Asia River Cruises
Sail the great rivers of Asia — the Mekong, Irrawaddy, Ganges and Yangtze — past golden temples, floating markets and the Three Gorges, with a specialist who knows the region.
Asia’s rivers open a continent of temples, terraced fields and timeless village life. The Mekong links Vietnam and Cambodia to Angkor Wat; the Irrawaddy sails past the 2,000 temples of Bagan in Myanmar; the Ganges reveals the spiritual heart of India from Kolkata; and the Yangtze carves through China’s dramatic Three Gorges. Ships range from intimate colonial-style vessels to modern five-star ships, and every cruise pairs with rich land touring. We help you choose the river, ship and season, and send up to five free quotes.
Why cruise the Asia?
Four legendary rivers
Mekong, Irrawaddy, Ganges and Yangtze — each a different country and culture, all explored by ship.
Temples & village life
Angkor Wat, the temples of Bagan, the ghats of the Ganges and the Three Gorges of the Yangtze.
Small, cultural ships
Intimate vessels reach villages the big world misses, with local guides and immersive touring.
River + land journeys
Every cruise pairs with land nights — Vietnam, Angkor, Beijing, the Taj Mahal — for a complete trip.
Which Asian river?
Choose the Mekong for Vietnam, Cambodia and Angkor Wat; the Irrawaddy for Myanmar’s Bagan and Mandalay; the Ganges for India’s spiritual heartland and Kolkata; the Yangtze for China’s Three Gorges within a Beijing–Xi’an–Shanghai tour.
Seasons and water levels vary by river, so timing matters. We’ll match the river, ship and dates to what you most want to experience.
Most Asia river journeys add land nights in a gateway city; for those, browse hotels across Asia on RoomsCheap.com.
Sailing the Irrawaddy? Its temple plain rewards an extra night on land — compare Bagan hotel rates before you finalize the dates.
Asia river cruising in pictures
Ready to plan your Asia river cruise?
Tell us which Asian river interests you, your dates and preferred ship, and we’ll send up to five free, no-obligation quotes from Asia river cruise specialists.
Get up to 5 free Asia cruise quotesFrequently Asked Questions
Which Asian river cruise is best?
The Mekong (Vietnam & Cambodia) is the most popular and pairs with Angkor Wat; the Irrawaddy suits temple-lovers; the Ganges is deeply cultural; the Yangtze is the scenic centerpiece of a China tour.
When should I go?
It varies by river and season — the Mekong’s high water (Aug–Dec), the Ganges and Irrawaddy in the cooler months, the Yangtze in spring and autumn. We plan around water levels and weather.
How big are the ships?
Smaller than European ships — from intimate colonial-style vessels of 30–60 guests on the Mekong, Irrawaddy and Ganges to larger five-star ships on the Yangtze.
Which lines cruise Asia?
AmaWaterways, Avalon, Scenic, Uniworld and Viking on the Mekong; Pandaw, Heritage Line and Belmond on the Irrawaddy and Ganges; and specialist five-star ships on the Yangtze.
How do I get a quote?
Request up to five free, no-obligation quotes and compare rivers, ships and land add-ons.
