River Port Excursions in Asia
Floating markets on the Mekong, the Three Gorges of the Yangtze, Bagan’s temples and the river towns of the Ganges.
Browse Asia river cruises »River ships dock in the heart of towns and villages, so excursions are short, gentle and immersive. Expect calm-water cruising and village-to-village stops with tuk-tuk rides, craft demonstrations and temple visits.
Mekong River
Lower Mekong calls include floating markets at dawn (such as Cai Be or Cai Rang, depending on the itinerary), silk and rice-paper workshops, Khmer pagodas and the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh. Many programs add Angkor by land from Siem Reap.
- Floating market and canal sampan ride
- Phnom Penh palace and riverside walk
- Village handicraft immersion
Siem Reap hotels on RoomsCheap.com · Phnom Penh hotels · Ho Chi Minh City hotels
Yangtze River
Three- to five-night segments feature the Three Gorges, viewpoints over the Three Gorges Dam, Shibaozhai Pagoda and Fengdu “Ghost City.” Add narrow-gorge boat rides on tributaries such as Shennong Stream for close-up scenery.
- Three Gorges scenic transits
- Dam-site viewpoints and museum
- Shibaozhai climb and river outlooks
Irrawaddy River (Myanmar)
Between Mandalay and Bagan, river journeys have offered sunrise temple views, artisan quarters for gold leaf and silk, and village monastery visits, with longer routes reaching Yangon for the Shwedagon Pagoda. Many operators have suspended Myanmar sailings; check current travel advisories before booking.
- Bagan temple circuit with sunset
- Mandalay craft workshops
- Monastery visit and village walk
Ganges & Hooghly
West Bengal routes from Kolkata include the temple clusters of Kalna, the riverside heritage of Chandernagore and Mayapur. Some programs add Sundarbans creek safaris for mangrove wildlife, and optional land links to Varanasi offer the dawn aarti on the ghats.
- Kolkata city and riverfront markets
- Temple-town loop and terracotta art
- Sundarbans creek safari on select sailings
Planning an Asia river cruise?
Compare Mekong, Yangtze and Ganges river cruises on the Official River Cruise Directory, then get your best cruise price free from true river cruise specialists.
Get free river cruise quotes »Asia River Cruises — FAQ
When is the best time for a Mekong river cruise?
Roughly August to April. In the dry season, low water on the Tonle Sap means many itineraries start or end with a road transfer to Siem Reap rather than sailing all the way.
Are Irrawaddy river cruises operating?
Many international operators have suspended Myanmar sailings, and the U.S. State Department has advised against travel to Burma (Myanmar). Check the current travel advisory and your operator before planning an Irrawaddy cruise.
How long is a Yangtze cruise?
Most Three Gorges segments between Chongqing and Yichang take three to five nights.
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