river travel tips and stories. Vacations ideas, cruises spa and resorts

The Okavango Delta is the largest inland delta on Earth. Instead of flowing into the sea, the annual flood of fresh water flows inland, spreading over 15 000km of the Kalahari sand in a maze of lagoons and channels. The River Okavango, which rises in the highlands of Angola, never reaches the sea; instead, its mighty waters empty over the sand of the Kalahari Desert. Here the thirst land of the south meets a blue-green wilderness of fresh water, with emerald reed beds and towering trees. Over the aeon the Okavango River has spread its rich sediment over a huge, almost flat area, in the shape of a giant panhandle.

Continue reading The ecological oasis of Africa

Shaoxing is world famous for the gorgeous scenes along its waters. The rivers, big and small, span 1,900 kilometers, running vertical and horizontal - just like streets in northern China - with various stone bridges as their crossroads. Shaoxing boasts 229 ancient bridges in various forms, which form a site rich in man-made landscape and wins the city the title of Hometown of Bridges.

Continue reading The water conveyance of Shaoxing

Stretching for over two kilometers along the St. Lawrence River, the historical Old Port offers to the visitors and the natives alike access to an endless variety of recreational, maritime and entertainment activities. Admission to the site is free. The social, economic and cultural soul of Montreal ever since early French for trades used it as a trading post in 1611. Today, the riverfront welcomes over seven million visitors to year.
Continue reading Old Port - the perfect place in Montreal to make your stay the most enjoyable

With an abundance of wildlife, the mighty Nile, spectacular snow-capped peaks and modern bustling cities, Uganda is the African continent compacted into one country. This journey will get your adrenaline pumping, while still giving you the opportunity to enjoy the stunning scenery.
Continue reading The Nile can be rafted year round in Uganda.

The holy city has been a symbol of spiritualism, philosophy and mysticism for thousands of years and has produced great saints and personalities like Buddha, Mahavira, Kabir, Tulsi Das, Shankaracharaya, Ramanuja and Patanjali. Varanasi is a famous Hindu holy city situated on the banks of the river Ganges in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It is one of the oldest cities in the world, dating back thousands of years and contemporaneous with the Sumer civilisation. The culture of Varanasi is deeply associated with the river Ganga and the river’s religious importance. The city has been a cultural and religious center in northern India for thousands of years. Varanasi has its own style of classical Hindustani music, and has produced prominent musicians, philosophers, poets, and writers in Indian history.
Continue reading Varanasi - the most popular pilgrimage point for the Hindus

Every city should have a great piece of symbolic architecture - In Paris it’s the Eiffel Tower; in New York - the Empire State Building; in Rotterdam it’s the Erasmus bridge. The Erasmus Bridge is a cable stayed bridge across the Nieuwe Maas river. The Bridge was designed by Ben van Berkel and completed in 1996. The 808 metre long bridge has a 139 metre-high asymmetrical pylon, earning the bridge its nickname of “The Swan” by locals because of its graceful posture over the water. The southern span of the bridge has a 89 metre long bascule bridge for ships that cannot pass under the bridge. The bascule bridge is the largest and heaviest in West Europe and has the largest panel of its type in the world. The bridge was officially opened by Queen Beatrix on 6.09. 1996, having cost about 75 million Euros to construct. Shortly after the bridge opened to traffic in October 1996, it was discovered the bridge would swing under particularly strong wind conditions. To reduce the trembling, stronger shock dampeners were installed.

Continue reading The Erasmus bridge - the trademark of Rotterdam

Yangtze River, together with the Yellow River, is the birthplace of Chinese civilization. Over 6,000 km long, the mighty Yangtze is the longest river in China and the third longest in the world. Along the upper reaches of the river lies the spectacular Three Gorges. To sail through the famous Three Gorges of the Yangtze is to feel the power, majesty and timelessness of China’s greatest -and the world’s third longest river. Imagine the sight as sheer cliffs of rock close in around you, drawing you deeply into a scene of almost unspeakable beauty. Fisherman brave the rushing waters to net their livelihood. Birds dart between clouds, eyeing their prey far below. As the ship turns at a seemingly dead end, a new world of wonders suddenly unfolds before you …

Continue reading Cruise through three spectacular river gorges in the heart of China