Great river trips around the world

Rivers are magnificent arteries of life cutting through the landscape. Ancient human thoroughfares and areas of high cultivation, rivers have shaped human history and civilisation like no other environmental feature. Yes, we've heard all that, but what are they like to holiday on? Well, take your pick of rivers. A river trip down the Ganges, for example, is not for the faint-hearted, while a trip down the Congo River may require armed guards. The Danube, however, is delightful, while a cruise on the Volga with plenty of caviar and vodka on ice makes for a memorable or unmemorable, depending on the vodka, experience.

The classic river trip is the Nile—every year package loads of tourists pretend to be Agatha Christie or Hercule Poirot and steam down to Luxor. These trips can be sub-standard or luxurious depending on the boat you choose. In short, a river journey can be as relaxing or adventurous as you like.