River Cruises China Tours & Trip Packages

River Cruises China Tours & Trips

839 River Cruises trips. Tours from 159 tour companies. 441 reviews. 4.8/5 avg rating.

21 trips exactly matchall of the the filters you selected.
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China
10-Day Beijing, Chongqing, Yangtze, Yichang and Shanghai Tour
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By China Highlights
Local Expert
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5/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
Private Guided
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Full schedule

Visits

Beijing, Chongqing, Shanghai, Yangtze River, Yichang

Highlights

  • Exploring the renowned landmarks of Beijing
  • Witnessing the splendor of the Yangtze River
  • Visiting the refined city of Shanghai and the historical water town of Zhujiajiao for a serene experience

Themes

Cultural, Nature & Wildlife, Photography

What travelers are saying

"I've just returned from my trip to China, a week ago. I've seen many-many interesting places of Guangdong and Guangxi provinces. But most of all i liked my 2-days trip to Longshen villages with my guide Frank from chinahighlights. The day before our trip has started, in Guilin, Frank met me in hotel and told about our journey. Next 2 days we visited traditional ancient chinese villages (the biggest from them are Ping'an and Dazhai), walking around them, saw the rice-terraces landscape (it was really unbelievable). Also we had a hiking between villages, and stayed at night at ZhongLiu village. I haven't seen any tourists in this village, even chinese tourists. It was fantastic cause we've seen real chinese life of local people, including, for example, planting vegetables, collecting tea). Very quiet, fresh air, natural food. Yes, in this village almost no shops, no souvenirs, but you dont need them. All around you a hundred times better. I advice all, who wants to see real chinese life, visit this place, especially this village, stay at night there. Thanks very much to my guide Frank and chinahighlights for this trip!"

Trip dates & details
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Grand China and the Yangtze (2021)
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5/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
River Cruise
Why we love them
They have the highest staff-to-guest ratio in the river cruise industry and a reputation for excellent service.
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Flexible schedule

Visits

Beijing, Chengdu, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Yichang

Themes

50 plus, Cultural, Small Ship Cruise

What travelers are saying

"Personnel were all very polite and happy to serve. Service was timely and professional. Most remembered your preferences and were prepared to assist."

Trip dates & details
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Highlights of China & the Yangtze (2021)
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5/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
River Cruise
Why we love them
They have the highest staff-to-guest ratio in the river cruise industry and a reputation for excellent service.
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Flexible schedule

Visits

Beijing, Shanghai

Themes

50 plus, Cultural, Small Ship Cruise

What travelers are saying

"Personnel were all very polite and happy to serve. Service was timely and professional. Most remembered your preferences and were prepared to assist."

Trip dates & details
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China, Tibet & the Yangtze (2021)
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5/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
River Cruise
Why we love them
They have the highest staff-to-guest ratio in the river cruise industry and a reputation for excellent service.
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Flexible schedule

Visits

Beijing, Lhasa, Shanghai, Three Gorges, Tibet

Themes

50 plus, Cultural, Small Ship Cruise

What travelers are saying

"Personnel were all very polite and happy to serve. Service was timely and professional. Most remembered your preferences and were prepared to assist."

Trip dates & details
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Imperial Jewels of China
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4.7/5 Excellent
41 reviews
River Cruise
Lodging level
Luxury - 5 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Flexible schedule

Visits

Beijing, Great Wall of China, Shanghai, Terra Cotta Warriors, The Forbidden City, Three Gorges, Xian

Highlights

  • Explore cosmopolitan Shanghai, imperial treasures like the Great Wall and Forbidden City in Beijing, and cruise the wildly beautiful Three Gorges region of the legendary Yangtze.
  • Visit the Great wall of China and explore its winding pathways and marvel
  • Visit Shibaozhai Temple, a 12-story pavilion built in 1650 along the Yangtze.
  • See Old Shanghai and travel along the elegant Bund, stopping to admire some of its historic buildings and city views.

Themes

50 plus, Cultural

What travelers are saying

"Most of the people on this 17-day river cruise was quite elderly and infirm. Therefore the complimentary excursions were painfully slow walking. Local guides mostly told stories of their own upbringing and the conflicts they lived through. There was not much history on any of the excursions; and none of the buildings we saw gave us an opportunity to go inside, even the paid excursions. The accommodations were excellent, except that we paid for the best veranda but could not sit on our veranda because for the first 5 days our ship was packed tight next to another Viking ship. Food was good, except for dinners which were quite mediocre and never captured the flavor of the local foods."

Trip dates & details
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Roof of the world
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4.7/5 Excellent
41 reviews
River Cruise
Lodging level
Luxury - 5 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Flexible schedule

Visits

Beijing, Chongqing, Lhasa, Shanghai, Terra Cotta Warriors, The Forbidden City, Three Gorges, Three Gorges Dam, Tiananmen Square, Wuhan, Yangtze River

Highlights

  • Experience 6-day Yangtze River cruise in veranda stateroom
  • Visit 5 UNESCO World Heritage Sites
  • Culture Curriculum: Enjoy tea with a Tibetan family; attend lectures on the Yangtze River, Mao Zedong & China’s current affairs; practice tai chi every morning aboard.
  • Enjoy a concert of the Hubei Bells
  • Learn a few Chinese words
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Themes

50 plus, Cultural, National Parks, Nature & Wildlife, Small Ship Cruise

What travelers are saying

"Most of the people on this 17-day river cruise was quite elderly and infirm. Therefore the complimentary excursions were painfully slow walking. Local guides mostly told stories of their own upbringing and the conflicts they lived through. There was not much history on any of the excursions; and none of the buildings we saw gave us an opportunity to go inside, even the paid excursions. The accommodations were excellent, except that we paid for the best veranda but could not sit on our veranda because for the first 5 days our ship was packed tight next to another Viking ship. Food was good, except for dinners which were quite mediocre and never captured the flavor of the local foods."

Trip dates & details
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Old Towns and Li River Cruises
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5/5 Excellent
15 reviews
Private Guided
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Flexible schedule

Visits

Guilin, Yangshuo

Highlights

  • Travel along the Li River on the large Public Boat Cruise
  • Explore the Yulong Valley either by bicycle or foot and admire the spectacular scenery
  • Watch the famous Impression 3rd Sister Liu Show held on the banks of the Li River
  • Walk the old streets and go back in time at Huangyao Ancient Town
  • Board a raft and drift down the peaceful Yulong River whilst admiring Southern China’s beauty
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Themes

Cultural, National Parks, Nature & Wildlife

What travelers are saying

"We had great three days in Guilin with Sarah!! Thank you! ♡"

Trip dates & details
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Golden Triangle & Yangtze
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5/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Visits

Beijing, Chongqing, Great Wall of China, Shanghai, Terra Cotta Warriors, The Forbidden City, Xian, Yichang

Highlights

  • Must-see sights in China - the Great Wall, Forbidden City, Terracotta Warriors
  • Unwind with a Yangtze River cruise tour & see the Three Gorges
  • Take in the impressive skylines of Shanghai as you walk along the Bund
  • Walk into a local Chinese family, interact & dine with the hosts in their home

Themes

Cultural, Local Immersion & Homestays, National Parks, Nature & Wildlife, Small Ship Cruise

What travelers are saying

"TCGT is a company you need for an “all inclusive” trip in China. Emily arranged for us a perfect tailored itinerary based on our preferences. Hotel, transports and guides were professional, gentle and fluent English-speaking. We thank TCGT for such wonderful and perfect vacation in China and we highlight its services to everyone."

Trip dates & details
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21 trips exactly matchall of the the filters you selected.
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River Cruises Reviews & Ratings

4.8/5  Excellent
441  Reviews
See all River Cruises tour reviews
Excellent
75
Great
11
Average
1
Disappointing
0
Terrible
1
K

Kaeleigh

Mar 2022

More authentic experience than I would have booked on my own....

I had always been hesitant to try a group tour, because they seemed so stuffy and restricting. I like to do things off the beaten trail when I travel, and I try as b...

L

Linda D

Apr 2024

Written on

AMAZING from start to finish!

It was such a pleasure to work with Annie from start to finish. Annie worked patiently with my very particular husband for a good month to plan a 19 day trip. (I thi...

h

hfarbs

Mar 2023

Written on

Fantastic Service and Trip from Exotic Voyages

"Exotic Voyages was terrific. We were originally on a group trip, and the group cancelled a couple of months before we were scheduled to leave. We found Exotic Voyag...

C

Craig G

Feb 2023

Written on

Exotic Voyages did a great job on our Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos trip

Great experience with Exotic Voyages on my recent trip to Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos! I'm from Califonia and was taking a birthday trip with my mom. I started with ...

B

Bobbydot01

Dec 2022

Written on

I will use Exotic Voyages again.

"We used Exotic Voyages for our 3 week trip. Annie made it organized and easy from the very beginning. She worked with me to develop and tweak many itineraries. All ...

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River Cruises Tour Selection Trips

  • Find the right cabin: If you value space, look for cabins that are at least 170 square feet in size.
  • Read the fine print to check what’s included: To judge the best value as opposed to just the lowest price, watch for how many “extras” are included in the base rate – such as port excursions, alcohol, balcony cabins and even free international airfare – that could add considerably to the cost if purchased separately.  
  • Avoid unnecessary expense: You could easily find yourself paying premium prices for luxuries that you might not be interested in: butler service, for example, or unlimited top-brand spirits, or crystal chandeliers in the lobby.  
  • Evaluate the shore excursions: The quality of port excursions (which may or may not be included in the base price) is especially crucial on river cruises, since you’ll be spending more time on shore than you do on ocean-going vessels.
  • Check out the guides: Knowledgeable, personable guides – who speak good English – can add immeasurably to your enjoyment, as can well-planned side trips to nearby cities, towns, wineries, or historic sites.
  • Book as early as possible: If you don’t want to lose out on that balcony cabin you’ve been eyeing, or on some nice early-booking discounts, get your deposit down as soon as possible. Demand is outpacing supply in Europe, especially, so booking a year in advance is necessary on some lines.
  • Consider the clientele: Some cruise lines attract a wide-ranging international clientele, while others appeal mainly to Americans. Similarly, some river cruise lines market almost exclusively to ages 50 and up, while others also cater to younger passengers, including families.
  • Compare and contrast the itineraries: While many itineraries may appear similar for the same rivers, some lines may offer more time in port, some less, or offer a few different ports and side-trip options than their competitors.  
  • Review the dining options: On some ships, everyone eats at the same time in one dining room, while others offer several dining choices both as to venues – including alfresco dining -- and hours. Table size can vary, too.  
  • Weigh the costs of going solo: If you plan on traveling alone on your cruise, check into the cruise lines’ policies on charging for single supplements, and whether or not they will match you with a same-sex roommate if you’d like to avoid the extra charge.

Additional details

River cruising is an extremely popular mode of travel, especially among older travelers. It's perfect for a relaxing getaway that you can make as active or as laid back as you wish - participating in shore excursions, or simply staying on board watching the world go by from your balcony. 

Only unpack once, and enjoy the slow travel approach!

Classic River Cruise Destinations

Europe dominates when it comes to a “classic” river cruise experience. Sailing in luxury past forested banks, with castles and small villages poking out - enjoying fine european wines and in depth lectures aboard - this is the pinnacle vision of a classic European River Cruise.

Some of the most classic destinations for a European River Cruise include:

1. The Danube River - When most people think of a river cruise, they probably think of the Danube. Among the longest rivers in Europe, the “Beautiful Blue Danube” covers 10 countries and is one of them most popular river cruise destinations for seniors and baby boomers.

Danube River Cruises are either eastbound, typically beginning in Germany and ending in Prague or Budapest, or westbound - departing from Prague or Budapest and ending in Germany.

2. The Rhine RiverRather than flowing in an east-west direction, the Rhine is great for travelers interested in a north-south view of western Europe. Covering 6 countries, the Rhine will visit Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Austria, Germany, France, and the Netherlands, the Rhine.

3. The Douro RiverPortugal's Douro is a great destination for wine lovers, especially port wine. It’s one of the shorter rivers travelers can choose for a river cruise, covering the Iberian Peninsula. Douro River cruises are usually heavily weighted in Portugal, with a little bit of time in Spain.

Exotic and Adventurous River Cruise Destinations

1. The Nile River - The Nile River is a popular river cruise destination for adventurous travelers who love history and are more interested in interesting port stops and archaeological tours than a luxury travel experience. When you travel down the Nile, be prepared to be transported as you pass by ancient sites, learning about the mysteries of Egypt and the essential role the Nile has played over the centuries.

2. The Mekong River - Flowing through the heart of Vietnam, travelers who take a river cruise down the Mekong are treated to many classic Southeast Asian views. You’ll see beautiful green rice paddies, small villages, and mountainous terrain, as well as visit major cities and cultural sites.

3. The Amazon River - The Amazon is another kind of river cruise all together, great for young adventurous travelers and anyone wishing to expand their comfort zone. You’ll encounter plenty of unique wildlife, both on the water and on the shore, and have the opportunity to learn about the Amazon’s incredible biodiversity from knowledgeable local guides.

Always Find the Best

On Travelstride you can find 839 trips to River Cruises and more than 20,000 trips worldwide ranging from budget to luxury and private guided to group tours and everything in between. Only on Stride can you find and compare expert-planned trips from 1,000+ tour operators, cruise lines and local experts. Read traveler and professional reviews so you can confidently find your perfect trip.

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