Journeying by river provides the perfect opportunity to discover new places or see a new side of a familiar destination.

Presented here are 50 remarkable and memorable trips chosen because of the stunning scenery they pass through as well as the historic and cultural sites that can be visited from side excursions. Some cover lengthy trips such as a cruise on the Danube that passes through ten countries from its source before emptying into the Black Sea; others are shorter but have a strong, unifying theme, such as Portugal’s Douro River that was built on viticulture.

In Southeast Asia, the leisurely pace of a river trip along the Yangtze, Mekong or Ayeryawaddy Rivers allows time to take in the ancient cultures and exotic landscapes. Beautiful countryside, wine-rich valleys and dramatic gorges are the highlights of a river journey; the scenery is constant and ever changing.

But as well as the natural wonders, there are also remarkable man-made engineering feats to experience as you pass through intricate lock systems or under state-of-the-art bridges. All the important landmarks and cities, scenery and architecture are described for each journey, and each one is illustrated with a route map.