápagos Islands cruise. In the company of a local Naturalist you’ll encounter indigenous plants and animals found only the Galápagos Islands and will even pay a visit to the world-famous Charles Darwin Research Station! Fly to Coca, where you’ll travel by canoe to your lodge in the Amazon Jungle. Spend three nights here and enjoy a rainforest canopy walk, guided night tour, cruise through the forest, and visit of Kapok Tree Tower.

Notes:
Maximum elevation on tour: 12,000 ft.

This exciting river cruise vacation introduces you to the rich history and cultural treasures of China and Tibet. Begin your journey with three overnights in vibrant Hong Kong, including a cable car ride up Victoria Peak for panoramic views, a drive to Repulse Bay, and time in the Aberdeen fishing village for a sampan ride on the harbor. On to mainland China, where you’ll marvel at the Three Gorges Dam site on your delightful 4-night Yangtze River cruise, and experience world-famous sites in Shanghai, Xi’an, and Beijing, including the Bund, Yu Yuan Gardens, the Children’s Palace, Dayan Pagoda, Terracotta Warriors, Great Wall, Forbidden City, Imperial Palace, and Sacred Way of the Ming Tombs. High in the Himalayas, explore Lhasa, Tibet’s mystical capital, with visits to the Summer Palace, a local home and monastery, Potala Palace, and Jokhang Temple—a remarkable vacation!

Notes:

• This trip is for travelers who are fit. You will visit regions reaching almost 14,000 ft. in elevation.
• Accommodations in the Gobi Desert are in traditional Mongolian gers with private bathroom and shared shower facilities.

This exciting vacation introduces you to the rich history and cultural treasures of China, Tibet, and Mongolia. Begin your journey with three overnights in vibrant Hong Kong, including a cable car ride up Victoria Peak for panoramic views, a drive to Repulse Bay, and time in the Aberdeen fishing village for a sampan ride on the harbor. On to mainland China, where you’ll marvel at the Three Gorges Dam site on your delightful 4-night Yangtze River cruise, and experience world-famous sites in Shanghai, Xi’an, and Beijing, including the Bund, Yu Yuan Gardens, the Children’s Palace, Dayan Pagoda, Terracotta Warriors, Great Wall, Forbidden City, Imperial Palace, and Sacred Way of the Ming Tombs. High in the Himalayas, explore Lhasa, Tibet’s mystical capital, with visits to the Summer Palace, a local home and monastery, Potala Palace, and Jokhang Temple. Fly to Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, where a city tour shows off the sites, you’ll enjoy a Mongolian folklore performance, and inside visits introduce you to the Bogd Khan Winter Palace and Gandan Monastery. Fly to the Gobi Desert and visit Eagle Valley National Park, the largest sand dunes in the region, and a camel breeders camp to learn about the nomadic lifestyle—truly the trip of a lifetime!

Notes:

• This trip is for travelers who are fit. You will visit regions reaching almost 14,000 ft. in elevation.
• Accommodations in the Gobi Desert are in traditional Mongolian gers with private bathroom and shared shower facilities.

Discover China’s ancient history and fascinating culture on this delightful China river cruise. Sightseeing with a Local Guide shows you the highlights in Beijing, Xi’an, and Shanghai, with inside visits that include the Forbidden City, Imperial Palace, Great Wall, Sacred Way of the Ming Tombs, the Terracotta Warriors, Dayan Pagoda, the Bund, the Yu Yuan Gardens, and the Children’s Palace. Attend an acrobatic show or visit the Ghost City Temple, and participate in a calligraphy class, lacquer and cloisonné workshops, and a noodle-making demonstration. You’ll also tour the ancient Hutongs by rickshaw, enjoy a performance of the Peking Opera, “The Tang Dynasty” dinner show, and an authentic Peking Duck dinner, and will tour a silk factory. On your 3-night river cruise along the majestic Yangtze, see the impressive Three Gorges Dam site. Fly to Hong Kong for three overnights that include a cable car ride up Victoria Peak for panoramic views. Drive by Repulse Bay, a popular beach area, then to the Aberdeen fishing village for a sampan ride on the harbor.