Pillar Guide

Eight great rivers.

River cruising is what we plan best and most often. This is our guide — every major river we work with, what each one is known for, and the kinds of experiences to plan around them.

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River No. 01

The Rhine

Germany · France · Switzerland · Netherlands

The classic first river cruise — castles, cathedrals, and the UNESCO-listed Middle Rhine Gorge.

Experiences

—Sail the Middle Rhine past dozens of hilltop castles
—Explore Strasbourg's cathedral and Alsace's wine villages
—Wander Cologne's old town, Rüdesheim, and the Black Forest edge

Sights

· Marksburg Castle
· Cologne Cathedral
· Heidelberg
· Amsterdam canals

River No. 02

The Danube

Germany · Austria · Slovakia · Hungary

Imperial Europe by river — Vienna, Budapest, Passau, and the wine country of the Wachau Valley.

Experiences

—Classical music in Vienna, city of Mozart and Strauss
—Budapest lit at night from the top deck
—Christmas Markets across Melk, Passau, and Regensburg

Sights

· Schönbrunn Palace
· Hungarian Parliament
· Melk Abbey
· Wachau vineyards

River No. 03

The Seine

France — Paris to Normandy

The most refined river in Europe — Impressionist France, extraordinary cuisine, and the Normandy beaches.

Experiences

—Multiple nights docked in central Paris
—Monet's gardens at Giverny
—A day on the Normandy D-Day beaches with a specialist guide

Sights

· Notre-Dame de Rouen
· Honfleur harbor
· Château Gaillard
· Omaha Beach

River No. 04

The Rhône

France — Lyon to Provence

The soul of southern France — Roman ruins, papal Avignon, Côtes du Rhône wines, and the food of Lyon.

Experiences

—Market mornings and traditional bouchon lunches in Lyon
—The Palais des Papes and the medieval walled city of Avignon
—Wine tastings in Châteauneuf-du-Pape and the Provençal countryside

Sights

· Roman amphitheater, Arles
· Pont du Gard
· Palais des Papes
· Vieux Lyon

River No. 05

The Douro

Portugal & the Spanish borderlands

One of Europe's most beautiful rivers — hand-cut vineyard terraces, family quintas, and Portuguese hospitality.

Experiences

—Tastings at working port quintas along the valley
—Porto's Ribeira waterfront and the port lodges of Vila Nova de Gaia
—A day excursion across the border to Salamanca, Spain

Sights

· Alto Douro vineyards (UNESCO)
· Pinhão
· Livraria Lello
· Salamanca's Plaza Mayor

River No. 06

The Saône

France — Lyon, Beaujolais & southern Burgundy

France's gastronomic heart — Lyon's bouchons, Beaujolais vineyards, and the quiet villages of southern Burgundy.

Experiences

—Market mornings in Lyon's Halles de Paul Bocuse and a traditional bouchon dinner in Vieux Lyon
—Beaujolais cru tastings in Fleurie, Morgon, and the golden-stone villages of the Pierres Dorées
—A day in Mâcon and the Romanesque abbey of Cluny, once the largest church in Christendom

Sights

· Vieux Lyon (UNESCO)
· Fourvière Basilica
· Château de Cormatin
· Cluny Abbey

River No. 07

The Nile

Egypt — Luxor to Aswan

The oldest river journey on earth — pharaohs, temples, and the tombs of the Valley of the Kings.

Experiences

—Karnak and Luxor Temples with an Egyptologist
—Abu Simbel at sunrise
—Sailing a traditional dahabiya between the great sites

Sights

· Valley of the Kings
· Karnak Temple
· Philae Temple
· Abu Simbel

River No. 08

The Mekong

Vietnam · Cambodia

Southeast Asia at its most vivid — floating markets, Angkor, and stilt-village life along the river.

Experiences

—The temples of Angkor Wat at dawn
—Floating markets in the Mekong Delta
—Silk villages and Buddhist monasteries reached by sampan

Sights

· Angkor Wat
· Phnom Penh Royal Palace
· Cu Chi tunnels
· Cai Be floating market

Eight great rivers.

Take the matchmaker quiz.

The Rhine

The Danube

The Seine

The Rhône

The Douro

The Saône

The Nile

The Mekong

Ready to plan your voyage?