Reimagining River Cruising, G Adventures Launches New Collection of Waterway Tours

New breed of river cruising targets younger travelers, focuses on local and active experiences

Leading small-group adventure tour operator G Adventures, which marks its 25^th anniversary this year, reimagines the river cruising experience with the launch of a new program that aims to localize and energize the river cruising experience. The collection of nine itineraries varies in length from eight to 15 days and explores iconic river systems in Cambodia, Vietnam, India, France and Peru.

Unlike the floating all-inclusive-like experiences that currently saturate the market, G Adventures’ new river cruising program targets a younger demographic and features active and cultural elements, as well as opportunities to visit and support local communities along the routes. On some vessels, for example, bicycles will be stocked for passengers’ use to explore isolated coastal villages and backroads on shore. Others will invite passengers to disembark, for colorful street tours via rickshaw.

“We’ve expanded on the success of our Marine travel style with a global portfolio of small-vessel, small-group river cruising experiences,” says Jeff Russill, Vice President of Innovation at G Adventures. “Similar to our Local Living and Rail programs, we took a disruptive, innovative approach to a traditional form of travel, broke it down and rebuilt it into something fresh and new that really captures the essence of how we travel.”

Each vessel in the fleet is purpose-built to cruise its unique environment and features large open decks. Every cabin comes complete with windows and a private bath.

As with all G Adventures tours, river cruise groups will be small – just 22 to 30 passengers per vessel per trip -- and travelers come from all over the world. A G Adventures knowledgeable Chief Experience Officer guide, who is locally trained to develop guests’ understanding of the wildlife, cultures and ecosystems of the regions, leads every trip.

“River cruising is one of the fastest-growing segments in travel and opens up the interiors of some of the world’s greatest places. There’s no better way to experience them than on a small vessel, in a small group. This is slow travel at its best,” adds Russill.

Departures begin in 2016 with the exception of the existing Amazon River Adventure through Peru, which is currently available at USD$2499 for nine days.

Sample new itineraries include:

Ganges River Cruise Encompassed – Explore palace ruins at Rajmahal, witness sixth-century rock carvings, take breathtaking photos of the Jain temple in the middle of a lake at Pawapuri, and sail through local villages to see historical battlegrounds, terracotta temples, and the Katgola palace. Priced from USD$3,199 per person for a 15-day trip from Patna to Kolkata.

Mekong River Cruise Adventure - Sail for eight days aboard a classic riverboat from Ho Chi Minh City to Siem Reap. Visit the Cu Chi Tunnels, discover Phnom Penh, roam the famous floating markets of Cai Bei, catch the sunrise at Angkor Wat, enjoy lunch at the G Adventures-supported New Hope project and explore the stilt village of Chnok Tru. Priced from USD$1,999 per person for a 10-day trip from Ho Chi Minh City to Siem Reap.

Burgundy River Cruise Experience – Visit small villages and first-rate wineries, bike through forests and vineyards on a provided bicycle, and soak up the glorious sunshine, all with the help of a charming little hotel that goes where you go. Priced from USD$1,999 for an eight-day trip from Dijon to Dijon.